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
(c) (Artist ownership) The K’zin by Lary Niven.
(Artist ownership) Don Carnage Disney’s TAIL SPIN
(Artist ownership) Ikkey the Fox Kit by Inkbunny’s Ikkey
(Artist Ownership) Master Guns Flash by Inkbunny’s Flash Timberwolf
(Artist Ownership) Chuck  Dawson (cat) From Omaha the Cat Dancer  Reed Waller 1994

Chapter 22
The Outbacks Part 2

ZNAAS-1 Sayoni (Zootopian Navy Amphibious Assault Ship)
In Port, Mole Harbor, Savanna Central
9pm 12 September 2040

       If Noah’s Ark were a steel warship, then it would be the Sayoni. A thousand feet from the bow to the stern. 300 feet wide on the strait line flight deck. Seven decks from the water line to the flight deck and five decks below to the keel. She could carry a single Fleet Marine Division, all its’ weapons, its’ amphibious vehicles and the Un-Mammal’d drones used to support them from the air. She had a large “well deck” with a big stern gate that could flood full of water enough to fill four Olympic sized swimming pools. She could carry enough supplies, provisions, fuel and ammunition to keep the 1st Marines combat stocked for 48 hours...what their commanders called “The sweet spot” when it came to landing on an opposed beach. 48 hours was the deadline for calling any beach head “Secured”.

      But at the moment. The only thing 3rd Class UAV technician Kerdle cared about was replacing the bad reciever that kept “his” ( And he called the drone his own as if he owned it) his Y-48-B Flying Fox from getting off the ship. 

      He’d sent a text to Jackson to let him know he was on the Sayori and his phone beeped a reply….”Seriously?! How did you get the spot? I thought you were shore duty for four years?” Jackson texted.

     “Well the Drones can’t repair themselves.” Kerdle replied. “I got put on the detachment because I am so snit hot.”

      Jackson texted back. “We must hook up when we get in port. Please don’t be a stranger?” Jackson texted with a smile face and hugging hands emogi.

      “Wouldn’t think of being a stranger.” Kerdle replied. He then sat for a moment on top of the aerial drone and looked out over the pier and the huge parking lot below and beyond the Sayoni to watch the Marines flowing towards the ship. They came by themselves or in small groups, some saying goodbye to “Significant others” or families. Some came as platoons or companies where they formed up for some sort of muster and instruction before walking in a disorganized chattering gaggle onto the pier and up the loading ramp to the assault ship’s interior.

      And then...there were the bunnies and not just a few or a bunch or a crop or a hutch...but four Battalions forming up way in the distance to the back of the parking lot. Kerdle heard a wolf Marine snort as he passed by the drone…

     “They always think they’re special.” The Alaskan Grey Wolf said.

     “Why are they?” Kerdle asked.

      “That’s the Rock of Aden Regiment.” The wolf said with a smirk. “They make a big presentation because they need to perk up their little bunny nuts. I’ve been in  the Fleet Marine for eight years now, I left all that pomp and toe slamming in boot camp.”

      Kerdle blew the Marine off. So what if the bunnies were going to make a big deal with their coming aboard? The fox found the pomp and ceremony exciting, especially the sound of bag pipes which he could hear being loosely played and exercised as the Bunnies continued to form up in huge blocks along the back fence.

       Sargent Major Zachius, a big old black and white furred bunny, stood in front of the block of drummers and pipers who stood in front of the four formed battalions. In his paw he held a very large two edged Claymore sword as he scanned the assembled bunnies before him. He was waiting for the most senior Gunnery Sargent to come up and report the condition of the Regiment, upon which the Sargent Major would order the entire regiment into motion.

      Moments went by before one bunny made crisp and sharp directive steps and turns to put himself before the Sargent Major where he came to a rigid attention. “SARGENT MAJOR! REPORTING ALL PRESENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR! SEVEN MARINES EXCUSED FOR INJURIES! NO MISSING MARINES SARGENT MAJOR!” The Gunnery Sargent snapped out.

      “Very well.” Zachius replied. He made one more careful scan before drawing the Claymore from its’ sheath and resting it upon his right shoulder and down the gap between his right arm and the right side of his chest. The big bunny boomed out in a deep highlander’s voice…

      “REGIMENT! ATTENTION TO ORDERS!” Zachius screamed out and the regiment responded as one soul with the loud audible slaps of rifles being brought to attention by the sides of each carrier….a silent pause, then the Sargent Major boomed out another command…

      “REGIMENT! OPEN RANKS….MARCH!”  Zachius screamed out and the four Battalions of bunnies opened up spaces between the ranks and stopped their movements with the slap of their rifle butts on the concrete.

       “REGIMENT! RIGHT SHOULDER BY THE QUEEN ANNE! ARGH! Zachius screamed out and the regiment smacked their rifle butts twice against the pavement, kicked them behind their legs, brought them forwards rifle butts first, wheeled them out and up in a twist where they landed against the right shoulders with a single loud “CLINK” of the receivers!

      “REGIMENT! CLOSE RANKS….MARCH!” Zachius screamed out and the battalions closed up their ranks as the big burly hare marched to a spot where the Regimental color guard and the pipes and drums formed in behind him…

       “SONS OF AIDEN! MARCH COLUMNS! FORM UP!”  Zachius screamed out and the snare and boom drums in the band section began to tap out the form rhythm as the four battalions of bunnies fell into march formation one after the other until they were a single line of four columns extending back from the Sargent Major some 60 yards deep…

       “REGIMENT! FORWARD! MARCH!” Zachius screamed out and the bag pipe and drum section unleashed a loud and thunderous wail and boom as the big black hare stomped a foot then set the march pace, bringing the whole mass of armed rabbits to a single seamless movement of waving arms, stomping feet, flowing flags and flashing steel from the glints of their polished bayonets. Every other mammal heading for the Sayoni stopped in their tracks or got out of the way of the march column to watch the sight as it marched through the parking lot with the old Black hare brandishing that monstrous Claymore in an upwards face to paw salute.

      From where he was sitting, Kerdle was moved. The whole demonstration looked and sounded “kick rump” to him. The grumpy wolf standing by the UAV though was not impressed at all…

     “What a waste of time. Who are they trying to impress?” The wolf marine snorted. “They make cute cannon fodder, that’s for sure. You can’t miss those “faggot” red berets they wear.”

      Kerdle snorted at the Wolf. “You have no respect do you? What’s wrong there Wolf? Feel your stupid howling being threatened by a flock of “cute” Bunnies? I bet they’d rip you apart before you could get in a bite.”

      “You better shut your yap squid.” The wolf snarled. “Better yet? Shut that pussy ass vulpine trap.”

      Kerdle knew better than to get into a fight with an ignorant. He turned back around to watch the bunnies come through the guard gate and start up the ramp to the holding bay of the assault ship, bagpipes still screaming and drums still banging away inside the ship’s cavernous interior which made the UAV hum under his tail. Bravado?….perhaps? Compensation for their size?….Ok, maybe? But they deserved respect for being so tight nit and stubborn to their traditions. Kerdle saw the tartan scarfs that adorned the necks of every bunny that passed under the fight deck and into the ship, each scarf representing a clan or family, each scarf woven from the paws of perhaps hundreds of bunnies, symbols of what the Aiden rabbits called “From the paws of many comes the strength of one.” Kerdle liked that, longed for that kind of a family that he and his brother never had save their common mother. 

       The pipes and drums didn’t stop until the tail of the Regiment passed through the loading doors on the side of the assault ship. The wolf had long since left, leaving Kerdle to finish his work and still have time for ample sleep before the Sayoni and the Assault Command Ship Tun Taven got underway with the fleet support force before dawn.

ZNDG-3 Growler
In Port, Sandy Cove Naval Installation
9pm 12 September 2040

      Darla sat by herself against the slanting side of the ship’s exhaust stack and tried not to get too angry as her father numbered off “his reasons” why her being “hitched up” to...”all be it a very nice and adjusted young mammal but still not an otter”..wasn’t something a very smart and very awesome daughter...should entertain as a “good idea”

      The only thing her father was cultivating right now with his long winded speech was a broiling headache and the urge to “Throw three teeth to the four winds upon the old mammal’s nut sack.” That’s how Darla was feeling at to moment as she slipped down on her back and groaned….”Oh when is he going to just let me talk?”…..Grrrrr…..”DADDY SOOSH!” Darla yelped, then slapped her paw to her mouth hoping someone didn’t hear her…

      “What did you say to me young lady?” Her father snorted through the phone video…

         “I said….” Darla yelped back. “Shoosh!…..better yet?…..shut up.”

         “How dare you tell your father to shut up?!” The big otter snapped! Darla’s mother intervened…

        “Now baby? Your father is only explaining things in….” Darla cut her short….

       “Yaddah, yaddah species purity...Yaddah Yaddah wreck my pussy….Yaddah Yaddah pump out babies...how about that for explaining things in realistic terms Mother? How about my reply? You wanted to break my heart? You wanted to hurt my feelings? You wanted to tell me my boyfriend is a piece of half-breed snit? Well done Daddy….except your long winded attempt only proved how small you own balls really are!”

        That put Darla’s father in the block house quick. They all sat glaring at each other in silence through their phones until Darla looked at her parents frowning….

        “You won’t give Jackson a chance...you’ve already judged him unfit for me before you even really met him and you both broke my heart! What about my happiness Daddy? What I want? Don’t I mean something to you?”

         “You’ve always meant everything to me!” Darla’s father replied. “All of your brothers and sisters mean everything to me!”

         “Oh?” Darla yelped. “So just because I don’t want to marry an otter like the rest of my sisters have, just because I found someone I love for who he is, not what he looks like? You won’t give him the time of day or the decency to see if he’ll treat me like you want your own daughter to be treated.” Darla turned her head and cried. “I’m done talking with you two...(crying)...maybe when I come home, things will be different but right now I feel like I’m snit to you!”

        Darla turned off the phone and sat with her head buried in her arms sobbing until someone walked up to her after climbing up a ladder when he heard her crying…

      “Petty Officer Delaware?”  Repair Specialist 2nd Class Kipper (Otter) asked as he bent over. “You alright?”

      “I wish you’d drop the formal stuff.” She replied.

        “I wanted to make sure we could talk without making you uncomfortable.” Kipper asked as he sat down. 

        “Sigh….I just had a fight with my parents. Specifically? I just had a beef with my father over Jackie.” Darla said as she wiped her eyes…

       “Oh...” Kipper replied. “Lemme guess? He’s not an otter so….that sort of thing huh? Kipper shifted himself till he sat next to Darla...”My wife and I didn’t fair with our parents even being otters. They hated me and my parents absolutely believed my wife was no good. Problem? She was 15 when I knocked her up the first time. I was 16. When I told my parents? They went into ballistic orbit.”

        Darla snickered...”I didn’t chose Jackie for his package.”

        “That’s obvious.” Kipper replied. “Any way...we ran off, dropped out of school, had our first kit in a public fountain in Savanna. It was rough...I did the worst jobs I could find till I joined the Navy. One day? Our Dads tracked us down, occupied the apartment, were all set and ready to bite, scratch and kick my tail three ways to Sunday….till I came in through the door in my dress blues. That got everything put to bed.”

         Darla sighed...”It seems easy for you but my parents are not yours and my father is an over-bearing prick.”

         “So what will you do?” Kipper asked. “Tell Jackie you can’t see him any more? Tell you parents to go screw themselves? Maybe give Jackie some confidence and let him talk to them?”

          Darla gave Kipper a side ways glance….”You may find this demented “P oh 2” but Jackie and I have a competition going over this. I can’t really help him if I want a beautiful wedding dress on the day we do decide to get married.”

         Kipper cocked his head. “Are you serious?”

        Darla nodded...”Can’t give him any help. If he doesn’t succeed? We’ll elope and Jackson will buy me a nice wedding dress. That’s if we can’t get my parents blessing but I’d rather not have him fail.”

        Kipper shook his head...”That has got to be the most demented competition I’ve ever heard of in my life.”

        “I’m starting to regret making it.” Darla said “But what can I do? I know it sounds absurd but we both thrive off these kinds of competitions.”

        Kipper thought for a moment...”I have an idea. You’ll think it’s crazy, perhaps even borders on stupidly absurd but how would you like to shuck Jackie into paying for that dress?”

         Darla smiled back….”Sounds entertaining? We’ll see if Jackie can catch onto it….whatever it is?”

         Kipper looked around and leaned into Darla’s ear. “How good can you write romantically?”

Nick and Judy’s house
Downtown Zootopia
9pm 12 September 2040

        “Hi Mom!” Jackson said through his cell phone as he sat on the stern by the canvas covered “Ma Deuce” 50 caliber machine gun mount. “Thought I’d call? I’m just doing a last minute look at Ayden and Mine’s emergency station before we leave tomorrow.”

       “That’s good.” Judy replied as she sat on her couch in her pajamas. “Your father’s already sleeping and I didn’t think you’d want me to wake him up. We’re going out to Aiden-Burough tomorrow to meet with Fen Fen and get the keys to the cottage, spend some time together alone.”

       “You do that Mom. You and Dad go have fun. Have you thought about a date for retiring yet.” Jackson asked.

       “It won’t happen until you come home.” Judy replied. “By then? We’ll be living out there.” Judy sighed a little...”Oh….so many memories in this house Jackson...I hate to sell it. I thought about holding off to let you have it...”

      “Mom...don’t fret over it?” Jackson replied. “It’s too big for me and Darla to take on right now any ways, especially being on active duty. Let the first four years go by and then we’ll find a place for us. You and Dad just go out to Aiden, get in trouble with Uncle Fen, go feral and enjoy yourselves. And Mom?”

      “Yes honey?” Judy replied.

       “What…..the…...fluck…...is Jar, Jar Binks? Who the hell came up with that botched abortion? Are you serious? That’s a child friendly PSA? Mom? He has his own lynch mob fan club? Just to be honest. I hope you have the creator of that thing in witness protection?”

       Judy started laughing….

       “Oh Fritz and Ritz Crackers….Did you come up with that thing Mom? What the hell? Are you smoking pot? Are you eating “Savage” berries? Have you lost your bunny mind?…..as if my mother ever had a calm and normal bunny mind?” Jackson snickered.

       “You just finish up and get to bed you little snit.” Judy yelped back. “And… please take care of yourself?”

        Jackson smiled. “I will Mom.”

        “And Darla too.” Judy said smiling.

        Jackson chuckled….”Don’t go playing match maker again while we’re out? And tell Dad I love him?” Jackson said warmly. “See you in a few months Mom.”

       Jackson clicked off the phone just in time for the ship’s announcing system to give off a warning tone…

       “ATTENTION. THE MASTER CHIEF WILL NOW SPEAK!”

       The voice of the old Ram came next….”Good evening Growler. All paws have now reported aboard, we are at 100 percent crew compliment. The brows are now closed and within a few hours we’ll be getting underway with the Savanna and the Gnu York under simulated emergency conditions. We will go to general quarters. We will be leaving the harbor “hot” meaning we’ll be doing live fire against various threats. We’re going to be making a ton of noise and splashing a lot of drones. For those of you who’ve never seen what these destroyers can do? You’ll get your eyes full tomorrow morning.”

      “That being said….we’re going to do this in a safe manor. Remember the rules at all times. Up and forward on the starboard ladders, down and aft on the port ladders. No stupid suicide slides on the ladder railings! No gazelle speeding through the hoof and noggin knockers! No crazy group stampedes! Rodents? Use your tubes because the general passageways are going to be to dangerous! I don’t want half the ship in sick bay with busted antlers, broken shins, hip displacia and cracked skulls! Be calm and be safe tomorrow.”

      “That’s all I have. Get sleep while you can because tomorrow morning we bear our teeth, let loose our claws and make the water froth….kick tail Growler!”

       Jackson took a deep breath and clenched his paws as if everything would depend on him in the morning. He took one last look over of his binoculars, cleaning the lenses again with lens paper before putting them back in their pouch and slinging them from the Ma Deuce. He couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen in the morning.

Gilly’s Apartment
Sahara Square
9pm 12 September 2040

     Chuck Dawson (Tabby cat) did what he promised, the apartment was full of mammals among them Chuck’s girlfriend Omaha Reins (Tabby Cat) who was a sociology major and worked “T.C.’s” night club on Sahara Beach. Omaha’s friend Shelly Monford ( a lioness) who majored in Graphic Arts and advertising. Bobby Shaw (A poodle) who majored in political sciences and his boyfriend Eric Mager (Pit bull) who was a professional photographer among others they all brought from the University.

     Will finished passing out clean notebooks and pens and stood at the front of the group waving his paws...”Thanks everyone for coming...when Chuck said he would bring “some” friends...I didn’t expect us to be going for the Guinness book of world records to see how many “frats” we could pack into an apartment.”

     The group chuckled back...giving Will time to think about what to say next…

     “Chuck knows me...probably by now most of you know me. My name is Will Gray and I’m very concerned by what’s been going on between Zootopia and Kzin. Most recently with the now completed trial of Commander William Callie, I think ten years is a slap on the wrist for callus and brutal murder. Not making excuses for the Kzinti but we have laws and laws must be obey’d no matter how displeasing the situation might be...ignorance is no defense for butchery.”

        “Right now….the love of my life is aboard the destroyer Growler which sails tomorrow morning with a naval armada….let’s not kid outselves, this is an armada. The Mayor and the administration is telling us this is a peaceful visit to support the mammals of the Outback Islands...gee….we need three warships, an amphibious task force, a whole Fleet Marine Division and all their support ships to make a “peaceful visit”….sounds a little over-flowing doesn’t it?”

       The group nodded and agreed….

       “I also have a little brother….though right now if I called Alex little? He’d probably rip my ears off. He wants to be a Marine...I’m not against that. I want to make it clear….I am NOT against the Sailors or Marines right now getting ready to go to the Outbacks! This is not being done to disgrace them, defame them or make them the objects of our anger or scorn. I love them….I love my darling...I love my little brother and I’ll be damn to hell if I have to put them in the ground because we provoked a war that should not be provoked!”

       The crowded room agreed….

      “We Zootopians have always been peaceful ever since we came out of the dark ages. Since then we’ve always valued every life as dear and precious, even those whom we’ve never met. Sure we must defend ourselves, it would be foolish not to have a defense but defense does not mean you go looking for a chip to knock off someone’s shoulder by doing a “cock dare dance” in their face!”

      Some of the crowd giggled….noting Will’s homosexuality….

     “Ok….I’m still rough at public speaking….some of you have nasty brains….can we return to seriousness now?”

      Will took a pause for a breath.

     “Wars don’t happen just by someone punching the snoot of someone else. Wars happen because no one stepped in to prevent the punch in the first place. What we’re doing by sending this multi-ship fleet to the Outback Islands is throwing the first punch. What happens if the Kzinti take this the wrong way? If there’s a mistake? If someone pushes the wrong button? What then? Is there anyone here who thinks sending this big fleet of ships is a smart idea?”

      Bobby Shaw replied. “One ship with a few officers would have been sufficient if they cared enough to frame it right with the media? I mean Admiral DonCarnage  is a pretty good public speaker, what ambiguity would there have been with him standing on some beach in the Outbacks warning the Kzinti not to get dumb? Seems to me the amount of warships needed to be equivalent to the total number of “penises of courage” required for a “rough and gruff” statement.”

      Bobby’s boy friend Eric Meger smirked...”That was eloquent Bobby?”

      “Ok? Here’s my problem...” Bobby replied. “So far...there’s been no contact with the Kzinti...that we all know off anyway...not in 80 years. We’ve had little “nick nack” face slaps but no honest face to face contact. It’s hard to motivate a peace movement when we don’t know much about the opposition to promote a peace movement. ”

        “Murder, torture and beheading are not “Nick nack face slaps” Bobby.” Shelly Monford exclaimed.

        “I know that Shelly.” Bobby replied. “Let me finish? The official line we get fed every day is that the Kzinti are “doing this thing and that thing” trying to provoke us into a fight. Who’s to say we’re not doing the same thing? We just have no knowledge of it. I mean...the Mayor’s not going just come and say….”By the way? For past 80 years we’ve been sending spies into Kzin and...well….it might be the source of all our problems. Just saying?”

        Will replied. “You have to have evidence to back up those claims Bobby..

        “What if I told you I have a source to confirm what I’m saying?” Bobby replied. “Then what would you think about that?”

        “I’d say make sure and confirm him or her first before we her them out.” Will replied. “If we are provoking the Kzinti and you can offer honest evidence then that changes the whole situation. Till then, our whole focus has to be on this sending the fleet to the Outback Islands.”

      Omaha raised a paw...”It’s too late to stop them from leaving tomorrow but it’s not too late to frame the argument and influence public opinion. But we have to be sure not to make it “the soldier’s fault” We have to be clear that we support our troops and the job they do, just not the policy of the government. We also have to be careful about fringe groups and rebel rousers. Alex Bore and Jimmy Hoofah have their “fruity loonies” and we’re no different.

       Chuck shook his head. “You’re talking about Mister “Endless Campus Squatter” Dimish Dramadory and his merry band of anarchists. Every time we have a campus action day be it “Respect Nature” ” or “anti-Species superiority and abuse of power day” or even “Gay paw pride”….Dimish has to bring his herd of anarchists and all hell breaks loose. He’s just the worst of the crop.”

       Bobby sighed...”You can’t get that guy to understand the importance of media, he thinks busting windows, smashing cars and “performing street actions” against the “Big corporate, big house humping whore-mammals” is going to make more of a difference than gentle persuasion. I can almost assure you that any protest we organize? He’ll start his crap unless we put the lid on his herd of fools real quick.”

      Will sighed….”And then? He’ll go bitch on social media….”I’m being repressed! See! See! That gay wolf told the police on me! He’s a tool for the great repression! Then he’ll ruin everything and all the media say about our message is “bad furs led by big bad gay wolf.”

      Shelly raised a paw….we have to appeal to the families that have their loved ones on those ships. We have to present a loving, non-threatening, caring front and win over the families...the parents, the siblings, the wives….the cute bunnies...” Shelly said looking at Will. “That surprises me?….a wolf in love with a bunny? Fox? Yeah I can see it, after all the Chief of Police is married to a fox. Wolf and bunny? Looks sort of un-natural.”

     Will smiled….”Let my boyfriend scratch you for a half and hour and a lioness and a bunny will look equally funny. Shelly’s right...let’s appeal to the military families. After all, their children and fathers and “significant others” will be the first to feel the pain of any war. We need to get their help.”

     Chuck stood up. “I think we have the making of a good movement. I think we need to take a break from here and brainstorm for our first protest. Everyone get into small groups and let’s turn on the brain buckets.”

Gordon and Grace Gray’s home
Rain Forrest District
9pm 12 September 2040

      Grace Gray had been a lead C.P.A. with a firm in downtown Zootopia for five years now which brought the family a very comfortable living after her husband retired from the Navy. Gordon couldn’t stay still of course, he found a contracting job that took him away from time to time to different parts of Zootopia and while Grace wished he’d stay home more often? She didn’t knock the money he was bringing home every two weeks. This time he would be gone for three weeks.

      Entering her house, Grace noted the song from “The Police”  playing softly from the house entertaining system. But there was no sign of Alex so she thought he’d left it on and gone to see a few friends…

      Then she found the printed out piece of paper on the Kitchen table with a “love heart” over the letters below it…

“Come up to the bathroom on the second floor. : ) XXXXXX” The note said.

       Grace smirked...”He didn’t go anywhere….that crafty stud.” The female wolf said as she slowly walked up the stairs to the second floor and stood for a moment in the hallway…

      “Some one should be out on the job. You know I don’t take too well to liars Gordon.” Grace snickered as she slowly walked to the bathroom and found a scene out of their favorite love hotel…

       The room was bathed in her favorite light color...a reddish purple. Rose pedals adorned the floor, the furniture, the toilet, the filled up sink. The bath tub was full of pink suds and some soft love music played from an MP3 speaker…

       “Ok Gordon….” Grace said as she crossed her arms. “Come out now. I forgive you...”

        “Ah hemmm…..Dad isn’t here Mom.” Alex’s voice sounded from behind. Grace turned to see her youngest son dressed in a nicely pressed white shirt with a collar, black slacks, a red tie and holding an ace bucket, wine and a wine glass.

       “My treat mom.” Alex said smiling. “Just call me your slave for tonight. Don’t pick up anything, don’t do anything, don’t call Dad and please don’t call Will? I’m not in the mood for a “dog fight” tonight.”

       Grace gasped. “Alex? You did all this?”

       “I think you should get in the tub before the water turns cold.” Alex said as he placed the wine down on top of the clothes hamper. “Mom? Bath? Clothes? Come on? Time is wasting hot water here?”

        Grace gave Alex a stern look. “What are you up too?”

        “What?!” Alex replied. “I can’t pamper my mother? I can’t say thank you for being born?” Alex walked up, wrapped his arms around his mother and snuggled his chin against her breasts...”I can’t love you and show you how much you mean to me?”

       Grace giggled. “You are creeping me out little wolf.”

       “Little? What an a-front! I’m sixteen Mom! You see any pampers on me?” Alex yelped.

       “Well if I did then I’d be calling the Paddy Wagon.” Grace snickered. “Ok Alex? What’s your deal?”

        “Hmph….I take all this time to prepare for my mother this wonderful evening and she accuses me of skull duggery….that hurts mom….really hurts.” Alex said with a frown until Grace kissed him on the head…

        “You always give the nicest gifts.” Grace said as Alex turned around.

         “Hmph! Now you’re trying to butter me up? Get in the bath before it turns to ice?” Alex said playfully. “Give me your clothes Mom?” The Mid-ling wolf demanded. Soon the sound of Grace adjusting to the hot water gave Alex a smile…

      “Did it right huh Mom?” He said as he turned around to see his mother’s pleased smile. “Want any music request?”

         Grace replied with her eyes closed...”SEAL...I bet you have the album too huh?”

      Alex pressed a hand controller and brought up the album of SEAL (A California Sea Lion) who’s sweet and soft voice made Grace swoon and howl lightly as she enjoyed the bath…

      “Now?” The female wolf asked. “You’re not trying to get me to sign any enlistment papers are you?”

       Alex leaned against the tub...”Mom? Shut up and enjoy yourself? Dad should be doing this every week. Hell….he should be romancing you every day. I really do love you Mom and I know I’ve been giving you a lot of guff you don’t deserve.”

     Grace reached out and gave Alex a wet hug….”I hate you getting older. You’re my cute little cub. Oh your brother was special too but you? You’re my little cuddle bug. When you were a baby, I couldn’t get enough snuggles out of you.”

     Alex smirked back. “Now you’re creeping me out Mom. Getting a little dangerously incestuous here.”

     Grace bopped Alex off the head. “You know what I mean Alex. You sure you’re not going to try and throw some enlistment papers on me at the last minute?”

     “Mom? Can I finish high school first?” Alex yelped. “No, I am not going to enlist yet. But Uncle Chancy’s deploying tomorrow and I hope you sent him a text or something?”

    “I always send him off with a pack of socks.” Grace giggled. “I give em to one of his Marines who lives close by us. I add a pair of long silk one’s when he wants to “fem out”.”

    Alex’s face dropped. “What? Mom? Are you saying? Uncle Chancy?”

   Grace sat back shaking her head. “No Alex, he’s not. The silk stockings make good gun barrel cleaning strips. Sisters know how to watch their brother’s backs. Too bad we never gave you two a sister.”

      “Yeah I know.” Alex replied. “Sometimes the fashion disasters you put me in as a pre-teen made me think you wanted me to lose my penis.”

      “Alex?” Grace giggled.

      “I’m serious Mom!” Alex yelped. “My first day in Kindergarten what did you dress me in? That “Buster Brown” looking get up? The teacher got gender confused as hell.” Alex snorted.

      “Well you were just so cute in it.” Grace replied. “Oh my darling little cub. I wish you’d stay young just a little longer...”

      “Mom?” Alex said smirking. “If I stay any longer, eventually you’ll have to kick my fat butt off the couch. I swear I’ll start binging candy. Remember that day after Halloween? I was sick in bed with all those wrappers?”

      “You over dosed on sugar.” Grace chuckled. “And you looked so cute in your Teddy Ruxpin under roos.”

       “Mom….I swear if you ever show dad or Will that picture? I will go feral, I’m warning you.” Alex said with a paw finger pointing.

      Grace ran a paw through her son’s head tuft and gave him a lick kiss...”Wash my head tuft for me?”

      “Yes my lady.” Alex replied. “Would my lady care for some wine?”

      “Yes my darling slave.” Grace replied. 

      “Don’t say slave too hard Mom.” Alex snickered. “I had a pair of silk stockings and panties waiting in the wings.”

     “Oh you sick little corgie!” Grace said as she gave Alex a joke push. “You know Alex? You would make a cute looking corgie more than a wolf?”

     Alex snickered back. “Mom? You’re getting a little too “incest-ee” again. You’re creeping me out?”

     Grace sat quietly with her eyes closed, listening to SEAL as her son’s paw fingers and claws scratched and rubbed through her head tuft...”I can see which side of the family Will got his locks from.” Alex said as he slowly rubbed his mother’s head. “So? You’re not too bothered now about me wanting to be in the Marines are you Mom?”

      “No.” Grace replied. “But every mother worries about their children when they’re in the military. It’s a natural thing we can’t over come.”

       “I’m not a war monger Mom.” Alex said with a sigh. “I thought you were against me joining because you thought the Marines might make me a monster or something. Or? That I might catch the clap.”

       Grace gave Alex a snort face. “Alex?! I was not against you joining up because you might catch “VD”.

       Alex snickered back….”Uncle Chance caught the Kangaroo Flu.”

      “I am not interested in what my brother “caught” Alex.” Grace snickered. “I’m only worried about my children. I just want you to be happy and I don’t want you hurt. Two things any child should understand about their mother.”

      Alex giggled. “I know I got a lot of milk from your tits.”

      Grace slaped at her son! “OH YOU LITTLE SICKO!” And made him flop onto his butt…

      “What?! I was being completely honest Mom! Sheesh! No humor.” Alex said crossing his arms. “Any way….enjoy your bath because I have to finish preparing your dinner and bring it up to your bed...which I might add may be a little crowded because of all the stuffed animals I put on it.”

      Alex leaned in and gave his mother a tender lick kiss….”I love you mom. I love you a whole lot you know I do?”

      “And I love you Alex.” Grace replied as she rubbed Alex’s head. “You didn’t have to do all this?”

      “Um….yeah….I did.” Alex replied as he stood up. “I think you’ll like dinner.”

ZNDG-3 Growler
In Port, Sandy Cove Naval Installation
4am 13 September 2040

       The klaxon alarm screamed through the berthing space as Jackson shot from his rack, hop-jumped his feet into the legs of his coveralls and took off running as he pulled the fire resistant sock hood over his head….

      “GENERAL QUARTERS! GENERAL QUARTERS! EMERGENCY DEPARTURE! CLEAR ALL MOURNING LINES! MAMMAL UP ALL WEAPONS STATIONS! UP AND FORWARD STARBOARD SIDE, DOWN AND AFT TO THE PORT SIDE! ZOOTOPIAN DEFENSE COMMAND IS TRACKING MULTIPLE INBOUND HOSTILES! THIS IS A LIVE FIRE DRILL SITUATION! EMERGENCY DEPARTURE! EMERGENCY DEPARTURE!” 

Bridge

    Commander and Commanding Officer Titus Winsor (Hippo) stepped through the hatch at the back of the bridge deck. “Officer of the Watch! Order the engine room to pull the cat’s tails, Suicide Start! Activate the hull thrusters Automatic power units! Prepare to blow the mooring lines fore and aft!”

    “Aye Aye Sir!” Ensign Rudy Dolph (reindeer) replied as he clicked his sound powered phones. “Bridge to Engine Room...Suicide Start the main engines. Spin up the hull thruster APU’s. Deck Boatswain, Prepare to blow the mooring lines fore and aft!”

Engine Room

      The Ship’s Chief Engineer (The Chang) Lieutenant Commander Sabier (Polar Bear) pointed to one of the two wolves at the control console, Petty Officer Chekov….” Spin up the bow thrusters Mister Chekov!” Then to the wolf on his left Petty Officer Tatnom “Tatnom, Suicide start on the mains!”

     Tatnom replied. “Bypassing normal check list start. Pre-start inspection check list complete. Arming gas bottle release servos. 2,000 PSI surge start. Safeties off. Switch guard up. Ready to shoot on your command.” Tatnom said as his paw finger flipped up the glass guard to the surge start switch. Throwing the switch would fire off two compressed air tanks sending a rush of 2,000 pounds of air into the main compressors of the gas turbine engines bringing both engines to full power in seconds rather than by the normal minutes long start procedure. It’s not something you wanted to do very often.

      “Hull thrusters up and running Sir!” Chekov shouted.

      Sabier called to the bridge...”Bridge! You have hull thruster control! Standing by to suicide the engines on your command!”

Ship’s stern

      Jackson leaped over the last “hoof knocker” from the superstructure to the weather deck and ran to the 50 caliber machine gun on the stern just as Ayden ripped the cover away and dropped the first box of ammunition into the holding cradle aside the gun’s receiver…

      “Knocks, flack jacket, helmet!” Ayden yelped as he passed Jackson his protection gear, his sound powered phone and his binoculars. “Call to CIC Jackie? Aft, right mount 50 ready and mammaled up!”

       Jackson clicked his sound powered phones just as a string of small explosions popped along the right side of the ship….

      “There goes the lines!” Ayden yelped.

       “Aft starboard 50 mount to CIC, mammaled up and ready!” Jackson spoke into his sound powered phones as the ship began to move side ways away from the pier…

      “SKY EYES TRACKING NUMEROUS AIRBORNE TARGETS! SHIP IS NOW AT MAXIMUM PROTECTION READINESS! STAND BY FOR EMERGENCY DEPARTURE! CLEAR THE WEATHER DECKS! ALL WEAPONS SYSTEMS ARE MAMMALED AND READY!”

     Ayden snickered. “Are you cum’ing in your pants yet?”

     “I’m gonna piss em I’m so excited right now!” Jackson replied. To the rear of the ship in the harbor he could see the Destroyers Savanna and the Gnu York starting to side slide from their piers…

Bridge

     The Helmsmammal waved from her console...”Captain! We have cleared the pier. Helmsmammal standing by for orders!”

     Commander Winsor turned to Rudy Dolph...”Engine room….Suicide start the mains! Engage the shafts!”

        Rudy Dolph spoke into his sound powered phone. “Engine room, Bridge! Suicide start, engage the shafts!”

Engine Room

     Lieutenant Commander Sabier yelled to Petty Officer Tatnom….”SUICIDE START NOW! ENGAGE THE SHAFTS!”

     Tatnom pushed the ignition switch and 2,000 pounds of high pressure air surged into the gas turbine engines and spooled them to life within a second!

     “20! 40! 60! 80! 100!...Mains port and starboard now at 100 percent!” Tatnom yelped! “Shafts engaged. Rotation building!”

Bridge

     The Helmsmammal called to the captain….”Ships shaft revolutions now at 41,000 RPM! We are free and clear Sir!”

     “Course 090 out of the channel. Full speed ahead. Steady on.” Commander Winsor replied as he grabbed his phone by his command chair. “Spy eyes?! Update on inbound hostiles?”

      The Radar Officer in the Combat Information Center replied. “Captain? Multiple threats inbound. Two air targets out at 35 miles and closing. Speed 200 knots, altitude 200 feet. Four air targets out at 40 miles and closing. Speed 130 knots, altitude 3000 feet. One un-identified surface target bearing ten degrees to port off our bow, speed 32 knots, distance 20 miles and closing.”

      Commander Winsor turned to his tactical bridge officer. “The first two threats? Warm up “Hardie” on the mound. The next four? Put the forties in the bull pen.

Ship’s stern

      The ship was kicking up a serious mound of frothy spray behind it as it cleared the pier and shot out for the mouth of Sandy Cove inlet. Behind the Growler the Gnu York and the Savanna were going equally “Balls to the walls” through the water with their bows throwing up angry waves as they screamed through the harbor at full speed. No doubt both of them were just as equally ready to throw steel as the Growler was. Jackson looked towards the bow to see mammals inside the 40 millimeter gun stations putting the big anti-air cannons through their paces and passing “clips” of ammunition to be stored around the walls of the armored “tubs” that surrounded each of the four barreled cannon carrying mounts…..

     “NOW HEAR THIS, NOW HEAR THIS….INCOMING HOSTILES AS FOLLOWS….TWO FAST MOVERS INBOUND TO PORT AT 30 MILES AND CLOSING AT 200 KNOTS 200 FEET OFF THE DECK. FOUR TARGETS NOW AT 37 MILES, SPEED 150 KNOTS AT 2,000 FEET OFF THE DECK! SINGLE UN-IDENTIFIED SURFACE TARGET CLOSING AT 32 KNOTS, TEN DEGREES TO PORT AT 17 MILES!” The ship’s announcing system cried out.

     Ayden patted Jackson’s helmet...”Not our concern! Keep your eyes out there! We’re looking for squibs and torpedo tracks! Pay attention!”

     Jackson put his binoculars to his face as Ayden broke open the green colored steel amo can loaded with 50 caliber belted ammunition, snapped the first round into the receiver of the “Ma Deuce”, slapped the receiver cover closed and charged the bolt handle back to chamber the first round into the breach…

     “Jackie! Tell CIC that we’ve gone hot!” Ayden said with a gesture.

     “Aft Starboard fifty mount to CIC...We are now hot!” Jackson yelled into his Sound Powered Phones.

     “Aye, Aye….After Starboard fifty is hot!” The CIC replied. 

Bridge

The Helmsmammal called to the captain...”Sir! We have cleared the mouth of Sandy Cove! Free and clear for maneuver and action!”

 Commander Winsor replied...”Aye aye.

 “NOW HEAR THIS, NOW HEAR THIS….INCOMING HOSTILES AS FOLLOWS….TWO FAST MOVERS INBOUND TO PORT AT 19 MILES AND CLOSING AT 200 KNOTS NOW 100 FEET OFF THE DECK. FOUR TARGETS NOW AT 23 MILES, SPEED 150 KNOTS AT 1,000 FEET OFF THE DECK! SINGLE UN-IDENTIFIED SURFACE TARGET CLOSING AT 32 KNOTS, TEN DEGREES TO PORT AT 14 MILES!” The ship’s announcing system cried out.
Commander Winsor turned to his tactical officer. “Put the “Hardie” on track to engage.” and grabbed his phone, clicking the button on it for ship wide announcement...”Growler, this is the Captain. First two targets are coming in low and fast. Stand bye, we’re going to open up the “Hardie” on them. No doubt the York and Savanna will follow suit….things are about to get a little loud.

Combat Information Center aka THE CIC
Nicknamed “Spy Eyes”

      Lieutenant Harry “Snuffles” Sniffwell (Wolf) at the “Hardie” console in “CIC” flipped a switch up called the “Auto-slaver” mode, pushed a paw finger against the LCD screen to “light up” the fast incoming targets and pushed up the safety glass over the “ENGAGE” button. 

      “Bridge, Hardie control. System is in auto-tracking mode ready to engage the incoming targets on your order.”

       Outside and right below the ship’s bridge, the “Hardie” six barreled Phalanx cannon spun from it’s normal stow position to quickly “catch” and “track” the two fastest incoming targets now popping over the horizon and speeding their way towards the Growler.   

Ship’s stern

        “GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!”

        The noise of something sounding like a loud chain saw gone crazy got Jackson’s attention! He turned to look back astern of the Growler and saw the Gnu York’s six barreled mini-gun open up with a stream of bright yellow tracers glowing and arcing across the sky!

       A bright expanding ball of fire and a loud explosion off the port side of the Growler confirmed the stream of hot lead had found it’s target, blowing one of the explosive packed drones out of the sky!

        “GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!”

       Now the Growler’s “Hardie” added to the fury and another hot stream of bullets flew to slam into the other fast moving drone and blew it to bits not 300 yards from the ship!

“FLUCK!” Jackson yelped. “ARE THEY REALLY AIMING TO HIT US!”

Ayden yelled back. “THEY MAKE IT REAL ENOUGH! KEEP YOUR EYES TO STARBOARD!” The big Gull commanded as Jackson watched the Gnu York and the Savanna peal away in sharp battle turns to their left, getting set to take on the second set of inbound threats.

FOUR TARGETS NOW AT 10 MILES, SPEED 170 KNOTS AT 800 FEET OFF THE DECK! SINGLE UN-IDENTIFIED SURFACE TARGET CLOSING AT 32 KNOTS, TEN DEGREES TO PORT AT 9 MILES!

Bridge

Commander Winsor turned to the Hemsmammal...”Steady on Helmsmammal. Tactical Officer, order the port forty mounts to “auto-slave” radar setting to engage the incoming fast movers, Gun mount one load one high explosive round to fire on my command.”

“Aye Aye Sir!” The Tactical Officer replied as he clicked his sound powered phone! “Port fourties to “Auto-slave” radar setting! Engage four incoming fast movers! Gun mount number one, load one high explosive round to fire on the Captain’s orders!”

8 Inch forward gun mount
Nicknamed: “Fearsome Foursome”

   The span cradle swept forwards to drop on the lip of the open breach and the chain ram slammed home the 8 inch naval shell into the gun then retracted as Petty Officer Hindergard (Bengal Tiger) swept his paw around directing the moves of the four mammal gun crew inside the armored mount…

   “Powder drop!” Hinderguard called out. Before him the armored powder door dropped open and he and another tiger, Seaman Laurret, swiftly pushed six canvas powder bags into the gun while under the breach. Seaman Joffrey (A brown fox) pushed a 38 caliber shell cartridge into the breach primer lock.

     “PRIMED!” Joffrey shouted as he dropped down into the swing pit and belted himself into a seat as the spanning tray above him folded clear of the gun breach.

      Hindergard snatched the breach closing handle, brought the breach assembly into contact with the opening of the gun, tapped a foot trigger to spin the breach closed then locked the handle in place before stepping clear of the gun’s recoil travel space and belting himself to the wall of the mount.

     “Mount One loaded and standing by!” Hindergard yelped as he grabbed the ready signal switch next to him on the wall and clicked it to “Ready Green”

Port/forward Quad 40mm gun station
Nicknamed: Fritzy’s flamers

     Four Rhinos grabbed two stripper clips each of five 40 millimeter cannon shells from their handlers and dropped them into the load hoppers at the rear of the Boefer anti-aircraft guns as the station leader Chief Fritz Ghantz (Timber Wolf) selected the radar auto-slave setting on his control box. Now the station was under the command of the tracking and targeting radar leaving Ghantz only a passenger in his seat aside the now automated controlled cannons. The sound of muffled booms elsewhere told him the other two destroyers were already unleashing lead into the sky and far ahead of his place on the port side the sky was becoming thick with black exploding puffs of smoke.

Ship’s stern

     Jackson caught the sight of the Gnu York unloading her side anti-aircraft guns in bright flashes of flame and sparks as her eight inch gun mounts were coming around for a broadside against whatever was closing in on the small fleet from Growler’s bow…

     “Anything?!” Ayden yelped as he lightly smacked Jackson’s head again. “Keep your eyes to starboard! How many times do I have to tell you Jackson! Our business is out there!”

     Jackie resisted the urge to get pissed off about the offending slaps on his head but Ayden was right! He couldn’t afford to get distracted though he was so excited by the whole faux fight that was going on around him!

“KABLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!…...”

      Now the Growler’s port side 40 mounts were adding to the screen of flying steel being thrown up by the three destroyers against the four incoming drones. A set of two loud detonations confirmed the destruction of two of them close to the Growler’s port side!

“BOOM! BOOM!”

     Jackson caught a quick glimpse of the Destroyer Savanna as she banged out two eight inch gun rounds from her two main battery turrets, the shrieking screams of the shells flying over the Growler almost made Jackson dive for the deck, which would have helped to throw him off the back of the Growler and into the sea as the Destroyer did a high speed battle turn to port to bring her own main guns to bear on the last offending inbound target!

      Ayden scooped the bunny-fox hybrid off his feet and had him hang on to his combat flack jacket as the ship heeled hard under his webbed feet! He had to swing up the “Ma Deuce” with the ship’s roll to keep the gun level with the horizon.

      “Get on my shoulders!” Ayden yelled. “The higher you can be, the better!”

       “I’m not that light you know!” Jackson yelped.

      “Right now I don’t care!” Ayden replied. “Broad shoulders, big arms, big pecks and beautiful legs...I’m a perfect watch tower!”

       Jackson snickered...”You’re a perfect bull snit artist!”

 “BOOM! BOOM!”

      Both of Growler’s eight inch guns cut loose with a broadside that almost knocked Ayden off his feet! “Snit! Climb down and strap my harness to the deck! And hook your safety line too!” Ayden yelped as he grabbed Jackson’s wrist.

      Jackson jumped off Ayden’s shoulders as the Growler became flat and steady again. He clipped his safety line to one of the deck rings on the stern then hooked Ayden’s to a pair of them before jumping back up onto the Gull’s shoulders…

      Jackson’s sound powered phones chimed….”Jackie! It’s Zepher on the port aft fifty cal! You seen anything yet!”

       “Just Petty Officer Gill’s skull!” Jackson yelped. “I’m not impressed!”

       “Don’t joke dude! Seriously?!” Seaman Zepher (Gray fox) asked. He was the spotter for a Rhino, Petty Officer Demish, and like Jackson...Zepher was standing on Demish’s broad shoulders scanning off the port side of the ship! 

“BOOM! BOOM!”

“BOOM! BOOM!”

“BOOM! BOOM!”

         The three destroyers were now unleashing rapid broadsides from their eight inch guns. The crews inside the mounts working as fast as they safely could to pump out two rounds every minute, 12 rounds per minute from the three ships were screaming towards a target that was now visibly smoking on the horizon amidst towers of “miss splashes” that bracketed the target ship from bow to stern!

8 Inch forward gun mount
Nicknamed: “Fearsome Foursome”

    Hindergard jumped onto the crew platform as the eight inch gun finished it’s recoil from the last shot and returned to “ready battery”. He slapped the compressed air blower switch with his paw to clear the gun barrel of hot debris then unlocked the breach handle, swung the breach down, wiped the compression tamper with his cotton gloved paw and signaled the dropping of the shell cradle. The loading cycle began and ended in quick succession with him locking the breach, jumping back clear and belting himself to the mount wall within twenty seconds…

     “MOUNT ONE READY FIRE!” The tiger snarled as he spoke into his sound powered phone and flipped the ready fire switch.

“BOOF!”

      The gun mount shook from the concussion explosion outside and the big gun flew back through the inside of the mount as the recoil system slowed it down and quickly restored it back to “Ready battery” for another loading cycle…

      High up in his seat in the viewing copula over the loading room, The gun captain who was a Fennick Fox...Petty Officer Julius Marne...was jumping up and down with such excitement that he almost launched himself out of his seat!

     “HIT! HIT! HIT! ARGH! TAKE THAT YOU PIECE OF SNIT! BOOM!” The Fennick yelped as he shook his small paws.

     “Main guns! Cease fire! Surface target has been destroyed!” The call came through the sound powered phone.

      Julius waved to Hindergard who caught the small fox as he leaped off his chair...”I know I counted five rounds from us and five hits on the target for sure! Damn we are good!”

      “Don’t count your eggs yet boss.” Hildergard replied. “This isn’t over just yet.”

Ship’s stern

       Jackson spoke into his sound powered phone...”Zeff? Anything?”

      “Not my side Jackie!” Zepher replied.

      The ship’s announcing system suddenly blared out! “SONAR REPORTS TWO UNDERWATER CONTACTS BEARING 20 DEGREES TO STARBOARD, DEPTH 400 FEET, RANGE ONE MILE AND FIVE DEGREES TO PORT, DEPTH 400FEET, RANGE 900 YARDS!”

      Jackson heard a muffled “woosh” from behind the ship and the Savanna’s stern became a cloud of white smoke and vapor as an ASROC missile flew from her rear box launcher! Then he turned his head to watch Growler’s own box launcher on her stern turn to starboard and raise on of the three separated boxes….

“BOOOMF! GAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR!”

     Ayden and Jackson were bathed in cordite smoke and water vapor as the ASROC missile screamed from its launching tube and arced wide through the air! They watched as the torpedo on the end of the rocket sprang from its’ mother assembly and dropped into the sea to seek out the offending Submarine drone.

     “Keep your eyes on Jackie!” Ayden yelped. “These drones carry two types of weapons….torpedoes and squibs and they both suck!”

     “Like we’re going to destroy a torpedo?” Jackson yelped as he balanced himself on Ayden’s shoulders and kept his eyes glued to the binoculars.

     “Trust me shipmate. This ships got more ways to deal with torpedoes, we’re just the added tool.” Ayden yelped. “Our worry is the squibs. They’re more devious. They can follow us for miles before they decide to attack.”

      The ship’s announcing system cried out….”ENEMY SUB-SURFACE TARGETS ENGAGED AND DESTROYED! TORPEDOES AND SQUIBS INBOUND TO STARBOARD! TORPEDOES AND SQUIBS INBOUND DEAD ON! ALL HANDS HANG ON FOR EVASIVE TURNS AND COUNTERMEASURE FIRE!”

     Once again the launcher box moved and turned up another separate launcher as the Growler went into a wild series of hard turns, pitching the decks steeply with each fast and tight snap of the rudders. Jackson steadied himself on Ayden’s muscular frame….his feet firmly planted against the Gull’s calf as he continued to stay focused on looking at the sea for targets…

    “The squibs stay near the surface?” He asked Ayden.

       “Part of the tactic to draw our defenses on them so the torpedoes can hit home!” Ayden replied as his grip tightened on his “Ma Deuce”

        Jackson noted the angle of the deck and clicked his sound powered phone! “Zeff? When this ship turns hard? Back me up when I’m on the low end and I’ll back you up when I’m on the high end!” 

        Sure enough….as the ship turned right and lifted Jackson higher from the water, he turned himself to the port side and used the “boosted” lift to get a good look at more of the space between the ship and the horizon….

       “Bridge! Aft/starboard fifty mount! Two torpedoes passing our port side, range twenty yards! heading for the Gnu York!” Jackson yelled into his sound powered phone as the ship reversed it’s turn and now boosted Zepher and his gunner high in the air!

      “Bridge! Aft/port fifty mount! Two torpedoes bearing 090 off our starboard side! Distance sixty yards and closing fast!” Zepher screamed into his sound powered phones!

       Not two seconds later...the ASROC launcher screamed and a different missile with a fat warhead package in the front leaped from its’ box, arced over the water and sprung open to release a flying cloud of falling softball sized bomb-letts against the incoming torpedoes!

“BLOOM!BLOOM!BLOOM!BLOOM!BLOOM!BLOOM!BLOOM!BLOOM!”

      The water became a froth of white exploding towers as the bomb-letts detonated around the incoming torpedoes and detonated their warheads with two massive explosions breaking the surface of the water not 30 yards from the Growler as she continued her evasive turns…

     Jackson clicked his sound powered phone….”Zeff! I got an idea! Tell the 40 millimeter mounts on your side to go manual control.”

     “What are you scheming Jackie?!” Ayden asked.

     “A little extra umph!” Jackson replied. “Starboard/aft fifty cal mount to starboard fourty gun commander!” He yelled into his sound powered phone.

    “Starboard fourty, what’s your call?” The wolf commanding the starboard fourty millimeter gun stations replied.

     “Request you go to manual control and fire on our splashes as we shoot!” Jackson yelped. He then called Zepher...”Zeff?! If we take squibs on our side, I’m going to call the bridge for a hard turn to port! That will put you high up on your side! I want your gun to turn around and shoot where our splashes are! If we turn the other way? Tell your fourties on your side to follow your lead and we’ll shoot from our high side!”

     Zeff replied….”That’s really dangerous Jackson! You’ll have lead flying over our heads!”

     “Would you rather get stuck with squibs?” Jackson yelped back.

      “Crazy plan dude! But if I can’t trust my tail groomer, who can I trust right?” Zeff replied as he told his gunner of the plan…

      “That’s fricken crazy!” The Rhino replied.

      “He’s my tail stylist. Of course it’s crazy!” Zepher replied. “I’m not seeing any squib marks on my side Jackie!”

      “GOT EM!” Jackson snapped as he wrapped his legs over Ayden’s shoulders and pointed! “INBOUND! SEVENTY YARDS AND CLOSING!” He clicked his sound powered phone switch to change radio channels….”Starboard Forty mounts, stand by to follow our splashes!”  He clicked his sound powered phone switch again...”BRIDGE! STARBOARD AFT FIFTY MOUNT! HARD TO PORT TURN NOW!”

Bridge

”BRIDGE! STARBOARD AFT FIFTY MOUNT! HARD TO PORT TURN NOW!” Jackson’s scream came over the bridge announcement system.

Commander Winsor snapped a finger to his Helmsmammal….”DO IT! SHARP TURN TO PORT NOW!”

The pitch was sharp, violent and quick. The right side of the destroyer almost became awashed with water as the deck edge dipped close to the surface of the ocean while the port side climbed into the air!

“Fluck!” Zepher’s gunner yelled as he had just enough time to bring the 50 cal around and point it towards the water off the right side of the ship…

Jackson smacked Ayden off the head….”THERE! THERE! WHITE SPRAY TRACKS!” He pointed and Ayden depressed the trigger switch and let the Ma Deuce open up with a long burst of angry red tracers upon the incoming squibs!

“There!” Zepher snarled to his own gunner. “There, there shoot!” And the Rhino cut loose with his “50 cal” against the incoming tracks of froth being kicked up by the “squibs”

Jackson snarled into his sound powered phones to the right side fourty mounts… “Follow our tracers! SHOOT! SHOOT!”

“KABLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!…...”
“KABLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!…...”
 “KABLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!…...”      
“KABLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!…...”

   The eight guns of the fourty mounts unleashed a torrent of steel on the water! Tracers bounced off the wave tops, sturred the water to a huge pool of white froth and blew the squibs away with pieces of the destroyed drones raining down on the after part of the ship because of how dangerously close they came….

   Everyone stopped firing as the Growler settled back on an even keel and kept watching for any more squibs until the ship’s announcing system sounded….

      “Attention all mammals…..Attention….all mammals….the exercise is over. Safe all weapons, Restore all equipment, restore normal operational conditions, set normal operational plans of the day. The Captain will speak later to the crew but for now he sends…..well done. That is all!”

      Ayden almost got thrown off his web feet by someone bounding up his back and grabbing his feathers under his shirt….”WHAT THE HELL?!” The big gull yelped as he tried to snatch the offender...”Are you flucken crazy fox!”

     Zepher was hugging Jackson from behind and shaking him by his long ears….(Laughter) THAT WAS FLUCKEN GREAT! FLUCKEN AWESOME!”

     Ayden snatched Zepher and held him by his shirt….”Are you crazy fox?”

     “Sorry P-oh-two! But that was flucken great!” Zepher yelped. “We were almost hanging by our straps and “Bang! Bang! Bang!” We were creaming those stupid things!”

     Ayden snatched Jackson off his shoulders...”Yeah….we almost got our asses creamed by flying shrapnel! I can’t believe I let you do that Jackie?! What the hell was I thinking?!”

     “You were too busy pouring lead to think.” Jackson said as he pointed. “The squibs didn’t come close, that was the most important thing wasn’t it?”

     Ayden shook his head. “It was crazy….bold…..and dangerous as hell. This was just a training session Jackie. Those squibs weren’t going to actually hit us.”

     “If we don’t take training seriously now Petty Officer Gull? Next time we might end up dead.” Jackson replied. Just then, Ensign Rudy Dolph walked out onto the stern…

     “I was sent by the Captain. He wants to talk to the two “50 cal” operators and then he wants to talk to the spotters.” The reindeer officer said. “You operators report to him in fifteen minutes.”

      Ayden looked at Zepher, his gunner then Jackson and sighed….”I spent years developing my steel tight ass and now it’s about to get chewed to snit. Jackson? You and Zepher can clean the guns before your execution.” 

ZPD Safe house
Saharra Square
9am13 September 2040

      This was more than Kawam-ura had experienced in what might be considered “luxury” in his frame of mind. For a low standing member of Kzinti society, a dirt tiller, a wretch? He was having what would be called “Culture shock” so much was the fear of doing something wrong even touching anything wrong caused him to sleep on the floor with just a blanket.

      Even traveling through this “City” as these mammals called Zootopia gave the young Kzinti a twisted stomach. What they called “Downtown” was only as big as a single district in the Kzin capital city but at least here there was the feeling of “great space” where in the Kzinti capital there was not waste of land nor space.

       At one point in the morning, one of the tiger guards was so distressed at Kawam-ura sleeping on the floor, he had called a medical mammal to give the Kzinti a quick check up. Kawam-ura wished  Morty-wakamono would show again. He had not made an appearance in two weeks and the Kzinti craved the need for conversation.

       A knock at the front door turned Kawam-ura’s attention from a window and he  opened it to see Morty standing with a paper bag in his paws….

      “Come in! Come in!” (Dozo! Dozo!)  Anata ni aete taihen shiawasedesu! (I am so happy to see you!” Kawam-ura said as his tail waved with joy.

      “Genki Desu?” ” Are you well?” Morty asked as he walked in and set the bag on a table. “I brought you some things.”

       “Thank you so much.” Kawam-ura replied. “As to your question of how I feel? Ugh...a little confused. I must admit my bewilderment.” The Kzinti said with a slight bow as if he were ashamed.

       “There’s nothing wrong with being confused.” Morty replied. “Things here must be very different from home so you were bound to hesitate. You don’t have to sleep on the floor. The bed is yours, the bath is yours, the food is yours, everything in this house is for you.”

       Kawam-ura replied. “I’ve done nothing to earn these things. I have never lived with such...privileges….forgive me for being so disrespectful of these gifts.”

       Morty reached out for a paw...”Kawamura tomodachi...(My friend) do not dispair so. We give these to you our of friendship, out of respect. We couldn’t just leave you in that station house room for the rest of your life.”

      Kawam-ura sighed...”There is much to learn and teach between us. You see? I come from the lowest station of our society, my family are just farmers on a great estate and benefits from the result of hard work are considered important. I am not comfortable with the treatment I have received. Don’t take this wrong, I am not unappreciative at all. It’s just a lot to absorb.”

     Morty started pulling things from the bag. “I was so lucky to have come across...green tea.”

     “Yes! Yes!” The Kzinti said patting his paws. “So much more enjoyable than coffee. Ugh….they brought me this….what is it? Latte? I turned my nose against it. Ugh….”Deerbucks” isn’t there only one way to make coffee?”

     Morty replied. “Black, little sugar and no gimics.”

    “Exactly!” Kawam-ura said as he watched Morty make the Green Tea.

    “Tell me Kawam-ura?” Morty asked. “How is Kzinti society?…..You speak of “levels” in your society?”

    “Yes.” The Kzinti replied as he accepted the cup of green tea. “My family resides on the lowest level, what the higher privileged Kzinti call “The Yogore sukuratchā” the “scratchers of the dirt”. Farmers, tradesmen, those who do dirty jobs. Then there are the privileged, the “Shonin” the merchants, the orchestrators. Then the Batafuku, the high administrators, the governors and then the Pretorians, The Imperial class are the highest.”

     Morty flicked his wolf ears with great interest...”We are very different. Here in Zootopia we’re not that “structured” in class separation. It is illegal for one mammal or species to totally subjugate and repress another.”

     Kawam-ura nodded...”Understand Morty-wakamono that Kzin is a very old country and we know that our ways will be foreign to you but they have benefited us very much. I am sure we will find faults and disagree with each other much over these things.”

    Morty nodded. “Let it not ruin our friendship. Tell me about his majesty? The Emperor? What is he like?”

    “I woudn’t know.” Kawam-ura replied with a shrug. “I have never seen him, never heard his voice. It is even taboo to hold any paper his words are printed upon. Only a small few Kzinti have ever seen him or the Imperial family. But to a Kzinti? His majesty is….is Gawd to us, father, the sun who shines upon each of us.”

    “So he leads the country?” Morty asked.

    “Eh….” Kawam-ura replied. “That in itself is a puzzle this lowly Kzinti can not explain. He is and then he is not. Then again to a “dirt eater” the emperor’s station is not his concern. Planting, sewing, harvesting is our life.”

     Kawam-ura sipped his tea. “You prepared the tea well Morty-wakamono.  Totemo jukuren shite kurete arigatō. (Thank you for being so expertive)

     Morty smiled back and wagged his fluffy tail. Were the stories about the Kzinti woefully exaggerated?

Highway 394 to the Boroughs 
9am13 September 2040

      Nick went from being quiet, to playing with his paw fingers, to silently mouthing something while pretending to use his walking cane as a sort of air guitar. Judy looked at him from time to time with a gentle smile and he gave her back one of his classic “melt me” looks of his that made Judy blush under her fur.

     Nick cleared his throat...gestured with a raised paw finger...closed his eyes to think and then just started to sing...

     “I’ve…..had the time to write a book about….the way you act and look….I haven’t got a paragraph. Words are always getting in my way….anyway...I love you. That’s all I have to tell you………thanks all I’ve got to say…….”

      He just started to sing it out. Nick always had the sweetest and softest voice when he sang and his face was so expression filled between how his maw shaped and delivered the words and his eyes gave accent to his feelings. He gently placed a paw over her lap and gently kissed Judy on her cheek.

      “And now….I’d like to make a speech about…..the love that touches each….but stumbling I would make you laugh. I feel as though my tongue were made of clay…….any way I love you…….that’s all I have to tell you….

      “I’m…...not a fox of poetry……music….isn’t one with me. It runs from me. Runs from me…and I have tried to compose a symphony….but I lost the melody. Perhaps I’ve only finished …..now. And finish I suppose I never may….any way I love you…Thats all I have to tell you…..That’s all I’ve got to say….. That’s all I’ve got to say….. That’s all…...I’ve got…….toooooo saaaaay…….”

     Judy pulled the car over to the side. He always picked the most inopportune times to show his affection for her, he knew he was going to turn her into a balling mess? Why the hell when they were driving? She sobbed and he pulled her close to his chest and slowly rubbed his paw over her long ears…

     “Shhhh...” Nick said tenderly. “A little after breakfast performance. Please put your tips into the coffee cup? Thanks for coming.” He said chuckling. After composing herself….Judy drove the car back onto the highway and soon they were taking the turn off towards the highlands and Aiden-Burough. Nick flipped on the radio and sat dancing in his seat….

      “And now for much more buoyant music from the “Rave Crave” of FM 200 Zootopia! We picked a nice day to go see the cottage didn’t we?” He said to Judy.

     “Yeah.” She said as she admired the early change of the season from summer to early fall. The trees around them as they drove were just on the cusp of changing their colors. Around them the mountains of the highlands took on reflected colors of “red-browns” “Pink-reds” “Turquoise greens” and Jasmines. 

     “Hey? After we stay there tonight? Let’s go see Bonnie and Stu? We haven’t paid them a visit in a while since Jackie’s graduation from boot camp? We could visit Gideon’s shop and get a pair of pies?” Nick asked.

     Judy smiled back. “I like that idea. I’ll call my mother when we get to the cottage. I’m sorry I didn’t wake you up when Jackie called before he left.”

    “Just another time out at sea. We’re going to have a lot more of that. He knows how I feel about him, why bother him with getting soupy before he leaves every time? He’s not a “kit” any more Carrots.” Nick replied with a shrug. “Let’s stop to do some shopping? Pick up things for dinner and breakfast?”

    “Ok.” Judy replied as she turned the car off towards the town of “Elliah-Inlay” which sat below where the cottage was in the hills. Pulling into the parking lot of a grocery store, Judy walked slowly paw in paw with her husband ignoring some of the looks being given by some of the locals.

    Aiden was long considered the spiritual center of the rabbit religion, so the bunnies of Aiden would attest. Here the great Frith worked his miracle that gave the children of Prince El-Ahrairah their place in the world, where because of the Prince’s foolishness...Lord Frith was forced to rain punishment upon them yet bestowed them with blessings both physical and in word. No where were there tighter adherents...and perhaps too tight in some places….to the book and writ of the laws.

     Foxes...according to the book...were filthy tricksters, devils, liars and murderous deceivers who would act friendly only to get a full dinner plate. “The Hombrah” were filth to many rabbits...even Bonnie and Stu were adherents to the “common beliefs.”

     However….most of these adherents forgot why Foxes were made by Lord Frith to begin with…

     From the Book of the laws of Rabbits….

"Then Frith said to El-ahrairah, 'Prince Rabbit, if you cannot control your
people, I shall find ways to control them. So mark what I say.' But El-ahrairah
would not listen and he said to Frith, 'My people are the strongest in the world,
for they breed faster and eat more than any of the other people. And this shows
how much they love Lord Frith, for of all the animals they are the most
responsive to his warmth and brightness. You must realize, my lord, how
important they are and not hinder them in their beautiful lives.”

     By showing his utter contempt and selfishness to Lord Frith’s authority. The Prince had almost sealed the fate of all rabbits. Lord Frith could have killed the whole lot in one stroke. Instead….he chose the lesson of humility through demonstrating his power….

He gave out that he would hold a great meeting and that at that
meeting he wouid give a present to every animal and bird, to make each one
different from the rest. And all the creatures set out to go to the meeting place.
But they all arrived at different times, because Frith made sure that it would
happen so. And when the blackbird came, he gave him his beautiful song, and
when the cow came, he gave her sharp horns and the strength to be afraid of no
other creature. And so in their turn came the fox and the stoat and the weasel.
And to each of them Frith gave the cunning and the fierceness and the desire to
hunt and slay and eat the children of El-ahrairah. And so they went away from
Frith full of nothing but hunger to kill the rabbits.

     The fox was not at fault for being turned to predation nor was he meant to remain so as Zootopia evolved from those dark days, through the century of subduence and into the modern era where established laws and order put an end to “free reign” and “free range” predation upon the meek, weak and helpless. But for many in Aiden...foxes remained nothing more than “dirty hole dwellers” “Filthy liars” and “predatorial tricksters”

     As Judy and Nick walked through the little grocery store picking out food items. Some of the stares became downright un-nerving. At one point...Nick gently  pinched Judy on an ear because she was about to blow a carrot from her “bunny hole”. Somebody in that store was asking to get a fist full of pissed off Carrots.

    Finishing their shopping...Judy and Nick got into line at the register when someone called out….”Judy! Hi!”

    Judy turned to see her older sister Sophia with two of her children! Judy hadn’t seen “Soaf” in years since she married her husband Uriah…

    “Sofie!” Judy yelped with joy. “It’s been so long! Wow! Which ones are these two?”

    Sofie replied. “The little male bunny is Yukiyah. This little blessing is Persimanee. They’re from my third brood.” Sofie hugged her children. “Children? This is your Aunt Judy from the big city.”

    Judy stooped down to look at the young bunnies and held her hands out as they waddled up to hug her….”Oh my Gawd! They’re precious! You’ve been busy Soaf? Have you been home at all?”

     “I visited two weeks ago.” Sofie replied. “You need to go Judy. In fact? It’s very important that you do.” Sofie saw Nick standing not far behind Judy and smiled...”Hello? Are you a friend of Judy’s?”

     Judy replied….”This is my husband Nick….” Then Judy caught herself too late and winced. One thing for a fox to be in a store, a totally different thing if that fox was “married” to a bunny. Nick couldn’t escape the mean looks some bunnies were throwing…

     His reply?A classic Nick Wilde counter-offensive….”Yes. Yes….we are married. We’ve almost been happily married twenty five years, can you believe that? I mean what could a smart, beautiful, absolutely wonderful bunny as this gorgeous thing have to do with a bush tailed, dirty hole digging misfit like me? I tell you...I am a credit to my ancestors. I seduced and sweet talked this perfect specimen of bunny meat into my bed...I mean….my filthy hole in the ground and she hasn’t left it since.”

        A female rabbit snorted softly...”She made a very stupid mistake.” The old female hare snorted out thinking Nick would,’t head the remark.

      Nick replied with a raised paw finger….”Yes….yes….she did make a mistake. She could have had a real rich fox. I mean he was loaded and his red fur coat? He was so perfect and so good with words. You think Marlon Brownbear is good playing Mark Anthony? This fox could make female rabbits pass out wet with just three words! And yet? She chose this street hustler and would you believe it? I trapped her in wet cement! Sly fox…..dumb bunny. Why she chose me? I’m still clueless. I can’t get rid of her to save my life.”

       The next comment caused Judy to jump and only Nick’s quick snatch of her shirt prevented a tooth and claw explosion…

     “Hate to see the “little bastard” that comes from them.” One male rabbit snorted. To Judy? An attack on Jackson was unforgivable. She was still seeing red as Nick pushed her into Sofia’s paws….”Give me one minute?” He said before turning to the offending rabbit and pulling out his wallet…

     “This is our son.” Nick said as he pulled the photo from his wallet of Jackson in his dress blue uniform with Nick and Judy on his left and right. “Since you live here in Aiden Sir? You must have a son in the Marines? Has to be obvious seeing that pin you wear on your jacket.”

     Nick pointed to the pin. “Am I right Sir? You have a son in the Marines?”

     The big male bunny pulled a picture from his wallet and showed it to Nick. “Yes...this is my youngest. He’s a Corporal.”

    Nick looked at the picture...”Just look at that face! Grrrrrr...he could rip a Hombrah in half! Seriously? He looks awesome! Proud and awesome. I bet you’re proud of him. When he told you he would be a Marine? You must have been bursting with pride.”

    The bunny replied. “I was proud….and I was scared.”

     “How do you think we felt when our Son said he was joining the Navy?” Nick said smiling. “We were both emotional wrecks.”

      Nick pointed to the old Bunny’s photo….”As fathers? You and I share much. And you know what? We sure can’t say we don’t share the same pride in how our sons turned out….can we? Now...if you’d all excuse us? My wife and I are going to finish our shopping and go to our future retirement home up in the hills. Please enjoy your wonderful day?”

      As Nick walked out holding a bag and walking on his cane, Judy followed him still steaming from that male rabbit’s mouth….

     “He’s lucky you jumped in because I was going to beat the snit out of him.” Judy growled.

      “Give it a little bit and you might get a chance.” Nick replied. “As if on cue, that same big bunny came running up to the car…

      “Wait! Please wait!” He shouted.

      Nick placed a hand on Judy’s shoulder as the male bunny stopped...”Please? I spoke with stupid ignorance. I beg your forgiveness for my cruelty.”

      Nick put Judy behind him and smiled warmly. “Two things about us fathers. We are proud when our children turn out so good….and we teach them the meaning of forgiveness….Nicholas Wilde Sir.” Nick extended his paw. “I hope your son does well.”

     The male bunny replied...”And bless your Son as well Nick. My name is Steven.”

     Nick nodded. “Pleasure to meet you Steven. We should get together and drive our wives crazy boasting of our boys. You have a wonderful day.” Nick let Steven go and sat back in the passengers seat of the car looking at Judy as she shook her head….

    “What?” Nick asked. “Carrots? What are you thinking?”

        “You have not lost your touch.” Judy said smiling. “That was classic Nick. I couldn’t have done that in a million years. I’m still angry.”

        Nick snickered….”Maybe when we get up there to the cottage? Maybe I should “tongue” the anger out of you huh?”

        Judy warmly petted Nick’s toothy snoot. “It’s still early you filthy Hombrah. But if you could work your charms on me some more? Perhaps I would be entranced to be a more willing victim of your fiendish schemes?”

ZNDG-3 Growler
Sailing with The Savanna and Gnu York off Sahara Beach
noon, 12 September 2040

       Jackson stood outside the Captain’s office and fiddled with his uniform over and over, fretting the seconds as they counted down to his reporting time. Then his smart phone chimed and with a deep breath he tapped on the door…

       “Enter!” The big hippo said from the other side.

       Jackson opened the door, walked smartly up to the Captain’s desk and stood at attention. “Sir! Seaman Jackson Wilde reporting as ordered Sir!” Jackson yelped.

       Commander Winsor nodded in reply. “Have a seat Mister Wilde.”

       Jackson sat down as Windsor took a moment to make some notes in a book. “So? You’re half fox and half bunny? Mother and father both police officers. You marked well in boot camp, very well in advanced training. One of your evaluations states “Highly adaptable”.

      Winsor folded his hands. “Now...I have had good conversations with both Petty Officer Gull and Mister Zepher. Now I want to hear your side of the story. What made you think it was a good or even acceptable idea to order weapons to fire so close to the ship in such a manor as to send pieces of destroyed equipment down upon my ship? And allow me to remind you Seaman….Growler is “My ship” not yours. Now….explain yourself Mister Wilde? What gave you an idea like that?”

        Jackson cleared his throat. “Well Sir...When we went out after our major overhaul the last short cruise, I was on the bow watching us go through those sharp battle turns and I noted how far the ship could heel over. When we’re on level trim Sir? Our forty Millimeter gun mounts can’t train below their protective “gun tubs” and the opposing fifty caliber machine gun on the stern can’t support us on the right side of the ship but in a severe battle turn? The forties can engage water targets and that opposite fifty cal rises high in the air so it can shoot to the other side of the boat. I thought that against the squibs and torpedoes? Heeling the ship to bring as many weapons to bear on a target as possible was our best defense. Though….the shrapnel risk should have been on my mind Sir. I’m sorry...It was a  dangerous thing to do in a training evolution Sir.”

         Windsor looked angry. “Would you like to hear the box score from your “little” exercise in command Mister Wilde?” Winsor grabbed a sheet of paper…

        “The Gnu York suffered one torpedo hit. One Missile Hit, Four Squib strikes. Result...heavy damage sustained.”

         “The Savanna. Suffered one torpedo ht. Four Squib strikes. Result...heavy damage sustained.”

         “The Growler. Your little trick chipped paint off my stern, scratched my aft missile launcher, littered my deck with trash…..but? No torpedo hits, no Squib strikes, no missile hits….no damage sustained.”

         Windsor smiled….”Your little trick was a brilliant feat of inspiration and skillful use of initiative “Petty Officer Wilde”.

         Jackson shuddered. “Sir? I’m a….”

         Windsor reached into a draw and threw a set of rank pins on the desk. “You Mister are out of uniform. As commanding officer, I have the privilege of granting on the spot rank promotions once an exam cycle and you Mister Wilde displayed foresight and initiative to the benefit of the command and your shipmates. We’re going to keep that little trick of yours in our back pocket should that ever be needed and it will be relayed to the other destroyers in the fleet as an example of what we need. I always tell the crew to be bold and dare to do something and you dared. Congratulations Petty Officer Wilde.”

         Jackson sat a little stunned before he took the collar devices and stood up to salute...”Thank you Sir! I kinda thought I was going to get my tail chewed off.”

         “Oh wait?!” Windsor replied. “Did you think you were free and clear Mister? You owe me a new paint job! You will proceed to the stern where you will repaint my missile launcher, my hull and my deck from a dixie cup with an acid brush you little miscreant!”

       Winsor then smiled. “Get out of here Petty Officer Wilde? And don’t let your increase in rank get to your head, which happens often to those who get these snap promotions.”

       “Aye aye Sir!” Jackson replied. “And thank you again Sir!” Jackson yelped as he turned and walked out to see Ayden standing with his arms folded…

      “The hero emerges.” Ayden snickered. “Way to go Jackie.”

      Jackson punched Ayden in the stomach...”You knew about this all along!”

      “Of course I did!” Ayden replied. “That was a fantastic idea! You are quick on the brains Jackie, hell...they should have sent you to Officers school after that. But as a third class petty officer now? You are exempt from the extra duty week cycles so no cleaning or cooking details for you. Heck you might end up running a shop shift at the end of the deployment the way you’re going.”

      As Ayden and Jackson walked down a passageway back towards their shop, someone made a sound to get their attention…

     “Excuse me? Seaman Wilde?” It was the ship’s “Bull Ensign” Rudy Dolph waving from a side passageway.

      Jackson let Ayden keep going as he stopped to talk to the worried looking reindeer. “Afternoon Sir! I got promoted to 3rd Class by the Captain!”

      “Congratulations!” Rudy replied. “Petty officer Wilde? You’re probably the only one on this ship I could trust right now….I’ve….I’ve lost the ship’s mascot.”

       Jackson looked around...”The white lion stuffee? How could you have lost it Sir? You’re supposed to have it with you all the time?!”

       “I know! I know!” Rudy yelped. “Ugh….I was in my stateroom shower and I left it on the rack! I am so screwed! If that mascot leaves the ship? If the Captain finds out I lost it?”

       Jackson looked around. “Sir? I think I can help you but it’s going to take some crazy engineering.”

       “I’ll do anything Petty Officer Wilde.” Rudy begged.

        “It might involve a little down payment Sir. I have to do some serious comshaw and back door dealing.” Jackson said. “You’ll probably have to buy some rounds of draft brew when we pull into the Outbacks but that’s better than losing thousands to a diaper wearing stuffed animal.”

       Rudy shivered. “Do you think we could pull this off?”

       “Sir? I’m the son of a fox, a bunny, two cops and had a mafia don as a Godfather...what do you think?”

End of Chapter 22