Morning came and Tarra woke to find everyone else wide-awake.
“You slept well,” Jerrix said.

“As well as in my own bed. I see the fire went out.”

“What do you expect my dear. Now that everyone is awake we should push on.”

He turned to Dorix.

“Are you ready sir?”

Dorix gazed across the endless land.

“As ever Jerrix.”

“Good show my boy. Now let us hurry.”

They marched on at a fair pace as the light blazed down. A breeze blew the dust from the ground and into their faces.

“How much further?” Tarra asked.

“Until we get off this plain,” Jerrix replied. “No wonder the Dogians take a ship.”

“How about asking the Fleons for help?” Tarra asked.

“Their fragile wings are only good for short hops I am afraid. Leg power is far safer. Believe me.”

As they wandered on, Jerrix stopped suddenly and held up his paw.

“Everyone halt.”

“What seems to be the problem?” Dorix asked.

“That ground ahead is unsafe. Looks like quicksand to me.”

“That is all we need,” Tarra moaned.

“I agree,” Jerrix replied. “Dorix? Are we on a flood plain by any chance?”

“There is no need to worry. It last poured here about a century ago.”

“Then how come that sand is wet?” Jerrix asked.

Dorix shook his head.

“This is very strange,” the cat said. “I would swear this has been
recently flooded.”

“How long ago?” Tarra asked.

“Judging by the dark sand around a week.”

“I think we should get out of this place,” she advised.

“I would agree but quicksand is lethal. Even for me.”

“How about crawling across?” she suggested.

He thought for a moment.

“Well it might work my dear. That would certainly spread the weight.”

He turned to Dorix.

“Your people will be alright but my friend and I will have to take
measures.”

Tarra and the cat went down in all fours and slowly crawled forwards. Their hands and paws sank a little way into the mud, but the idea seemed to be working.

The going was incredibly slow until they reached solid ground once more. They pressed on then; further across the plain towards goodness knows what.

A short time later, Dorix suddenly yelled out as he collapsed face down in the dusty earth.

Jerrix and Tarra turned to see him struggling onto his spindly legs and called Tarra called out, “you okay there?”

The Fleon nodded slowly and seemed to be looking down.

“What is the matter?” Jerrix asked.

“I seem to have stepped upon a mine,” Dorix replied in a musical tone.

“Then for goodness sake do not move,” the cat advised moving towards him.

He crept forward and kneeling softly, examined the offending object.
As everyone stared, Jerrix gently scraped some of the earth off and as he did so, more of the metallic object came into view.

“Should you be doing that?” Tarra asked.

“I do not think it is a land mine,” the cat whispered. “Dorix, kindly move yourself off.”

The Fleon did so slowly and the cat brushed more of the earth away. Then he brushed frantically until a large circular pad was revealed for all to see.

“What the blazes is it?” Dorix asked shaking slightly.

“It looks like a teleport pad to me,” the cat replied.

“Dorix looked at him blankly.

“We can use this to transport ourselves into Kennel City.”

“Are you sure?” Tarra asked sceptically.

“Pretty sure. Probably has not been used for years. Either that or we will be atomised. It is a calculated risk but we should take it.”

Dorix turned to his people and asked for their opinion. They all agreed without question.

“That settles it then,” the cat said. “Now I only have to locate the frequency modulator.”

As everyone watched, Jerrix started pressing the pad in various places until a small flap opened.

“Voila.”

He turned the dial two notches and closed it again before standing up. Smiling from ear he said cheerily, “everyone on please.”

Tarra however hung back.

“It will be alright child. Have I ever let you down?”

She looked at him for a second and stepped on.

With everyone ready, he stamped his foot hard and the world around them dissolved into darkness for moments only. When they next looked out, they found themselves standing upon a similar metallic pad within a large dull coloured room.

They were about to get their bearings when a troop of Dogians ran through a side door and levelled their weapons.

“Nobody move,” Jerrix advised.

The Fleons hung their heads as Tarra clung onto Jerrix in alarm.
Another Dogian joined his troops and barked, “Lower your weapons.”

The troopers did as asked.

The officer looked at the new arrivals with interest.

“Which one of you found our telepad?”

Jerrix raised his paw.

The officer walked over and eyed him carefully.

“You must be pretty intelligent. What were you doing there?”

Jerrix coughed.

“Trying to get here of course. We want our friends released at once.”

The officer looked at him a moment before saying, “we seem to be at cross purposes. We have no Fleons here.”

“That is a lie,” Jerrix insisted. “You must have them here.”

The officer raised his paw in a familiar gesture and the cat took it.

“I’m Jerrix by the way.”

“Commander Sala. You have nothing to fear from us.”

“You are rebels I take it?” Jerrix asked.

The commander smiled.

“That is an appropriate word. We only want peace on our world.
Unfortunately our government disagrees.”

“Do we have to stand here all day?” Tarra asked. “My legs are killing me.”

“You and those legs,” the cat exclaimed.

“Follow me please.”

The officer led them through the open door and along a dimly lit corridor. At the far end was the mess room with its various tables and chairs.

“Have a seat please,” the officer asked.

As they sat, Jerrix asked casually, “How long have you lot been here?”

“Oh around six years give or take. This whole complex is underground.”

“Does the government know about you?” Tarra asked.

“Of course they do. We occasionally launch hit and run operations.”

“You must have a long term plan,” Tarra said.

The officer smiled.

“Kennel city is protected by an energy dome. We try and breach it but so far it’s held.”

“Do you have a map for me?” Jerrix asked.

“I’ll get you one,” the commander said padding off.

“They seem pleasant enough,” Dorix said.

“I suppose we were lucky then,” Jerrix replied.

Commander Sala returned with a large map and laid it out before them.
Jerrix studied it carefully.

“It’s pretty detailed. Landing pads, barracks, government buildings etc.”

“You must realise that we used to live there.”

“Of course,” Jerrix replied. “Now see these towers at the four corners?”

“Those are power conductors for the energy field,” the officer told him.

“Which should have been your primary target,” Jerrix said.

“Every time we tried the weaponry bounced off.”

Jerrix closed his eyes and breathed slowly.

“Calm down Jerrix. OK. These fields never reach ground level. There is always a gap of three or four inches at the base. That is the weak point.”

The commander shook his head.

“Nothing can squeeze through that. We would have tried already.”

Jerrix looked up at the commander and said, “I can get through that.”

Sala looked at him.

“You had better be sure Jerrix. If you get stuck, well...”

“I’ll need gelignite to put a tower out of action. Then you launch your strike. One thing I want made perfectly clear though. Minimum casualties.”

“You got it.”

As the officer went off to make the arrangements, Dorix asked, “you still have to get there.”

“A scout craft will do the trick. I’ll fly at ground level and pancake.”

“Sounds pretty dangerous,” Tarra commented.

“I have nine lives my dear. Don’t you know that?”

“Just don’t lose one,” she whispered.

The officer returned with some of his troopers.

“The operation is all set Jerrix. The scout craft is being loaded with gelignite now. One of my pilots can take you.”

“Loaded?” Jerrix exclaimed. “I only need a couple of sticks and detonators.”

“I’ll change the plan then,” Sala said ruefully. “Once the barrier comes down we will hit the military base and seize the landing port.
After that we will fight our way in.”

“So much bloodshed. Wasteful,” Jerrix commented.

“Sorry,” Sala replied. “There is no other way.”

“Of course,” Dorix said. “We will go with you.”

Both Jerrix and the commander shook their heads.

“This is no holiday trip for civilians,” the Commander said. “Our enemies will turn you lot into chum. Stay here until we return.”

“I agree entirely,” Jerrix commented. Then turning to the officer he said, “for goodness sake leave the prisons and those ships intact.”

“We are not murderers.”

“I know. We need to free as many as possible. The Fleons deserve a chance.”

“With us they will have that chance Jerrix. We promise you that.”

“Then it is time to go.”

He saw that Tarra was a little scared.

“Don’t you worry my dear. This crazy plan will work you know.”

She looked up a moment before bursting into tears.
===
The silver scout craft skimmed across the flat plain with Jerrix sitting at the rear fondling the bag, which contained the explosive materials. Other craft were nearby, invisible to enemy radar detection.

“Now remember to land softly,” Jerrix reminded his pilot.

“Don’t worry sir. You won’t even feel it.”

“I hope not. Once I’m out take the craft back out.”

The pilot disagreed.

“I’ve been ordered to accompany you Jerrix. That is what I intend to do. Someone must cover your back.”

“If you wish. How are we doing?”

“Nearly there sir. The fools have no patrol craft up. That will
change once we hit them.”

“That is fortunate I suppose.”

The craft swung as the city came into view. Jerrix saw the hazy glimmer of the barrier.

“West section please.”

The scout craft deployed the landing struts and came down gently as the experienced pilot cut the motor.

“We are down. Come on sir, time to go. We don’t want to be caught on the ground.”

Jerrix stood as the short ramp deployed and they filed out. They ran to the edge of the barrier and the cat pointed out the gap.

“See what I mean?”

The pilot looked at the seemingly impossible task.”

“I wish you luck sir.”

Jerrix lay upon his front and crawled as close to the energy field as possible. Then he lay upon his side and inched slowly under.

“Nearly there,” he whispered.

The pilot was astonished that he had made it.

Crawling free, Jerrix dashed to the base of the adjacent tower. As quickly as possible, he opened his bag and pulled out the explosives. Inserting the detonator, he moved back unrolling the cable as he did so.

When he considered the distance safe enough he plugged the cable into the plunger and pushed hard.

An explosion ripped the base free and the tower shook before toppling forwards. As it did so, the energy dome shimmered and failed. With a loud crash, the tower hit the ground and the armed pilot joined him.

“We need to get to that corner,” the pilot pointed out and the cat followed him.

As they reached the corner of a building, sirens wailed across Kennel City. The pilot looked up as rebel craft began their strafing run.

“Now it gets rough,” the pilot said.

“You’re not kidding,” Jerrix replied. “We have to move on.”

The pilot agreed and went to dash across the street when a laser bolt exploded near them.

“Keep your head down mate,” the pilot yelled firing back.

As explosions echoed across the city, further bolts ripped the soft wall apart.

“We have to get out of here,” Jerrix shouted. “I mean now.”

The pilot glanced around frantically and spotted an open entrance.

“We can reach there if we move now. Just run for it.”

Jerrix took a breath and dashed across the open space as bolts burst around them. How they avoided being hit was miraculous but they dashed through the entrance and spotted a staircase.

“Up there,” the pilot shouted and Jerrix dashed up the stone steps.

The pilot followed as they reached a locked door.

“Stand back sir.”

As he did so, the weapon barked and the door swung open violently.

“You only needed to take out the lock. Not the damn hinges.”

He was pushed through the door and found himself upon an open roof.
They heard boot steps ascending the steps and the pilot fired into the stairwell. Jerrix heard screams as some of the bolts struck home.

“I won’t be able to hold them off for long.”

Jerrix scanned the roof and spotted something. He ran over and saw to his relief a metal rail connecting this roof to an adjacent one.”

“Get over here now,” he shouted.

The pilot ran over and just stared.

“You first then sir.”

Jerrix climbed upon the rail and bounded across as the pilot followed. As they reached safety, the enemy bolts burst around their furry ears. The pilot swung and fired at the rail support, which caused it to collapse into the street below.

“That will hold them off sir. Now what?”

Jerrix found the exit and they plunged through. They dashed down the steps hoping the enemy would not cut them off as explosions continued elsewhere.

Reaching the street again, they dashed toward the prison building where the Fleons were being held. As they reached it, guards dashed out and opened up.

“Hit the deck,” the pilot yelled.

The first salvo flew over their heads as the pilot cut the enemy down. They dashed to the entrance and the pilot blasted his way inside.

Bodies fell in all directions and many of the guards fled as they pushed their way into the control room. When they reached it, Jerrix searched the panel.

“What are you looking for?” the pilot asked.

“The main power switch. Cut that and the cells open automatically.
It’s part of the safety system.”

“Why didn’t you say?” the pilot asked running to the far end of the room.

As Jerrix watched, he pulled the red lever down plunging them into a reddish glare.

“That’s the emergency lights,” Jerrix explained. “You can hear the prisoners escaping already. Come on, we better join the troops.”

They dashed out and were met by a column of rebel troops.

“Their patrol craft have been disabled and we are heading for the government building. How about that prison?”

“We managed to free them Commander. How about casualties?” Jerrix replied.

“We have a few sir. We seem to be winning.”

At that moment, they came under heavy fire and two of the troopers went down. As everyone dashed for cover, some of the released prisoners started to pour out.

The troopers returned fire, driving the enemy back as streams of Dogians and Fleons fled the scene.

When the coast was clear, the commander led his troops up the street in the direction of the government quarter.

As they advanced, they spotted a formidable obstacle. A wall of armoured vehicles.

Before they could react, these vehicles opened up and the ground erupted around the rebels. As shrapnel flew in all directions, the troopers scattered. Many of them were cut down savagely.

Jerrix saw the brave pilot go down badly wounded and crawled over to him.

“I’ll drag you to safety.”

He stood in the midst of the carnage and dragged the helpless man into an open building as scout craft struck back. The armoured vehicles erupted in red and yellow flame under the air assault, and the troopers advanced once more.

Rallying his forces, the commander ordered them forward as enemy infantry returned fire. Within the building entrance, Jerrix examined the pilot’s wounded leg.

“I’ll have to apply a tourniquet," he said raising the limb. “Now keep it there and hold on.”

He dashed off as the stricken pilot began to sink into darkness.
After what seemed like ages, Jerrix returned with a 2 piece of torn curtain. He expertly tied this in place and pushed the second piece into the gaping wound.

The pilot’s eyes opened again.

“Seems we must part sir.”

“Don’t you dare. How will I get back? I don’t fancy walking you know.”

The pilot smiled painfully at the intended joke.

At that moment, a medic officer appeared and ran towards them.

“Stay with him,” Jerrix ordered. “Don’t allow him to die.”

“I’ll do my best sir,” the medic replied.

“Where are you off to?” the pilot asked weakly.

“I have to stop this senseless killing.”

With that short statement, the cat dashed off towards the government quarter. Towards the sound of war.

excellant, :)...worth the wait!

excellant, :)...worth the wait!

Ta...