Living in the Past
Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
« Previous ChapterNext Chapter »
Title: LIVING IN THE PAST
Author: ulyferal
Rating: K+
Warnings: Profanity and some violence.
Disclaimer: “SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron,” its characters and concepts are copyright to Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc and are used without permission.
Chapter 12: Final Plans
Hanging in a bramble bush was not what he called fun but it did hide him from the wall guards. Fortunately, he was wearing leather, dyed black, that covered his body, feet, and paws plus the black wool hood that prevented his light colored fur from giving him away.
Chance had been waiting about a half hour already, but then he’d gotten here early so he would be in place in plenty of time to catch the message he was here for. He wished this was the tower Callie was in, but her’s had an inward facing window to the courtyard while this one faced the forest, was least guarded, and on the shadowed side of the castle. He hoped they didn’t run into trouble getting him the information; everything rode on what they’d found out.
Just before he had to take his leave, he had helped hand out the woven baskets filled with pod bombs to the Queen’s knights as they prepared themselves and their horses for battle. They’d managed to make enough that every knight had a full load. Queen Callista had even brought horses for the team from the future to ride so they could all arrive fresh and ready for storming the castle. All that was needed now was what he was waiting for.
They’d had a last minute meeting before he left, revising their departure plan a little, deciding to leave before dusk instead of after darkness fell, which would allow them to breech the castle without the dragons, trolls, and gargoyles interfering.
The Queen had felt, and they’d agreed, this would increase their chances of success. However, the only downside of the plan was the fact the Pastmaster would be roaming or at the courtyard where the spell was to be done and Callie would be in the tower. This would entail splitting the team even further to rescue her, which no one liked.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
“Due to the nature and difficulty of the spell the Pastmaster is intending to cast, he cannot allow his attention to be pulled away even during this early stage,” Callista told them.
“Hmm, then sending two to get Ms. Briggs might be a good idea. Without her, his spell is useless anyway,” Feral said slowly. “That would put us in a better position when we took him out … that’s if he doesn’t come charging out at us when we storm the castle.”
“Which he could very well do despite the need to not leave his spell casting,” Razor admonished.
The Queen frowned a moment. “Though thee has a sound reason for rescuing your friend quickly, Sir Feral, splitting our forces is not wise. It will take all of us to bring down the Pastmaster. Your friend is actually much safer in her tower until we are victorious. I would suggest sending one of my knights to eliminate her guard then keep her safe.”
Though unhappy, the SWAT Kats could see her point. So did Feral. “I guess you’re right. Leaving her there would be a good idea but, if things go bad, I reserve the right to take action to pull her from harm,” he temporized.
“I understand, Sir Feral, and commend you. Your first duty is to protect and save your people just as it is mine. So be it. I trust your judgment on whether that will be necessary and that you’ll find a way to carry it out without compromising our primary duty of removing the Pastmaster,” Callista agreed, albeit reluctantly. “Just a reminder. Our enemy may well stay at his task and allow his soldiers to keep us at bay. But, if he determines we are too close, he may have your friend brought down from the tower sooner.”
“Then we’ll have to be watching for that and take out her guards at that time,” Feral said firmly. “When would he have normally brought her down for her part of the spell?”
“At least two hours after moonrise. The moon must be overhead for the spell to work.”
“Since we plan to charge the castle early, then getting her first should be a piece of cake,” T-Bone said confidently.
“Only if you manage to get inside the castle proper, buddy. The guards will be fighting hard to keep us from even entering the main hall,” Razor reminded him.
“With the weapons you made, Razor, we shouldn’t have a problem.”
Razor sighed but said nothing more. His buddy was always a bit cocky before a battle.
“I hope that proves to be true, Sir T-Bone,” Callista smiled wanly.
“Okay, everyone, a last word here …,” Razor spoke one last time. “…Since this is late summer, sunset will be around seven pm and the moon will rise around eight. However, since the Queen has said the moon must be directly overhead before the spell could be cast, the attack has to be accomplished between six and eight to succeed and leave us enough time to still have the moon to cast the spell twice to send us home. It’s going to be tight!”
“Aye, I agree. Battles tend to be longer or shorter depending on how many variables occur during it,” Sir Gregory said.
“Then we just hope the luck we four seem to always have continues to be there for us,” T-Bone said firmly, refusing to be negative.
Everyone sort of smiled at that then the meeting broke up and T-Bone left on his mission.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
His thoughts were dragged back to the present as what looked like a piece of cloth tied to something heavy dangled from the window slit. Chance dared to call upward softly, “Drop it!” No face showed, but the paw holding the cloth extended out the window and dropped what it held.
Chance caught it then stuffed it into his clothes before quickly and quietly heading back to the ground and the horse waiting for him in the trees. Before climbing aboard the warsteed, he pulled out the message and read it. A smile lit his face as he folded it again and hid it away. He pulled his mask back on, leaped aboard his mount, then kicked it into a gallop.
At the cave, everyone waited tensely for the SWAT Kat’s return. Feral paced before the cave opening while Razor leaned against the wall nearest the waterfall and stared outside.
The Kats remaining behind were already in the process of cleaning up the campsite, removing anything that could give away an encampment having been here. A grim faced group of Enforcers and mercenaries had the nasty task of moving the dead bodies into a neat pile at the center of the area where they would all stand to be transported home.
As Razor had suggested, the bodies were piled on each other, sand was poured over them then torches with burning sage attached were set around the pile to reduce the awful odor of decay. Fortunately, the bodies had been wrapped in fabric they’d gotten from the Queen, so moving the bodies wasn’t that difficult.
The temporary grass huts were all being dismantled, the grass used to build them was carried outside and disposed of as was excess firewood that wasn’t going to be used for a last meal. Older folks paired with the very young were tasked with combing the grounds with makeshift rakes to find any particle that was from the future, collecting it in baskets and putting them beside the piled bodies. Morgan and Steele could be seen circulating among the people helping, guiding, and insuring nothing was left behind. The air was filled with the hum of excited voices as hopes flew high they’d be going home by tonight.
Feral glanced their way and watched for a long moment. He prayed they did make it home. Failure would be heartrending for some, a cause for suicide for others, and a possible riot by the rest when they knew the Pastmaster had won and would soon claim them. That made him shudder inside. He turned away again and went back to his pacing. No! They would not fail! He refused to think otherwise.
Felina sat on a rock and watched him. Her horse and equipment pack were ready, standing next to her uncle’s mount. She wanted to pace too but that would only make her crazy, so she just watched her poor uncle do it instead.
Suddenly, Razor straightened and signaled that his partner had returned. Sure enough, just five minutes later, T-Bone rode into the cavern and dismounted quickly, tugging the horse inside with his partner following anxiously by his side but not asking what he’d found out. The tabby would be telling all of them soon enough. All the leaders hurried to his side and circled him. When the Queen and her second in command joined them, T-Bone read the note aloud.
“100 soldiers, ten gargoyles, 4 dragons, 4 trolls, 20 servants, 6 gargoyles – 2 on each wall
20 of us still alive, will be hiding in the loft of the mini stable at right of the draw bridge
Location of spell casting – 90% certainty – locked door behind single-eye tapestry, front of main hall, right side
Briggs still in tower at this writing
Pastmaster in and out of locked room – beware
Soldiers – 20 on wall, 10 spread out on towers, 40 within castle including 10 officers, at least 10 circulating the village plus four on the gate and six in sick bay.
Villagers will not fight or interfere. They remain in huts at nightfall, sound of attack will keep them indoors
Toadies – 5 aiding him in spell set up, 2 run after him, 3 remain at spell area
Dragons in dungeon, released through wooden door on east side of castle wall
Trolls in pit beneath the ground in courtyard, in front of draw bridge
Gargoyles come awake when sun is down
Will set up tripping hazards on all pathways; wedge metal piece in pit door to delay trolls, something similar to prevent dragons release – will burn way through though – be careful
Evac to stables will be completed by 6pm
Map on back of all traps, placement of enemy, and our location.
God speed – all hope is with you!
Lt Farthington”
“Farthington?” Feral frowned, trying to place the officer.
“He’s in the armored division, sir,” Steele jogged his superior’s memory.
“Well, he sounds like he understands strategy very well, which is to our benefit. If he succeeds in just a few of those things he plans, it will help us greatly,” Feral said, pleased.
“I agree. Sounds like our chances have gotten even better,” T-Bone said, grinning.
“We’d better make sure no one fires a bomb at the stables,” Razor warned. “As for the trolls being so close to the gates, does that mean we have to get in there before the sun goes down or when it gets shady there?” he asked the Queen.
She grimaced and said unhappily, “When it is shaded. It is direct sunlight they can’t abide.”
Razor rubbed his chin while his allies didn’t look happy about that fact at all.
“Even if those guys succeed in jamming the pit door, those things will still manage to get free,” T-Bone grumbled.
“Then we have to hope my incandescent missiles will be bright enough to blind them so we can take them down if they get out before we break through,” he said finally.
“It might. They are as bright as sunlight,” Feral said thoughtfully.
“With the things this lieutenant hopes to do, we should be able to take down the wall guards quickly, blow the gate and take out the few guards that will have time to meet us. The servants won’t fight us and are more likely to hide. Our people will be out of the way, so it looks like it’s not going to be as hard as we were afraid it would be. However, the Pastmaster is no pushover and we’ll have to be ready for him,” Razor said, laying out what he thought might happen. “The only real threat besides that creep is the dragons and trolls. As for the gargoyles, they aren’t stronger than our bombs but don’t let them get close to you or you’ll find yourself being hauled away and dropped from a high height.”
“Aye, as we know only too well, Sir Razor,” Sir Gregory said, grimacing. “Thy plan seems sound. I suggest we leave soon, my Queen. The sun draws too close to the horizon for my comfort.”
“I agree, my lord. Sir T-Bone, hand me the map please,” the Queen said, holding out her paw. The tabby handed it over. She studied it a moment before handing it to Sir Gregory, who looked it over too. “I will speak to my knights then we will away,” she commanded.
She walked off and took a stand on a high rock. Her knights all turned their attentions toward her, ceasing their conversations. Briefly and to the point, she told them what they’d learned from the castle and what she need them to do when they got there. Without cheering, the knights raised their fists in the air, showing their understanding of the plan and their support.
“Mount up!” she commanded.
The sun was kissing the mountains as the Queen’s army rode out and went to a gallop. No one saw them as the villagers were wont to be in their huts at this time of day. At the front of the group was Feral, Felina, the SWAT Kats, four Enforcers that would be part of the insertion team, Sir Gregory, and Queen Callista.
Loading ...
Add Your Comment: