"Yep, and it's amazing. They call it 'Zapper.' It can pinpoint projectiles as small as a pea and destroy them in nanoseconds."
"How does it work?"
"It's pretty simple."
While he listened to his spirited friend, Thoruk kept his eyes on the Skalag movement. More warriors continued to separate and march with clumsy footwork toward each side of the main road.
Queasy continued while his fingers pointed this way and that. "At both corners, they set up lasers triggered by motion detectors that sweep vertically to provide an invisible protective field — really cool stuff. Watch this."
Searching along the walkway, he found three flags and snatched them. "Which two colors do you like most — red, blue, or yellow?"
Growing agitated, Thoruk blurted. "Red and blue. Now hurry up, we're kind of busy here!"
His determined helper kept the yellow one and snapped the wooden handle in half over his knee."
"What are you doing?"
"Stop fussing. You don't need such a long handle anyway. This is the only thing up here to demonstrate the weapon. Observe!"
Queasy threw the free end of the wooden stick over the wall. Within a split second, a blinding green stream zapped it into smoldering splinters.
Startled, Thoruk stumbled backward, almost over the ledge. "Blazes, warn me next time!"
"What for? This way you won't forget what you just saw. As you witnessed, Ambush and Tiger set the invisible barrier to trigger 15 feet away from the outside of the wall. The shield rises straight upward from the bottom to 50 feet above the top of the wall and out across the entire village. Skalags, muclones, arrows — anything — that crosses that barrier from the battlefield will be obliterated!"
"What about our arrows and bullets?"
"No problem. The technology is direction-specific: outgoing left alone, incoming scorched to nothingness! Remarkable, huh?"
"Yeah — if it works; but it just zapped the stick you through from our side."
"Oh, ye of little faith. See this thing here?"
The excited scientist pulled a black, boxy thing from his pocket. "This button on the remote control is labeled, 'Single' and this one is 'Bi' as in bi-directional."
He pressed 'Single.' "Now we're set. Anything penetrating the field from our side will be left alone. Would you like me to test it with another one of your handles?"
"No. Leave my flags alone!"
"Trust me. Everything is working as it should. I've also diverted all the energy from our windmills and solar panels to Zapper. For added assurance, we've connected batteries as a backup."
Queasy's eyes grew wider the longer he talked. "It's going to work! This first line of defense is way better than the spiked logs we used last time! Thank goodness you've finally come around to letting us use more advanced weapons."
He tilted his head toward the battlefield. "Looks like we're going to need them."
Lifting the spyglass, Thoruk observed the enemy advance. "You may be right. There's at least three times the numbers of cages and muclones than in the last battle."
Sweat dripped down the side of his face as his neck warmed. He squinted. "It's strange, but I don't see any flying muclones in the cages. Could they have found out about the perimeter protection?"
"I don't know how. We just set it up last night. They wouldn't have had time to react."
Even with all the assurances of the Texans and his resident scientist, anxiety tore at his gut. I still wish we had at least one fighter jet! I know what it can do!
Thoruk bit his lip and peered at his friend. "Stay up here with me. I could use a weapons expert to explain what Terminator and Slayer are doing on the field." He winked.
His eccentric friend scrunched his face. "If I have to, but you better not get me killed up here." The constant clank of the wagons and the deafening noise of enemy boots, hooves, and muclone roars swelled.
Lifting his voice over the racket, Thoruk looked at Queasy. "Hey, I forgot to ask Tropokt earlier. Did they take any of the EMPs with them to destroy Angrokt's operation?"
"No, Speedy said he didn't need them. Besides, he was nervous that such an antiquated device might actually fry Terminator's electronics. That's true if they didn't set the timer right and it went off before they were out of range."
Thoruk extended a thin, blue device toward Queasy. "Take this. Speedy told me to listen while he and Salty are talking. I don't know how to work this thing."
"Fantastic! Now, we'll know precisely what they're doing!" He snatched the communicator from Thoruk's palm.
"I'll listen. You direct the fight." With a stern scowl, he pointed his finger at Thoruk.
"Remember! Don't get me killed. I hate heights, and I particularly hate it when my heart stops!"
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Blackened Skies
On the Battlefield
Angrokt barked orders to the leaders of each regiment that passed, as the warriors marched along the road. "Don't bunch together!"
Determined to avoid the formations that left the battalions of her father and their allies easy pickings during the last disastrous battle, she waved her arms. "Spread those cages apart and stagger your lines and spacings."
Even without a single report of an aircraft, Angrokt remained wary. We're missing something — I feel it in my bones. But it won't matter. No planes can get through what's in store for those Ukes!
She flashed her sword at an archer, who released a flaming arrow high into the air. A purplish arc of smoke marked the hazy sky.
Looking at Ukkiville, she mumbled. "Let's see how Thoruk and his friends like this!"
Minutes Later
Salty reached up to a panel above his head and touched a picture of his beautiful wife, Cindy, and their two grown sons. I miss you, Sweetheart, but I'll be back soon. I promise.
Preparing to attack, he spoke into a tiny microphone extending from his helmet to his cheek. "Speedy? Can you hear me?"
"Affirmative."
The commander locked his safety harness in place. "Slayer's in position. Are you?"
"Yes, sir! Terminator's ready at the northwest corner. When do we strike?"
"Soon. We're not waiting until the enemy's all set up; just holding 'til the cages split off so we don't hit each other with crossfire. Hang on while I get the details."
Salty turned to his partner. "Tiger, what's out there?"
"A mix of targets, sir: 223 humans, 157 muclones of varying sizes."
She looked closer at the screen. "Wait! More targets approaching from the south — all airborne — at least 300 more! That's 457 muclones and climbing!"
Thoruk's voice drifted in from his radio. "What on Earth?"
A squeaky voice broke in. "Do you guys see this?"
Salty bellowed. "Who's on the line?"
"It's Queasy. I'm with Thoruk. There's at least three massive, distinct columns rising from the south! It's difficult to tell for sure, but they may be flying muclones!"
"We see 'em! There's at least 300 in flight toward Ukkiville!"
Tiger yelled. "Sir, there's more airborne targets to the north!"
Peering at the video feed, Salty zoomed in on the largest column. Wow, way more creatures than I expected! "We've got huge ground beasts in the cages and lots of winged muclones in flight! Speedy, did you get that?"
"Yes, sir — don't worry. Terminator and Slayer will handle the challenge. Good thing we didn't bring jets. These flying monsters would have smoked the engines for sure!"
The commander's stomach churned. "Speedy, change of plans. Take Terminator and strike as many of the airborne targets as possible. I'm going after the warriors and mutants on the ground! Got it?"
"Just give the command!"
"Go!"
A Moment Later
From the higher vantage point, Thoruk squinted toward the southern horizon, then the north. "Damn her to hell with Zolokt! How'd Angrokt create so many monsters?"
The towering flocks blackened the sky in th
eir approach toward both ends of Ukkiville, while his nemesis' army continued to march from the west. The nearest group of winged beasts resembled the large condor-cobra that Caru described from her cliff encounter.
He looked at Queasy. "You sure the perimeter defense will hold?"
Slowly nodding, he gulped. "Zapper should do it."
'Should' was the last word Thoruk wanted to hear. He picked up a red flag. Waving it at Tradulka and Bartuk, Thoruk hollered.
"Ready the archers!" He pointed toward the growing black clouds of flying muclones darkening the horizon.
Thoruk shook his head. There's so many!
While the archers positioned their weapons, Storm, Tropokt, and their teams aimed their rifles toward the aerial onslaught. According to Storm, he also brought a couple of tactical tools with the built-in slicers. He had set the lasers to strike at long range for good measure during the battle.
Thoruk's gut burned. I hope we can slow the monsters enough to give us a fighting chance!
Seconds Later
While Terminator surged toward the biggest group of cages, Speedy zoomed the cam on the airborne mass closest to him from the north. "Looks like a swarm of those giant mosquito-wasps Queasy described!"
The buzz in the distance grew louder. "Get 'em, Ambush!"
His partner touched an icon on the screen labeled 'Seeker' and 50 blips on the display turned yellow. Several thin, green beams streamed from Slayer, scorching the numerous targets in the sky. The yellow spots faded from view.
Marking the kills, flames and smoke dotted the sky with little noise other than sharp pops and crackles as the toasted remains burned to a crisp and drifted to the ground. The rest of the swarm scattered in all directions.
"Hurry! Lock and fire again."
Ambush immediately engaged Seeker. Another array of green streams charred several more muclones. Speedy stared at the cam feed.
"Some are getting away! Hit 'em again!"
In a blink of an eye, Captain Acosta responded, but only five flickering remnants lit the sky. "Sir, 105 targets destroyed, but seven escaped out of range. They're headed toward Ukkiville."
"Let 'em be! Zapper will get 'em. We've got to strike the flocks to the south!" Terminator's engines whined, and its wheels whirled as the armored vehicle spun in a plume of dust and accelerated toward the other winged mutants.
Halfway to their destination, Ambush yelled. "I've got three distinct flocks. Each looks like their following different leaders. There's a smaller target moving a little faster ahead of each column."
"Take out one of the leaders! See how its followers react!"
"Affirmative." A tiny, fiery flash lit the air near the front of the closest column. "Sir, that flock is scattering. The other two remained grouped, but swerved away from the kill."
"Don't hit the other leaders! Wait till they're closer, but fire at the strays — now!"
Several green streams extended high in the sky. "Sir, all but 12 of the first cluster are eliminated, but the other flocks are closing fast!"
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Clouds of Terror
In the Red Chariot
Infuriated that one of the metal wagons destroyed all but two of her winged armies, Angrokt turned her attention to the remaining flocks. For months, her husband fed the flying denamods only pigeons, stained in the different colors he wanted each group of the aerial beasts to chase.
While the creatures' craving for pigeons increased with smaller rations over time, Spurnoft trained the homing birds to fly directly over Ukkiville. Once the winged denamods were released on Angrokt's cue during the battle, her husband expected the separate flocks to zero in on the red, blue, or yellow colored pigeon they were trained to chase. As the starving beasts followed the lead of their desired pigeon over Ukkiville, surely they would consider the bigger, slower Ukes a more tempting meal to satisfy their ravenous hunger.
Angrokt scowled. Spurnoft's idea better work with what remains!
On Top of the Wall
Thoruk's heart kicked his chest as the remaining black clouds of muclones approached. Squinting through the magnifying lens, he focused on the closest flock. "Looks like ospreys with fox heads."
He settled the spyglass on the second group and muttered. "Eagles with the head of a Canadian lynx. Terminator must have hit the condor-cobras."
Shaking his head, he turned toward Queasy. "These are similar to the creatures you examined after the last battle."
Ambush's voice pierced the radio waves. "Incoming!"
Queasy motioned toward the battlefield. "Terminator's being attacked!" Thoruk turned his attention to Speedy's location as one of the flying beasts landed on the vehicle with a loud thump.
Voices continued to stream from the communicator. "Sir, a muclone's blocking the fore cam!"
Speedy yelled. "Electrify!"
Several blinding arcs spread across Terminator's outer shell like a flash of lightning. The creature squawked as it fried, and the limp, smoldering carcass slid off the sloped metal panel to the ground.
Thoruk's jugular pounded. "How can this perimeter deal with so many?" His neck stiffened.
Queasy squeaked. "Zapper will hold." The worry in the scientist's eyes and the increasing pitch of his voice told Thoruk all he needed to know.
He hollered to Mercy below. "Flying muclones! Be ready!" She knelt down and nocked three arrows against the string of her bow.
Both of the massive flocks flew upward as they neared the southern wall. Converging high in the sky, they swooped toward the center of Ukkiville.
As the diving mutants neared, large flashes of green streams struck the ferocious monsters. Crackling and sparking, several flaming carcasses turned into fiery balls, then into charred ashes drifting toward the earth.
On the ground below the brilliant fireworks, a handful of fighters screamed and ran for cover. The braver majority held their positions with their weapons poised for any survivors of Zapper's death rays.
Numerous winged beasts at the tail end of the vast columns continued their descent as if attracted to the flames like moths. Others scattered to try different entry points but met the same scorching demise.
A few of the more startled creatures flew toward the Skalags. Swooping and knocking a warrior to the ground, an osprey-fox clamped its claws into the neck of the terrified victim. In less than a minute, the petrified soul's fading screams fell silent.
As the perimeter lasers struck increasing numbers of targets, the green beams dimmed. Queasy gulped. "Zapper's getting weaker."
The flying monsters continued to dive, but the intensity of the flames diminished, only crippling some of the vicious attackers. When their smoldering bodies tumbled to the ground, they limped and stumbled around with partial legs and wings, screeching in pain. Arrows and bullets quickly ended their agony.
As Zapper drained the backup batteries, the green streams stopped. Thoruk stared at Queasy in disbelief.
The scientist shrugged. "At least it killed most of them before dying out."
Biting his lip, Thoruk handed Queasy a sword. "You better use this if you want to stay alive."
Thoruk grabbed a battle-ax in each hand and swung away as more winged mutants descended near the wall. Queasy ducked behind the log barrier, aimlessly waving the sword with terror plastered across his face. "Lord, please don't let me die!"
Meanwhile
Salty bore down on the largest regiment of Skalags with huge cages. From the cam feed, he observed Angrokt. She furiously screamed at her warriors, who scrambled to release the muclones. "Tiger! Use Clipper to..."
Before he spoke another word, she pressed the button labeled 'Clipper' and slowly moved a lever to her right. A narrow beam shot from Slayer, striking the left edge of the biggest cage.
The dazzling, green stream seared through boards, metal bars, warriors, and monsters with ease. Each of the beings sliced by the death ray froze in place for a moment before the top half of their bodies slid from their bottoms a
nd fell to the ground in a crimson pool of blood.
The prison structures collapsed in a tangled mound of red-splattered metal, wood, and clipped carcasses. As the ray of destruction continued to the next cage, Salty zoomed in on the smoldering heaps and mumbled.
"These are the weirdest creatures I've ever seen. Is that a rhino? That one looks like a leopard." From the mangled piles of detached body parts, it was impossible to tell which severed heads and torsos belonged to the different legs.
Tiger's voice broke his concentration. "Sir, I just killed three beasts that looked like one of the dinosaurs Tropokt had mentioned."
Horrified by the destruction of mutants and fellow fighters, several Skalags fled while the brave of the battalion positioned their weapons. Tiger yelled. "Incoming projectiles!"
"Keep your focus on the cages!" Several arrows and bullets clanked against Slayer's outer shell.
As the weapons expert seared through more cages of imprisoned monsters, pounding vibrations shook Slayer. Tiger hollered. "Gigantic muclone approaching!"
Salty glanced at the cam. "This can't be! It looks like a tyrannosaurus rex!"
He squinted. "Take it out!"
A thunderous clang reverberated through the cabin as the armored vehicle rocked sideways. "Now, Tiger!"
"Can't get a lock — too close!" Another tremendous bang flipped and rolled Slayer several times.
Jerked from one side to the other in his harness, Salty tried to maintain his bearings. He felt a numbing pain as something smacked the side of his head. His eyelids barely responded as he attempted to assess the damage.
Scarcely visible through his blurred vision, Salty noticed blood trickling down his partner's temple. "Tiger! Are you okay?"
Groaning, she struggled to sit upright and murmured. "Not dead yet, sir."
She glanced at her panel. "Looks like the equipment shut down." Tiger pressed the power switch, and the screen reappeared.
A deafening roar echoed from above as a grating sound scraped across Slayer's metal shell. Groggy, Salty looked at his panel. "That monster's still out there! Sounds like it's trying to get in. I can't see it! The cam control must be damaged. Electrify!"
The New World: Blue Moon Generatoin Page 20
