Hello Readers, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Sorry that it has taken me so long. I started a new job back in September and it has kept me constantly busy. But now I'm back with another chapter in this exciting story as a Christmas gift for all of you. I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter, now we are going to continue following Tuck and Ella in Barkingburg to see what happens next. Enjoy!
Tuck's POV:
I plummeted into the darkening sky, the wind whistling in my ears, the smell of salt water overpowering. As soon as I saw the shimmer of the ocean, I pulled the ripcord and my glider wings ejected sending me soaring up into the sky. I flew over the water towards the bridge that led to the castle with a great view of Big Benji all lit up. As I approached the bridge, there was a transport truck that started crossing. I pressed the button on my pup tag and I shrunk. I activated a jet on my pack and flew towards the truck and landed on the top canopy without a sound.
I looked around and saw that there was a guard station at the end of the bridge with a gate blocking the road up to the castle. On either side of the station were walls that towered 15 feet high with barbed wires stringed along the top. The wall surrounded the whole estate of the castle. The gate then opened and the truck drove into the grounds of the castle.
Inside I saw citizens of Barkingburg working the grounds. The grass was gone, and people were reshaping the grounds around the castle. They had shovels, pick axes, and drills, there were even children working. Children used wheel burrows or bags to move earth all over the estate. They all looked malnourished and sickly. The hot, burning smell of feces rose from the surrounding land and burned my throat causing me to inwardly gag. But the citizen prisoners trudged on with their work with heads down as guards watched over them with batons in hand and masks over their faces.
I growled inwardly at the condition of these people. Every bone in my body wanted to free all of them in a mass prison breakout. But I shoved my feelings down and bottled them. I had a mission to finish and the rescue mission would have to happen at a later date. I swallowed my anger as the truck reached another wall that surrounded the castle moat that stood 15 feet tall. I looked to the right and saw that the wall jumped up to what seemed like 30 feet high.
That must be where the missiles are. I Thought as the drawbridge came down. On the other side of the drawbridge, I saw this overarching scanner that must scan the entire truck as it enters the castle.
Looks like I'm getting off here I said and looked around. I ejected my wings and jet and flew straight up off the truck as it slowly went into the castle. The scanner activated and a digital-looking wall appeared, the truck drove through it and it was engulfed by the scanner. But it turned off as the truck went through, I flew over the scanner where I flew into a narrow gap, just big enough for me to fit through. I jumped back onto the truck as we made it into the castle courtyard. I watched the drawbridge close behind the truck. Then it slowly made its way to a parking spot next to other trucks just like it. I crept to the edge of the back end of the truck. Soldiers were climbing out the back and walking into the main complex.
I watched as two guys with digital pads walked towards the 30-foot walls and they approached a steel wall that seemed to be sealed. I took off towards them, I watched as they opened the door. I then cut my engine and glided down behind them. As they entered the door, it started to close. I leaned forward to gain speed, and I narrowly made it in as my wings scraped against the doors as they closed. I landed on the ground and dove behind some metal oil drums.
I looked at my wings; scraps and gauges covering the edges. I growled as I retracted them into my pack and returned to full size. I peered out from behind the drums and saw some people in lab coats, others in neon safety jackets and hard hats, and some soldiers on guard. I ducked back behind the drums as some soldiers entered the door that was behind me. After they passed me I crept behind them, moving between metal drums like a shadow as I moved closer to the missile silos.
I followed the soldiers for 15 feet and then they came to a crossroad and some motorized carts were going to the left and heading towards most of the silos. I waited behind a stack of wooden pallets for an opening. As a cart passed, I shrunk and jumped on the cart and it took me towards a set of 12 silos. The area was surrounded by soldiers and inside were people in white lab coats with pads.
"They must be the missile techs" I said and then suddenly the cart swerved to the left and threw me off just before the entry point to the missile area. I slammed into the ground and sat there dazed for a moment and then scrambled behind a makeshift guard station building. I made my way around the opposite side of the shack-like guard station and grew to regular size again. As I made it around the corner, I saw a single guard walk up to the gate.
"Evening captain, all the engineers are inside and waiting for you and the general to come." One of the guards said
"The general will be a little late to the meeting, I've been told to go ahead and start. They should be here within the hour, let them in once they arrive." The captain said.
They? The general is bringing a guest. But who? I wondered and then I saw him enter through the gate. I crept to the back end and ejected my wings. As the captain made it through all the security measures, I shrunk and flew towards him and landed on his shoulder inconspicuously. Suddenly he stopped and looked around. I froze in place and then he started swatting at the air. I quickly jumped onto his jacket collar, just as I latched on to his collar, the captain slapped his shoulder where I just stood.
"Ugh, I hate flies. Annoying insects" the captain grumbled as I breathed a sigh of relief and he continued towards the group of engineers. The engineers all gathered on this platform with monitor screens surrounding the edges.
"Captain on Deck!" someone shouted, and all the engineers immediately stood at attention.
"at ease" the captain said and they all relaxed and some sat down at the monitors. One of the engineers who was still standing, approached the Captain.
"We are on schedule to launch the missiles sir" the engineer said
"Are all systems checked and ready to go?" The captain asked
"Yes sir, all checked," the engineer said
"Let's go through and double-check right now" he announced.
The head engineer looked confused, but shrugged and took a seat at a monitor and put on a headset.
"Launch team this is the BLM on the BLM net with our prelaunch poll for the upcoming launch in T-2 hours to launch. BAM?"
"BAM's ready" came a voice, and this continued with other voices answering the head engineer.
"Barkingburg CE?"
"Barkingburg CE, go"
"SMA?"
"SMA is go"
"SMD?"
"SMD is go"
"Mission Manager?"
"Mission Manager is go"
"Copy that. the team's ready to release the hold" Then there was a silence that lasted for just a few moments. Then a new voice sound.
"This is the ULA Launch Director, Status check to proceed with terminal count. Missile systems. Propulsion?"
"Go"
"Hydraulics?"
"Go"
"Pneumatics?"
"Go"
"LO2?"
"Go"
"Water?"
"Go"
"Centaur systems. Propulsion?"
"Go"
"Pneumatics?"
"Go"
"LO2?"
"Go"
"LH2?"
"Go"
"Haz gas?"
"Go"
"Electrical systems, airborne?"
"Go"
"Ground?"
"Go"
"Facility?"
"Go"
"RFFTS?"
"Go"
"Flight control?"
"Go"
"Instrumentation?"
"Go"
"Comms?"
"Go"
"GCQ?"
"Go"
"Umbilicals?"
"Go"
"UCS?"
"Go"
"Red line monitor?"
"Go"
"Quality?"
"Go"
"OSM?"
"Go"
"Range safety officer?"
"Go"
"Range weather and clear to proceed?"
"Go"
"LC, This is the LD on channel one, LC, we have completed the checklist. Run through complete" a voice said
"Copy that" the head engineer said.
"Well done all of you" a new female voice came over the comms. "Great test"
The captain and all the engineers turned to see two people walking up onto the platform.
"A-tten-tion! Queen Sweetie and General on deck… Welcome Your Highness." The captain announced and greeted the little white highland terrier.
Sweetie I growled inwardly
"At ease everyone" the general said and all remained standing.
"So, are we all ready to launch the missiles? Are the locations set in the navigation system?" Sweetie asked
"Yes, Your Highness. We have Adventure Bay, Foggy Bottom, and Crystal Cove" the Captain answered
That will cut off most escape routes out of the Adventure Bay area. Thousands of people will be killed, including Ryder and the pups. She has gone tyrannical and almost hell-bent on taking out the Paw Patrol I thought as I listened
"Perfect. The Paw Patrol will have nowhere to run. They will have to flee by water and our navy will be waiting for them. I will finally put an end to the Paw Patrol... Permanently. HA HA HA HA HA *snort*" Sweetie cackled with her signature snort.
"If we have everything ready, we launch in one hour" Sweetie commanded. "Captain, begin the preparations" she ordered.
NO! I have to get to Ella now, so we can warn the Paw Patrol. I thought panicking
I quickly jumped off the sergeant's back and landed soundlessly on a drum behind me.
"What was that?"
I froze as the captain turned around and started looking around. He must have felt me jumping off his back I thought remaining still.
I watched the captain as he kept looking and then looked down. Suddenly his eyes locked with mine and I felt my heart beating faster as he leaned down and squinted. I did not move hoping to think he would not see me.
"INTRUDER! RED ALERT! WE HAVE A VERY SMALL INTRUDER!" The captain screamed
"Son of a Mutt" I growled and leaped at the captain and grew to full size as I connected a kick and then shrunk again. The rest of the engineers gasped in horror, and they all pulled out either an MP5, an FN Five-Sevens, or an M17 pistol.
"Damn" I grunted as I landed and then jumped at the nearest engineer, grew to full size, and punched them. I shrank once again as the engineer fell into the person next to them. I landed on the console, jumped at another engineer, grew to full size, and landed another kick.
BANG BANG BANG
Gunfire sounded from all around me as I shrunk again. As if in slow motion, I spun in the air as bullets flew at me from all directions and I dodged them by mere millimeters. Some I was able to push or punch away bullets from me since I was so small. It took me a matter of a few minutes before all of the engineers were down, dead or wounded.
Sirens sounded all around me, I quickly went to the console and started to download their plans on a thumb drive. Just then some soldiers came onto the platform, followed by the general. I growled and then charged at them, leaping off the console, I grew to full size to connect a punch with the soldier at the front. I shrank at the same instant that I made the punch. The soldiers then opened fire into the air all around me in a panicked frenzy. I knocked each one out by landing punches and then propelling myself into the next soldier. Then once I got to the general at the back, I grew to full size and Roundhouse kicked him and sent him flying about 8 feet back through a cargo box. I sprinted back to the console to see that it was at 85%.
"Can't you move any faster" I growled at it. I heard more soldiers coming to the platform. 90%, I could hear a commanding voice "Shoot on site, they have seen too much we can't let the spy escape alive!" 93%.
I pulled out my Glock G18 and pointed at the staircase leading to the platform, 95%. Suddenly I heard them stop at the bottom of the steps. "Riot shields to the front!"
Crap! I'm going to be trapped! Suddenly I heard a beep behind me and I knew that the plans had been downloaded. I grabbed the thumb drive, and put away my pistol. Then I shrunk and sprinted for the staircase.
"Ready… Charge!" I heard from the bottom of the steps. I raced towards the soldier who came up the stairs. I smiled and then I slid under the riot shields and attached some gifts for the riot shield holders.
I then attached other gifts to the calves of the other soldiers. Then once they all passed me. They suddenly realized that I had slid under them.
"ha, too late" I said and then ejected my wings and took off. At the same moment, I grabbed a device from my pack and pressed the button on it to activate... my gifts. Suddenly two flashbangs exploded from the back side of the riot shields which blinded and stunned all the soldiers behind them. The next moment small explosives went off at each calf and it sent all the soldiers into a front or backflip over the edge of the platform or down the stairs. I managed to get out of the airspace by the time I heard the last explosive go off and I smiled.
…
Ella's POV:
I watched as he soared into the distance and disappeared into the darkness. I walked back over to my lookout spot and pulled over my pup pack. I pressed a button and a small radar popped up and it showed a map of Barkingburg. Then two blips showed up. One was red for me and the other was blue for Tuck. Then I pressed a button on the screen and two smaller screens popped out. On one screen it showed a 3D virtual layout of the castle and the other was a live feed from a camera on Tuck's collar. I watched as Tuck snuck through parts of the castle and I would occasionally use my binoculars to find him. At one point, I followed the captain and noticed he was hanging off his shoulder.
I watched as the captain stood with these men and women in lab coats on this platform surrounded by missile silos. As I was watching them I noticed a commotion near the missile area. I looked a little way behind the platform and saw a man walking upwards the platform. I could tell by his outfit and the emblem on his shoulder and shirt collar he was a general. The general was followed by something smaller than him. I could see him looking down as he walked so I knew that who or what was following him was considerably smaller than him. As they kept walking they finally came to a bridge that led to the platform and they both came into view. I felt my blood freeze and my heart stop for a moment after I realized who it was with the general, Sweetie.
She strutted across the bridge wearing a short purple dress with a black suit jacket. On her head was a small golden crown. I knew that crown was not the real crown of Barkingburg but a substitute for outings. She then got on the platform and the general gave her a headset. I watched as all the heads turned and then everyone stood at attention. They talked for a moment and then they all sat down and they seemed to do something but yet did not move. Then I saw the captain looking around. Suddenly he started pointing over the edge of the platform and shouting at the other people on the platform.
"Oh No! Our cover is blown!" I said as I was Tuck suddenly appeared and landed a vicious right hook to the captain and dropped him before suddenly disappearing. I watched as Sweetie was led out of the battle and the engineers pulled out guns and tried to fight Tuck. The key word being tried I thought as I watched the soldiers and engineers struggle to fight Tuck. He would be small as they tried to shoot him, and then he would grow and send people flying across the platform or over the edge of the platform from his vicious punches and kicks. Then I saw heavily armed soldiers start to climb the stairs and they faced off against Tuck. Tuck, at full size, charges the front of the line at full speed towards riot shields. I gasped and then suddenly he vanished and then a moment later he ended up behind the entire line of soldiers. He had a victorious and menacing smile and then pulled out a receiver and shrunk. A few moments later, a large and bright bang went off at the front of the group.
"Ah! that was bright" I yelped and then looked back at the scene and saw the soldiers had been blown in different directions and were scattered all over the place, knocked out cold.
"What!? How did this happen? Where is Tuck?" I rambled and then checked my pack and saw myself on the monitor.
"TUCK!" I shouted and then he suddenly appeared in front of me. I gasped in shock at his appearance. He was covered in blood from minor bullet wounds and other bruises, and his paws had blood on them.
"Tuck Anderson! What happened back there?!" I demanded as I rushed to his side to look him over.
"There is no time for this Ella. I have to contact Ryder now, If I don't they will all die. Sweetie has ordered that the missiles be launched within the hour. I may have bought about 20 extra minutes or so. But she already has a mobilized fleet and army near Adventure Bay and the surrounding cities and towns. We need to get Adventure Bay and the other cities evacuated" Tuck quickly explained as we hobbled over to my pack.
"I don't understand Tuck. Do you mean that she has already set her plans in motion?" I asked
"Her plan is already happening and she is about to launch the missiles at Adventure Bay and surrounding cities" he yelled. "With her having seen me she will have probably sped up the launch to as soon as possible. We need to call Ryder now and tell him to evacuate Adventure Bay." Tuck added and fell just before my pack.
I quickly got up and went over to help Tuck. Bark* Long-range comms device" I called, suddenly a camera sprouted out the top and a screen appeared under it. I helped Tuck get into a seating position. Suddenly there was a beep
"Hello Ry-"
"Ryder we have a serious situation here" I started "You need-"
"Tuck, what on earth happened to you?! I specifically told you both that this mission was recon and it looks like-"
"RYDER! STOP TALKING!" I shouted. Ryder stood there in the lookout wide-eyed in disbelief and Tuck sat next to me sitting rigid in shock and disbelief with the same look on his face as Ryder.
"I'm sorry Ryder sir, but this is far too important. Sweetie is about to launch ballistic missiles. While Tuck was surveying in the castle. He made it to the missiles and the engineers. Sweetie showed up there." I said and looked at Tuck. He sat there still completely dumbstruck.
"Tuck, tell him what you heard because I have no idea!" I shouted and he jumped and then turned to Ryder.
"Sorry sis. But yes she is right Ryder" Tucker apologized skittishly and then continued more confidently. "I was doing surveillance inside the castle grounds and made it to the missile silo site and got the plan that Sweetie is planning. She has mobilized her fleet and her auxiliary Armies. She is attacking Foggy Bottom, Crystal Cove, and Adventure Bay. She plans to make you all evacuate by water where you will meet her navy and be destroyed in the retreat." Tucker explained
"When is she launching the missiles?" Ryder asked
"I would think that she is going to launch them as soon as she can. She suddenly appeared at a pre-launch rehearsal and ordered that the missiles would be launched within the hour. You need to start-"
Suddenly the ground shook and we looked behind us a defining roar filled the air and suddenly our view was filled with black cylinders with red cones on the top, coming out of the ground covered with Sweetie's emblem on the top. Some were white, some were gray, and some were black. A total of 8 enormous missiles rose slowly into the air and then as they got out of the tube in the earth we were blinded by a bright light.
"RYDER! YOU NEED TO EVACUATE NOW! GET EVERYONE OUT OF THOSE CITIES! THE MISSILES ARE COMING NOW! GET OUT NOW! WE ARE PUNCHING OUT OF HERE. WE WILL MAKE CONTACT WHEN WE ARE SAFELY OUT! TUCK AND ELLA OUT!" I screamed and then cut the call.
"We Have To Leave Now!" I shouted packing up my gear and giving Tuck a shove towards his gear as we kept glancing at the missiles as they rose and the defining roar surrounding us. I was scrambling to get everything, and Tuck struggled to get his pack together, grimacing in pain due to his injuries. After I got everything packed into our car. I rushed to help him and we scrambled to the car. I hauled him up and into the car and jumped in behind him. I buckled him in and myself in and then turned on the car.
The missiles were so loud that I only knew the car was on by the subtle vibration of the car's engine rumbling. I threw the car into drive and punched the gas pedal to the floor. The back of the car kicked out and spat earth behind us as we shot down the hill away from the missiles. We skirted the city of Barkingburg and headed away from the city heading southwest. We stopped a few miles out and looked back to see the missiles soaring into the clouds and away from Barkingburg.
"This is horrifying. Full-out war has begun" I said and then both Tuck and I drove off away from Barkingburg and headed to a nearby city to get to our plane to get back home.
Sweetie has done it! She has begun her attack on Adventure Bay and the cities around Adventure Bay! Will the Paw Patrol be able to get out of Adventure Bay in time? How will Ella and Tuck reconnect with the Paw Patrol? How will the Paw Patrol respond to this attack? All these questions and more will be answered as the story continues. Stay tuned.
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, this one was fun to right. As for that launch sequence, I had to make some changes due to the place but that is the same dialogue that is used by NASA.
I'm sorry that it has taken me so long to post another chapter. I have been very busy with my new job. As always, if you have questions, comments, concerns, or just want to say what you think of the story so far leave a review or send me a PM. I'll answer questions and put answers in the next chapter and get back to you as soon as I can with a PM. I plan on posting another chaper again really soon.
Until we meet again readers, TTFN.