Chapter XVII
Tygra turned his head back to the conversation. WilyKat looked at Cheetara, his question still hanging in the air. What if they could separate Mumm-Rah from the planet? If they did that, if he was far enough away from the mana stream, that might work. But there was one key issue with that plan.
"Do you have any bright ideas about how to do that?" Cheetara wondered with a smile. WilyKat looked over at the Plun-Darr and grinned.
"Well, some mechs can fly, so if we grab Mumm-Rah and fly him up really, really, high off the planet that could work, right?" He asked. This time Tygra sighed.
"Not a chance. Mechs can't survive that high in the atmosphere either. The air gets thinner and the temperatures drop and mobility decreases." Tygra told him.
"What does that mean?" Kit wrinkled her nose, "That if it gets too cold the mech'll rust shut or something?"
"Basically." Tygra shrugged looking back at the Plun-Darr. The work they were doing looked good from this distance anyway. They were reconstructing the missing arm piece by piece, but after a few days travel the repairs were starting to look like actual repairs as opposed to tinkering.
A few more days and the groups of berbils began to split up to work on different things, about half that had nothing to do with repairing the Plun-Darr. They were starting to construct new weaponry for the Thundercat army and progress went smoothly until they started to run out of supplies.
"No more guns."
"No more cannons." Another berbil chimed in, "No more grenade launchers either."
"And why is that, exactly?" Tygra was the first to ask when Ro-Bear-Bill and the Berbils came to notify Lion-o that there would be 'no more guns'.
"Isn't it obvious?" the old mouse-man blinked. "We can't finish Plun-Darr either without it."
"What is 'it', this time?" Tygra grumbled.
"So it's just an issue of supplies, is that right?" Cheetara asked in clarification.
"If you have a list of the specific articles you need we might be able to send for some from our outposts." Panthera offered, "So what all do you need?"
"We need copper wiring, aluminum cylinders, back draft levers, hydronic attachments, laser optic batteries," Ro-Bear-Bill started to cycle off the items. The list was lengthy and more often than not he'd forget some item or the other and the other berbils in the group would chip in as well.
"And a bifrequency power converter!"
"Don't forget about the ansillium panels!"
"We also need trifocal platform chips!"
Cheetara was lost but Lion-o wasn't as puzzled about the tech items as she was, Panthera also seemed to know what most of those items were.
"I'll get on the remote communications and see if any other military groups know of weapons cache somewhere." Panthera said to Lion-o who nodded as she left the group to see her brother and the communication link they had managed to set up.
"I thought we needed raw materials?" WilyKit asked, also confused.
"But all those items are found in various types of weaponry Mumm-Rah's army has already constructed." Lion-o explained.
"So we steal Mumm-Rah's weapons and update them for our own army." Tygra correctly inferred.
"Right," Lion-o agreed, "The only thing will be if we can find any caches near our armed units."
"Well we're pretty deep in Mumm-Rah's territory by now, though." WilyKat pointed out, "I mean we've managed to avoid almost five of Mumm-Rah's armed groups already, we should be able to find some easy."
"That's true, but we're also getting closer to the cliffs, and Mumm-Rah's army probably won't be too concerning with maintaining a strong military force near the flatlands since it's largely uninhabited." Lion-o pointed out.
Cheetara looked up as Panthera rejoined the group accompanied by her brother. "Were you able to find out anything?" she asked the other thundercat. Panthera gave a wide grin.
"We're in luck," she told them, "There are three of Mumm-Rah's weapons caches within a fifty mile radius of where we are now."
"Told you." WilyKat smirked.
"Aren't you clever." Tygra agreed.
"That's great new, which one is the largest?" Lion-o asked.
"Our scouts reported they are approximately the same size," Panthro admitted, and indicated the three camps on the map in relation to their current position. "It might be beneficial to attack all of them in succession, one at a time, working our path around the edge of the forest to continue heading to the cliffs."
"That would cost us time," Lion-o mulled over, "Is it worth it, when a trek like this would take us three extra days?"
"We can do it in one night," Panthera suggested, "We'd just take on all three at once."
"If we did that, our troops would be spread thin if it comes to a fight at any one of the three locations." Panthro replied.
"We need those materials, and we can't sacrifice a full three days or more." Lion-o said, considering Panthera's idea.
"One night is plenty." Tygra said siding with Panthera, "I can head one team, and I don't need that many men, just enough for transport. Few in each group is best since this would be a stealth mission in any case."
"I will assist you." Cheetara stated.
"I'll head a team as well," Panthera volunteered quickly. The question of whether they would use three groups or not was no longer an issue. Panthro huffed, though the obvious prospect of stealth allowed for a lower possibility of a head-on battle.
"Then I'll head the third team, and head to the northernmost camp, here." Panthro said, and Lion-o nodded his assent to this plan of action. Tygra and Panthera also decided on which camps they would target. The three leads gathered a group of a few extra soldiers to help carry supplies back, and then it was time to move out.
Lion-o joined Panthera as her team made ready to leave. She gave him a look, "As the king, shouldn't you stay here, safely out of harm's way?"
"As the king, should 'you' really be trying to order 'me' around?" Lion-o returned, Panthera just shook her head and smiled. All three groups broke from camp heading to their respective targets. If all went well they would have retrieved supplies and be back and moving further toward the cliffs by daybreak.
Panthro's team moved in close, observing the evening guard from a safe distance. This operation would best be handled stealthily, although Panthro didn't see a way to get to the weapons cache without moving large crates through the center of the camp.
"Alright, here's the plan," Panthro said, mapping what he knew of the camp in the ground, "We'll form a perimeter enclosing the camp and slowly move in. They're bound to have scouts of their own so we'll have to neutralize those first and then slowly move in, quickly and quietly, taking out all the sentry guards. Then try and take as much from the cache as possible before the others realize something's wrong."
"Why not just clear a path through the back area, here?"
"Yeah, then you can get a supply train running and clean it out quick and easy."
Panthro started at the slightly higher pitched pair of voices. He looked up and the two kits stared back at him, tails waving comfortably behind them. "What are you two doing here? You should have stayed at camp."
"We told you we were coming before we left." WilyKat smiled.
"Lion-o said it was okay too." WilyKit added.
Panthro pondered getting a couple of the men here to take the two back to camp; he decided against it, he'd need the men to carry supplies. "Fine." He relented, "Since you're already here."
The kits just grinned, "If you want we can clear the path."
Panthro arched an eyebrow, clearly ready to dismiss the suggestion. "Hey, we've gotten pretty good at sneaking in and out of Mumm-Rah's camps." WilyKat explained somewhat haughtily, "Just give us a few minutes."
The kits took off toward the camp before Panthro or the others could stop them. He almost shouted after them but stifled it so as to not alert the lizards on guard. Strangely enough the kits did manage to slip right past the visible guards. Disappearing into the camp, heading towards the stored weapons tent.
Panthro ground his teeth together, frustrated. He had to decide on a course of action quickly. He eventually decided to stay put, but if there were noises of a commotion, anything at all, he'd have to storm the camp using the element of surprise just to get in and extract the kits before making a hasty retreat.
If they were followed they'd have to reroute and meet up with the others at a later time until they were sure they no longer had lizards tailing them.
Turned out Panthro's hasty contingency planning was in vain. The kits soon reappeared carrying a large crate between the two of them as they quickly darted down the pathways, light footed and steering clear of the guards they had seen on their first trip inward.
They met with the group at their hiding spot and deposited the crate in front of Panthro, both beaming proudly.
"Well, even if you do this all night it will still take too long to empty the cache." Panthro frowned.
"Of course it will." Kit rolled her eyes.
"That's why everyone is going to be doing it." Kat explained, "Since there's about sixty of these crates or so I figure ten or twelve trips with about ten or fifteen of us should work fine."
Panthro considered this, and despite his initial begrudging agreed. If they could perform this whole operation without setting off a single sentry or alarm then that would be the best thing to do.
With the path cleared Panthro gave the order for at least three fourths of their force to follow the kits path through the camp to the weapons cache. More than half the crates had been quickly and stealthily brought through the back-ways of the enemy camp before trouble started. The guard shift was moving and the kits were the first to notice.
Panthro was later notified, although only after the kits had set a 'distraction' fire to the other end of the enemy camp and the kits showed up void of proper surprise and horror. Their whole team made out with almost the entire weapons stores and they disembarked for their own encampment. The kits inordinately pleased and Panthro surprisingly pleased with the whole situation.
OoooooooooooooooO
On the other ends of the forested area near a hilly alcove the second team was closing in on Mumm-Rah's forces.
"Since this appears to be the camp layout we need to clear a path here," Tygra took charge immediately, demonstrating with a diagram in the dirt, "So we need to take out the guard units here, here, here, and here." He marked off the sentries in the dirt. "If we can do this quietly we'll have a one hour window when we can move uninterrupted and clear out the cache."
"I'll take out these here," Cheetara said, Tygra nodded, and after a number of their soldiers volunteered to take out the different guard points. The groups split and went to take down their individual targets.
Cheetara moved like a shadow through to the perimeter. She was there in a flash and with a few well-placed mana strikes the lizards went down. A few more steps, at high speed, and the second group were out cold. She spurred on quickly to the third group. They saw her coming, but it was already too late.
A shocking palm to the throat silenced a scream, a whirl and a kick, and that one was down. She turned, lightning fast, and struck out at the other two simultaneously. The lizards started at the contact but the mana struck them harder than the physical blow and they fell limply to the ground.
Area secure. Cheetara straightened ready to turn to meet up with the others when she sensed another presence. She turned and met beady black eyes staring back at her from a flat lizard head, a scar across those eyes, and he stared at her with something like recognition. She spotted a distinctive scarring at his throat and she knew.
She knew who he was before she reached out with her mana. She could feel the bonds that held him. One day he would be their ally whether he wanted to or not, in exchange for his life one day he would help her. That day was not today.
Sauro's jaws opened as he made ready to call his comrades to the attack. But Cheetara's leg was not injured this time. It didn't even take a second before she closed the distance between them. A blow charged with mana rammed into him and the call to arms died in Sauro's throat. He fell forward and slumped to the ground unconscious.
Cheetara recognized the bond that held him but also knew that this was not the time to use it. One day when they most needed help she would call on that bond. But not today. After ascertaining that all the guards would be down for the time they needed Cheetara turned and dashed back through the camp following the smell of cat.
She nearly ran headlong into Tygra. "Hey gorgeous, where are you running to?" he asked, smiling and lowering his gun.
"I've cleared out the guards on the east perimeter," Cheetara reported.
"Great," Tygra grinned, "Want to help me take down the moving guard? They take these paths in circuits, the faster we clear them out the better."
"Gladly." Cheetara returned his smile.
So the two of them tore down the byways seeking out the lizard guard on circuit. Cheetara reached them first, two downed before the other three could even react. Tygra covered, his bolas whip snapping the remaining three backward before they could send up a shout. The two cats swarmed to the fallen warriors, a few quick well-placed blows and they were down for the count as well.
"Nicely done," Tygra complimented, "I forgot how fast you are." He grinned toothily. "But then you were always good at making guys fall for you."
Cheetara cocked her head to side, giving him an odd look. "Guys? You mean you?" she asked, teasing.
"Of course." He answered, teasing gone, his voice honest, his eyes intense, watching her; still smiling, still relaxed.
Cheetara felt a small flush of heat flood her face, and she hid her smile in a frown, "Are you flirting with me, in the middle of a mission?"
"No…" Tygra denied, although everything but his word said otherwise. She couldn't help it anymore and she smiled, shaking her head. Even if now was an inopportune moment she was flattered. More than that she didn't feel uncertain anymore.
So when Tygra walked over to her, meeting her eyes, she didn't bother trying to pull away or try to fill the silence, the quiet between them was comfortable now. Tygra's hand rose to brush her hair back from her face and then came to rest on her cheek, his hand was rough but warm and she didn't lean away from the touch.
It was gentle. Then his mouth met roughly with hers. Maybe he thought it would be a repeat of the last time this happened, and the contact was initially rough and quick, but when she didn't pull away that too turned soft and sweet.
Her arms moved to embrace his shoulders, tugging him closer, breathing his scent and feeling his warmth. When he pulled away, leaving the taste of heat on her tongue, his eyes were still intensely focused on her, his arm not loosened from her waist, his hand still gently grasping her neck and hair.
Tygra gave her a questioning look; he seemed confused, pleased but confused. Cheetara smiled and tightened her hold to bring him back to her.
"It's occurred to me, that I keep thinking we can do this later," she admitted, "But we might not be here by the time the war is through. So I don't want to wait for a day that may not come."
"Morbid." Tygra snorted, he was smiling, "But I'll take it."
He moved to kiss her again; Cheetara met him halfway there. Fire spread from where they touched, lacing across nerves as scent, touch, and taste overwhelmed the senses flooding with heat and drowning in pleasurable sensation. When they parted again for air, Cheetara pulled away.
"I thought we were done with that?" Tygra asked, trying to follow her.
"We are, but remember that we're still on a mission." Cheetara smirked at him, her eyes full of promise, before taking off along the byways to secure the rest of the perimeter. They had to check on the progress of the materials they'd obtained.
Tygra sighed, knowing she was right, but hoped for more of the same later, and he followed after. Their raid was a successful one.
OoooooooooooooooO
It was a light mist that hung in the air, and the lizards shook their heads to clear it of sleep and restful thoughts. Most of the guard succumbed, those who already slumbered sunk deeper in, few remained standing, and fewer remained alert.
Shadows in masks quickly made their way through the camp. Most made their way for the weapons storage, and a few others went in teams of two or three to the remaining guard spots, trying to take down the remaining lizards who were awake and on guard.
One lone lizard shook himself out of his stupor as the mist slowly began to clear. His head swiveled as he looked at his comrades passed out on the ground all around the camp fire, some of the cards they had been playing with had fallen in and turned to smoldering cinders on the edge of the fire pit.
He turned to the vanishing cloud of mist and gaped, unsure, as a lithe shadow seemed to appear from within it. Before he could cry out to try and wake or alert someone, the shadow had dashed forward and the butt of a blade-like shotgun collided with his head. The next thought he would have would concern the rather lasting headache he now had.
The shadow moved further to the other campfire sections as the mist began to clear through the camp. Satisfied that all the lizards appeared to be unconscious, she turned back to her companion, red hair not quite fully hidden by the mask that was strapped to his face.
As the mist cleared Panthera moved to remove her mask. She sniffed the air and appeared satisfied as she strapped the mask back with her holstered equipment at her waist. Lion-o followed suit, sniffing the air and noting the sweet sickly smell with some interest.
"It a lavender compound of some kind?" he guessed, looking to Panthera for confirmation.
"Lavender and honey," she confirmed with a grin, "You can tell that much from this low concentration?"
He nodded, and fanned the air a bit to diffuse the smell; he was already feeling like yawning because of it. "It's lucky we had enough to gas the whole camp."
"Well like I said before we went in, the trick is going to be doing this quickly," she pointed out, "It'll only be effective for maybe twenty or twenty-five minutes tops."
"We better sabotage their transport as soon as possible then," Lion-o said, the both of them moving quickly toward the camp end that seemed most likely to house land rovers and other vehicles.
They reached the tent and started to work immediately disconnecting wiring and slashing fuel lines, after selecting the best ones they could use to transport the weaponry from the cache the rest of their small task force was emptying.
One particular vehicle was done in bright paint with sleek sheer metal and unbarred mechanics. Lion-o gave a low whistle when the plating came loose, everything was set up to be incredibly efficient and it was done masterfully. Panthera even came to look over his shoulder at the design.
"It's so beautiful, I almost don't want to cut her wiring." Lion-o lamented, regretfully moving the pliers to snip through the fuel gauge.
"Well, we could always make one of our own," Panthera suggested, "I recognize this alloy, so I know where we could get some."
"Really? What about the lithium tubing here, isn't that really rare?" he inquired.
Panthera smiled, "Well if it's ours we can make modifications," she told him, "For example, instead of lithium and carbonite, we should use iron plating and molibdinum tubing."
"That would be pretty cool," Lion-o agreed, his imagination sparked, "But where would we get the supplies?"
"I told you, I know a supplier," Panthera reminded him.
"Then we could even improve on the design here," Lion-o realized, looking at the engine, "Since molibdinum tubing is less brittle than lithium, we can augment the design to cover a wider range of purposes."
"Exactly," Panthera purred happily, already envisioning design sketches in her head.
"We could even let the berbils give us some suggestions!"
"No!" Panthera snapped, her little bubble burst, "We are not letting those crazy mice anywhere near it. Understood?"
Lion-o just looked at her. Then he laughed. She covered her face, stifling a snort. It was ridiculous, but he knew her feelings about touching the perfection of things she would have had a hand in constructing.
When their eyes met again both pairs were full of mirth and there was something electric in the air around them. Silence fell and Lion-o leaned forward. Panthera's head tilted slightly to welcome him.
"My lord, we're almost through with the weapons transport," one of the soldiers was reporting as he neared the tent.
Lion-o pulled away, disappointed but ready to assume command again; now probably wasn't the time for this anyway. It never seemed to be. Lion-o had almost disengaged himself before her hand stopped him, pulling him back towards her.
"Not this time." She muttered, closing the distance between them.
Her lips touched his and he felt lightning strike down his spine. The hot sweet taste between them seemed to flow along every nerve ending and fiber, electric and desirous. She sighed into the soft touch and he groaned pulling her closer.
Too quickly it was over. They disengaged and the soldier entered the transport tent. For a moment longer the two just stared at each other, breathing the lingering scent of the other.
It was a brief moment, but he knew he wanted more, and judging the fiery intensity to her eyes, the sentiment was shared. But now was the time to return to their mission. Lion-o turned to receive the report. Their main raid party departed before the effects of the mist wore off. The mission was a success.
OoooooooooooooooO
The three teams successfully regrouped after the raids and the berbils were quite happy to report that they would be able to resume construction on Plun-Darr and the current weapons constructs immediately. Their procession restarted its journey to the cliffs the following morning and little to no time was lost in the acquisition of new materials.
It was decided as they neared the cliffs that only four of them would go up through the tornado, and that the kits would stay with Panthro, the berbils and the main force. However the kits would go to the bluffs to identify the tornado that housed the Thundera with the map. Kit wasn't particularly looking forward to this point if only because high windy places weren't her favorite.
The Plun-Darr was almost completely repaired by the time they reached the cliffs. Tygra was ecstatic. "Now the weapons systems still aren't quite online," the berbils told them. Tygra was less than ecstatic at that. "But it's flight systems should be more than enough to get you through the tornado once the map determines which one it is."
Kit gripped her necklace tightly and her tail curled around herself protectively; she still felt the trip to the cliffs wouldn't be a pleasant one. They had also suspected that it would be quite cold considering the otherwise temperate surroundings. Combined with the height of the cliffs and high winds, she was glad she wasn't actually going to have to go off the edge and fly up into one of the whirlwinds of death.
Kat sat sturdy beside her, a pillar of confidence, and Kit leaned back against him as their party drew closer to the cliffs. "You'll be fine, you know." Kat reminded her.
She nodded. "I know." When they got there the whole party waited at the edge of the forests before the cliffs. Only the kits along with Panthro, Panthera, Cheetara, Tygra, and Lion-o approached the edge, the strong winds catching at them and pulling them as the tornadoes circled the plains and came whirling back towards them, driving deep patterns into the ice and earth of the frigid plains below.
Kit shuddered but stepped bravely close to the edge as the tornadoes approached, pressing the switches on her necklace the way the berbils had to project the map and detect which one was the tornado that housed the ancient treasure.
In moments the projection expanded, recalibrated, and the location was revealed. The winds picked up as the tornadoes loomed closer and Kit looked back at the others once the map identified one of the tornadoes as its target.
"We found it!"
She wasn't looking and the wind force suddenly increased. Kit lurched towards the edge and suddenly her feet weren't on the ground. In the freezing air, she began to plummet.
AoooooooooooooooN
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