Operation Pheonix: The BMW Strikes Back-The War Begins AUTOMODE 173568 TIME INDEX: Present REGUARDING: Earth Threat. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Autolog 157738: Subject: BMW SIGHTING Crew: Owsen, Windigo, Shardik. It was somewhat brisk that morning. The temp dropped down to the mid 40's as I activated TRES HQ's heating system. "Another GLORIOUS Kansas morning," I sighed. Not much was happening around the base. Everyone had left on possible ongoing alien threat maneuvers. I stuck it out at HQ in case something came up. Basically, not much was gonna, so I thought. We usually don't get much of a threat around here. Base is secluded enough that we can see 'em coming. I walked down to holoroom 6 and began my physical training matrix, again. I'd been putting it off due to some internal problems at HQ, and had almost forgotten about it entirely due to the latest war. "Enter Program." "Taranos' War. Level 10." Taranos was an old friend of mine. He died in the year 897 from a spoungin raid on his castle. Before he passed, he taught me how to use a sword effectively in battle. When he passed, he taught me how to die gracefully and with honor. I maintained a psychic link to him in the beyond, but it wasn't the same. "Program Ready. Enter Anytime." The doors slid open and there it was, my beloved BrightMoon, my home. The grasses were green as the emerald isle of Ireland was beautiful. The sky was clear and blue as saphire mist. A slight wind came from the northeast. I got homesick REALLY fast. "Begin Time sequence 14:36 at Slide by 72." The scene changed as instant as been seen. The view was now that of DarkShire, a once beautiful place, now showing the ravages of war. Many buildings were destroyed, fires ravaging the area. The ground was dressed red in the color of battle. "Begin Sequence." "Sequence Starting." As if placed there by magick, the grounds were now covered with bodies, armored soldiers in purple and green hacking and slashing at all in the path, and that path aimed for me. I drew The Slayer forth. "AL'RIGHT YA BASTARDS, C'MON AN GET IT!!!!!!" The armies focused on me and charged forth. Gutting the first one, I moved into the mob, lobbing off a head in one moment, burning another in the next, and shredding the next with my Big Assed Claws (tm). My rage flowed forward as I saw the familiar silhouette at the top of the hill, that of a 6 foot tall lizard cackling and saying the words, "This is Super-deee-duper." I sped up. I started ripping and tearing through spoungin' like they were paper. One intent. One thought. It Dies. As I cleared the last of the footmen, I lunged forward ready to strike the useless protoplasm bag when the program stopped. "WHAT THE HELL?!?!?" "Priority One Override, Security Protocol. Possible Spoungin' Threat." "Wh-what?", I gasped. Nothing gets the sensors going that fast. And they never interrupt me in here. "Priority One Emergency detected within Continental United States." "Identification Markings?" "Unconfirmed. Pattern resembles File Number 1765823 Enemy: BMW." "B'Harnee Mechanized Warriors? Those things got roasted during the 93 raids. Reconfirm Pattern." "Pattern Check Active. Please stand by." The BMW forces had originally attacked Kansas during 1993 just before I went on sebaticle. Even had to act like a spounge minion to wipe 'em out. Made me damn near puke. "Pattern Check Confirmation: File Number 1765823 Enemy: BMW. Pattern has been modified." "Modified? Description of Modification." "Unable to Comply. Sensor Failure at Location." "Re-establish." "Attempting. Sensory equipment has been terminated." "Great, looks like they want us to come look first hand. Last Known Co-Ordinates." "Orlando, Florida. Possible Universal Studios." "Contact Morgenna and Tasha, and ready my W.H.A.P.-A.S.S." "Admiral Morgenna is on Holy leave. Captain Tasha Black is on Holy leave." "Eh, sheist. I forgot. Closest Personnel in active status." "None reported." "Great!!!!! Open Com-Port 17259." "Activating." I knew there was only two other people who could help me out right now. I just hoped they were on-line. "Com-Port open." "This is Jace the Feral calling Feral Domain. Windigo, Shardik, you home?" I prayed by the gods they were near the port. "JACE!!!" the soft, soothing voice returned. WINDIGO! "This is unexpected. What's up?" "I got a problem, lass" I replied. Filling her in on the details, she took the situation rather well. "Frackin' spoungin!!! I can't believe they'd resurrect a junkpile like that!!!" "Well, hate to tell you this," I replied, "But it sounds like they modified it, and they want to have a field test." "What'd you get on initial scans?" "Not much. They wasted my sensors before I could run the scan." "Grand." A male's voice. Had to be him. "Hate to say it, Shard." "WOULD YOU STOP USING YOUR MAGICK!!!!!" "I didn't have to. Yer the only feral within about 60 miles of Windigo that happens to be a man." "Well, since you put it that way....What's the Location on it?" The computer chimed in, "Atlanta, Georgia." "Shit, they're moving in fast!" moaned Windigo. I shared the sentiment on that one. "We're in for a bad...." "Hold up. Computer," I broke in, "Number of BMW units." "Undeterminable. Scans can not verify multiple targets." "What?!?!?" came Shardik's voice. "That's not possible. Either there are or there aren't." "Possibly some kind of new cloaking," came Windigo's voice. "Computer, signs of external power fluctuation?" "None reportable." "Now It's Getting Scary." I responded. The TRES Corps systems are some of the best systems available. Currently, they were doing me Jack Shit. "Ok," I finally blurted out. "I'm prepping me a W.H.A.P.-A.S.S. on this one. No need in being stupid." "Cool." replied Windigo. "We'll prep our combat vehicles and meet you in Louisville." "Rodger. I'm also going to send J-Rock a Priority One aprising him of the situation." "Good thinking. He's faced these before." I don't know, but I think when Windi said that, I thought I heard her sigh. "End of Transmission, see you in Atlanta." I shut down the Com-Port. "Computer, Priority Class One Message to Admiral J-Rock: Drop what you're doing, J. BMW's are back. End Message. Send full briefing. Confirm?" "Confirmed. Message transmitting. W.H.A.P.-A.S.S. ready for departure in Hanger Bay 5." "On my way. Activate Auto Defenses upon departure of WHAP-ASS!" "Confirmed. AutoDefenses Will activate. Notifying Admiral Foxglov." I didn't know what was coming, but I knew Han Solo said it best: "I got a bad feeling about this." TO BE CONTINUED- CHAPTER 2: The Atlanta Brave. ________________________________________________________________________________ PRAETOR ADJUNCT GRAND ADMIRAL LORD TILDEN OWSEN of TRES CORPS