JonMo took leave of StraVatch and made his way out of the canyon and then through the woods. He arrived at the refugee gathering spot to find only four Big Cats and B127MZ. All refugees were safely hiding in canyons or caves. No doubt the Intruders could eventually find them, but it would take time. B127MZ said, "Welcome JonMo. M237B9 is a few minutes out and will soon join us. These are the four Big Cats that will join us in the assault on the Intruders. One of the Big Cats flashed to JonMo an image of Lana back in a deep canyon quieting fearful children. JonMo turned a little red but then refocused on the task at hand. M237B9 could now be seen striding up to them.
Now a conference of war started for the seven participants. JonMo said, "I will need a distraction when I escape from planting the bomb on the Intruder ship. This distraction should not be one where anyone gets wounded or killed, but a solid hit and run only." M237B9 said, "JonMo, I see that you are relaying our planning via telepathy to the Big Cats. Please have them relay their understanding back to you to make sure we are all understanding the same plan. I plan to be with the Big Cats about 130 meters from JonMo's position. Of course, that position will be on the north of the Intruder stronghold. From there, we will await the signal for hit-and-run attacks. When we see the robotic bird fly towards us, we will get into action. The very agile Big Cats will sprint to prearranged positions along the nearest perimeter of the Intruder camp. They will all have the Intruder sensor activated in passive mode. The one closest to an intruder will duck out and draw attention and then duck back into the trees. He will sprint towards the closest Big Cat and the hopefully Intruder who follows will arrive to be ambushed by the second Big Cat. It is a risky plan, but the Big Cats should also improvise as conditions are sure to be dynamic." B127MZ added, "I will be near JonMo providing backup in case the Intruders close in. I will have the same laser cannon that the Big Cats will use. We should all be in position 15 minutes before dawn and be primed for action. Do not take unnecessary risks as there are enough of us to back each other up. I will also have the robotic bird programmed and in position. M237B9 will also have a laser cannon and will be in position on the other side of the Intruder camp.” JonMo relayed the plan to the Big Cats and patiently waited for them to relay it back to him. Any misconceptions were cleared up. Everyone now had the plan and individual assignments.
It would take two days for the four Big Cats, EvNat, a large female, NaVatch, a brother of StraVatch, MoTac, and LoSat. They were all helped with the fit of the laser cannons and Intruder sensors. This was the easiest way to carry their gear and it made them ready. It would take two days for them to use their mountain paths to make it to the gathering spot at the foot of the mountains south of the Kingdom of Exdom and north of the Intruder camp. Due to possible Intruder patrols, the Big Cats would not set a fixed location for rendezvous. EvNat was particularly strong with telepathy and would contact JonMo once all were in the general vicinity. With that rendezvous plan, JonMo and the robots made their way up the beach to be across from the submerged ship of B127MZ. JonMo donned his water suit and soon they were through the waves and down 50 meters to the ship. B127MZ said, "We will now go to the ship of M237B9 which is close by. We will need all the firepower of both ships ready and available to meet very changeable conditions."
Soon they were at the nearby ship. JonMo and M237B9 exited through the airlock. He and M237B9 were going to meet with the four Big Cats on the south side of the mountains and JonMo was there to help to find them. JonMo would return to the ship of B127MZ once they met up with the Big Cats.
JonMo again tried hard to time the big crashing waves so he could navigate un-battered to shore. He mostly succeeded. They came to land in the dark of night in the lee of the mountains. It was tricky to walk among the rocks where the mountains met the sea. JonMo followed M237B9 as they avoided the rushing waters and sharp rocks. M237B9 had better night vision than JonMo and he methodically moved forward until they came around to the south face of the Great Mountains. Here they found shelter down on the banks of a creek and under thick cover of trees. Here they would wait for the night to continue their travel.
When night came, they again traveled east along the foothills of the mountains. They each had passive sensors that would detect an Intruder. So far the sensors had detected nothing. Still, they proceeded as quietly as they could. At times, M237B9 would stop and use his strong audio sensors. Usually, a small animal would be the source of the noise. They made their way to the canyon which JonMo had first descended after his epic climb up from the Kingdom of Exdom. They went up the canyon about 75 meters where it turned. This provided cover during the daylight which was soon at hand. The next night would be when the Big Cats were due to arrive there on the south side of the Great Mountains.
JonMo ate some cold rations and then slept while M237B9 stood silent watch. When he woke, he was a little wet from the dew. It was again night. After more rations and water, he opened his mind to the Big Cats. NaVatch was instantly in his mind. They were close. JonMo relayed a location and soon the four Big Cats were padding up. It was amazing how silent they were. After greeting them, JonMo said his goodbyes. They would meet again on the battlefield. JonMo headed back to meet B127MZ. He needed to hurry as timing was a critical part of their battle strategy.
It was still tricky to navigate the rugged landscape at the foot of the mountains. JonMo had the advantage of recently going across the ground. The disadvantage was that M237B9 was not there to guide him, yet the night was not as dark due to one of the nearby planets reflecting the sun's light. It was beautiful and a little more dangerous. JonMo had to rely more on his sensors. He also decided to use the night vision goggles that he had brought with him. They admitted a little radiation, but it was worth the risk. He made good time until he saw the sun just begin to rise. He found shelter behind a rock and waited for the night to come again. Thankfully his Intruder sensor did not alarm. He again had some rations and water before dozing off to sleep.
He was awakened by a robotic bird pecking on his hand. He almost shot it before he realized what it was. Then the bird repeated a message from B127MZ, "There is an Intruder robot patrolling the shore. It is likely out of range of your sensor. Timing is critical, so you must reach the water and this ship this night before midnight. Advise that you immediately go as high as you can in the mountains that will allow traversing toward the shore. As a last resort, I will come out of the water to distract or blast that Intruder. Please be clever and don't make me have to do that as it will jeopardize the mission. Good luck.
JonMo immediately packed up and began to make his way toward the mountains. They were just a short distance away. Then he had another thought. What if he used leaves and small branches from the nearby trees to camouflage himself? Then he could stay in the trees on the foothills and make better time. He proceeded to do just that and pretty soon looked like a walking bush. It was uncomfortable, but he would stick it out until the Intruder came within range of the sensor. He would climb up into the mountains then if that presented the best option.
He made his way westward as quickly as a walking bush could. Before it got dark his sensor began to warn him. The sensor gave a small pulse against his wrist that was stronger if the big Intruder robot was nearer. He verified that it was moving up and down the beach. Another idea came to him and he immediately began to search for a slender tree that he could make a serviceable bow from. His good bow was on the ship and he had to improvise. He quickly cut down a slender hardwood tree that he knew from experience would make a good bow. Soon he had it fashioned into a serviceable bow. He added a thin piece of rope from his pack as the bowstring. Now he needed an arrow. He searched the ground until he found a triangular flat stone. It was a stone that was layered in flakes. He used his knife to make it thinner. He found a straight and thin branch that would do as an arrow. It took too long to find a feather, but he did and it soon became fletching. He lashed the fashioned stone as the arrowhead after he wedged it into a cut in the top of the arrow. Now he was ready.
In his leaf and branch disguise, he stealthily made his way as near to the shore as he dared. He stayed as close to the mountains as he could. He now could see the big Intruder robot patrolling the shore. When it turned and headed down the beach the other way, he moved to where the mountains and a few trees met the ocean. Using all the quiet movement that B127MZ had taught him, he moved as close as he could to that spot. He still needed some tree cover to use the bow, so he positioned himself about seven meters from the beginning of the shore. He then pulled the bowstring back as far as it would allow and loosed the arrow to a spot about 30 meters away from the shore in a wooded spot. It was very bad luck for a small wild pig but excellent luck for JonMo. The arrow hit the pig above the left back leg and it let out a very loud squeal and took off as fast as it could, dragging the arrow.
The Intruder robot went at a fast pace towards the sound of the retreating pig and JonMo went towards the ocean while staying near the trees. The Intruder robot was still chasing the pig when JonMo slipped into the water with his new bow with him. He took a battering from the waves but his water suit mask was on his head and he made it through. He swam as fast as he could with the branches and bow dragging on him. Then B127MZ was in his view and grabbed his left arm to pull him faster through the water. They soon reached the ship and were through the airlock. JonMo thanked B127MZ as he took branches off of himself after he had set aside the bow. He told B127MZ of his good fortune to hit the pig that distracted the Intruder robot. B127MZ listened while he directed the ship lower and towards the south towards the location where they would attack the Intruders.
Meanwhile, M237B9 was working with the four Big Cats who were getting ready to help with the attack. He carefully reviewed the plan by drawing in the dirt. They needed to be in position before dawn the following day. The robot bird would alert them to go into action. Their main objective was to draw the attention of Intruder robots after JonMo had placed the explosive under their big ship. They were to take no unnecessary risks but hit and run as fast as they could. Some traps were being set up to blast a robot when they were chasing one of the Big Cats. That would be their most tricky maneuver. They had practiced it many times to work out the timing. A clear shot from a distance was important as that allowed both Big Cats to escape. They all hoped for a chance to blast the Intruders.
M237B9 had them also practice the activation of their laser canons. Each cannon was set to test without actually firing. All of the four cannons were checked out. Next, they tested their Intruder sensors as much as it were possible without approaching the big robots. All seemed in good order.
It was time. It was two hours before dawn. They started moving as stealthily as possible to their attack positions. Each would do a final check of their Intruder sensors once they were in position.
The robot bird would alert EvNat, the big female Big Cat. When the signal was received, EvNat would go into action. M237B9 now took a risk. He would trust EvNat to do her part in coordinating the attack. He had decided to head back to his ship. If the attack succeeded, that meant the Intruders' big ship would be disabled. His ship would then be the strongest force to attack the Intruder robots. He faced the Big Cats and saluted as the Explorers had done 3000 years before when they left in a hurry. Now M237B9 left in a hurry. He travelled north away from the Big Cats and back to the coast. The first light of dawn showed on the horizon when he got back into his ship and checked the weapons.
On the other side of the Intruder area JonMo and B127MZ were approaching the area where the big Intruder ship was located. They had gone two kilometers south of the Intruders before JonMo put on his water suit and pulled behind him a waterproof bag with a bomb and weapons. B127MZ also pulled a bag with his portable laser cannon and a little device that he had been working on. He also had a robotic bird in the bag. They had previously used a bird with an Intruder sensor to do reconnaissance before they disembarked. All was clear, so they braved the battering waves to once again come to shore in the dark of night. They had left enough time to walk up into the woods and then make their way towards the Intruder ship. Just as the Big Cats, they were targeting the time of an hour before dawn for the attack. They had to be in position before that and that required a lot of stealth.
JonMo and B127MZ made their way on an angle towards the point of the attack on the Intruder ship. This was an anxious time for JonMo and he rehearsed over and over in his mind the plan for the attack. It certainly depended on the Big Cats creating the diversion after he planted the bomb. He had to run as fast as he could after planting it. During that time the Intruder robots needed to be looking elsewhere.
The bomb had to be big enough to rip into the armor plating of the big ship. That meant JonMo had to be far away from the ship when the bomb went off. It would be set on a timer for three minutes. They wanted the Intruder robots to not discover the bomb in that period and have enough time to remove it. They had also done all they could to make the bomb impossible to defuse. It was now the real deal. Now it was time to get it in place.
The Intruder robots had been working around the clock to rebuild the large communications tower. They knew that their masters depended on this communication and they were determined to get it back into working order. It was no small task as the attack on it was devastating and they had to fabricate many new parts. They also had to scavenge parts from their big ship and that was precarious. Still, it had to be done. There were six of these big Intruder robots and they had alternated sending one of them out on patrols. They were behind schedule and could only spare one at a time. Now that they were close to finishing, all six of them were doing the final touches.
Two of them would man their big ship when the comm tower went back online the next morning. They would be ready just after dawn for any attack from the ship that had ambushed them the last time.