"Would you look at that," Panthro whistled softly. He leaned back in his chair on the bridge of the Command Scabbard and gazed at the flaming sea of fiery gases that raged before them. "Ever seen anything like it before?"

"Never," Cheetara breathed. "I can see why they call it the Fire Zone. It’s beautiful."

"Beautiful and deadly," Panthro agreed. He allowed himself a moment longer to watch the splendor and might of nature before giving in to his more practical nature. "Okay, let’s get to work. We’re here on this ridiculous mission for a week, so let’s make the most of it."

Cheetara smiled. "I can tell we’re going to get off to a great start already."

The panther chose to ignore her and started running scans on the arriving Thunderan ships. "We’re all here except for the back guard. Who’s in charge of that again?"

"Snoedaro and Wiley Kit, I believe."

"They’ll be on time, then," Panthro surmised. "I’ve never known Snoedaro to be late for anything. So what’s our next step?"

"We probably need to contact the mutants and figure out when the Kentro ships are expected to arrive and where they need extra firepower," Cheetara suggested.

"Good idea." Panthro called up the communications screen and started programming it to interpret and reconfigure mutant transmissions. "By the way, how are the Daggers doing?"

The civilians aboard the Command Scabbard had been sent out in the fifteen Thundera Daggers to run test drills while Cheetara and Panthro took care of administrative concerns. "They could be better," Cheetara reported, "but I think they can hold their own in battle."

"In other words, we can expect casualties."

The cheetah shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Perhaps."

Panthro turned away from his computer boards and studied his fellow Thundercat. "What does your sixth sense tell you about this place? You never told me what you saw back on Thundera at the end of our meeting."

For a minute or two, Cheetara was completely silent. Her eyes were focused on her clenched fists and the only sound within the Scabbard were the sounds of its sub-light engines as they rumbled and murmured in the background. Finally, the cheetah spoke. "I don’t know what to tell you, Panthro. My sixth sense is still very active, but it has nothing to do with our current situation."

"What do you mean?"

"It’s—it’s like hiking through the mountains and consulting a map, but the map describes the layout of a desert that will come millennia after the mountains have disappeared. This battle isn’t important. It will pass and whether we succeed or fail makes little difference. But something in the future is important, and we must seize whatever it is if we are to survive."

Panthro blinked and tried to comprehend what he’d just heard. "I’d be lying if I said I understood that," the panther eventually confessed.

"I don’t understand it myself," Cheetara admitted. "It’s like looking down the road and seeing something happening without knowing how to prevent it. Nothing we do now will change things, but something in the near future will."

"Any idea what?"

The cheetah’s eyes closed briefly and Panthro watched her jaw stiffen. "You’re going to tell me I’m being foolish, but I think the future has something to do with Tygra and Pumyra."

It was Panthro’s turn to become frustrated. "We’ve been over this, Cheetara. They’re dead. They’re gone. Two weeks and not a sign of them." The panther growled and shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut. "They’re gone and they’re not coming back," he eventually finished. "Let them go and move on with life."

"I won’t tell you you’re wrong," Cheetara whispered. "I have no sense of Tygra or Pumyra anywhere. If they’re still alive, they’re weak and far away. But alive or not, somehow they affect the future. And not only our future, but the future of Thundera and the future of the galaxy." Cheetara was going to say more when communications started to chirp. "That’s probably Rataro," she said.

Panthro nodded and swallowed the lump that had suddenly risen in his throat. "I’ll get it." He shook his head and ran through a quick mental exercise to focus his mind. The mention of Tygra and Pumyra had temporarily thrown him off balance. He had to stop letting that happen. "This is the Command Scabbard, Thundercat Panthro responding."

"Panthro? It’s Lion-O. We’ve got a problem."

It was the cold that eventually woke Snarfer. In a way, the chilly mountain air was a blessing. It numbed the throbbing in his head. His head? Why was his head throbbing? It had something to do with…tigers? Yes, tigers. That was part of it. What was the rest of it?

Snarfer carefully opened his eyes and was greeted by a pale morning sky minutes before the appearance of the sun. Towering mountains loomed ominously on all sides and memories of the night before came rushing down like a spring river. He and Mantyro had found red tiger plans to destroy New Thundera City. They’d told Snarf and then they’d tried to get out of camp. There’d been illusions everywhere and Mantyro had stopped to try and regain his handle on reality. That’s probably when he lost it. Snarfer remembered seeing him looking around with wild and tired eyes and then those green eyes had focused on something. But Snarfer couldn’t see what it was. Mantyro had whispered the name "Chinga" and then he’d run forward. But before he’d gone even a few steps, invisible tiger guards had tackled him. Snarfer had rushed in, trying to help, but something had hit him over the head and that was all he remembered.

Gingerly, the little snarf started to look around and quickly found Mantyro. The tiger was curled up a few feet away from Snarfer with his wrists tightly bound behind his back and his feet tied together. At that point, Snarfer realized that he was also tied up. They must be in the hands of the red tigers. Snarfer whimpered slightly and wished he’d stayed with Uncle Snarf. He hoped Uncle Snarf had made it away safely.

A soft groan drew the snarf’s attention and he turned to see Mantyro slowly shaking his head. "Mantyro? Snarfer, snarfer, can you hear me?"

There was an answering grunt, but that seemed to be all the acknowledgement that Snarfer would get out of the tiger. But Snarfer was frightened, confused, and more than a little woozy. The only recourse he had was conversation, and if Mantyro wasn’t going to help him out, he would create conversation on his own.

"I wish I could remember what happened, snarfer. You just took off and I followed, but those invisible tigers had us marked. When Lion-O finds out we’re captured, he’s going to get real mad, yes sir. He’s going to come down on these rebels like a hawk on a mouse. Ya can’t beat the Thundercats, nope. They just keep coming at you. And then we can fight this Kentro Empire, or whatever it is. And when we beat that thing, who knows what we can do next! We could take on the mutants and Lunatacs together. We could rule the cosmos! Of course, snarfer, we’re Thundercats and would never do such a thing. That would be an offensive move, and our armies are only for defensive purposes. Still, the best defense is a good offense. An old snarf philosopher said that once, and Uncle Osbert, I mean Uncle Snarf, likes to say it a lot. See, my uncle has never really had a good offense, but he wishes he did. And I—"

"Snarfer? Shut up."

Snarfer blinked. "Why? We’re not going anywhere and I’m bored. The only thing I have to do is talk to myself."

"Well, don’t talk out loud. I’m trying to think."

"What are you thinking about?"

Mantyro rolled over and glared balefully at the snarf. "Escape, you idiot."

"Oh. Sorry."

The tiger rolled his eyes and turned away from the shivering bundle of fur that was Snarfer. As soon as his back was turned, Snarfer stuck out his tongue. But even that petty gesture brought the snarf only momentary satisfaction. He was still cold, he was still tied up, he was still frightened, and he was still bored. "Hey Mantyro?"

Mantyro sighed and turned back. "What?"

"Right before you went running off—before we were captured, I mean, snarfer—you said something. What was it? Chinga? That’s your sister, isn’t it?"

The tiger’s piercing green eyes lost their focus and his entire body went limp. "Was. Chinga was my sister."

"You mean she’s not your sister anymore?" Snarfer had suddenly gone cold and was desperately trying to make sense of what Mantyro said. It just wasn’t possible. The tiger was suggesting that Chinga was dead. But the only ones who could kill her were the other red tigers. "Why isn’t she your sister anymore, Mantyro? Why not? Was it something she said? She didn’t contribute to the family news letter?"

"No, Snarfer. She was and always will be the dearest sister. But she is no longer with us. I know. I saw her die."

"An illusion?" Snarfer was grasping at straws now and entering territory he didn’t fully understand, but Mantyro had to be wrong. Clans might fight other clans, but clans did NOT fight within themselves. "Maybe it was just an illusion. She’s still around. They wouldn’t kill her, snarfer. They couldn’t. Nope, just an illusion."

"An illusion? I’ve told myself that for the last few hours while you were still unconscious. Just an illusion. I said it over and over again. And maybe what I saw was an illusion. Maybe Chinga wasn’t in the camp last night. But the illusion was based on reality. It was based on something someone saw, if it even was an illusion and not reality." A low growl was slowly weaving itself into Mantyro’s haggard tenor. He didn’t seem to be aware of Snarfer anymore, but he continued talking as though he could somehow change things by lamenting them. "She was right there. She was only a few meters away. All I had to do was get to her in time. They’d found out she wasn’t true to Sybar’s cause. They killed her. Her own kind, and they killed her. Tiger killing tiger. What is Thundera coming to? How far have we lowered ourselves that we kill those of our own clan?"

"Are you sure it was real?" Snarfer was afraid to say anything, but he had to make sure. If the tigers were now killing each other, what would they do to those of other clans?

Mantyro seemed to remember that Snarfer was there and shook his head briefly. "No. It might have been an illusion. But it was an illusion of truth. There are illusions, and then there are illusions. An illusion of the mind is something I can see through. I can tell it comes from the imagination. But if the illusion is the replay of an event that stems from memory…" Mantyro trailed off into a harsh snarl. "She’s gone, Snarfer. She’s dead. She was the last of my family, and now she’s gone. When I find the murderers who did this I’ll—"

"You have found them, Mantyro."

Both Snarfer and Mantyro looked up in surprise. A tall tiger looked down on the two of them. His back was to the sunrise and his features were hidden in shadow, but the deep and cultured voice gave him away.

"Sybar."

Mantyro’s guttural hiss made the name an insult and the solidly built tiger seemed to wince slightly. "My dear friend, it was necessary. In time, you will come to see that. Your sister was losing her mind. Her mental powers were beyond her control, and you know she was a talented mentalist. We had to do something to protect the sanctity of the clans."

"She was in full possession of her mental faculties and you know it, you traitor," Snarfer roared. "You just needed her out of the way so she wouldn’t warn the Thundercats. Well, they know anyway. They’ve always known. They know every move you’re going to make!"

"I have not addressed you, lowlife!" Sybar snapped. Quickly regaining his composure, he turned again to Mantyro. "Please let me help you, my friend. In the past, we have not been on the best of terms. Let us change that, for the good of the tiger clans."

"For the good of the tiger clans? You’re going to destroy all of Thundera if you keep this up! There’s a war out there, Sybar, and if you would only—"

"Why is there a war out there? You’re a Thundercat. You know how Lion-O operates. Answer me this question, then. Does Lion-O have the diplomatic skills to successfully negotiate with foreign interstellar governments?"

Frozen for a split second, Mantyro eventually lowered his eyes. "Define ‘successful’," he growled, but some of the wild rage had vanished from his voice.

Sybar smiled. "I know you well, Mantyro. I have followed your career. You are a competent Thundercat. You trained well with the late Tygra."

"He’s not dead," Snarfer muttered.

Sybar glared at the snarf. "When I decide to address you, I will. Until then, you will remain quiet. Understood?" Snarfer grunted something unintelligible. Sybar decided to take it in the affirmative. "Good. Now, Mantyro. Understand this. We tigers are superior in all ways to other cats. We are certainly superior to the animals known as snarfs. It is natural for us to assume leadership over the lesser creatures of Thundera. With our intelligence, our strength, and our guidance, Thundera can become great again. It was the lions and the jaguars who brought Thundera to its knees. Had the tigers been leading, Thundera would have never been destroyed. We must prevent such catastrophes in the future. Do you understand?"

"I understand everything except for one thing," Mantyro said slowly.

"And what is that?"

"I don’t understand why the red tigers in this camp are stupid enough to follow you."

Sybar recoiled as if he’d been struck. "What do you mean?"

"You’re mad. You’re a perfect example of insanity. We tigers are a talented species; I’ll give you that. But superior? Do we have the compassion of the servals? The strength of the panthers? The speed of the cheetahs? The agility of the pumas? The loyalty of the leopards? The leadership of the lions? The tenacity of the lynxes? The magics of the jaguars?" Mantyro shook his head in disbelief. "We may have our vaunted intelligence and our mental tricks, but alone and without the support of the other cat species, they amount to nothing. We’re even killing members of our clan!" Mantyro’s voice choked slightly, but his eyes hardened and he continued. "Sybar, you’re the one who needs this proposed guidance. You’re the one responsible for my sister’s death, and I will hate you for that until my dying day, you murderous traitor."

For a long time, Sybar stared down at the two prisoners while a myriad of emotions raced across his face. The only sounds were those of other tigers as they went about morning activities. Snarfer could hear someone dousing a fire while another was cleaning dishes. The clang of swords from beyond the camp signaled weapons practice. Whips, arrows, energy weapons, they were all there. But to Sybar and Mantyro, such things were far away. The two continued to stare at one another, and Snarfer could feel the brush of mental energy. He felt the fur along his back rising and he started to worm away from the two tigers.

And then it all ended. Sybar stood abruptly while Mantyro seemed to collapse in on himself. "You will regret crossing me this day, Mantyro," the tall tiger warned. "I offered your sister the same chance I now offer you. Turn to a true and rightful cause. Join us."

"And betray what every level-headed Thunderian believes in? Thanks, but no thanks."

Sybar’s face was unreadable as he turned away from the two prisoners. "You are as delusional as she was," Sybar stated as he strode away. "You will have to be terminated for your own safety."

After he was out of sight, Mantyro sighed and looked over at Snarfer. "I think we’re in trouble."

"What tipped you off?" Snarfer grumbled as he struggled against his bonds.

Mantyro didn’t answer, but looked off in the direction Sybar had gone. "Chinga," he murmured, the tigress’s name a mere whisper in the crisp morning air. "Chinga…"

The pull of scar tissue across his back and side elicited a growl from Slithe as he maneuvered his bulk down into a sitting position. He could envision recent wounds tearing open as he tried to find a comfortable position and hoped he wouldn’t lose too much blood. The beating around noon had not been pleasant, though he supposed it could have been worse. The tiger and the puma—Tygra and Pumyra! I must keep thinking of them by those names!—had made some minor mistakes, and he was now paying the price.

"Rough day?"

The grating voice of an ice Lunatac broke into his mental musings and he looked up as the hypnotist’s companion—Chilla! Her name is Chilla! And his name is Alluro!—sat down across from him. "You could say that, yesss," he answered carefully. "A slight session of discipline during lunch."

The ice Lunatac—I must call her Chilla!—nodded. "The hypnotist told me about it. He is on the way here and the wolf as well. She needed a little more time to finish her duty chores."

"This is going to be a short meeting, so there is no rush," the reptilian assured her. "It has to do with the two new slaves."

"The tiger and the puma?"

"Correct. And remember to rehearse their true names every time you think of them."

Chilla’s face took on a pensive look and she gazed off at the cliffs surround SPT. "I don’t get it, reptilian," she finally said. "Why? What good does it do? I can barely remember my own name. I have to think to recall yours. What’s the point anymore? We’re doomed to live out our lives here."

A year ago, Slithe would have been shocked to hear the ice Lunatac—Chilla!—utter such words. But very little surprised him now. She was losing hope just as they were all losing hope. He wondered how much longer Chilla had before she was completely broken. "It helps us maintain what little dignity and hope we have left, cold one," the mutant hissed.

"Dignity? Hope? They’re meaningless. Like us. Worthless and meaningless."

"That’s exactly what they want you to think, yesss," Slithe said quickly. It was clear that Chilla needed help and soon. If something didn’t change her outlook, she would become useless to them and maybe even dangerous. The reptile was about to say more but the arrival of two more slaves stopped him. "Ah, you’ve come."

"This better be quick," Alluro whispered. "I need rest and I’ve heard that some of the slave masters will put you to sleep first if you’re in the slave pens early."

Slithe inwardly groaned. The hypnotist—Alluro! I must remember their names or I lose them for good!—was physically sick and his resistance to the psychological games of the slave drivers was failing along with his health. "Don’t let them even get that much victory, hypnotist. They want us to start obeying their every beck and call. We can’t allow that!"

"So we make life harder on ourselves?" The wolf asked, her fevered eyes dull and lifeless.

Of all of them, Lucaina should have been the hardest to crack. But the constant barrage of invidious attacks from the Kentroans was beginning to lower even her haughty, wolfish pride. "Perhaps, yesss," Slithe answered. "Maybe we do. But we also make life harder on them by doing so."

"They can endure a little more hardship, reptilian," Alluro murmured. "We can’t."

Deep within himself, Slithe felt something snap. "You dare even call yourselves sentient?!" he growled. "If they could only see you now, they’d have enough to call a victory. Our people would be enslaved. They’d know they could break us. But we have to prove to them that we will NOT be broken!" Heaving slightly and feeling the sharp tug of his fresh wounds, Slithe tried to calm down. "I called this meeting to talk about the two new slaves. But I should probably talk about the three of you, instead. If you’re still worth talking about, that is."

"Listen, reptilian," Lucaina snarled, her glistening yellow eyes glazed over and saliva beginning to collect around her jowls. Light from the setting sun flashed off her gleaming teeth and the muscles around her shoulders and back tensed for a pounce. "They’re driving me mad. They’re driving us all mad. You’re the only one of us who has any real experience with psychological slave breaking. You understand their games, but we don’t. So don’t come down on us when we make a few wrong moves."

"You can’t possibly tell us they aren’t getting to you, too," Chilla hissed. "And what about that little mistake you had a few days ago. Are we being held to standards that even you can’t live by?"

"I suggest you take back a few remarks, or you’ll find a few new scars to add to your back," Alluro added.

"Thank you," Slithe breathed.

Lucaina blinked, taken a bit off guard. "For what?" she asked suspiciously.

"For proving to me that your pride is still intact. Thank you for taking offense, yesss." Slithe offered her a smile that was almost apologetic but not quite. "Now we can discuss other things."

"I still want to discuss what you said about us," Chilla replied heatedly.

"Another time, yesss. There are two new slaves in SPT and they raise some interesting issues.

"The tiger and the puma," Alluro sighed. "Okay, what about them?"

"Do we trust them enough to let them in on our little conspiracy?"

" ‘Little’ is a bit of an understatement," Chilla muttered, still fuming over Slithe’s insults. "Miniscule might be better."

Alluro elbowed her sharply. "Why should we let them in?" the hypnotist asked. "What can they contribute?"

"Technological expertise," Lucaina mused. "And if memory serves me correctly, the puma is a healer. How long will it take the slave drivers to break them?" she asked Slithe.

The reptilian shrugged. "Five years ago, I would have said a few weeks for both of them. But since then, they’ve changed, yesss. Living alone on…" Slithe trailed off and wondered whether or not the phrase Third Earth was forbidden.

"Third Earth?" Alluro volunteered hesitantly. Less than a second later, the hypnotist found himself on the floor with sharp tremors surging over his chest area.

"Get off me," someone beneath him ordered harshly.

"Sorry," he apologized as he rolled off Chilla.

"Just a wild guess, but I don’t think those are safe words," Lucaina commented sarcastically as she pushed herself off the ground.

"It’s not important," Slithe murmured, clutching at his side. "Anyway, they’ve both changed since being put in charge of that planet. The tiger, though, still has traces of the self-doubt that we used to exploit. And it will be exploited here like it has never been exploited before. He’ll have to fine a new definition of self-worth if he is to survive. The puma, on the other hand…that’s a different story. She’s grown, yesss. She knows who she is. I sensed a quiet reserve of strength within her. She might surprise us and last for quite a while."

"Do we destroy the tiger?" Lucaina asked. "Once broken, will he become a spy for the Kentroans?"

Slithe was silent for a moment. "I don’t know," he finally answered. "When my father broke slaves for the royalty, there were a few like the tiger. Some of them, once broken, became even more dangerous. When they were broken, they were nothing like their original selves. They took no thought for personal safety and clung to the thought of saving their friends like one would cling to a lifeline. Ultimately, they had to be destroyed. Others, though, became the most pliant and willing slaves you could ask for. I never did learn to figure out which way a cat would turn before he was broken in cases like our tiger."

"So he could be a real asset or a real liability when he breaks," Alluro summarized.

"Exactly."

"And he will break soon?" Lucaina asked.

"Probably before any of us break, though I question that after hearing some of your remarks tonight," Slithe warned.

"What about the puma?" Chilla asked, deciding to ignore the mutant’s slight for now. "If we destroy the tiger, will she be willing to help us? Or will we hasten her breaking point? After all, the tiger is her friend. We might want to talk to her about this."

"Since when have you cared about her?" Alluro demanded, displaying some of his old fire for the first time in weeks. "We don’t need them. They just might be handy."

"No, wait," Slithe interrupted. "I’ll admit you’ve been a little out of character, cold one, but this is a bit far for you. Why do you care about the puma? We can probably coerce her into aiding us even if we do kill the tiger, yesss."

Chilla seemed to hesitate as though afraid to reveal more information. With a quick glance around, she leaned toward the others and lowered her voice to a whisper. "I know where the two of them will be working."

"Where?" Lucaina asked.

"They’re taking advantage of the puma’s medical knowledge. Tomorrow she’ll be put in charge of all slave medical problems in addition to working swing shifts in the wheat fields. The tiger is working within SPT’s tactical office and he’s also in for a few shifts of manual labor in the beryllium mines. They’re using his engineering and mechanical skills in the office. He’ll be privy to some of the strategies and have access to technology we can only dream of out here."

Slithe’s eyes gleamed and a tiny flame of lost hope seemed to flare into life. "Where did you get this information?"

"I was working my usual job in cryogenics with the megacondensors when Greeb came by," Chilla answered. "He was being told what the duties of the new slaves were going to be."

"Wait a minute," Alluro interrupted. "Are we all under Greeb?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Slithe sighed. "Greeb is the head slave driver and probably the most ruthless. He takes all new species to test them for generic weaknesses. You know that, hypnotist."

"I do, but that means when they mess up, we all get punished," Alluro griped. "And judging from the resolve on their faces, we’re in for a lot of punishment in the next few days. It’s a good thing they didn’t run us through recitations this morning. I overheard one of the guards talking about how the puma still refused to repeat a word of it, though sometimes the tiger would."

"They’ll have to learn where they can push and where they must back off," Chilla murmured. "It took me quite a while to learn that, and I still haven’t mastered it."

"So what do we do about the tiger and the puma? Do we include them, shun them, or destroy them?" Slithe asked, trying to get the conversation back on track. "And we must hurry with this decision, or we’ll be late for shut down."

"I thought this was going to be a short meeting," Chilla muttered.

"I say that with the access we’ll have, we must include them. We can worry about destroying them later when they break," Lucaina stated.

"It’s too risky," Alluro objected. "If Tygr—if the tiger turns on us, we’re all finished. Right now, the Kentroans think that all they have to do is wait. But if they knew we were still openly opposing them…" Alluro trailed off shaking his head.

"I’m with the wolf," Chilla announced. "The puma will have access to chemicals that might come in handy, and who knows what the tiger will be able to get into."

"I’m also inclined to agree," Slithe said cautiously. "But it seems too easy. The four of us are nowhere near areas like that. Why are they giving these two so much trust? The wolf here is an expert mechanic, but they’ve got her sorting food produce and blasting boulders in the canyons."

"Then side with me and we’ll forget the whole thing," Alluro suggested.

"I can also explain their trust in the tiger and puma," Chilla ventured softly. "Apparently while still on the ship, there was an escape attempt that almost succeeded. But at the last minute, the puma was captured and using her, they got the tiger to surrender. They believe that they can control the tiger through the puma and the puma through the tiger."

"And they’re right," Alluro scoffed. "As long as there is a danger to one, the other will never act in open rebellion. Let’s kill them now before they can be used against us."

For a moment, nothing happened. And then the reptilian shook his head. "No, we’ve been quiet for too long. Let’s give the two new slaves a week. If they survive the interrogation period, we can probably talk them through the rest of the breaking period."

"And what if they break during that period?" Alluro demanded. "We’d be back where we started, but worse. If we kill them then, it will look suspicious. And if we leave them alone, they could spy on us. I say kill them now and destroy the risk.

"Destroying the risk might be our problem right now," Slithe murmured. "We need to start taking some risks if we’re ever going to accomplish anything."

"And just what are we going to accomplish?" Alluro hissed. "Do you plan to escape? Do you plan to single-handedly overthrow the Kentro Empire from the slave pits? Do you plan to broadcast the unknown weaknesses of Jordash’s army to the universe at large from a small communicator made of bean sprouts and home-spun twine?"

For a moment, there was silence. "We must continue to hope," Slithe finally answered softly. And with that, the reptile rose gingerly to his feet and started off in the direction of the slave pens.

"Hope," Lucaina spat. "Since when have we had anything on which to base hope?"

"Since we lost what dreams we had of the future," Chilla replied quietly. Without another word, the ice Lunatac started wearily after the mutant. Alluro followed silently, and before long, Lucaina joined him. Behind them, the blazing sun completed its journey beneath the horizon and the ruined valleys were mercifully plunged into the blackness of night.

"An attack on Cat’s Lair? Are you sure?" Both Snoedaro and Wiley Kit were speechless as they stared at the other gathered Thundercats in the Command Scabbard.

"Lion-O, Snarf, and Serbino were pretty sure," Panthro responded heavily. "And they still haven’t heard anything from Snarfer or Mantyro. We don’t know what’s happened to them."

After Lion-O’s announcement that a civil war had broken out on Thundera, Panthro and Cheetara had immediately summoned the other Thundercats to the Command Scabbard for an emergency meeting. Snoedaro and Wiley Kit arrived in time to hear most of the news, but none of the Thundercats were sure what the next move should be.

"This is crazy," Cougrois said to no one in particular. "We’re fighting an interstellar war and some spoiled tiger wants to play politics."

"You don’t think Sybar and the red tigers would harm Mantyro, do you?" Leonari wondered. "That would be unthinkable. Clan doesn’t fight within clan. Not on a large scale, anyway."

"Maybe not in the recent past, but long ago on Thundera, there were some conflicts within clans as far as nobles and commoners went," Lynx-O remarked. "Lions in particular, if I recall correctly, though tigers had similar problems."

"None of which makes any difference right now," Cheetara broke in. "We need to decide what to do. We have three days to get back and prepare to meet Sybar’s troops or we can sit here and fight the Kentro forces coming through the Fire Zone any minute now."

"We can’t back out now," Servalla said calmly. "We’ve committed too many ships and too much manpower. This entire mission will be one glorious waste if we all return. Maybe some could go back, but most of us must stay here and defend the Fire Zone."

"I never liked the idea of us being here in the first place," Panthro mused. "This would be the perfect excuse to cut and run."

"No, Servalla’s right," Lepora argued. "We’re part of an alliance now, and we can’t default on our efforts. The Lunatacs came to Pride’s defense, albeit too late, but they still came. And the mutants helped us out on the Kentro cargo ship. Great Jaga, they helped you out, too, Panthro. They deserve something in return."

"The only thing they deserve is a good swift kick in the—"

"Enough, Panthro," Cheetara said sternly. "This is getting us nowhere. What we need are suggestions for the next move."

"Split the force," Wiley Kit immediately said. "Keep the bulk of the civilians here and let most of the Thundercats return to Thundera."

"Wrong move," Snoedaro said equally quickly. "The civilians need guidance out here. If anyone goes back, it should be them. They’re far more comfortable on their home turf."

"But some of them are tigers. Will they fight their own kind?" Panthro asked.

"He didn’t say to send them all back," Cougrois pointed out, leaping to his friend’s defense. "We don’t have to send any tigers back if it will cause problems."

"I believe that what we need here are numbers," Leonari suggested. "In which case, the civilians stay and the Thundercats go."

"Numbers are worthless without direction," Lynx-O interjected, supporting Snoedaro’s view. "If we keep the bulk of the civilians here, we must also keep the bulk of the Thundercats here."

"Can we split them evenly?" Lepora wondered.

"Not enough numbers," Leonari objected. "Intimidation is one of the key factors in ambushes like this one. They don’t expect us to be here, so let’s surprise them with everything we’ve got. And even without guidance, surprise can buy troops a lot of time."

"If they don’t know how to use that time, it’s pointless," Panthro growled. "I’m with Lynx-O and Snoedaro. Send the civilians back."

"What if Snoedaro and Wiley Kit were to pull back with the flanking party and return to Thundera?" Cheetara suddenly said, hoping she’d lit upon a compromise. "The back party really isn’t trained for high-speed combat and they aren’t seen as part of Leonari’s numbers because they’re back behind the planet in case we need to make a retreat and require a distraction."

"If we do that, you’ll lose your ability to back down in an organized manner," Snoedaro warned. "Any type of reversal could easily become a rout. You’ll have no way of diverting Kentro so that you can regroup."

"Maybe it’s a chance we’ll have to take," Leonari mused. "I don’t see a better alternative right now. Does anyone else?"

There were a few murmurs and quiet whispers, but no other suggestions were forthcoming. "I guess that’s it, then," Cheetara observed. "Wiley Kit and Snoedaro will take the flanking party home to fight Sybar. The rest of us will stay here."

"I’ll radio the Plun-Darr forces and tell them we’ll be down by one fleet," Panthro volunteered."

"Well, good luck then," Snoedaro offered.

"We’ll send a full report when we get back to Thundera," Wiley Kit promised.

"You do that. We’ll—"

But Lynx-O was unable to finish his sentence, because at that moment, alarms came to life in the Command Scabbard. As one, the Thundercats rushed to sensor stations and began to analyze the situation.

"Cancel that retreat," Leonari ordered sharply. "We’ve got Kentro cruisers coming through the Fire Zone. Battle formation! Everyone back to your Scabbards!"

"Command Scabbard, this is Rataro calling from Rat Star Prime! Respond!"

"Rat Star Prime, this is Panthro," the panther answered as Thundercats rushed to their Daggers and then back to their respective Scabbards behind him. "What’s the situation?"

"The wolf scouts have not returned. Conclusion: Kentro was able to intercept and destroy them. They know we’re here. We must proceed with caution. The Lunatacs are splitting and forming ranks along either side of the exit from the Fire Zone. We will come from above. We ask you and your ships to attack from below. The wolves will deflect the brunt of the attack."

"Acknowledged," Panthro responded, relaying the message to the other Scabbards and urging the departing Thundercats to greater speeds. "What are we up against?" he asked Rataro.

"Unknown. The gases from the zone are playing havoc with our sensors."

"And ours," Cheetara added as she turned from her sensor station. "I can get a readout of five main cruisers and two carriers, but that’s all. And there must be some behind them judging from their formation."

"Great," Panthro muttered angrily. He snapped the communications channel back open again. "Attention Thunderan force commanders," he called. "State your current position."

"Almost back to our Scabbard," Snoedaro responded. "Kit is with me. We’re in position behind the planet’s magnetic polls."

"Just docked," Leonari called in. "My force is coming up on your right side."

"Servalla here," the serval reported. "We’re directly behind you."

"I am on your left side," Lynx-O announced.

"My force is moving above you," Lepora said. "We’ve got some good fliers who want to try out their skills and fight along side those wolfish pirates."

"Be careful up there," Panthro warned. "Cougrois, where are you?"

"My scouting party and I are falling back and coming in underneath," the cougar answered after a moment’s pause. "We’re still missing a few advance ships. Request permission to drop back and regroup."

"Permission granted," Panthro replied. "All other forces, maintain distance and position. Remember that these ships are large and heavily shielded, but their gun turrets are vulnerable as they must drop their shields to fire."

"We all attended the briefing, Panthro," Leonari laughed over the radio. "We know what to expect."

"A little nervous, oh fearless one?" Cheetara asked with a smile, but her heart wasn’t in it. She was experiencing an unusual amount of pre-battle jitters and it unnerved her.

"Maybe I am," Panthro answered honestly. "But we’ve never been up against anything like this before. I just wish I knew what to expect. I wish we had more information. I wish Tygra was here to pilot and navigate for me. I wish Pumyra was here with her medical knowledge. I wish Lion-O and the Eye of Thundera were here. But wishing doesn’t get us anywhere. We have to make do with we have. And we have to accept our losses, painful though they may be."

Cheetara couldn’t think of a suitable response to that. Panthro had never voiced his uncertainties like that before, and it frightened her. The panther had been very quiet about his assumed demise of Tygra and Pumyra. Initially, Cheetara thought it was his own way of dealing with things. But now she was beginning to wonder if Panthro was losing it psychologically. "The front line of wolf ships are about to fire on the Kentro cruisers," she observed, having nothing else to say and hating the silence that had enveloped them.

Panthro opened a coded communications channel and addressed the Thunderan forces. "Okay, guys, this is it. As soon as the first shots go off, we’re going to spring the trap. Move upward toward the mutants but be careful to stay out of their line of fire. We’re going to have Lunatac ships collapsing in from the side and the wolves are going to try and force these Kentroans back into the fire zone from the front. Everyone got that?"

There were a number of acknowledgements from various Thundercats and then the radio went dead again. All eyes were trained on the sensors as the advancing Kentro ships began emerging from the gases of the Fire Zone and the wolf pack started to move.

"They’re dropping static buoys!" Snoedaro suddenly announced over the radio. "Our sensors are registering increasing communication disruption in your area."

"We see it," Cheetara responded. "Cougrois, where are your advance ships?"

"Unknown," the cougar answered. "I’m still trying to contact them."

"Split your team in half," Panthro ordered. "One half will go looking for them and the other half will destroy the static buoys."

"On our way," Cougrois informed them.

At that moment, the wolf pack opened fire on the Kentro ships who immediately retaliated. "Attack!" Rataro cried over the communications.

"Lunatacs closing!" they heard RedEye announce.

"Let’s go, Thunderians!" Panthro roared. "Charge!"

This was the moment they’d all trained for and it was their moment to shine. Thundera Daggers darted toward the large Kentro ships and quickly scattered as hordes of interceptors poured from the cruisers to meet them. The Scabbards started firing from a distance, using the Daggers as cover and moving in more cautiously.

"Leonari, have your squad move further right and join that force of Lunatac Boarders. They’re having interceptor trouble," Cheetara instructed.

"I’m on it," the lioness acknowledged.

"Panthro, Cheetara, drop back!" Wiley Kit suddenly ordered. "You’re in too far to get a good view of the battle."

Panthro growled something foul, but he did bring the advancing Scabbard to a halt. "How’s this?" he snarled.

"Much better," Snoedaro told him. "And get Servalla to help out with the static buoys. They’re dropping more of them."

"Incoming Kentro ships!" Rataro suddenly shouted.

"Didn’t we already establish that?" Cheetara wondered.

Panthro shrugged. "Maybe if he says it enough times, the mutants feel important." He turned his attention back to the communications channel. "Servalla, back off from that ship and take out the static buoys. And Rataro, what did you mean by that last announcement?"

"More incoming," the rat responded hastily. "And—belay that, it’s the wolf scouts returning. As well as some of your own scouts."

"Found them," Cougrois chorused, his voice garbled from the static caused by the Fire Zone. "But I think we’re going to want to pull back. There’s something in that zone that spells trouble in a big way. We couldn’t get a good look at it, but one of the wolves thinks it’s a—"

"It’s a Bi-Dimensional Gun," a raspy wolf voice interrupted. "And there are three of them."

"RETREAT!" TugMug shouted over communications.

"What’s a Bi-Dimensional Gun?" Cheetara demanded.

"By JAGA!!!"

That was Cougrois calling from within the Fire Zone, and he sounded scared. "Report," Panthro ordered sharply, but there was a tremor in his voice. It took a lot to upset the cougar and his outburst rattled Panthro more than a squadron of angry mutants could have.

"Get out of here, Thundercats!" Cougrois roared. "You can’t fight this. Engage hyper-engines while you have the chance!"

"Not without you," Leonari radioed. "I’m going in. Somebody take over my force."

"Leonari, PULL BACK!" Cheetara ordered, but she ordered in vain. The lioness’s Scabbard had already broken formation and was soaring into the Fire Zone.

"Forget them, Thundercats," Cobri radioed from Rat Star Prime. "You’ll never see them again. Get out of here. We’ll evacuate the colony and cover your retreat."

Panthro’s eyes met Cheetara’s and as one, they nodded. "Thunderians, fall back," Panthro said calmly over communications. "Snoedaro and Wiley Kit, employ retreat Plan B. Cheetara and I are going to wait for Leonari and Cougrois."

"Good luck," Kit told them. "And get out of there fast."

"We will," Cheetara assured her. She watched as a horde of drone ships under the control of Snoedaro and Wiley Kit suddenly emerged from behind the planet. The other Thunderan ships immediately fell back as the drone ships took their place, some more reluctantly than others.

"Be careful, my friends," Lynx-O called as his force and Lepora’s started to engage their hyperspace megacondensors. "We will wait for you at the rendezvous point."

"Negative," Panthro told him. "You will return to Thundera and aid Lion-O in defending Cat’s Lair. We’ll catch up when we can."

After a pause, Lynx-O finally responded. "Acknowledged. May Jaga guide you."

"We’re going to need all the guidance we can get," Cheetara muttered. "So what’s this Bi-Dimensional gun?"

"Search me," Panthro shrugged. "But apparently, even their own force fears it." He indicated the sensors and Cheetara saw what he meant. The Kentro force had fallen back and was splitting apart, making room for whatever was coming through the Fire Zone next. The Lunatacs were almost completely gone and only a few mutant Star Cruisers remained around the planet. "We lost this battle before it ever really started."

"How many casualties?" Cheetara asked.

"That’s Servalla’s department. But I know our own force lost five."

"Not too bad," Cheetara managed. "We could have done worse." She watched the sensors and tried to get a reading on anything in the Fire Zone. But there was now massive interference and a sudden surge of radiation that sent most of the Scabbard’s instruments off the scale. "Panthro, look at this!" she breathed.

"What the—" Panthro double-checked the readings from his own board. "What could possibly be causing that?"

It was then that communications opened up and Cougrois made contact once again. "Get out of there, you guys! What are you waiting for?"

"Cougrois, what is your position?" Cheetara demanded. "And where is Leonari?"

"We’re coming out," a new voice announced.

"SERVALLA?! We told you to retreat!" Panthro snarled.

"Sorry, but I wasn’t about to let Leonari charge in by herself," the serval answered. "And you two better get out of here."

"Only with the rest of Thundera’s force," Cheetara asserted. "We leave together."

"You would be wise to take their advice, Thundercats," Rataro suddenly broke in. "If you wait much longer, you will be destroyed. The Lunatacs did not wait for stragglers. They are now completely gone. As are we." With that, the last of the mutant ships broke orbit with the planet and merged into hyperspace.

"Those mutants just dropped hyperspace bombs!" Panthro exclaimed. "We can’t engage the megacondensors without blowing us all to the astral plane!"

"Cougrois, Leonari, Servalla, did you guys hear that? We’re going to have to run on sub-light speed."

"Heard and acknowledged," Leonari responded. At that moment, her Scabbard and Servalla’s Scabbard emerged from the Fire Zone while towing Cougrois’s Thundera Dagger on dual tractor beams. "Now for Jaga’s sake let’s get out of here!"

Panthro and Cheetara wasted no more time and turned the Scabbard away so quickly, it made them both sick. "Maximum thrust in sub-light speed," Panthro reported.

"We’ve got to do better than that," Cougrois radioed. "They’re right behind us."

As if to accentuate his words, Kentro ships began emerging from the Fire Zone by the dozens. And behind the ships came three large cylindrical structures, each one towed by five cruisers that looked miniscule when compared to their cargo.

"What in Thundera are those?" Cheetara gasped.

"The Bi-Dimensional guns," Leonari radioed coldly. "We’ve got to move fast!"

"I’m with you on that," Panthro murmured. "Cheetara, divert all power to the engines!"

"What about the shields?"

"Forget the shields. They won’t help you!" Servalla shouted. She and Leonari were surging ahead, reserving only enough power to keep the tractor beam on Cougrois’s Dagger.

"What’s wrong with your ship, Cougrois? And where’s the rest of your force?" Cheetara wondered.

"Destroyed by those guns," the cougar answered shortly. "I’m lucky I didn’t go down with them. Keep moving!"

"TOO LATE!" Leonari suddenly yelled. "LOOK OUT!!!"

Cheetara called up the sensors and froze. Behind the retreating Scabbards, space and time were twisting and writhing like a ship caught in hyperspace and a planet’s gravity well. The other Kentro ships had moved well out of the way before the Bi-Dimensional gun fired and no longer registered on sensors as they were behind the ripple in space. "What’s happening?" the cheetah demanded.

"They’re merging hyperspace and real space," Cougrois explained as he watched the oncoming wave from his own smoking sensor array. "It simulates hyperspace in an area of intense gravity, only it affects things in both hyperspace and real space. We’ll be torn apart and smashed into oblivion."

"Merging into hyperspace only makes things worse, too. The waves travels faster and farther in hyperspace," Leonari added.

"Impact in 60 seconds," Servalla supplied. "It’s been nice knowing you guys."

"We’re not done yet," Panthro growled. "Cougrois, you say that thing back there causes dimensions to merge?"

"That’s what my scouts told me before they died," the cougar answered softly.

"50 seconds," Servalla counted. "If we’re going to do something, we’d better do it soon."

"Cheetara, where are those hyperspace bombs?" Panthro demanded.

"About a mile behind us. Why?"

"40 seconds," Servalla announced.

"Everybody, follow my lead!" Panthro ordered. "We’re going to turn around and engage the megacondensors. The mutants dropped some hyperspace bombs back there and we’re going to trigger them."

"30 seconds."

"Are you crazy!?" Leonari shouted. "I want a few more seconds to live."

"Shut up and listen!" Panthro snapped. "You said this wave travels farther and faster in hyperspace, which means the wave in real space isn’t connected to it. We can alter the wave’s course in hyperspace without bothering the wave in real space. The Kentro ships will assume we’ve been destroyed, but when the bombs go off in hyperspace, they’ll divert the wave around us. We’ll have to stay in the blast of the bombs, though."

"20 seconds," Servalla warned.

"I don’t know if the cougar’s ship can take it," Leonari argued.

"My ship is fine, it’s just a little low on power," Cougrois growled. "And I don’t see another way around this. Let’s do it."

"You’re all crazy!" the lioness exclaimed.

"Do you have a better idea?" Cheetara asked.

"10 seconds."

"If we’re going to try it, we have to try it now. Who’s with me?" Panthro asked.

"Oh, fine," Leonari grumbled. "If you’re all going to blow up, I guess I’ll come along for the ride. Full power to shields."

"5 seconds."

"Merge to hyperspace!" Panthro commanded.

As the hum of the megacondensors filled the ships, Servalla continued her countdown to destruction. "4…3…"

"Where’s that blast?!" Cougrois yelled.

"2…"

"Here it comes!" Cheetara warned as her screen lit with the inferno of hyperspace bombs.

"1…"