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.
(Artist ownership) Don Carnage Disney’s TAIL SPIN

Chapter 6
Recruit Training part 4: The Buttercup

September 30, 2039
3am
Parade field in front of the Buttercup’s entry gate.

24 hours after their turn had started….259 found themselves standing in three columns before the gate; the training simulator seemed to loom before them like some dark gray monster illuminated by the lights around the pool. The last time they caught a break? Five hours distant and only a short 30 minute cat nap but they were all still on their feet, all still clenching their maws in unflinching determination and from Rhino to the smallest mouse...shoulders rolled, heads shook and paws balled in efforts to fight off fatigue and sleep as Lieutenant Commander Saltlickter came through the gate…

“GOOD MORNING TWO FIVE NINE! LET ME HEAR YOU SNARL!” She yelled.

“RAOWL!RAOWL!RAOWL!” The Company replied.

“This is it Mammals...all the meat and potatoes. As you pass by the table here?” Saltlickter said with a gesture. “Pick a card out of the bucket. DO NOT TELL anyone what your card says or you will be disqualified! On the card is your station during peacetime, during modified Zebra setting and during General Quarters! It will also tell you if you live or die when the attack starts!”

Saltlickter walked up and down the rows. “You WILL pay attention to the proctors who will be on board with you! If they tell you to STOP? You stop! If they tell you to do something? You WILL do it! The exercise will end when you hear the word...TIME! When you hear TIME...you stop.”

“There will be two evolutions, this morning and at 2pm. You will have a two hour period for chow and nap...I suggest you eat light and sleep as much as you can for the second event! We will have a brief orientation of the trainer before we start. I can not…..I CAN NOT…..emphasize this enough! The trainer IS dangerous, you can get hurt and yes...we have had recruits die. If you feel you can not continue? If you feel you’re going to be a danger to your fellow recruits, if you feel sick or impaired? Telling a proctor or making your condition known is NOT a failure! Trying to hide it to where you get yourself or a shipmate hurt? IS A FAILURE!”

“The biggest thing of all? You’re all shipmates! You’re all brothers and sisters in there! Only by teamwork will you make it through the day! Do I make myself clear?!” Saltlickter snarled.

“RAOWL!RAOWL!RAOWL!” The Company replied.

“Very well.” Saltlickter growled. “Advance to the gate two five nine and pick your cards! Welcome aboard the Buttercup!”

Jackson felt someone climb up his pants and shirt and looked on his shoulder to see Jerry Mouse sitting with a snarl on his face….

“How’s the rodents feeling Jerry?” Jackson asked.

“Bring it.” Jerry snorted. “Bring the son of a bitch on man.”

On the shoulder of a bunny, Justin the rat sat nibbling a piece of saved cheese. “The rats are ready.”

A Rhino named “Gurlock” sounded. “Let’s hope they don’t kill all us big guys to where we can’t shore stuff up.”

“Don’t see that happening with this lottery system they have us picking from.” Jackson replied as he walked up to the bucket on the table and pulled his card…..

PEACE: Starboard wing watch.
MODIFIED ZEBRA: Starboard wing watch.
GENERAL QUARTERS: DC Locker relay talker to DC central, second deck to main deck.
STATUS AT TIME OF ATTACK: alive after first. Broken arm after second.

     Jackson winced. “They’re going to hit us twice?” He thought to himself. “We can do this...everyone has to step up, we’ve gone over this like a hundred times.” He stopped to look at the floating section of ship and the pool it was resting in before he followed the others up the gangway and onto the deck where the Company was finding places to stand or sit. Jackson found himself sitting with all the bunnies who one after another gave him a good back slap of encouragement.

     “Did we ever think they might cut the lights on us?” Gilly asked Jackson.

     “We should expect Anything.” Jackson replied. “We know they’re going to hit us with a fire but they may not hit us right off the bat with that.”

      Turk sounded off to the right. “We can adapt to whatever they chuck at us. Just remember the basics of what we all agreed over. Pumps up before 8, flooding controlled before ten, fire out in five….we got this sucker already beat.”

     “Don’t get too over-confident.” Jackson replied. “If we all get way to cocky, we’ll make dumb mistakes.”

      Lieutenant Commander Saltlickter came up the gangway and the bridge to the shore was pulled away. “All right recruits.” The female tiger said. “Now you all have your cards, put em up over your heads so I can see please?”

      The company raised their cards over their heads.

      “Good. Now some of you will be put down in the main compartment. Some of you up there on our makeshift bridge and on the main deck. For orientation, everyone will have a chance to go down to the main compartment down below and look it over so follow me one squad at a time if you would.” Saltlickter gestured to the two large deck hatches and the first squad, including Jackson, followed her down into the large compartment below the main deck….

       “As you can see? It’s quite a mess down here...over turned bunks, lockers, trash, a lot of the action is going to happen down here….including one compartment on fire and that one over there where the bulkhead is damaged and the door won’t seal shut. That’s all I’m going to tell you what to expect.” Saltlickter said smirking. “Now over here at this end is the lower damage control locker which has firefighting gear, patches, plugs, shoring wood, everything you’ll find aboard a ship. You DO NOT have to wait for investigators to react to what’s happening...you should act as soon as you detect anything if you are assigned down here. We need leaders to step up and lead and hustlers to hustle, keep in mind mammals that every second is precious if you want to live. Now lets get the rest of the company though here and then we’ll close out the orientation and start the morning exercise.”

       Jackson found a place to sit for a bit and pull in a few deep breaths, flex his paws, flick out his claws and have a moment to relax before Saltlickter came up behind the last squad…..”Stand by 259! On your feet mammals!”

      They all took a last moment to shake paws, punch shoulders, shake make growling gestures to each other as Saltlickter walked into the control room at the rear of the main deck and locked the hatch behind her. A bank of Sailors sitting at separate consoles waited for her word as the tiger took her seat with the Company commanders…

     “I’m already getting good feelings from this crew.” She said. “They got spirit, you can tell.”

     “Let’s see how long they keep it?” Anubis said as he watched Saltlickter put on her sound powered headphones with the other Sailors following her lead…

     “Sound the call underway please?” She commanded and a Sailor blew a boatswains whistle into his headset mic….

      “Now hear this! Now head this! Buttercup underway. Shift to at sea routines listed on your cards. Set the underway watches. All watches report to the bridge watch when you assume stations.” The Sailor said and the Company went to their places both below the main deck and above. 

      Jackson walked to the right side ladder of the false bridge, came to his station on the right wing, slipped the sound powered phones over the base of his bunny ears and key’d the button….”Starboard Wing Watch on station.” He said.

      “Affirm.” Came the reply.

      The other watches sounded like clock work in short order….

“Bow watch on Station.”

“Stern watch on Station.”

“Main deck port side watch on Station.”

“Main deck starboard side watch on Station.”

     Jackson looked down on the main deck as those assigned to their places went through activities like tying knots or performing a uniform inspection or doing inventories of boxes and lockers placed around the deck or handling mock gun shells for the quad 40 millimeter boefer guns.

Note: The Buttercup is of course part of a ship with its’ compartment numbers below designated as….

Main space: 1(first deck below the main deck) 10 (most forward frame of the compartment) 0 (compartment lies on the ship’s center line or keel) and “L” meaning living space so the number designation would read….1-10-0-L 

There are four compartments total below deck….

Failed bulkhead space: 1-15-2-S

Fire space: 1-15-3-D

Damage Control Locker/ Repair two: 1-3-0-R

September 30, 2039
6:34am
Damage Control Locker/ Repair two: 1-3-0-R

      Justin the rat quickly scaled the shelves calling out to A gray wolf named “Stapes” the numbers of plugging and patching items, shoring lumber, tools including sledge hammers, hand mauls and other items….

      “Got it! Got it! Got it!” Stapes yelped as he checked off each item on the list as a White Tiger named “Chase” came up behind him…..

     “They have all the damage well hidden.” Chase said.

     “Who knows if any of us will even be down here when they call away the scenario.” Stapes said as he finished the inventory and took time to look over the fire fighting suits...”We’re not supposed to pre-stage but I don’t want us fumbling to the right size suits. We got from around fox up to Rhino. Help me organize the sizes real quick?”

      “I don’t think that’s pre-staging.” Chase said as he and Stapes quickly went through the suits and set them in order from small to large. “These should be in a proper order anyway. Put the sizes large to small from the door into the locker. That’s what we told everyone. Probably one of the things the other Company’s never bothered to check.”

September 30, 2039
6:37am
Control room

       “Putting the suits in size order.” Saltlickter said as she watched the monitor screen. “They’re on the ball. Give them five more minutes then start the next event at your discretion Miss Avery.” Saltlickter said to a beaver at one of the controls…

        “Yes Mam.” Avery replied.

September 30, 2039
6:44am

     The announcing system boomed out over the Buttercup….”Now hear this! Now hear this! A distress call has been received from the fishing trawler “Prancing Brony”

     A horse named “Timely” who was working a knot board laughed out…. ”Someone needs a horse kick. “Prancy Brony?” Talk about being original.”

     “I thought you were a Brony?” A fox named “Wickers” chuckled out.

      “I got your Brony right here “Wicky Leaks”.” Timely snickered.

      “Hey!” Wickers snorted. “I haven’t wet my bed for a month apple sucker. Cut the crap!”

       “Do you two mind shutting up and cutting the excessive bull pucks!” A Cape Buffalo snapped as she pointed to the address system and scowled at them….  

”Now hear this! Now hear this! A distress call has been received from the fishing trawler “Prancing Brony”. She has lost propulsion and is drifting with the current towards the Kzinti declared boundary line. She reports a ship on the distance to the east has turned towards her and will be on her in the next fifteen minutes. Buttercup is the closes ship to assist. The Commanding Officer has issued orders for Buttercup to close with the Prancing Brony….”

“Now set modified condition Zebra! Now set modified condition Zebra! Drop all deck hatches, loose secure all vertical doors, close off all ventilation covers, man the quad fourty cannons. Passage to and from spaces through hatch scuttles and vertical doors is not restricted. Now set modified condition Zebra, report completion when set to the Commanding Officer.”

Jackson watched from above as Rhino’s went to the large deck hatches, waiting for mammals to come up or drop down into the lower compartment before dropping the hatches down and fixing the holding bolts around the edges….

“Deck hatches set!”

“Vent covers set!”

“Vertical doors set!”

“Modified Zebra set set!” Manny’s voice cracked over the sound powered phone.

The PA system sounded….”Modified Zebra set, time plus four minutes.”

Jackson blew a breath….”Nice….nice…..so far so good. Now they’re going to slam us.”

September 30, 2039
6:55am
Control room

“Let’s give them a little sweat time….feed them the story. See how they react.” Saltlickter said as she watched the monitors.

The PA system boomed out….”This is the Commanding Officer...all attempts at communication to the inbound Kzinti warship have failed. Ship continues to close with the Prancing Brony. We are on an intercept course at this time...”

Jackson closed his eyes in a quick prayer….”Fritz...let us do well.” He said to himself before giving his paw a kiss. And just for a little added assurance he gave his chest a quick pat….”goddess Vulpine...keep me sly and steady.” An ode of respect to his fox heritage.

The PA system boomed out….”The Kzinti warship has fired on the Prancing Pony! Sound General Quarters! All mammals man your combat stations!”

“KLONG!KLONG!KLONG!KLONG!KLONG!”

The alarm claxon screamed over the PA System followed by the announcement. “All hands to combat stations, set full condition Zebra throughout the ship with the exception of watertight scuttles and vertical doors! All watertight scuttles and vertical doors will be secured in five minutes! All Mammals proceed up and forwards on the starboard side, down and aft on the port side! All Damage Control stations and messengers make reports to DC Central and the Commanding Officer when set and ready! General Quarters! General Quarters!”

“KLONG!KLONG!KLONG!KLONG!KLONG!”

Jackson put his sound powered phones into a box, came down the port side ladder of the bridge and ran to his station by the main deck DC locker where a Gazelle named “Promenade” placed another sound powered phone and a helmet on Jackson’s head….

“Pat, Pat.” You’re set Jackie! Promenade said.

“DC Locker relay talker to DC central, second deck to main deck, manned and ready!” Jackson spoke into his mic.

“Affirm!” Replied the control room.

September 30, 2039
7:10am
Damage Control Locker/ Repair two: 1-3-0-R

     “Wolf….here you go. Fox….here you go. Tiger….here you go. Tiger….here you go.” Manny got the assignment as DC locker coordinator and passed fire suits and tools to the crew suiting up outside the door. “Who’s the hose lead?”

     A wolf named “Flax” raised his paw. “I’ll take it!” He then snatched a Tiger named “Mike” and put the thermal scanner into his paws. “You’re second lead Mike!”

     “Messengers?” Manny asked and four otters bounded up raising their paws along with three bunnies. “Here! All set and ready!”

     Manny turned the switch on his phone and called up to Jackson. “Repair Locker 2 Mammal’d up and ready!”

       Jackson pointed to a status board behind him where a Fox marked it off and called to the Control room….”Repair Locker Two set! Repair locker one set!”

      Turk called from the quad 40 gun mount….”40 mount ready and set!”

      The PA system barked….”Time plus four, Condition Zebra set, all stations report mammal’d up and ready!”

      Jackson smiled….”A minute early….nice…..nice….” He shook a paw with confidence.

September 30, 2039
7:15 am
Control room

      Saltlickter turned to Anubis with a smirk. “You’ve done good with this company, I’ll say that. Let’s see what they do with an out of the normal situation.”

     Anubis gave Saltlickter a sneer...”With all due respect Mam? You’re evil.”

     “I’m not hitting them with anything different than the last companies.” She said as she turned to a Sailor at a console. “Hit them with the heat warning alarm? Give em a little time with that one then slam them with the missiles.”

September 30, 2039
7:18 am

      “Attention Buttercup. We are currently closing with the enemy warship bearing Zero degrees, course 296 degrees, speed flank at 30 knots at fifteen miles out...”

      Suddenly an alarm bell sounded…..”Heat sensor warning. We have a heat sensor warning in compartment one tack fifteen tack three tack Delta. Combustible stores locker. Away the Repair investigator for Repair Two. Report situation to the DC Relay at Repair One!”

        “Snit.” Jackson  thought….”Didn’t expect that first.”

September 30, 2039
7:19am
Damage Control Locker/ Repair two: 1-3-0-R

     Mike approached the door of 1-15-3-D and sure enough...the thermal scanner gave off a warning alarm and a temperature of 700 degrees and rising….

     “FIRE! FIRE IN 1-15-3-D!” Mike shouted back to Manny who ordered the breathing bottles of the fire team cracked before telling Jackson….

     “Repair Locker Two to Relay DC. Fire, Fire in 1-15-3-D!” Manny said calmly. “Request repair one locker break the over-head scuttle, vent space and apply spray screen! Fire Party in 1-10-0-L preparing to attack!”

      Jackson relayed the word to the control room….” DC Central, relay DC. Fire in 1-15-3-D! Fire team from locker one will break the overhead scuttle of 1-15-3-D to vent space and attack the fire from the top. Repair two preparing to attack from compartment 1-10-0-L.”

      At the same time, two otters ran up to the overhead scuttle door on the main deck, attached a hook line to the locking spin wheel on the door, ran the rope around two large steel tubes used to tie the ship to a dock and stood ready to un-lock the scuttle and allow the trapped fire to blow the door clear. The main deck fire crew stood ready with a fire nozzle applicator, it’s leader waving his arms to Jackie…

     “Repair Two, DC Relay! Main deck fire team ready to pop the overhead hatch! Execute attack on my signal!” Jackie said into his mic….

      “DC Relay, Repair Two! Ready on your command!” Manny replied.

      The PA system blared out….“Attention Buttercup! We are commencing active main gun fire with the enemy warship bearing Zero degrees, course 296 degrees, speed flank at 30 knots at seven miles out!”

September 30, 2039
7:24am
Control room

    Saltlickter snarled…..”Hit them now!”

September 30, 2039
7:25am
Main deck

     The PA system banged out…..”MISSILE INBOUND TO PORT ! MISSILE INBOUND TO STARBOARD! BRACE FOR SHOCK! BRACE FOR SHOCK!”

     Jackson reached for the nearest hard object attached to the ship he could hold onto and pushed himself onto the balls of his feet while tucking his head into his chest and bringing his elbows up to protect as much of his face and snoot as he could…

      The PA system banged out…..”HIT TO PORT AMID-SHIPS! HIT TO STARBOARD AMID-SHIPS! REPAIR LOCKERS ONE AND TWO INVESTIGATE DAMAGE AND REPORT TO DC CENTRAL AND COMMANDING OFFICER! CHECK FOR DAMAGE! CHECK FOR WOUNDED!”

September 30, 2039
7:32am
Main Compartment 1-10-0-L

     Manny popped out of the DC locker to find a water spraying mess! Multiple pipes were spraying water, holes in the bulkheads and the deck were spewing guisers, half the fire team was down and yet already a rhino was on his feet with a mattress in one large hand and a table top in another as he crashed head long into the largest hole pressing the make shift patch to it with all his might!

     “SHORING NOW! SHORING DAMN IT! HURRY UP!” He screamed as a pair of wolves ran up to the locker, darted inside and ran back out with a set of steel extendable braces and a pair of speed wrenches!

        “INVESTIGATORS REPORT!” Manny screamed and a pair of otters came up through the rapidly filling compartment….

“Fire in 1-15-3-D not contained!”

“Burst piping in five sections!”

“Four holes in the deck emitting water!”

“Three holes in the bulkheads emitting water!”

“Water entering compartment 1-15-2-S. Bulkhead is damaged and door will not seal!”

         “DC Relay, Repair Two!” Manny called up to Jackson. “Fire in 1-15-3-D not contained!” “Burst piping in five sections!” “Four holes in the deck emitting water!” “Three holes in the bulkheads emitting water!” “Water entering compartment 1-15-2-S. Bulkhead is damaged and door will not seal!”

       Jackson relayed the information to the control room then turned to Turk who was leading a gang of mammals to set up the two P-250 de-watering pumps and un-roll the hoses on the deck for Jerry Mouse and his crew of rodents to run them through with wooden cones so they could check the hoses for battle damage….

      “TURK! Can we send anyone below to back up locker two?!” Jackson yelled.

      Turk wasted no time in grabbing mammal’s by their shirts….”GO BELOW AND HELP! GO BELOW AND HELP!”

      “CLEAR!” Came a yell from the mice on the main deck as they shot out of one hose and ran through the next one…...”BAD, TOSS IT!” They screamed and no sooner were they out of a good hose….it was picked up, quickly attached to the pumps and the draining leads and thrown into action…..

     “PUMP ONE UP!” Yelled a Yak as he threw his arm up!

     “PUMP TWO UP!” Yelled a Wolf as he threw his paw up!

      “De-watering pumps up and active!” Jackson said to the Control room. 

September 30, 2039
7:38am
Main Deck

      The main deck fire party had been spared losses, now they used a rope and hook to spin the locking handle free of the entry scuttle over the burning compartment and a shaft of flame rocketed up as the fire inside gained needed oxygen….

     “Main Deck fire team leader to relay!” The otter leading the attacking spray nozzle team called on his phone. “Overhead scuttle to compartment 1-15-3-D is free and clear, we are in the process of misting the space for entry!”

September 30, 2039
7:40am
Main Compartment 1-10-0-L

      Justin the rat and a partner ran down the length of a pipe with a barrel patch and pushed it over a burst point where a polar bear speed wrenched it tight against a wrapping of rags he applied to the gushing hole. He finished his work, felt the rats grip his ears and ran to another pipe where they repeated their actions….

     Though unprotected….three Mammals joined the Locker Two fire team in attacking the much reduced fire in 1-15-3-D as another gang of large mammals attacked and shored up the warped vertical door of compartment 1-15-2-S.

     Through all this chaos….both the Bunnies and the Gazelles ran from sitting mammal to sitting mammal who had been wounded or killed in the first attack, making evaluations as to who could be saved and who couldn’t.

September 30, 2039
7:40am
Control Room

      Lieutenant Commander Saltlickter nodded pleasingly….”Using the rodents to clear the pump hoses? out damn standing. Messages coming in clear, very few repeats, They’re moving like a clock….sheesh Anubis, did you threaten to cut their tails and balls off?”

      “Mam...please?” Anubis replied. “Excellence does not need threats.”

       “No…..” Saltlickter snorted back. “It just needs another missile. Hit them again.”

       “Whack a doodle number two coming right up Mam!” A bunny snickered with an evil grin.

       “What a what?” Saltlickter snorted. “Whack a whatza doodle what? Where do you come up with this odd ball snit Petty Officer Mishy?”

        “I roll a 2 D 6 and consult the Cathulu plan of the day Mam.” Mishy replied.

        “Just…...just shoot the missile you funny bunny? Please?” Saltlickter snickered. 

September 30, 2039
7:42am
Main deck

     The PA system banged out…..”MISSILE INBOUND TO PORT! BRACE FOR SHOCK! BRACE FOR SHOCK!”

     Jackson braced himself…..

    The PA system banged out…..”HIT TO PORT REPAIR LOCKERS ONE AND TWO INVESTIGATE DAMAGE AND REPORT TO DC CENTRAL AND COMMANDING OFFICER! CHECK FOR DAMAGE! CHECK FOR WOUNDED!”

      Jackson sat on the deck and raised his paw...”I’m hit! I’m hit!” He screamed out then spoke into his phone….”DC Central this DC relay...I’m wounded, will continue to report. My arm is broken.”

      An otter came running up. “Re-flash of fire in 1-15-3-D! Main compartment fire party below wiped out! Main deck fire party re-applying mist through the deck scuttle!”

      Another otter came running up...”Pump number two is dead. Pump one working.”

        A gazelle came up with a first aid back pack….”What’s your injury?”

        “Broken arm with a simple fracture.” Jackson replied.

        “I’m going to splint and immobilize it, you keep working.” The male gazelle said as he worked to splint Jackson’s left arm.

       Another otter came up from below deck. “Manny’s ordered the door to 1-15-3-D secured and shored up. He says for the main deck party to go to solid hoses; flood the space!”

       Jackson called to DC Central…..”DC Central, DC relay….securing and shoring compartment 1-15-3-D, switching to solid streams, flooding same space!”

September 30, 2039
7:46am
Control Room

      Saltlickter nodded...”Way ahead of the curve, good move. I’m impressed by the rodents and their organization. These mammals were well prepared for this.”

      She turned to Arch and Anubis...”Why aren’t you two officers?”

      Arch and Anubis looked at each other...”Because we hate forks, spoons and napkins.” Arch replied. “You should see us with dog dishes? Deplorable, our manners suck.” Anubis said with a shrug. “We’d be thrown out of OCS because we can’t conform.”

      Saltlickter looked at her watch and signaled to the Sailors at the controls…”Call time.”

September 30, 2039
7:48am
Main deck

      The PA system boomed….”TIME! TIME! TIME! CEASE DRILL! ALL RECRUITS STOP! PROCTORS….END THE DRILL, BRING ALL RECRUITS TO THE MAIN DECK!”

       Jackson couldn’t contain himself. He threw off his helmet, ripped off his phones and hopped about the deck screaming himself silly…

       “WOOOO! WOOOO! YIP YIP WOOOOO!” He yelped and bounced until Chief Arch grabbed him by his shoulders….

       “Would you mind not looking like you have rabies there Wilde?” Arch snorted. “Good job...relax….you need it all for round two.”

        Manny came up and smacked paws with Jackson….”Fricken destroyed it!”

        “Absolutely wrecked it!” Jackson replied.

         They were wet, filthy, tired and looked like a bunch of animal crackers thrown about in a washing machine but the Company spirit hadn’t sagged, if anything, they looked like a bunch of kids set loose at “Wild Works” amusement park and they weren’t ready to go home. As Saltlickter walked up; Jackson and Manny whipped them into a noisy spirited collection of “whoops”…

       “Alright! Cut the noise before we resort to leashes you silly animals.” Saltlickter said with a paw wave….

      “Well?” The female tiger said….”I’ve seen better.”

       That remark enlisted a few cursing replies.

       “Ok….” She replied smiling. “Joking aside? I am to say the least very impressed and in a few places completely surprised by the performance you put out this morning. Obviously you’re all itching to kick some tails and chew off a few pieces of rump roast. The speed in which you all jumped to the fight was great, the way you employed the rodents was innovative. None of the other companies so far thought to use the mice to clear the bad hoses, hence? You got your pumps up and working when it mattered most. That in turn allowed you to make the choice to flood the compartment fire.”

      “Who was the rhino who slapped that makeshift patch to the hull at the start of the scenario?” Saltlickter asked.

        “Me Mam….My name is Recruit Shack.” A rhino replied.

        “Next time Recruit Shack? Hit the bulkhead harder so the hole gets bigger why don’t you? But seriously….good move on your part. I was surprised you stayed upright on the slick deck.”

        “Alright Recruits. The downside to your good work this morning is that it will only take us three hours to re-set the Buttercup for round two. It’s 8am now. You’ll have two and a half hours to get some sleep on the parade field and thirty minutes to eat, we’ll have box lunches for you at 11:30 and we’ll go again at noon for round two. 

September 30, 2039
8am
Executive Office Building, Downtown Zootopia
Meeting of city leadership with Mayor Cesar Leo
Subject: Current situation with K’Zin and city readiness
Minutes Record….

       Judy reviewed her prepared notes again before passing abridged copies around the table. She spent a week brainstorming with her most senior officers about coordination, panic control, Martial Law and a dozen or so “notes of nasty” concerning “Emergency preparedness” and “Attack/Invasion response”. If Nick hadn’t been a constant snuggle of reassurance every night, she probably wouldn’t have been half way finished. 

        He chided her at first on the sneaky way she slipped him cannabis edibles though he understood her reason why. She absolutely hated “big pharma” and the loopy meds they gave her husband at first to combat the constant back pain. His worries eased when he found out that the edibles not only allowed him to sleep well….they made him ravenously horny…

       “Mmmm….now there’s a position I never though I could do.” He snickered once, causing Judy to laugh out loud as Caesar came into the room…

      “Nice to see you so happy Chief Wilde.” The White Barbary Lion said with a smile.

      “It’s something nice from my husband Sir.” Judy replied.

       “How is he since his full retirement?” Cesar asked.

       “It’s not boring Sir.” Judy replied. “During the day he spends all day in therapy with a good friend of ours and he’s never been happier.”

       “And your son? He’s almost through basic training?” Cesar asked.

       “He’s going through the DC Crucible now Sir.” Judy replied. 

       Cesar cleared his throat and gestured to the assembled group…..

Cesar: Welcome everyone. Emergency respond’rs, our leaders of industry, Honorable Doctor Emeritus of our University Mandeemous. Defense Secretary Baghira. City Counsel President Ages (Mister Ages from Secret of Ninh) I scheduled this meeting to update all of you on our current situation with K’Zin with respect to intelligence, diplomacy and to share information and prepare options in case….forbid me please….in case of war.

We still have no new information on the Pacesetter situation. We were able to speak to the two harbor seals who were fortunate to escape. It seems clear that the Kzinti brutally murdered a fox, took the rest of the crew and sank the Pacesetter. We continue to try all means to contact the Kzinti….so far they will not answer.

Currently we sit in a very uneasy position. There is nothing we can do for our captive citizens short of war and I will not and can not even consider placing the lives of all our citizens in grave jeopardy just for a few mammals who might already have met with horrible ends. Doctor Mandeemous is almost certain in his estimation that the rest of the Pacesetter crew were indeed butchered. Allow that to sink in for a moment.

Let us not be blind to the current reality. We know the Kzinti have a powerful and capable mobile fleet and they are rumored to have a fleet Marine force. They are actively pressing themselves on us. They harass our fishing fleet. They have sailed along our coasts. They do not appear open to any sort of diplomacy and they have taken our citizens and brutalized them on the ocean. I have always spoken that we will avoid war at all costs short of surrender but let us be brutally blunt with each other….war at the moment is a frightening possibility. Doctor Mandeemous?

      The aged Orangutan stood up from his seat….

Mandeemous: I have studied the Kzinti...what we know of them...with great intensity for the past ten years my friends and I have no doubt that there has been a change in their political structure and their leadership which indicates an increasing hostility towards our dear Zootopia. It may be that something drastic has happened with respect to their population which requires them to more aggressively assert control over the Western Sea and the Tundra Strait. It may be that a significant and more aggressive regime of leadership has taken power and is urging K’Zin to view our model of a society as decadent or abhorant and they are in the process of preparing some sort of all out offensive to deprive us of our ability to fish and as you know well friends….deprived of this central staple of diet, our own predator species may have to chose between watching their cubs and kits starve or seek the more….grim cannibalistic solution. I am sadly in consort with our mayor...barring any last minute intervention of providence...war is almost certainly a conclusion which can not be avoided….though avoid it we will continue and must continue to do so with earnest hope.

Cesar:  So before us today is the weighted question of if and when. If and when war comes? What will be the response of our leaders, specifically if we are attacked here at home. If the shells start falling on say Sahara Square and the enemy is off our shores pouring steel down on our heads; what will emergency response do? What will law enforcement do and most importantly? What will we do to meet such a threat?”

From one side of the table, a Shrew hopped onto the top and stood with hs paws behind his back and his chest stuck out. It was the eldest son of Don “Mister Big” Lanzoni. Sunny Lanzoni was the chosen successor apparent to his father’s empire. Among the many holdings Don Lanzoni had huge stakes in was the “Iron Paw” shipyard where the Navy and Marine Corps ships and water borne weapons were built. Don Lanzoni might be a mobster but always first he was a Zootopian patriot, a trait no less in his son...”

Sunny Lanzoni: Screw those milk dud sucking feline bastards. No disrespect towards his honor nor any of our own feline citizens but these things? They are filthy feline bastards and yellow colored pond scum. You give me the budget? I’ll start building weapons to burn those buck toothed scruffy bastards to deep hell and stuff their dirty tail holes with their damned ancestors.

Chief Wilde: Sunny? You don’t have to be flamboyant with the descriptions.

Sunny Lanzoni: What? Am I being to tame for you? Do you think I’m treating this as some sort of comedy there Chief? I say we waste no more time talking to them your honor...cap them off at the knees before they get in the first pounce, THAT! Will protect our citizens better than waiting for those bastards to turn our city into a shooting gallery.

Mandeemous: And that is very dangerous my friend, especially when we have no idea nor understanding of just how powerful they are. The Kzinti desire for self isolation and control of their society is a strength in their favor. Getting into an ill advise gun fight with them now when we have no idea of their culture, their society or their military capability is inviting a disaster. We must sway towards time and caution.

Cesar: My drear Mister Lanzoni. Rest assured you will soon have the very budget you request, I ask for patience. Let us hear from our chiefs of Police and Fire what their situational assessments are of our strengths and weaknesses. Who do we need to do for our population?

     The chief of the Fire Department, A gray elephant named “Brunty” stood up….

Chief Brunty: Of great concern to my department right now are the fuel refinery and storage facilities in both Tundra Town and Saharra Square, specifically Mobile storage facility in Tundra Town and the Peanut Oil producing facility in South Saharra along the Southern coast. Both would rage out of control and cause significant damage to surrounding infrastructure. The Peanut Oil Facility has the potential to sever all major traffic arterials including the speed train and the subway system. We should look into hardening both facilities and re-storing most of the chemical stocks farther inland against enemy barrage. We should also consider a campaign to decrease fire potentials within the downtown sector to limit conflagration risks. We must also institute a wide educational campaign to have every citizen proficient in basic first aid skills. That’s what my department can do at this moment.

      Ceasar turned to Judy. “Chief Wilde? I know you were given a very difficult tasking to study. What have you come up with?”

Judy: Thank you Sir...my fellow mammals...we currently have no civil defense for our citizens. Should the day come when Kzinti warships or even troops open fire on our city...our homes….our schools….they will kill thousands of our citizens….they will kill our families…..they will catch them running in crowded streets and they will butcher them as if our city were their personal meat market.

Excuse me…..

     Judy took a moment to pull herself together.

Judy: Forgive me my friends but my son is in the service right now and as a mother? I just have to be honest that I’m frightened at the possible thought that we could be at war any moment. But we need….we need absolutely….a plan and an organization for the defense of the population. My department is absolutely committed to our first priority...protection of the heard, moving our citizens out of danger and then joining the defense of our city but we can’t do that if we have to struggle to move an enormous and unprepared populace, We can not do that work with our department alone.

Cesar: Secretary Baghera? Does the Defense Department have anything to contribute to this need?

Baghera: No Sir. In the event of hostilities, the Navy and Marines would be totally dedicated to taking the fight to the enemy. We couldn’t spare a single regiment. Yet I do have a draft proposal to build a civil defense authority under a military representative who would advise our civil leaders and draft a program to teach and inform our population on the importance of acting properly and promptly in the event of dire emergency. Both the police and fire departments would have important rolls in public education. I think an address by you Sir on the subject would go a long way to preparing our citizens to act rightly should the need come.

Cesar: Judy? I’m sure this won’t reduce all the butterflies in your stomach but it’s a step at least.

Judy: It lessons the nerves a little Sir.

Cesar: I will draft a speech on Civil Defense for broadcast later in the week. Mister Secretary? I would like you to finish this draft you’ve prepared to present to the city counsel. Chief Wilde? Chief Brunty? Meet with the Secretary of Defense, give him all your inputs and needs especially with our infrastructure and how we can put it to good use with respect to public defense. I expect to see your final draft reach the Counsel for a vote no later than next Friday.

Gentle-mammals….let’s not lose the focus here. We are no doubt in a crunch and play for time. Every second we have is precious and must be viewed and used as such. Keep what Chief Wilde has said to heart, right now there’s probably another 300,000 mothers in our city with the same worries. Let’s be their example not their fear. Thank you all for coming.

       As the meeting broke up, Chief Brunty followed Judy out the door of the meeting room...”Chief Wilde?”

       “Chief Brunty?” Judy replied as she stopped and turned.

       “Why don’t you and your husband come over my house for dinner? We could discuss our thoughts in a more calm setting, perhaps brainstorm some ideas on educational programs?” Brunty asked.

       Judy nodded. “I would enjoy that. We should get together. Doesn’t it seem that in the past our departments felt sort of…..you know…..adversarial?”

      “Felt?” Brunty snorted. “It felt adversarial? Perhaps it’s the fact that you puny little blue shirts could never successfully win an annual softball game against us red shirts? Then again we fire fighters do have a size advantage and you blue shirts only know how to whine like babies.”

      “Ha ha ha.” Judy replied. “An attempt a some sort of humor. Well they always say that elephants have good memories yet they always suck. Through their trunks...you guys….you guys suck “anything” through your trunks.”

       Brunty snorted as he stomped his foot. “You just want to be a piece of gum under my foot….don’t you chief wilde?”

         Judy gave Brunty’s leg a quick bunny kiss and smiled at him. “Does 7pm sound fine for you?”

        “7pm is just wonderful. If you would bring a nice elephant friendly beverage? You would be more of a bunny than a dumb blue shirt.” Brunty said with a smile.

         Judy giggled….”Oh you better hope I don’t bring a mouse into your house my friend Brunty. See you at seven.”

September 30, 2039
12:43pm
Main Compartment 1-10-0-L

       Jackson jumped from the water filled floor, bounced off the back of a Rhino hammering shoring against a bulkhead patch, caught the pipe with one paw and swung himself up and around the break as two rats rushed to get a patch into position!

     “Throw me a speed wrench!” Jackson screamed. He caught it just as the rats got the patch over the spewing water pipe and a full spray of water coming from under the patch hit Jackson in the face as he fumbled and fought to get the speed wrench going against the securing bolts of the patch!

     “UGH! GLUG! GLUG!….This water tastes like piss!” Jackson snarled as he cranked the wrench like crazy with the rats screaming their encouragement!

      “You crank like my mother!” One rat screamed. “Faster Jackson! Faster!”

     “You come down here and drink this water your garbage picker!” Jackson snapped, which got the rat’s ego going so he jumped off the pipe, caught hold of Jackson’s uniform, swung himself up onto Jackson’s belly and now the rat was going crazy on the wrench!

     “If you’re gonna sex the damn pipe Jackson! Don’t be lazy about it! Sheesh, you probably can’t even get it up!” Terry the Rat snapped as he worked the second bolt….

       “Yeah!” Terry’s partner “Alcourt” screamed from atop the leaking pipe! “Show that kid what rats are made of Terry! Go! Go! Go!”

        Terry finished tightening the bolt and stood on Jackson’s stomach kicking his small feet….”Boom baby doll! That’s how you do it!” Then the rat lost his footing and slipped off!

       Jackson’s reaction was instant….he let go of the pipe to catch Terry, found himself falling and tried to roll to land on his feet...only he landed on the watery deck with a sickening “pop”

       “OW! CHEESE WITZ! FRITZ DAMN!” Jackson yelped and screeched as he rolled on the deck and pounded his paw….”AH!…..AH!…..!”

       A Proctor came running up….”KEEP GOING! DON’T YOU ALL STAND AROUND! THE DAMN DRILL ISN’T OVER!”

       Another Proctor came up and the two of them picked Jackson up in a fireman’s carry and took him to the ladder up to the main deck….

       “Damn it! We’re going to fail because of me aren’t we?” Jackson yelped. “Damn it”

       “Fail nothing.” One of the Proctor’s said as they laid Jackson on a blanket on the main deck. “The drill isn’t over yet ship mate, relax.”

       Anubis came running up and grabbed Jackson’s hand. “What happened Wilde?”

       “I let go of a pipe I was patching and landed on my stupid ankle Sir…..gnah! Ugh…..it flucken hurts!” Then Jackson realized. “Terry! Where’s Terry!”

       Right on cue….one of the Ligers laid Terry next to Jackson….”Fair trade Jackie? My busted leg for your gimpy ankle?”

       “Well you were the one doing the dumb snit dance Terry!” Jackson snapped. “So help me if I don’t graduate you stupid rat...”

       “Say that again Wilde and I’ll bite you!” Terry snapped back.

       Anubis waved a paw...”Enough you two...the drill is over and you didn’t blow it. Just worry about your own problems right now. So Wilde? Did you enjoy the drinking water?”

       “No Sir.” Jackson snapped back. “It tasted like piss!”

       Anubis smirked. “That wasn’t piss you drank Wilde…..it was castor oil.”

       Jackson’s face suddenly drooped….”Castor…...oil?…...oh……..snit…...”

       “BARF! BARF!” Jackson vomited out his lunch and quickly forgot his ankle.

       “Ah the price of noble heroism ay Wilde?” Anubis said with a smirk.

       “Sir?” Jackson asked between heaving.

       “Yes….Mister Wilde?” Anubis replied still smiling.

        “With all do respect sir?” Jackson said. “Go fluck yourself?…..oh no…...HURL! HURL!”

2pm
Parade ground outside the Buttercup trainer.

     Manny flopped down onto the grass where Jackson sat with an ice pack wrapped around his left ankle...”Feeling any better?” He asked.

     “About as good as I can be.” Jackson replied. “The EMT says I sprained it so I have to stay off my feet for a couple of days. Hopefully I make Sports Day coming up.”

     Lieutenant Commander Saltlickter came walking up with Chief Arch and Anubis...”ATTENTION TWO FIVE NINE!” She snapped and the company stood up save Jackson and Terry who sat on a blanket giving each other smirks…

     “Well…..you all look as if you’ve had way too much fun….well? Congratulations...you passed your crucible.” Saltlickter stopped talking. “Hello? You can all make some noise now?” She said with her arms out.

     The company made a little celebration noise but for the most part….most of them were ready to pass out, which was understandable.

     “Allow me to say that I am very impressed with your results.” Saltlickter continued….”You executed the fastest response time in recruit history, you displaced the most water in the fastest time in recruit history, you came up with some amazing innovations we’re going to send to the fleet….in short? You’re all a bunch of bad hump’d mammals who kicked Buttercup’s tail and as of right now you are in the lead for the DC flag. Congratulations Two five nine!”

       The Company replied with clapping and a little jubilation but it was clearly obvious they were too pooped to pop a champagne bottle….

       “From here on out? You are no longer recruits.” Saltlickter said. “Today ship mates? You earned your uniforms and you earned the right to be called Sailors in the Zootopian Navy. I won’t keep you any longer. Tomorrow is a rest day, you may sleep as long as you need too but keep in mind we have one more company to pass through tomorrow and the winner will be announced on this field in two days so don’t get too crazy celebrating just yet. But again….be proud of what you have done together Two Five Nine, your droopy butts are saying more than you need, you busted your humps and you triumphed. Good on you all!”

      Saltlickter turned to Chief Arch and Anubis. “Commanders….the Company is yours...take em to bed! And I don’t mean that literally you sick monkeys?”

      Arch turned to Anubis. “You heard the lady Nuby. Someone grab our two “gimps” up and let’s get home before some of you start sleeping on the streets! Two Five Nine…..form up!”

end of chapter 6