As the sun rose over the kindergarten the next morning, Damug Warfang surveyed his new Gem-rat hybrid soldiers. There were several dozens of them. Amethysts, Rubies, Pearls, Peridots, and even some Gem types Damug could not identify. But they all looked like rats, and they were all willing to obey him.

All the hybrids were standing in formation, awaiting orders, and Damug's other soldiers were lined up behind them.

"Look at us," Damug said proudly. "The finest fightin' force this side of Salamandastron. Today, we march south to take the greatest prize anybeast ever dreamed off. The Abbey of Redwall! Rinkul the ferret has told me that their northernmost wall is damaged, so that's where we'll strike. I'll send the Gems in first as they're the strongest fighters. The rest of you will follow behind. It should be easy going, eh? The Redwallers have four Gems, but we have dozens of 'em! Once the Abbey is mine, I will change its name to Fort Damug!"

Drums beat out loud and frenzied as the vast Rapscallion army roared, "Damug Warfang! Firstblade! Firstblade! Firstblade!"

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True to his word, Skipper of Otters had rounded up as many Mossflower creatures as he could find and brought them back to Redwall. He'd gathered about 20 otters and 30 squirrels, but the greatest asset had been the Waterhogs, a tribe of warrior hedgehogs who dwelt by a water meadow. Together with the Redwallers, the Guosim shrews, the hares, and the Crystal gems, that made nearly 300 fighting beasts to defend the Abbey.

Now, the Gems, hares, mice, hedgehogs, shrews, moles, otters and squirrels were waiting for their foes to arrive. Unfortunately, the north wall was only three quarters finished, so while a few guards were stationed along the other walls, the majority of the defending force was gathered at ground level just behind the north wall. That way, if the Rapscallions tried to climb it, the Redwallers would be on hand to stop them.

"When d'you think we can expect the blighters to arrive?" Tammo asked Perigord.

The Major winked. "Can't say, sah. Could be at any blinking moment. But whenever it is, we'll give the blackguards a warm welcome, eh?"

"Aye, we'll feed 'em a nice 'ot supper o' cold steel!" said Gurgan Spearback, leader of the Waterhogs. "We'll give the villains rock cakes served with spearpoints!"

"I just can't stand the thought of waiting here like sitting ducks, not knowing where the enemy is," Tammo said.

Perigord frowned. "Well, we've got no other choice, lad."

"Maybe we do," said Tammo. "I could fly over Mossflower in our spaceship and scout out the terrain, keeping an eye out for the Rapscallions. Once I spot 'em, I'll come back and tell you how far away they are."

"But I say, won't they see you coming from a mile away?" Captain Twayblade objected. "That thing isn't exactly stealthy."

"Well, I've been talking with the A.I. inside the ship," Tammo said, "and she says the ship can turn invisible. If I'm invisible, they'll never spot me! What do you say?"

"Hmm." The Major stroked his chin in thought. "It's okay by me," he said at last, "but what would your Gem guardians think of this idea? I'm not sure they'd like you putting yourself at risk that way…"

"There's no risk," said Tammo. "I told ya, I'll be invisible!"

Garnet and Pearl exchanged a look. "I guess you can go, Tammo," Pearl said hesitantly. "But only if you're just going to keep a lookout. Promise us that you won't try to engage the enemy in combat all by yourself. That would be far too dangerous even for you."

"She's right," said Garnet. "I barely escaped from them myself."

"Okay," said Tammo. "I won't try to fight 'em, this'll just be a reconnaissance mission! Cross my heart!"

"You're a perilous hare, Tamm," said Major Perigord. "Good luck out there!"

Amethyst agreed. "Rose'd be proud of you if she could see you now!"

Tammo set off across the lawn, heading for the spaceship. He was halfway there when Pasque came running after him.

"Tamm, take me with you!" she begged. "I can't bear the thought of you going off into danger alone!"

Tammo smiled. "Sure, Pasque. Happy to have you. Let's go."