Survival of the fitest
#2 of Survival of the fitest
"Tyson......Tyson do you copy?"
Fabels voice echoed through the dingos ears as he lay on the cool earth. His ears rang as sweat ran down his face. The cool, wet mud caked on his forehead as he lay face down in the earth. He heard Fabels voice again, this time he was more  concerned, he seemed that he was crying into the communicator.Â
"Tyson!!! Please! Please get up!! Â Tyson get up!!"
Coughing he managed to move his arms just enough to give himself enough room to roll on his back. Pressing his paw up against the small communicator in his ear, he grunted as he spoke in a deep commanding voice.Â
"What is it Fabel?"
"Oh thank God your alright. Look Tys, don't you ever scare me again like that!!"
He whinced as his left paw weakly searched his chest. Whimpering slightly he dug the large slug out of his armour that covered his chest in complete protection. The slug had buried itself right under the big white UCDC letters painted in army style in the middle of his chest. The armour itself looked like the football pads he had worn in highschool, although that was were the similarities stopped. His armour was made of super strong, regenerating, and nuclear radiation proof material that would stop virtually any and every type of small arms round that had been created up till now. The round had knocked him on his ass telling Tyson that it had come from a large caliber rifle from a long distance.Â
Tossing the mushroomed round onto the ground, as he slowly caught his breath. Closing his eyes he lay there, letting the sounds of his surroundings be taken in by his highly tuned ears. The sound of distant firefights echoed through the area, the still quiet of the earth, they all went into his memory, analyzing and telling the dingo each little detail of the area. Coming to the world around his little area, he grabbed the rifle that had fallen next to him. It's composite stock practically sticking in his paw as he bragged it, his fingers gripping the forestock of the weapon as he began to crall up the side of the small crater he had fallen in when he was shot.Â
"Tys.." the voice peirced the silence in the dingos ear. "Tys, I am gonna do a thermal scan of the area right now. I'll find that son of a bitch."Â
Two pointed ears slowly poked out of the too of the crater, followed by th rest of the rust-red colored males head and his rifle as he scanned the area.Â
Washington had become a wasteland after the bomb hit. What it didn't destroy with it's initial blast, was either exposed to small amounts of radiation or had been so damaged it appeared to be ruins. Overpasses crumbled at their joints, sending massive pieces of concrete to the earth below. Buildings went from beautiful easily recognizeable monoliths into decaying, unidentifyable shells Of structures that once existed. The roads were littered with debris and vehicles resulting from the sheer panick that ensued after the bomb hit the area. It occured in 1976, twenty years ago in many other major cities in the nation. Every civil defense network in the nation went haywire setting off nucleur bombs and cruise missles throught the nation.Â
The Unites Civil Defense Coalition, or UCDC was created when the citizens of the destroyed citizens that survived the ordeal, saw a need for a joint coalition to keep survivors safe from dangerous pirates and scavengers as they tried to rebuild the regions. Tyson was born into the program, his parents were killed when he was a pup on a recon mission a year after the initial explosion. He went through a rigerous training that made him strong, fast, and deadly in every sense of the word.Â
Fabel had met the dingo right after he had finished his training. The wolf was given full choice of the dou he would watch over. He had taken many months watching each recruit studying every aspect of there performance. Tyson stood out to him. He was only nineteen at the time he finished his training but had already shown himself to be a valuable asset to the coalition. The two had formed a bond over the years that strengthened every day and seemed to go more than just their duty.Â
Another bullet whizzed pass the dingos exposed head as he didn't even flinch. He saw it kick up dirt out of the corner of his eye.Â
"Fabel!! Were is this guy?!?!"Â
"I am loo... Got him. He is in the four story building northwest of your position. Top floor take him out." the wolfs voice crakled back.Â
Tyson adjusted himself accordingly and stared down the large scope on his rifle, his non-dominant eye squinted shut. Placing the illuminated crosshairs on the base of the building he quickly searched up the building stopping at the top level. Half the floor was completely gone, leaving hardly enough cover for a roach, let alone a sniper.Â
He slowly scanned the floor, going from window to window not leaving a single spot uninvestigated. As he scanned he said a small prayer for himself and his enemy. He knew only one would survive this small encounter but he would do his best.Â
Suddenly he saw the tell tale horns of a dragon sticking up from a window. Waiting a moment he tightened his grip on the rifle, his finger barely resting on the trigger as he waited for  the shot he needed. He didn't have to wait long before he saw what he wanted, the whites of the dragons eyes as he popped up to take another shot at the canine.Â
Tyson squeezed off the round, time seeming to slow as the projectile exited it's surroundings and sped towards the dragon. The deadly round slammed into the dragons scaley hide with a thump even before he heard the crack of the rifle. The shot tore through the fleshy tissue that lined the dragons throat as a small squirt of blood arced out and onto the gun that was being used moments before to take out the dingo.
Tyson quickly pulled the bolt back clearing the round before slamming another one into the chamber, his aim never wavering from were his first was placed.Â
"Good shot Tys!!" the wolf hollered in full excitement over the comm. "I have a confirmed kill on a sniper. Hold your postion and wait for evac. I am sending out Kaizoe to evac you."
Tyson slung the rifle over his shoulder and picked up the ak-47 that he had dropped when he fell. Taking one last look around, he sank back down into the crater and waited, his assult rifle in it's ready position in his shoulder. He lay there, his heart beating as the wait for evac continued. He pulled the fingerless glove on his right paw down tight before doing the same with his left.Â
It wasn't long before he heard distant machine gun fire signaling that the vehicle was coming. Peaking back over the crater, he saw the buggy. It was a regular two seat dune buggy type vehicle that was mainly used by the coalition for quick insertions, evacs, or for hit and run missions. It was lightning quick and required very little armament besides the large machine gun mounted on the passenger side. The vehicle roared down the straight shot path to the area Tyson was hold up in. He could see it bobbing between hostile fire and the debris that scattered the road.Â
Ducking back down he heard the squealing of tires as the tiger roared out before calling for Tyson.Â
"Yo Tys!! Lets get the hell outta here!"
That was his que. The dingo sprang to life, his boots carrying him at great speed and vaulting him out of the crater as he scrambled to the vehicle, bullets whizzing by him in every direction. Tossing the rifles in the back he jumped into the passengers seat and reached foreward to the large gun. Pulling the firing pin back he started the feed as the gun roared to life sending a seemingly impenetrable wall of lead in front of the buggy as Kaizoe mashed the pedal to the floor, sending the buggy hurtling out of the hot zone and down the main road of the city.Â
"Looks like I came right on time Tys."
"Why ya say that? It was just a lonely sniper I was giving company."Â
The tiger shook his head as he turned out of the town and drove south towards the headquaters. "Tys, you had a whole regiment coming up on your ass there. I doubt you would have made it to far without air support and you know what little amount we have of that is taking out the pirates in California."
"Eh I could have taken them."Â
The tiger sighed as he looked to his partner for a moment as they entered the complex. "Look bud. One of those bullets out there has your name on it. And one day it's going to catch you and I don't want that to be because I let you take anything on."
Tysons memory instantly flashed back to the day he got the news about his parents dying. How he felt when the officer picked him up, still as a pup, and told him that his mommy and daddy wouldn't be returning from their mission. "Ya I know. Thanks Kaizoe." he said before wiping a tear from his eye and looking up a the headquarters building.Â
The HQ was the bombed out structre of the pentagon. An entire section was missing from the structure along with many parts of the roof, but that didn't stop the coalition from setting up a national command base shortly after the coalition was formed.Â
The tiger pulled the buggy into the carpool. He parked it among tanks and heavier transport trucks. The vehicles showed their age as theirok paint had faded and there metal shells were littered with dents and dings from bullets and explosions. The pair got out and picked up there weapons. Tyson had given the tiger the assult rifle while he himself took his sniper rifle in his hands and walked towards one of the many entrances. Looking up at the tiger he chuckled. Tyson himself was taller than most, if not all of the other operatives that worked exclusively in the field coming in at six foot three. Kaizoe looked down at the dingo smiling. He was a giant compared to most, towering another six inches above the highest hair in Tysons head.
He was wearing the same type of armour that the dingo was wearing his taterred shirt barely covweed the standard issue UCDC armour that covered his chest. His powerfully toned muscles showed through the fur on his arms. He was the demolitions and weapons expert of the trio. The coalition thought that sending their squads out in pairs, each one of the dou specially trained for their missions. In this case, Tyson  was the coalitions main sharpshooter. The dou came to the door that read "Head comms room" on the glass in big white military letters.Â
Tyson knocked on the glass with his paw and spoke loudly through the door. "Hey Fabel! Debrief time let's go."
The door slowly swung open as the wolf exited the room. His ear mic trailing down his muzzle as he hit the button with one of his gloved paws. The shorter wolf fell in next to the dingo, as the three furs made their way to the screening room.Â
Fabel was the just a pup when the instance occurred and spent his entire life working on his computer skills in order to be a large part of the coalition. He wanted to have a hand in there efforts to help rebuild the colonies. He had been drafted and was instantly placed as the head communications expert and he took to the task like a fly to honey.Â
The trio approached the main screening room as the dingo punched in a code and knelt down as a neon green ray scanned his pupil before the heavy stainless steel door slid open giving an open view to the dark room.Â
The three walked in and stood, shoulder to shoulder, their feet spread and there paws crossed in front of them. The dingo was up in front, the two others behind him slightly as the general of the coalition appeared on the screen.Â
The lion sat behind the desk, he was actually one of the only members if the coalition that wore full military garb. His deep piercing eyes seemed to look into the eyes of everyone in the room, the furs working the computers on either side of the room.Â
"Tyson Shadowpaw reporting sir! Sniper elimination mission was a success. My team and I eliminated several snipers along the main transport route."
The lion sat up in his chair as he watched the dingo salute him.Â
"At ease Tyson. You have done well today son. Your efforts have made a safe route for our supply train. Â Your father would be proud."
 The dingo swallowed hard and loosened up his stance but not waivering in his position or voice. His mind growing a small soworfull seed that he tried not to let it show to the rest of his team.Â
"Thank you sir."
The lion nodded and looked down at his desk. "Your next mission orders are being sent now. Good luck Tyson."
With that the transmission faded out as a cloud of snow took the lions place on the screen. Tyson sighed and turned around to face his team, his place as the most respected warrior on this side of the region showed to every other fur in the room who acted like they were in the midst of a legend.Â
"Okay boys you heard the general. We have another mission coming up. Fabel I want you to get Kaizoe and I briefed as soon as you get the mission specs."
"Copy that Tys." the wolf walked off to the side and leaned down next to one of the foxes that was typing away at a computer pulling up everything he could on the latest mission.Â
The dingo looked back at the tiger smiling. "Kaizoe, let's go get some lunch."Â
He started to walk back towards the door as the tiger fell in beside him. "Fabel we will be in the lounge when your done."
The two sat on the black couch. Their plates empty from their lunch as they relaxed, soothing their tired muscles afte the mission they had just accomplished.Â
Fabel entered the small lounge room carrying a small stack of papers. He stood infront of two as the tiger picked at his teeth with a claw.Â
Tyson sat up, leaning his bare arms on his kneepads looking up at the wolf.Â
"What ya got for us Fabel?"Â
"Well. How do you to like snow?"
The tiger snarled a little as Tyson chuckled.Â
"Not so much huh? Well we are going to be inserted straight into northern command. They needed a few extra paws out there and no supprise but high command decided to send the best to help them mop up. I will further explain on the plane. Take off is in two hours. O' seven hundred. Dress warmly."
The wolf padded out of the room followed by the other two. They all headed to their respective quaters and began packing up their nessacary supplies.Â
Tyson opened the door to his room. It wasn't much, just the basics that were needed for a "soldier". There was a double bed pressed up against the wall. He sat on the edge of it bringing his right leg up onto his left kneepad. The boot that surrounded his foot as a dark black above the ankle trecking boot. Untying the almost never ending strands of crossed laces, he pulled it off his foot and took off his sock, revealing the rust-red colored fur that topped his foot. Doing the same with his other boot, he placed them next to his bed neatly on the floor. Â Â
He stood up slowly. Reaching on his side, he unclasped the holster on his belt and tossed it on the bed. Undoing the rest of his pants, he slid the camoflagued cargo pants off him and layed them on the bed, leaning down he took the cartridges out of the pockets on the sides and placed them next to his pistol in it's holster. Three bannana clips that he had salvaged for the assault rifle and the ten, twenty round box magazines he always kept for his sniper rifle.Â
Grunting softly he rolled his shoulders in his armour, the pads cupping his joints. The black under armour clung tight to his fur under the vest as he walked over to the closet. He had the same form fitting material on his lower half that proved the same breathable, yet warmth that he expected from the material he wore on his torso. The kneepads he wore were mainly for protection during evasive sliding manuvers.Â
Rifling through the various clothes that littered his closet, he pulled out another pair of cargo pants that this time were a winter white and grey camoflague instead of an urban camoflague. Sliding them onto his toned body he pulled out a heavy winter jacket. It looked more of that of an arctic adventurer than a warrior but in this type of warfare, practicality was better than looks.Â
Putting the heavy jacket on over his amour, he walked back over to the bed and picked up his belt putting it through the loops that were on the waistband of his pants. Plopping onto the bed he put a pair of grey thermal socks on his feet before slipping them into the boots and lacing them up. Putting the box magazines in his coat instead of his pants, he attached his holster in his belt, unclasping the safety band and pulling out the black pistol. Holding it in his hand for a moment, he returned it to it's resting place and picked up the assault rifle clips. Â
He walked out of his quarters shutting the door behind him. The halls around the soldiers quarters were all but empty as Tyson made his way to the armory. Then again he wasn't to surprised since it was still early in the morning. His boots sounded heavily as he walked through the hall.Â
Stopping he came to the entrance to the armory. Â It looked more like the retaining section of a jail then a room. It had two layers of iron bars that required two retinal identification confirmations to gain access the the armory. The dingo passed these two scans and was granted access to the area. He flipped the lights on illuminating the entire room with a light blue glow. It illuminated every shelf showing thousands of weapons. Everything from small paw sized pistols and sub-machine guns, to giant high powered sniper rifles and guided rocket launchers. The dingo placed the clips he had found with the other ones on a shelf. Walking to the reserve section he looked through the named shelves.Â
This was the section of the armory that high ranking or productive warriors put there personal weapons. Ones they had used and were almost another part of their being. They felt so close to these weapons that they would never dare use another weapon of that type. This is were Tysons rifle was. It was on a shelf in between Kaizoes and Fabels shelf. Tyson took down the rifle slinging it on his shoulder. Kaizoes spot was bare, as usual, but it normally contained a SAW assault rifle. Fabels Thompson was still on it's shelf telling Tyson that the wolf didn't think he would need it, or he had forgotten. Taking the Thompson machine gun, he signed the weapons out at the main desk and headed out to the runway.Â
The recognizeable roar of propeller driven planes and the thunder of the jets permeated throught the area as pilots headed off to their respective missions. The coalition had very few actual wartime aircraft, but they made did with what they had, commercial prop driven aircraft that they modified into short range bombers. A formation of P-51 mustangs flew over head as Tyson made his way towards the Liberator sitting on the Tarmac. Fabel and Kaizoe were standing at the entrance waiting. The SAW strapped to the front of the tigers chest as he began to enter the large bomber. Fabel shook Tysons hand as he arrived and offered the machine gun to the wolf.Â
"Here I think you forgot this."
The wolf nodded taking the gun and strapping it to the clasps on the front of his jump gear. "Guess so."
The two remaining on the ground climbed into the large bomber. The pilot pressed down on the throttle sending the aircraft taxying down the runway. The lumbering aircraft gained speed as it went down the ruway. As the liberator gained speed, it's nose lifted into the air followed by the rest of the lumbering behemoth of a plane.Â
As the aircraft gained altitude steadily, the trio sat on the makeshift seats as the slight turbulance made them shake from side to side. The aircraft eventually leveled out and headed northwest.Â
It had been about three hours as the outside tempurature started to drop rappidly. Looking around, Tyson chuckled silently as he saw the others in the bomb-bay area. Fabel was nuzzled up into the lions side as they both slept peacefully. The dingo stood up arching his back as he walked to the tail of the plane. Opening the hatch he stepped down into the tail gunner seat. Reclining in the empty turret, he looked down at the earth below. The ground was a barren tundra that was littered with craters and small fires, probably from campfires keeping unlucky souls warm. He sighed as he watched the clouds fly by along with the shadows they left on the wasteland below. The tundra was froze over with a good layering of snow as the dingo checked the watch on his wrist. It was nine o clock and they would be landing soon.Â
Sighing, he straightened up standing on the clear bubble and climbed out of the gunners compartment, closing the hatch behind him. His boots thumping loudly on the metal floor of the aircraft as he made his way back to his friends. Lightly flicking the tigers padded knee he smiled as he watched Kaizoe awaken.Â
"ETA iminent get Fabel ready for the jump."Â
The tiger nodded and woke the wolf up gently as Tyson walked through the bomber. As he entered into the bomb bay, he ran his hand along the bombs on the launcher. The aircraft was loaded with a full payload so that after it's passengers had jumped it could fly to the western coast and make a bomb run. He chuckled as he passed a pin-up on the side entry wall of a female wolf strandling a bomb. He poked his head into the pilot and navigator area as he smiled.Â
"How long till drop point boys?"
The pilot turned back looking over the frill of his bomber jacket.Â
"Five minutes Tys. Good luck they're counting on you down there."
The dingo nodded and headed back to the dou who were now in their parachute gear with there guns strapped to their chests.Â
"Get ready we are close go to the bomb bay and wait for my lead."
The two nodded and made their way back up the way the dingo had just come. Tyson grabbed his chute and strapped to his body securly. Walking back into the bomb bay he smiled at the other two as he took his position next to the door release button.Â
"Hey Tys."
"Yah Fabel?"
The wolf looked down for a moment as the plane hit a patch of turbulance rocking everyones body as they went.
"This is my first in field mission."
"Thats alright, just stick close to me and Kaizoe and you will be fine."
The wolf nodded as the pilot called back.Â
"We're at the drop site!! Good luck!!"
The dingo slammed the green button with his fist causing the massive metal doors to swing open under the plane as the wind blew up into the cabin and through the fur of the three warriors. Sitting on the edge of the openig the dingo looked to the others and nodded.Â
He yelled over the roar of both the engines of the airplane and the wind rushing by. "Ready boys?"
Getting a nod from the other two, they all rolled out of the plane soaring quickly through the air rushing to the ground. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â