Previous author's notes: more Yuubi's plans as in the previous chapter, but with the addition that this part has more romance. Which couple?, read it and you'll know.
THUNDERCATHIANS
Chapter 8: Saving Time
Under a scorching sun, skirmishes were raging both in the vicinity and in the capital of the fallen kingdom of Thundera.
Numerous thundercats who once served as Ratar-O's slaves in the thundranium mines and sought the plunging sword now faced guerrilla tactics against Slithe's forces, which could do little to the tenacity of the thundercats despite the fact that they were being outdone in technology.
“Damn cats, despite our laser rifles, they are fighting us with simple spears and arrows," Slithe said to himself, as he lowered his binoculars and looked out of the corner of his eye at Pumyra who was bristling with frustration.
“Our enemy is ingenious," said the traitor, "heir arrows and spears use receptacles on their tips that on impact give off various gases that hurt our troops.”
“At first we used gas masks," Slithe agreed, "but now the gases they use cause harm if they come into simple contact with the skin. I can't go on like this, cats use tactics I've never seen before, they attack with lightning speed and then run away and hide who knows where, do you really have to go to the Tower of Omens?”
“These are simple peasants or merchants," Pumyra replied, "Lion-O and his most loyal followers are in the Tower of Omens. That's the information I received from those captured thundercats, apparently the last star stone is in that place.”
“You're carrying many of my troops," complained the cold-blooded.
“The stellar stone has priority, also, because the tower of the augury is inaccessible to our Mechs and their advantageous position inside that canyon prevents a successful air attack, you Slithe will have all the Mechs and airships at your disposal, and do not forget that you have the help of Monkian and Jackalman.”
Slithe soured the expression, those two psychopaths were only good at keeping the troops in order and avoiding riots or escape attempts, but they were dead weight if it was a question of winning the re-conquest of the kingdom of Thundera, or would it rather be the defence of the kingdom of Claudus?
"Damn it," thought Slithe. "I don't know if we're the attackers or the defenders, this is all so frustrating."
Pumyra left with the bulk of Slithe's army to the Tower of Omens, while Slithe ordered an air strike to one of the thundercats positions.
“All this is useless," the reptilian snarled, "our air strikes do not harm them, nor are our Mechs useful, I don't like this at all.”
.
.
In the tower of the augury, Lion-O and the other thundercats were finalizing the details of what the defense of the place would be.
“Do you think our compatriots are safe in Thundera?” Lion-O asked.
“Don't worry, Lion-O," Yuubi reassured him, "remember that the Thundercats are there to avoid confronting the enemy, but rather to confuse and undermine him, both logistically and emotionally.”
“I hope that General Lynx-O and Captain Bengali will come out of this well," Tygra said worriedly, as he watched a computer monitor show the kingdom of Thundera and its surroundings through the use of cameras mounted on Mogul stratospheric balloons that could change direction through the use of drones attached to the structure as a whole.
“Slithe does not know that his air strikes are ineffective because of the multitude of tunnels we dug in and around the kingdom for this operation," said Cheetara.
“That's right," said Yuubi, "we also blocked the water flows to the lagoons in front of the palace and diverted them to the tunnels, so that Slithe will not have water to supply himself.”
“Soon Pumyra will come with her army," recalled Lion-O, as he frowned as he recalled the thundercat's betrayal.
“They are very numerous, do you think we can resist?” Tygra asked.
“Yes, the accesses to these places are the nightmare for any infantry army and the advantageous position of the tower will allow us to defend it, all thanks to the automatic defenses that we install and that are independent of each other in terms of power supply.”
“But in the end, all this is just a plan of yours to buy time," said Cheetara.
“That's right," Yuubi said, "the guerrillas in Thundera and the defense of the tower are nothing but a ploy of mine to buy time and get the defenses in the city and the cathian ship ready, along with the new cat tanks, the cat fighters and the rest of the military equipment that our combined army of thundercats, cathians and various allies will have.”
“I hope Captain Risu can accomplish all this in time," said Lion-O.
“Don't worry, he will. In addition, it will form several supply lines for various logistics such as food, weapons, ammunition, spare parts and hospitalization among other things necessary to bring the war to the very gates of the Mum-ra fortress.”
“I feel more at ease to have you Yuubi and the other cathians on our side," thanked Tygra, with which Yuubi bowed his head sharply and struck both heels quickly in a military style that was taught him at the Imperial Academy there in Cathia.
“I feel confident that Wilykat and Wilykit are safe in Avian at this time," said Cheetara, knowing that the two young thundercats would not participate in the battle that was about to break out.
“Everything will be all right, Cheetara," said Lion-O, who read the concern on her friend's face.
Tygra also felt his girlfriend's concern and went to comfort her by gently placing his hand on her shoulder and giving her a smile of confidence that was reciprocated by a gentle smile from the woman.
Lion-O was surprised that it didn't bother him at all that in the end Cheetara preferred to reciprocate his brother's feelings rather than his own. By now I had matured and accepted that for the time being I had more important things to think about than girls or childish jealousy.
“Well, let's go see Pantro and Tara," said Lion-O "by now they should have finished installing all the automatic fenders and the ones we'll be using soon.”
In fact, both the muscular thundercat and the enormous cathiana were drying up the sweat that furrowed their foreheads after the arduous work of installing the defenses of the tower of the augury.
“I finally finished this, what about you, Tara?”
“What took you so long?” Tara said with a sideways smile.
“You're very good at this, I've never met a woman who could work the way you do.”
“I never characterized myself as the little princess type, but if there's anyone impressive here, it's you Panthro.”
“Me?”
“Of course, until a year ago, your knowledge of technology was medieval, and now look at you.”
“Good part I learned it by instinct and by the help given by my friends the berbils. How did you learn to be such a good mechanic?”
“In Cathia the mechanics of wicks or ships is reserved only for men. I learned because of my older brother Taron, he was good at it.”
“Was he good?”
“Yes, he died a long time ago, see this, the cigarette I always carry on my lips? It's a reminder from my brother.”
“Cigarette?”
“Do you want to try?” Tara told him and gave Panthro a cigarette and then lit it with a lighter.
“A cigarette is supposed to be lit with a match, but I don't have any. Okay, now suck it up.”
Panthro did so and then he had a coughing fit. Tara laughed out loud as she clapped him hard and painful on the back.
“How awful is this, how can you bear it!”
“That's the point, I don't have to put up with it because I don't smoke this crap.”
“Then why do you always have one of these things on your lips?”
“To remind me how my poor brother ended up, you know, he was the biggest and strong Cathian I've ever seen in my life, he was a whole specimen of a Cathian male... but in the end... the cancer chewed him up and spat him out several times... all because of this shit.”
Tara pulled out another cigarette and after a look of deep contempt, smiled coldly and took the cigarette to her lips.
“People do stupid things sometimes... or all their lives, it's not that they're bad people, but... that's why I carry the cigarette, to remind me that you don't just choose the good, you choose the bad in life. Sometimes there is no excuse, only you are responsible for your actions.”
“You're a strong woman," Panthro flattered her and Tara looked at him carefully.
“You're strong too, Panthro.”
Tara approached the thundercat and took one arm from the man, lifted it up and stroked it with her free hand.
“You have a strong arm. I like big, muscular men.”
“My arms are stronger now, but I don't have muscles anymore, not that I'm complaining but...”
“You know, Cathia's medical technology is very advanced. When this is all over, you'll have to get your organic arms back.”
“Is that possible?”
“Yes, and then there is the problem that in the long run this will harm your health. Metal that is strong cannot be attached to flesh that is weak.”
“Hey, you say I'm weak," said Panthro frowning, which made Tara snort at me.
“Of course not, what I mean is that your arms and body are under a lot of stress. The metal that is anchored in flesh, nerves and bones, no matter how strong they are, slowly but steadily affects your body and health. It's not good Panthro, if you don't let the Cathian doctors operate on you, you'll soon have to resort to an operation that cuts off more parts of your arms, you might even lose your shoulders.”
“I see.”
“Don't play tough like my brother Panthro, it would hurt me to see you dying.”
Panthro was the one who looked at the cathiana attentively this time.
“What kind of women do you like?” Suddenly the visual connection was severed by the cathiana.
“I don't like them very refined and delicate," said Panthro with a nervous smile.
“My very taste in men," said Tara, "of course, a man is more than his appearance.”
“The same goes for women.”
“That's the way it's said!” Tara laughed suddenly as she clapped hard and painfully on the back of the thundercat.
“Hey... this... how about tonight we have a drink, there are no fun places to go in this place, but the waterfall is a good place to relax.”
“Of course, General, but you don't have to bring all the drinks, which I also bring with me.”
“You're a woman with resources, you know," said Panthro and the two adults approached him and connected their glances.
Lion-O and the other thundercats saw the scene and preferred to give them some quality time. Too bad Yuubi was with them.
“Chief Tara, Panthro. I see you've finished your homework since you're... socializing. Chief, I want you to give me a detailed report on what you've done so far.”
“Right away, sir!” The cathiana answered and went to her superior, but first she winked mischievously at Panthro.
“At the dome by the waterfall at twelve o'clock, General.”
CONTINUARÁ...
ns 15.158.61.45da2
