Cosmic Furlough
CF-01 Zoo Stars Go
By Darrel James Vanwinkle (Ratseye/Pouchlaw)
Co-written by (Darquirrin)
October 14th, 2015
CF-01 Zoo Stars Go
By Darrel James Vanwinkle (Ratseye/Pouchlaw)
Co-written by (Darquirrin)
October 14th, 2015
Chapter One
:Early 20th Century; Somewhere behind enemy lines; Planet Furth:
"Black Sniper" : Cosmo Hunter - Second Lieutenant Army Rifleman
"Claws and Talons!" exclaimed one lion soldier. "Every time we try to get close to their bunker, they open fire! I don't see how we're going to get close enough to detonate their munitions dump, sir!" The Army moose quietly pondered the situation as his mind recalled things seen on their trip to this location. "That's it. I know how we can set off their munitions dump."
"Come on, moose!" said one lynx soldier. "Out with it!" Cosmo looked to the lynx first. "Go back to that mineral outcropping and collect ten of those flat glass stones each no bigger than your paw." He then turned to the lion. "We need a bucket of water. It doesn't have to be drinkable. Keep in mind: we will get our paws wet, so don't fetch anything you wouldn't stick your own paws into." Then to the reindeer captain who had been watching quietly. "Dig out the sandpaper that you said was useless." The reindeer arched an eye as he complied with the request. "I don't see what new idea you came up with. But how is flat glass pucks, local water, and sandpaper going to help us set off the munitions dump?"
"I'll need that mirror of yours, too," replied Cosmo. "The round one."While the captain was unpacking that, Cosmo began sawing off a local bamboo shoot that had the crude appearance of a cannon barrel. The lynx and lion then returned at the same time and set down the requested equipment. And then the moose got to work, as he distributed the sandpaper and said, "Sand the flat surfaces of these glass pucks until they are smooth to the touch, but make sure they have an inward curve on both sides like a slight bowl shape."
An hour later, the sun was nearing its zenith in the sky. It was starting to get hot, but the first part was completed and Cosmo was carefully fitting the glass pucks with rubber cement into the bamboo shoot. Once the glass pucks were fitted into the bamboo barrel, he then attached the mirror on to a homemade pivoting hinge and he started to heft up the weird looking object. "Now, let's try to get a clear view of the dump but be out of their firing range." They arrived at perhaps the only usable rise in the area where they could see the munitions dump. "Okay Lieutenant Hunter," said the reindeer captain. "Whatever you have planned better work or I'll drop you into Mom's pouch peeling potatoes."
"Guys, help me aim the top of the barrel toward the sun, while I align the mirror," replied the moose. "If this works, you will all be totally amazed." And I'll be amazed that a crazy idea like this even worked. But the way it just popped into my head... like all the other times. I can't explain it. It's like... I've seen something like this in operation before. With the barrel aimed at the sun and with some careful adjusting for pitch, the mirror was aimed and an intensely HOT beam of light immediately fired out of the weird bamboo/glass puck invention and... it struck the munitions dump... doing nothing... at first.
"I foresee a LOT of potatoes in your future, Hunter. Why did you think some crazy thing like this-" And before he could finish his sentence, the entire munitions dump exploded, throwing the enemy asunder, a few even on fire. "-would work?" the reindeer captain was in shock.
The other soldiers were all cheering. "YEAH!" "IT WORKED!" "TAKE THAT, RED FLAG!" "DA MOOSE IS DA FUR!" Cosmo released his breath slowly. He had been holding it as he now admired this invention that he had just created. It worked. It magnified the rays of the sun and turned it into... long distance weapon. A heat inducing weapon. I can't believe it worked.
:Near Enemy Command Outpost, 1215 Zulu; Planet Furth:
"Ghost" : Cel Sage - Infiltration Specialist
"Eagle One to Tiger Actual... 76 Meters, Danger Close." The soft radio voice chimed in the dogla's ear as he raised his position a few degrees and observed the surrounding, watching the target move from a westerly to an eastern direction. He raises his paw and keys the transmitter, speaking softly, "Roger, Eagle One... Tango in sight, proceeding...wait...Eagle One, This is Tiger Actual, Tango is on the move. Weapons Free?"
There was a long pause, before the radio crackled softly again, "Negative, Tiger. Repeat, Do not engage... Hold position." Cel gritted his teeth, growling as he glanced at his two other men and motioned the rabbit and wolf to stand down and hold. The target moved and headed inside the bunker as a few other guards came out, however just at that moment a huge explosion resounded from the northwest. Even Ghost couldn't help grinning as the loud explosion sent chaos through out the base as the enemy tried to establish what had happened at the ammo depot. The radio came to life, "Eagle One to Tiger Actual, Weapons Free, Repeat Weapons Free, Engage targets."
"Roger, Eagle One.", Ghost grins with a cold gleam in his eye, "You heard the brass, gentlemen. We're Oscar Mike. Longshot, get to position.. Lay down sniper cover for us.. Be prepared to counter-snipe that tower if they get a bead on us... Tracker, on my six." He pulled out his pistol and slide slowly from cover, before moving into a low run among the shadows before breaking into a full sprint across the hot tarmac, grateful for his boots protecting his pawpads from it before sliding into the shadows near the bunker's door. The wolf soon joining him as he panted lightly, "They've locked down the bunker... No way we're getting in there like this."
Ghost just grins, "Oh yeah we are. You don't think some fancy new door is gonna keep me outta there do ya?" He pulled out a few small metallic strips and a magnet. "You just keep those guys off my back." He got to work on the door locks, using the magnet to magnetize the strips and stick them across the access panel, warping the electric signals underneath. It took a few tries...and a few close bullets that Tracker quickly stopped before the door flashed green and opened.
Ghost grinned with a purr of success then got serious as he and Tracker slipped inside. "Secure this entrance. 15 minutes." Tracker nodded, "Yessir." Ghost headed deeper into the facility, sticking to the darker areas and utilizing the maze of maintenance accesses... Soon, Ghost found what he was looking for. The two guards never saw a thing. Nor would they see anything ever again for that matter. The commander was just as unfortunate. The large equine was so focused on trying to control the chaos outside, he never noticed the danger behind him. 8 minutes, and it was done. The charges placed. It was time to leave. Ghost collected Tracker and together they beat a hasty retreat to Longshot's position. "Tiger Actual, to Eagle One. Tiger Force is ready for EVAC. Mission complete."
"Roger, Tiger Actual... ETA 10 minutes. See ya at home, boys." From the side of the Venom Heli, Ghost silently watched as the placed charged detonated and reduced the entire compound to rumble. War really is hell. But at least today the casualties aren't on our side.
End of Chapter One
Comment