From: alexbell@iastate.edu (Alex Bell.)
Subject: Operation Phoenix:  Dragon-fear
Date: 1996/02/01
Message-ID: <alexbell.823217346@isum1.iastate.edu>
organization: Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
keywords: Operation Phoenix
newsgroups: alt.barney.dinosaur.die.die.die


			Operation Phoenix:
			    Dragon-fear


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Location:  The DE New-Recruit Training Center (TC) somewhere in Northern 
Minnesota....

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*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

	The blare of the incoming call snapped Valenka, a DE Comm tech, back to 
reality.  He shook his head to clear it of the haunting image of his 
F.C's death.  Unable to rid his mind of the gruesome spectacle, he 
slowly approached the console.

	"Incoming message. Source: Trooper Surtur. Priority one. Code Red,"
Hal, the TC's AI, droned monotonously, "Message received."

	Valenka sighed with relief and swiftly downloaded the decoded file.
The message scrolled onto the screen, and that faint slice of hope was 
quickly transformed into sheer terror.

	*************************************************
	*   SOS... PRIORITY ONE... CODE RED... SOS...   *
	*					        *
	*   Greetings, fellow Dobermensch,              *
	*                                               *
	*   Assistance needed at TRES HQ - Colorado,    *
	*   USA.  Attack imminent. Overwhelming X'hirjq *
	*   and spongin' forces.  Reply to TRES.        *
	*						*
	*				CP		*
	*						*
	*************************************************

	Engulfed with fear, he smacked the Panic Button(tm) activating the  
Training Officer (TO) Red-Alert Signal.  The operating light blinked once 
and then went blank.  Cursing, he created a hard copy of the distress 
call, dashed from the room, and ran out into the frigid MN air. Shivering  
without his coat, he headed towards the base's Golden Arches where the 
TO's were gathered for their nightly shake.

*BOOM!!!*

	"Holy Grimace!!!" Val gasped and froze staring at what was left of the 
McDonald's and those inside - flames shooting into the evening sky.  As 
he stood there watching the unusual spectacle, he was joined by several 
of his comrades.

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	 Trooper Aphrodite, joining the others, stood staring at what was
left of the building, shocked beyond belief, wondering how anyone could 
survive the blaze.  All too quickly the flames died out and once again 
the night was black.  The troopers looked at one another, none wanting 
to be the first to speak.
	Gulping back her fear, Aph turned to the others, "Well... we 
can't just stand out here in the cold all night.  We need to know if 
anyone..." Unable to finish, she looked away, into the night sky trying 
to control the emotions flooding through her.  "You know what I mean...
Split up and do a head count. Meet in the Comm room, you have thirty 
minutes." They just stood there, staring, until her words slowly 
registered.  Then silently each of the soldiers jogged off in separate 
directions, leaving behind only Valenka and Aphrodite.
	Valenka remained frozen, staring off into the distance.  "All gone.
No one left," he muttered, "The FC dead.  The Commander MIA.  TRES.  The 
TO's."  As Aphrodite stared in confusion, he shook his head, laughing 
sickly to himself, "Fraggin aliens.  How in Grimace?  Maybe if Sam was 
here... but... dead..." 
	"Snap out of it, Val."  When that elicited no response, Aph grasped his 
shoulders and shook him hard, trying to snap him out of his trance. "What 
aliens?  What's wrong with Sam?!?"
	Val turned and looked into her eyes.  Aph gasped and stepped back, 
shocked at the hopelessness and fear reflected therein.  Val slowly
handed Aph the distress call, and giggling said, "And what's wrong with 
the FC, you ask? Nothing much, he's only missing his head!!"   With that 
he broke into a hysterical laugh and disappeared into the night.
	Shocked, Aph couldn't move to stop him. "Samhain, dead? ... He's
right," she thought to herself, "if these creatures can kill Samhain, what 
chance do we have..." But those thoughts were quickly replaced by anger, 
as she thought of the havoc and terror these creatures were causing.  
Filled with rage, she suddenly knew what she had to do. "So these 
stinkin' lizards think they can kill My FC and take over My Planet that 
easily, huh?  And now the TRES HQ.... We'll see how they like dealing 
with MY crew... and Zaphyre."  Growling to herself, she didn't notice 
her changing metabolism until three blue claws suddenly broke through the 
message in her hand.  Laughing to herself, she shifted her hands back to 
their original shape and calmly jogged towards the Comm room, the plan 
forming in her mind.


*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*-To Be Continued-*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*