FIRST SALVO
A Zootopia fan fiction by Dan

Rated M+

(c) Zootopia 2016 by Disney Animated Studios
(Artist ownership) Ayden Gull from BRO GULLS by Anti_Dev
(Artist ownership) “I Will survive” by William Borba 2017
(Artist ownership) Will and Alex Gray, Sheath and Knife by Harmarist
(Artist ownership) Anubis and the buried bone by Harmarist
(Artist ownership) The K’zin by Lary Niven.

Chapter 3
Recruit Training

My recruit company was 259 dash 85, 13th Division, Naval Recruit Training Center Great Lakes. My Company Commander was ICC (SW) Francis “Frank” Couture from Vidian, Louisiana. My Executive Company Commander was Aviation Boatswains mate fist class (AW/SW) going on Chief John Stewart from Buford, South Carolina. 30 years later and I still remember them, their faces, their teeth, their breath and all the hell they put us through for eight weeks…

I also remember why John Stewart was such a hard ass bastard who drove ten who started with us...back out the gates as failures. His mangled, skin graphed left leg brought home the reason recruit training was meant to wash out non-hackers…

It came from the USS Forrestal. “Trial by Fire”….google it, because every Sailor since 1967 has seen it.

The Author

Recruit Training Command, Camp Mayhoof
Savanna Central
2am….August 26, 2039

      Jackson’s acute bunny ears caught the rustle of the trash can coming off the floor and he was out of the sheets and off the mattress smacking the face of his upper bunk mate before the sheet metal can turned flying missile crashed onto the floor!

     “GET UP! GET UP! GET YOUR SLEEPY TAILS UP AND ON THE LINE NOW! NOW YOU MISERABLE SLUDGE SUCKING EXCUSES FOR MAMMALS! GET THE HELL UP NOW!”

      Jackson and Manny Leach (A Khaki colored cougar) jumped to the red line that ran down the length of their column of bunks and popped tall as the snarling jet black figure with long pointy ears came screaming by them…

     “Thanks again Jackie.” Manny whispered.

     “No prob.” Jackson replied as he kept his eyes glued front as the sound of others in the company getting a rough up from the “black ball terror” bounced around the Company bay. The Company started with 200 recruits, so far the snarling African wolf had sent four crying for their mommies…

     “NOW! Who among you would care to guess why you’re all standing here like a gaggle of messed up animal crackers at 2 in the damn morning? Any of you want to explain this situation to the class? Any of you?”

     When no one tried to answer….The African Wolf known to the squad as Anubis stomped to the head of the bay and snatched up the Jaguar who was pop’d tall before the Company Commander, Chief Harry Arch (Rhino), by his ear and pulled him along between the rows of steel bunk beds…

    “Sing you fluck up! Tell your shipmates why they’re up at 2 frucking oh dark ay clock! Sound off you sand pisser!” Anubis snarled.

     “I….I fell asleep.” The Jaguar said.

     “You did “what” pucker nuts? I didn’t hear you, sing it out you ball-less monkey!” Anubis snapped.

      “SIR! I FELL ASLEEP AT MY POST SIR!” The Jaguar yelped! Anubis kicked up a knee, hit the cat in the stomach and dropped him onto the floor!

      “FELL ASLEEP?…..YOU FELL ASLEEP? WELL GOOD WORK THERE YOU FLUCK NUT SON OF A BITCH! YOU JUST KILLED THIS WHOLE COMPANY! A KAZINTI RHEKOSENTAI BATTALION JUST ROLLED IN HERE AND EVERY ONE OF YOUR SHIPMATES IS ROASTING ON A SPIT! ALL OF YOU ARE FRICKEN DEAD THANKS TO SLEEPING POWDER SUCKING NUMB NUTS HERE! AND WHEN NUMB NUTS FAILS? ALL OF YOU FRICKEN FAIL!”

      Then Anubis turned his attention to Jackson and Manny….”Except these two. These two were up and in action before the trash can hit the floor! Let’s see if these two can teach the rest of you numb nuts what you seem as dumb as fricken river rocks to learn?!”

     Anubis stomped up to Jackson and got nose to nose with him. “Seaman Recruit Wilde? Who’s your responsibility?”

     “Sir! My bunk mate Sir!” Jackson screamed out.

     “Only half the answer there skippy...who else?” Anubis demanded.

     “Sir! My Company Sir!” Jackson replied.

      “You’re doing fifty percent of the work Seaman Recruit Wilde, now pick up the other fifty next time. Seconds can mean life or death for the whole Company but at least you’re doing 50 percent where others aren’t doing snit!”

      Anubis stomped up and down the bay...”I don’t get it! We have a flock load of bunnies with your big floppy ears and a hybrid is making pussies out of you! If Seaman Recruit Wilde could hear that trash can? What’s the excuse from the rest you floppy eared carrot suckers and the rest of you so called “Sensory attuned species?” Do you understand why we pound your tails day and night? Can any of you furry excuses for camel snit figure that ten dollar question out or did all of you flunk elementary school?!

      “This isn’t the damn Palm Hotel kittens, this isn’t the dam Princess Pleasure cruise to sunny Blue Bird Island where you get three meals and a whore to hump? This is the Navy not the stupid Yogi’s Gang flying ark! You’re not sitting at home eating fruit loops and watching cartoons anymore little dippies! Out here if you fluck up? YOU FLUCKING DIE! AND SO DO ALL YOUR SHIPMATES AND DEATH IS FLOCKING PERMANENT YOU DUMB CLUCKS!”

      Anubis looked around the bay snarling. “I guess we’ll just have to resort to good old fashion education by correction….GET AT THE END OF YOUR RACKS YOU BASTARDS! MOVE!”

      The occupants of each metal rack took their places quickly at the ends of their bunks…

      “LIFT…...UP!” Anubis commanded and all the mammals in the company lifted their racks up!

      “SIX INCHES! I BETTER HOG DAMN SEE SIX FLUCKING INCHES DAMN YOU, OR YOU’LL ALL BE STANDING HERE THE REST OF THE DAMN NIGHT!”…..

“RACKS! FORWARD!”….

      The recruited mammals marched their bunks forwards…

“RACKS! BACK!”….

      The recruited mammals marched their bunks backwards...

“RACKS! FORWARD!”….

      The recruited mammals marched their bunks forwards…

“RACKS! BACK!”….

      The recruited mammals marched their bunks backwards. They all did the same thing another fifteen times before Anubis ordered them to drop to the floor! “GIVE ME TWENTY FIVE PUSH-UPS ON THE TWO COUNT! READY! BEGIN!”

“ONE!” Anubis yelled.

“UP COMPANY COMMANDER!” The recruits yelled back.

“TWO!” Anubis yelled.

“DOWN COMPANY COMMANDER!” The recruits yelled back.

   Anubis ran up and down the Company bay. “Two inches! Keep your bodies two inches off my floor!” He snarled.

“ONE!” Anubis yelled.

“UP COMPANY COMMANDER!” The recruits yelled back.

“TWO!” Anubis yelled.

“DOWN COMPANY COMMANDER!” The recruits yelled back.

     They did that for 23 more times, then Anubis snapped them back to their feet as he stomped up to the shivering Jaguar…

      “Do you think your Company mates wouldn’t be a little upset that you disturbed their sleep?” Anubis asked the Jaguar.

       “SIR! They’d be very upset SIR!” The Jaguar replied.

       “What do you think they’d do to you if you decided to take another “cat nap” there Rumple Rumpskin?” Anubis snarled at the poor Jaguar.

       “SIR! They’d probably whoop my tail SIR!” The Jaguar replied.

       “No they won’t...because you’ll probably be a wall rug before they even get to you and if they dared try to kick your tail in without my orders? I’ll “P.T.” their butts till they drop fricken dead! Now get back to your post! The rest of you daisy sniffers and truffle biters get back to your racks and don’t EVER let me catch you mammals screwing up again! GET IN YOUR RACKS NOW!”

       Anubis stomped back to the head of the bay as the squad jumped back into their racks…..

      “And I better not hear a chirp, a whisper, a growl or a grunt out of any of you! Is that clear?!”

     “SIR YES SIR!” The company shouted back. Anubis flicked off the lights in the bay….”Sweet dreams you sludge monkeys.”
  
       The Company bay door closed….after a minute or two….Manny rolled over the edge of the rack and whispered….”I’ve landed in hell. I could have been in college but Instead I signed up for hell.”

       “We’ll get through it Manny.” Jackson whispered back. “As long as we stick together.”

       Another whisper sounded….”Shut the fluck up you guys?”

       “Isn’t there a law against animal cruelty?” Another voice sounded out.

       “Someone should call the SPCA.” Another voice sounded.

       Then another voice sounded….”Oh for the love of Salt Peter….”HEY! SHUT THE FLUCK UP!”

      Then the Company bay door slammed open again and the lights came on!….

      “DON’T YOU STUPID DUMB TAILS EVER LEARN TO FOLLOW ORDERS! GET THE FLUCK OUT OF YOUR RACKS NOW!” Anubis screamed. And thus did another hours worth of cycling take place for Zootopian Navy Recruit Company 259/39.

September 2, 2039
Letter home from Jackson

Dear Mom and Dad,

         Was the police academy this hard? Mom, I know you’re so fond of pointing out how being the first bunny to get through it, size wise, for you it sucked “a little”. Well I think if this were on an equal “suck-o-meter” you’d be where it says “Tame” and I’d be like fifty points ahead of you. The chances of me washing out though are pretty slim because I know I inherited your stubborn resistance to pain and torture...as well as some of your insanity.

       There are still 200 of us in the Company and Anubis our other Company Commander is always prowling for one more to give the boot too. He drives us hard from morning to night and then some. At least we’ve learned not to snore too loudly for his big black ears to pick up as an excuse to mash our snoots into the dirt. I’m getting the best physical work out of my life.

       I followed your advice Dad and buddy’d up with a pred named Manny Leach from Savanna like you did with Yani when you went through the Academy. Helps a lot when it comes to the big obstacle courses and in turn I help Manny to study for  all the tests we have to take. How’s your back and your tail?

      We have a lot to learn in eight weeks just looking at the training syllabus, next week we start our damage control and fire fighting training, right now it’s basic sea-mammal-ship; learning rope tying and splicing, using sound powered phones, duties aboard ships and standing watches.

    We have four other hybrids in the company, two Ligers and two Granola, you know Grizzly and Polar bear mix, which doesn’t make me feel so alone and unique. As you’d expect, the bunnies in the company sort of shy away from me but I’m not too bothered by that. There’s a group of foxes that….as you’d expect Dad, I won them over rather quickly by preening their tails and keeping them in regulation. They’ve been shining all my brass as payment. See? Told you I’d use your tricks.

    I haven’t seen Darla at all and I know she’s in this recruiting cycle in some company, just haven’t seen her yet. I never really asked you both what you thought of her? Be honest? Is she alright with you both?

    Any way...our free time is over and I have to move on to another class. I’ll write again when we’re on our break time. Love you very much. Keep me in your prayers to Fritz please?

With love,

Jackie

September 10, 2039
2:15am

    “Rustle….”

     Jackson flew from his bunk, slapped Manny in the head and started screaming through the Company Bay….”UP! UP! GET UP! GET UP! GET UP! ONE THE LINE! ON THE LINE!”

      Before Anubis could hurl the trash can, every Mammal was flying to their places….much to his approval….

      “Well well….” Anubis said as he started walking down the bay. “For the first time...I didn’t get the jump on you mammals. Your watch was wide awake, blocked my entry into the bay and….Seaman Recruit Wilde went a hundred percent on his duties….well done. Now let’s see if you box of animal crackers can repeat the performance a couple more times.”

      Anubis stopped at Jackson’s bunk. “Everyone get back to sleep. Seaman Recruit Wilde, Seaman Recruit Leach, front and center at my office door.”

      As the others climbed back into their bunks, Jackson and Manny stiffly marched to the edge of Anubis’s office door where Jackson banged three times on the wood frame….

      “Who’s that wrap’n my timber?” Anubis called out.

      “Sir! Seaman Recruit Wilde and Seaman Recruit Leach reporting as you ordered Sir!” Jackson yelped outside the doorway.

      “Enter!” Anubis shouted. Jackson and Leach approached the desk and snapped to attention. “At ease Recruits and I mean at ease as in don’t stand stiff legged, I don’t want you passing out and upchucking on my clean deck.”

        Anubis got out of his chair and leaned on the side of his desk...”Well….I must say that I am impressed with you two. So far of all the companies I’ve drilled, not one pair of recruits has learned the lessons faster than you two. No one else in this company’s even picked up on it yet. Wilde? Where did you get the idea to befriend Leach here so quickly? And for curiosity sake? What exactly are you?”

       “Sir. I don’t really have a species title.” Jackson replied. “My mother is from Bunny-Borough and my Dad’s an English Fox. As for befriending Recruit Leach. My parents taught me. They and my Godfather. Some things you can’t get through on your own. It helps to have allies...Sir.”

        “They taught you well.” Anubis said nodding. “Concern for your shipmates, making alliances, working well together….that’s qualities we need in the fleet. Are you a go getter Wilde? Think you can handle some responsibility?”

         “Sir.” Jackson replied. “My mother always told me there is no try...we do or we die. If offered? I’ll do it Sir.”

         Anubis smiled...”I have got to be dreaming or flop off my butt drunk? Alright. You Seaman Recruit Wilde and you Seaman Recruit Leach just became the RPOC (Recruit Petty Officer of Command) and the ARPOC (Assistant) you both have the responsibilities of getting this Company to work for each other and itself. You’ll write the duty rosters, do routine inspections, march the company when it marches, discipline when discipline is required, teach when teaching is to be done and nit pick em crazy...but….you’ll learn under my authority and if you screw up? You’ll be replaced. If you stick it out to graduation? You get an instant two grade promotion to Seaman with the chance to take the 3rd class petty officer’s test on the first shot. Does that sound like something you two can handle?”

        Jackson snapped back to attention. “Yes Sir!”

        Leach had to think for a moment before following Jackson. “Yes Sir!”

        Anubis waved his paw. “Alright….get to bed. Tomorrow is liberty day so you march the company to breakfast, lunch and dinner but the rest of the time is everyone’s own. We’ll talk more tomorrow….dismissed.”

         Jackson and Leach marched back to their bunk where Leach stood scratching his head….”Jackie? You sure about this?”

         “We can do this Manny! You’re a wiz at paper work, studying, knowing the books? You handle all that and let me do all the marching and other stuff and we can make this work.” Jackson quickly climbed into his bed. Now get some sleep, we’ll talk in the morning.”

September 10, 2039
6am
Reveille on Company free day

      Chief Harry Arch and Anubis stood at the head of the bay as the Company rolled from their racks. Arch boomed his voice...”Today is Free day! You may all do what you wish around the campus but you will muster at 11am and 4pm to march as a Company to the chow hall. All of you will be back in this bay by 8pm for one hour of bay cleaning and then turn in at 10pm….Seaman recruits Wilde and Leach front and center!”

     Jackson and Leach popped tall before the big Rhino. “Seaman Recruits Wilde and Leach have been assigned as Recruit Company Petty Officer in Command and Assistant respectively! They will carry the authority of myself and Company Commander Anubis! You will follow their commands, you will give them the same respect as myself and Commander Anubis...is that clear?!”

    The Company replied. “SIR YES SIR!”

    Anubis might not have heard it, Leach might not have heard it, Arch didn’t hear it but Jackson heard it clearly as the whisper came up from down the line of the Company….

    “Oh great….they gave power to a half breed little bitch.”

    Jackson was off pounding his feet on the floor before Anubis called out….”RPOC Wilde?!”

    The look on Jackson’s face said it all.

    “Carry on RPOC!” Anubis said with a gesture as he Watched Jackson stomp to a stop, turn and face one of the rabbits standing far down the bay…

     The words of the Don cycled through Jackson’s mind…

     “ If someone insults you in a public place or where there’s no formality, its’ best and safer to let it go unless the insulter pushes it. But if the setting is formal or important? Then you need to confront the insulter because they’re throwing down a challenge to your mammal-hood and your honor. In that case? You can’t act like a dismissive coward. Be ready to take the fool’s head off.”

     “What did you say Seaman Recruit Gilly? I didn’t hear you right? I sort of heard the word’s…..”little bitch.” Jackson asked smartly.

      The March Hare stood with his fellows...”I didn’t say anything...”

       Anubis screamed out. “ADDRESS HIM AS RPOC WILDE SIR RECRUIT!”

      ”I didn’t say anything...RPOC Wilde Sir!” Gilly replied.

       Jackson glued his eyes onto Gilly’s “The words you used were...“Oh great….they gave power to a half breed little bitch.” “I’ll give you another chance to fess up Gilly?….”

       “Lock your eyes on the one who insulted you. Make them fear that you’re going to rip out their throat if they wish to push their luck.

       The March Hare’s nose twitched….”Yes….I said it RPOC Wilde Sir!”

       Jackson snapped his head towards Anubis who answered him with a nod. He then took three steps back and snapped at Gilly. “SEAMAN RECRUIT GILLY! STEP OUT!”

        The March Hare stepped out of rank and Jackson boomed out….”Seaman Recruit Gilly called me a half breed little bitch! That means he called all our Ligers and our Granola Bears “half breed little bitches!” That WILL NOT BE TOLERATED BY THIS COMPANY! SEAMAN RECRUIT GILLY! FOURTY TWO COUNT PUSH UPS BY MY COUNT!…...NOW!”

        Jackson cycled Gilly hard until his arms hurt and tears came from his eyes on the last push up….

        “Get up Seaman Recruit Gilly!” Jackson ordered. Gilly got to his feet….

        “I hear you say anything else bad about hybrids again Seaman Recruit Gilly?” Jackson snarled. “And I’ll turn you over to Commander Anubis. I’m sure he’ll make the point more than clear for you….get back in line!”

        Jackson marched back down to where Commanders Arch and Anubis stood with Leach and popped to a parade rest with his paws behind his back.

       Anubis walked down the bay….”I think all of you mammals need to think about what just happened. All of you depend on each other! You will all depend on your shipmates at sea! Polar Bear, Rhino, Rabbit, field mouse or hybrid….you all depend on each other to get through training and get through your four year or more hitch! Devaluing someone because he may only have half your species can come back to haunt you eventually….better think about that! The mammal you put down just might be the one to lock your tail in a flooding compartment! That’s a terrible way to die!”

      Anubis walked back. “RPOC and Assistant! Take the Company to breakfast!”

September 10, 2039
7:30 am
Company Breakfast at the mess hall.

      Two companies at a time were permitted through the mess hall with the last mammal through the door given twenty minutes before the whole company had to be cleared out. Who else would be running the hall but bunnies who ran the operation with lightening clock work precision. Jackson wondered how many of them might turn their heads if they heard the name “Hopps!”

      Jackson and Manny dropped their plates down at a table with two Ligers, Recruits Burgundy and whiptooth, A giraffe named Benton, A badger named Hotsburger and two chairs still not filled…

      “That was cool.” Burgundy said to Jackson. “What you did to that mouthy rabbit? Are we supposed to be formal when eating?”

      “No.” Manny replied. “Thought he could get one over on those radar ears, big mistake.”

      “I took no pleasure in doing it.” Jackson said. “It’s just ignorant talk. Last thing I want is him to lip off to someone like Whiptooth.”

       “What am I gonna do? Eat him? Rabbit fur is the worst thing to get stuck in your fangs.” Whiptooth replied. “Speak of mouth? Here he comes to suck up.”

        Jackson waved his paw as if to warn everyone not to say anything bad as Gilly came up to the table….

        “Do you mind if I sit here?” Gilly asked.

         “I don’t see a sign that says you can’t?” Jackson replied.

          “I want to apologize….” Gilly said….”To you….to Burgundy and Whiptooth….I was wrong to say that stupid snit.”

         Jackson gestured to the seat. “Let me guess? The Hombrah?”

         Gilly pointed a paw finger...”Exactly! My parents told me foxes couldn’t be trusted and half breed foxes were absolutely untrustworthy. Your fox paws gave you away when we started going through induction.”

         “Actually my dad said I was blessed to have a cotton tail. I hear foxes have to “trice up” (pack up) their tails in their coveralls so they don’t get caught on stuff aboard ship. Talk about uncomfortable.” Jackson replied. “To say nothing of keeping them clean. Can you imagine what all that grime and grease can do to a fox tail?”

        “Well you made quick friends of all the foxes in the company.” Gilly said. “Obviously you did your own father’s tail seeing how nice they all look?”

         “He is so sucking up?” Hotsburger snickered. “You out do a fricken vacuum there...March Hare.”

          “Hey! I’m the one breaking links here Badger! I can’t sit with the other rabbits because they’re calling me a pussy for not standing up to the RPOC.” Gilly quickly waved his paws. “Don’t cycle them please!?”

         “I won’t.” Jackson replied. “Unless there’s good reason. They’ll come out of it eventually if someone would teach them what the scriptures really meant. Fritz didn’t make foxes as “agents of hell.” Rabbits have been telling the stories wrong for generations, my Dad and Mom took me through the whole book like four times…..between sex.” Jackson said which got the table laughing…

         “You’re the only one?” Gilly asked.

          “As far as I know? Yeah.” Jackson replied. “I don’t think my parents want to risk another….or a dozen. There’s no other…..you know? I don’t even know what to call myself?”

         Gilly snickered. “Son of a gitch. My fricken arms still hurt.”

        Manny waved a paw...”We should be concentrating on getting strait and true if we’re going to pick up the rest of the competition flags. We got the four easiest ones; any Company could get those and he as half rump’d up as we are. I hear our sister company has five. We need to snag all 13 to be the graduation color company.”

         Whiptooth asked. “So what about that? What does the color company get?”

         “30 days free leave after boot camp.” Benton said as he ate greens from a plate by dipping his long neck.

         Jackson looked at his wrist watch. “Time to go. What are you guys going to do for three hours?”

         “Me and Whip are gonna hit the pool.” Bergundy said.

         “Press and check my uniforms.” Benton said.

         “Me and Jackson are gonna go to the park and hit the books.” Manny said.

         “Catch extra sleep.” Hotsburger said.

         “Try not to get hazed by the other rabbits.” Gilly snickered. “Would the RPOC’s mind if I tagged?” Gilly asked Jackson and Manny.

         “I dunno.” Manny replied. “It would make you look like a super suck up and then they surely would haze you.”

        “And then we’d have to report them and they’d get cycled.” Jackson said.

        “Not if we could convince three of them to form a color guard?” Gilly gestured as the group walked out of the chow hall….”There’s the guard flag? And I know two of the bunnies were in the High School parade group. Worth a shot right?”

      Manny looked at Jackson….”He’s got a point?”

      “Do it.” Jackson said with a nod. “You take point on it.”

September 10, 2039
9:30am
ZND Flying Wolf memorial park

       Jackson and Manny sat under the shade of an old 5 inch destroyer turret from the Flying Wolf, the only Zootopian ship to ever….so far….get into a brief exchange with a K’zin warship. Actually more of a “grind and bump” session between the hulls of two ships. It was the Flying Wolf who slammed a broadside into the K’zin ship to break up the back and forth, hence someone thought the brief exchange, which happened in a dense fog by accident, deserved a memorial park in the ship’s honor.

        At the moment, the two RPOC’s were scheming ways to grab...in literal terms….one flag from their sister company, number 260. The “Goat Flag” was a steal flag...meaning any company could have it so long as they could keep it from being stolen and to steal it from your sister company’s squad bay would demand a little crafty ingenuity…

       “Well?” Manny asked Jackson as he lay on his back. “Anything?”

       “Not yet.” Jackson replied.

       “Jack? You’re part fox, you should be able to come up with some ideas?” Manny snickered.

         “Part...Manny…..Part fox ok? I didn’t get all my Dad’s DNA.” Jackson replied as he tapped his head...”We can’t imitate officers or chiefs, that would get us seriously busted. We could try and find someone to bribe?”

         “Oh?” A voice replied from out of Jackson’s eyes….a very familiar voice. “And I wonder would could be the target of such a bribe?”

          Jackson turned his head and there leaning against the gun turret, was Darla Delaware, wearing the silver shoulder rope of an Assistant RPOC. “Hello Recruit Petty Officer in Command Seaman Recruit Wilde?”

        “Hello….” Jackson replied smiling.  “Assistant Recruit Petty Officer in Command Seaman Recruit Delaware.”

           The female otter gestured. “May I join you two?” She asked. Jackson patted the grass and Darla took a seat...”Have to be careful so we don’t look like were fraternizing.” Darla said. “You look good RPOC Wilde?” Darla asked with a smile.

        “And so do you…..ARPOC Delaware.” Jackson replied. “I’ve really missed you. So? How’s training going?”

        “For us? Excellent.” Darla replied. “You might want to take some pointers from your sister Company there RPOC Wilde?”

         “You’re in 260?” Jackson asked his girlfriend.

         “You…..wouldn’t be scheming to steal our Goat flag would you now?” Darla asked. “Our penalty for attempted theft is to be smothered in Hershey’s chocolate, covered in feathers and left tied up on the parade field so….I would think twice there…..RPOC Wilde.”

          “Me? Try to steal “your” flag?” Jackson replied smiling. “Oh I wouldn’t think of such a cruel thing would I?”

          Darla leaned over...”Oh? Sports Day is coming up too? You know one of the events is a log roll don’t you? And I know you just can’t resist that can you? I hope you can be as good a loser as you were in high school Jackson….because my company is going to win that flag too.”

          Darla touched a paw finger to Jackson’s nose. “See you later….”puffy.” Darla said quietly before she walked off...making sure to add emphasis to her swinging otter tail…

         Manny smirked. “Who’s she?”

         “My girl friend.” Jackson replied smiling.

         “You?….You wouldn’t throw anything just….” Manny said as he pointed.

         Jackson shoulder punched Manny. “NO! She’s just trying to get under my skin. We were actually bitter rivals in High School.”

        Manny snickered. “The tent in your pants doesn’t agree with the rivalry.”

        “Damn it!” Jackson yelped as he closed his legs.
 
          “Looks like you inherited a positive from your old man there.” Manny chuckled.

          “Just…..Just keep to the subject at hand?” Jackson said waving a paw. “Number one is getting that goat flag. Number two is the color guard. Number three is the company uniform inspection by the base commander and….we have Damage Control coming up. Now the D.C. flag depends on who can have the less amount of water in the simulator. We have to pre-plan all the roles to fit everyone in the company. Having some knowledge ahead of time of what the simulator looks like?...”

           Manny huffed. “No Jackie….no….we’re not cheating. That could get us set back to the first day of boot….no…..no…..no.”

            “It’s not really cheating if you hear it being blabbed out in the open.” Jackson said. “Technicians do have loose lips?”

             Manny smirked back with a pointing paw finger...”And you?….”

             Jackson played with his ears...”They’re pretty sharp? And so far no one has said there’s regulations against intel gathering?”

             “We’d be playing a real thin dice game.” Manny said with a shrug.

              Jackson thought for a moment….”Go get Gilly?”

September 10, 2039
1pm
Grassy field next to the “Butter Cup”
The Damage Control Simulator.

The five bunnies, Gilly included, stood with their backs to the fence as Jackson talked and peered past them at the technicians who climbed all over the chopped section of a ship set in an enormous ten foot deep tank…

“Did you explain everything?” Jackson asked Gilly.

“On the understanding that you’re taking the fall.” Gilly replied. “They want that made clear.”

It was obvious by their faces that none of them, save Gilly, liked Jackson for the obvious reason. But they all...as bunnies….had the natural instinct to “stick it” to the “biggers” and Jackson played to their ego…

“All we’re gonna do right now is march around and get the alignment right. Gilly told you what we’re doing so when I call for “Perk!” ears up and open. Let’s see if these technicians are blabby.”

  Jackson walked a few feet and motioned to the ground...”Color guard! Form to attention!”

   The bunnies formed a line of four with Gilly, the color lead, standing at the front holding a chopped broom stick as a sort of sword…

   “Call to Attention!” Jackson snapped out. “Perk!”

    All the bunnies whipped their ears up rigid over their heads.

    “At the slow time…...march!” Jackson yelped out and the bunnies marched, reversed, marched, reversed and marched as Jackson followed their every move while instructing them from a book in his hands and training his own ears to catch what the technicians were talking about…

     Manny stood off by himself appearing to take notes but catching the downloads as the color guard marched by him…..

“Three rooms.”

“Two places where there’s holes in the walls.”

“Three broken pipes.”

“Hole in the deck.”   

    As Jackson walked with the bunnies….a familiar deep voice suddenly cracked in his ears….

     “RPOC Wilde! Spot on me please!” Chief Arch grunted. Jackson stopped the color guard and ran up to report to his Company Commander…

     “Sir! RPOC Wilde reporting Sir!” Jackson snapped as he “popped tall!”

      “What are you doing RPOC?” Arch asked.

      “Sir! Putting together the Company color guard for the C.G. Flag Sir!” Jackson replied.

       “All bunnies I see...” Arch remarked. “Why all bunnies and why are you practicing here? Why not the parade ground?”

       Jackson replied quickly. “Because they’re all motivated Sir! They have High School marching experience and I wanted a more quiet place in case there’s some minor disagreement with them because I’m a hybrid Sir!”

       Arch blew out a Rhino snort. “There isn’t some other motive? Is there Mister Wilde?”

        Judy had always made it very clear to Jackie from her own academy days….”Don’t lie. If asked? You don’t have to give a speech, but just don’t lie.”

        Jackson stiffened himself. “Yes Sir! There is another motive.” He said without breaking.

       Arch looked at the Buttercup and nodded. “Carry on Mister Wilde.”

      Jackson replied with a salute. “Yes Sir!” He instantly felt he was dead. None the less...they all continued for another thirty minutes until Jackson dismissed them.

      Walking back to the Company bay...Jackson felt his lunch would fly from his tail hole he was so wrapped with nerves...”Manny? I guess I should give you my shoulder rope because I’m dead.”

         “Don’t talk like that.” Manny replied. “If the Commander wanted your hide, he would have done it right there as an example.”

          “Sigh….” Jackson replied. “What a bone head...my Dad could have done something more subtle than that!”

          “Your Dad doesn’t have big bunny ears but you do have his nuts?” Manny snickered. 

         Jackson contorted his face...”What the heck is it with you and my package envy?” 

        Manny laughed. “I’m trying to keep you from sucking yourself into your butt. You’re fine Jackie? We got a ton of info to work with, I can’t believe those technicians were flapping their gums!”

       “Could also be false information too.” Jackson replied. “Guess we’ll know come test day.”

September 10, 2039
8pm
Company Bay….cleaning hour.

      Jackson was inspecting the Company shower room for soap scum when Anubis’s voice boomed behind him…

      “RPOC...report to my office…..right…..now.” The African Wolf growled. He sounded absolutely pissed.

      Jackson walked quickly to the door frame and banged his paw on it….

      “Who’s that pounding my Persimmon?!” Anubis yelped.

      “Sir! RPOC Wilde reporting as you ordered Sir!” Jackson cried out.

      “Get on the spot you sneaky hoodlum!” Anubis snapped.

       “Oh…..no…..” Jackson thought to himself as he came in and popped before the desk.

        “You had a conversation with the Lead Company Commander this afternoon Mister Wilde?” Anubis asked.

        “Yes Sir.” Jackson replied.

        “And he asked you if you had another motive for drilling the company color guard in front of the Damage Control Simulator?” Anubis asked. “And you told him you did. Is that correct?”

        Jackson had to force himself to speak. “Yes Sir.”

        Anubis stood up and put himself before the shaking hybrid. “What was that other motive Mister Wilde?”

”Don’t lie. If asked? You don’t have to give a speech, but just don’t lie.”

        Jackson took a deep breath….”Sir...It was to gain an advantage during the D.C. training phase. It was my idea. All my idea Sir!”

        Anubis came snoot to snoot with Jackson...”Do you know what happens to those who cheat? Seaman Recruit Wilde?” Anubis snarled. He let a moment of silence sink in for effect...”They get hauled before the Commanding Officer of the base….who is a big mean old lion by the way….and they get kicked out the gate but not before THEY PISS THEMSELVES FOR BEING THE LITTLE BASTARDS THAT THEY ARE!”

Jackson kept his eyes looking strait as he struggled not to cry…

“What should I do to you Seaman Recruit Wilde? Are you going to beg? Why don’t you beg? Maybe I’ll feel sympathy for you? Go ahead Seaman Recruit, which won’t last long…..cry you little bastard!”

Jackson un-clipped his golden shoulder rope and held it out in front of himself.

End of Chapter 3