Dogs-Cats and Future of Humanity

By Ezekiel Carsella

This is a story where the grand science fiction scale of Halo meets the anti-hero assasin story in James Bond. Join an ensemble cast of 22nd century space dwellers as they fight space pirates, aliens, and hamsters in order to bring Earth back to what they consider "normal."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ezekiel Carsella
• Release date: Sep 18, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311507419

Ezekiel Carsella

After writing a short story that would become his first title, Operation Hammer, Ezekiel Carsella decided that writing was cool and created the Animal Conflict Series. When not writing he enjoys movies, reading, and anything else that is fun under the inviting South Carolina sun.

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Dogs Cats and Future of Humanity

Published by Ezekiel Carsella at Smashwords

Copyright 2015 Ezekiel Carsella

Dedication Page

To the best in the business: Space Jesus.

My parents (Anthony and Audrey Carsella), teachers, and peers who have encouraged me to write, read, and be awesome.

I want to give credit to my editor: Kiera Rodriguez

Keri Smith for letting me user her name and likeness in this book.

All of my fellow authors: Dan Haight, Dawn Chapman, M.L. Katz, and everyone else who has helped my writing skills improve.

Also the best actor known to man: Nicholas Cage

Classified Debriefing

Hello readers! My name is Logan Baron and I’m really important in this book! I’ve made this super important reference material for you so you can come back to it if you need to.

Dogs are no longer man’s best friend. After designer babies came into the mainstream, humanity’s curiosity demanded to know everything about the four legged beasts we called friends. A science experiment quickly led to all dog’s becoming sentient, able to speak English, walked on two feet predominantly, and develop their paws more into fingers. I was too young to witness this, but the effects of it have carried into my generation.

Characters who are dogs: Logan (me), Adam, and Commander Sherman.

Cats became sentient as well developing more humanlike features and received a general increase in stature. Working with cats on operations was different, but enjoyable.

Characters who are cats: Keri, Jeremiah, and CN Prime Minister.

Hamsters are much larger, meaner, and maintained a respected position in the hierarchy of humanity. I never liked the little buggers, but oh well.

Characters who are hamsters: Citizen Manouche, Edgar, and Felix.

Humans have remained largely unchanged except for being more resistant to most 21st century illnesses, expanded with a few experimental space colonies, and better eyesight.

Characters who are human: Seth, Sam, Eugene, and the President of the United States.

Creel: Derogatory name from a large eel like creature that produces slime often used in ballistic armor.

Space Squid: A large squid that roams space often destroying asteroid miners’ ships. While spending time on the IDA Midway we were able to neutralize one after barraging it with over 30 25 kiloton missiles.

IDC: An often used shortened form for Interdimensional Creatures. These are the classic greys of past science fiction with large heads and live in giant artificial planetoids that have a diameter 1/32 of Earth. Being masters of time they live in between our dimension and the next over a place only accessed by a Faster than Light Drive.

IDA: Shortened form for the Interplanetary Defense Alliance spanning space, air, sea, and ground defense against threats both foreign and domestic.

UFO: Universal Fighting Objects are commonly used by IDC forces. They are easy to take down, but in numbers are very threatening.

Prologue

Silently an assassin crept in the shadow of a scientist thoroughly involved in his work. Holding a 5 inch carbon weave knife he crouched next to a metal bin watching a

Ben’s face was buried in his laptop’s screen meticulously going over the latest nuclear formulas for perfection. He glanced over at his watch, finally time to get out of here.

Making one last correction, he grabbed his stuff and headed for the door.

What the…. CLUNK. His body ungracefully fell to the cold floor.

Vito drag the body over to that closet! Edgard bring his research to me! The rest of you secure the perimeter! Felix ordered. His soldiers scurried to follow their orders.

Edgar read the reports, formulas, and notes intently looking for the answers to his questions. He noticed a slide was minimized and decided to open it up. The show glowed against his skin revealing holographic stills of nuclear fallout, waste, and weapons. It showed the nuclear stockpiles of the 5 major super powers and how they were projected to grow. There were showings of future space fleets and colonial worlds that could be made habitable in the next 50 years with new nuclear fusion engines.

Then it showed Project Z. He was met with highly detailed 3-D models of a new type of exploding atom that was 3 times as powerful as the standard nuclear weapon. The bomb would be easy to make and load into an ICBM which could dramatically tip the scales of power.

Uh… Felix, you really need to see this! Edgar managed to stammer.

Of course I want to see this! Anything exciting you have for me? Felix yelled.

Well, boss, it is exactly what you wanted, Edgar responded with a sigh.

What do I want? Felix snarled furiously.

You wanted this, With a wave of his hand Edgar revealed the single most important secret the United States ever held. Felix’s bravado fell at the moment he saw Project Z.

Edgar… get me HQ on the line. NOW!

Just give me a moment.

Felix Dubois, have you found what we sent you for?

Yes, sir. I have found exactly what you wanted. I have found Project Z.

Good. We will be sending you reinforcements to hold your position so you can obtain as much information as possible. Then we will extract you and hope you can get out alive. Copy?

Yes, sir.

Good. I am glad. If not, it would be a waste of time to kill you.

Thank you, sir.

Felix ended the call boosting his ego, Edgar, I want you to send all the new Intel to base immediately and make sure no one can intercept it! If anyone does, you will be killed immediately. Do you understand?

Yes, sir. I will do all I can. Edgar scooped up the Surface Infinity and headed to the mainframe.

He sent a heavily encrypted message to command with all of his newfound information. He thought everything was good, but five minutes later a man in his middle thirties with cheese doodle dust-stained fingers was reading everything he just sent.

Chapter 1: Logan Meet Keri

I glanced at my phone lying down on the spare nightstand hoping for a new message from someone good. Turned out to be a call from my superior. Yes, Commander Sherman?

Logan, I need you here soon as possible!

Yes, Sir! I probably forgot to do something important again. Grudgingly, I stood up and walked out of the apartment five minutes away from the Commander’s office.

Going to the Commander’s office again, Logan? Adam asked.

The one and only, I grinned sheepishly.

Well I'll be joining in on the fun with you. he replied.

Torture is best with friends, right?

Wouldn’t have it any other way!

Adam was my best bud. He was a bit small for a German shepherd His great-grandfather had been one of the first dogs who was transformed into a bipedal, talking, dog like we are today.

We walked—no—ran to the Commander’s room with four minutes to spare. My paws started to hurt in my new boots I still hadn’t broken in yet. I paused before knocking, just in time to listen to a hostile argument between Sherman and some other guy.

I knocked.

The arguing stopped, Who is it? The pizza guy.

Sir, its Logan and Adam, I replied in a steady voice.

Doors open, I cautiously opened the door, scared of what I might see on the other side. Surprisingly, I was met with a small middle age female scientist with wireframe glasses.

Gentlemen, thank you for being early. In a few minutes, we will be heading over to the meeting room to discuss some things with Dr. Quinn and some other key folk. Don’t worry, yawl are not in trouble, but we all might be if we don’t get things sorted out. Questions, concerns, eh, I don’t care about your comments.

I visibly relaxed, No, sir.

Good. I am glad to clear things up. Now can we leave now?

Yes, sir! Adam and I said simultaneously. Better to be early than on time, Commander always said. Dr. Quinn left first, followed by Ol man Sherman and Adam. I turned out the lights and closed the door, making sure not to get in trouble. The walk proved interesting when Dr. Quinn started to explain why she was here,

Well, I was involved with a research group near El Glaze's core and we stumbled upon a conflagration of sorts. We found the core was losing energy causing temperatures around the core to increase exponentially.

Excuse me, Doctor, I don’t mean to be rude, but could you put that into some simpler terms? I asked, mystified. The medium sized office proved more interesting than her doomsday prophecy that went over my head.

Oh, no problem. The core is losing energy—or heat—faster than it can take. So far, we don’t know what is causing this so this is why we are having this meeting.

Does that mean the planet would cool off, completely killing life?

It is a possibility in the actual near future. There are a couple of options on the table, but then we should save that for….

We don’t have to wait long. We’re here. Sherman interrupted. He opened the door to a bare room with a long table. Conveniently, all of the chairs had nametags putting us smack dab in the middle of the table. I looked at the head of the table and noticed there was a spot for the president but was distracted by the ever-present Commander Shepherd.

Eh, Commander, why did you have the notion of bringing me and Adam to this high-level meeting? I mean the president is going to be here, Sir.

His everlasting sternness wore off, Well, I figured I get someone with some common sense in the room.

I laughed, Commander, you have more common sense in your paw then all of these guys put together!

For the first time in my service, I saw the Commander smile, but as soon as the President walked in he got really serious. Soldier, you should take your seat. I nodded my consent, walking over to my appointed chair. Glancing around, all I was met with was confused looks or angry stares.

Hey Adam, what do you think of this? I whispered.

Oh, it’s really good! Just needs some color, he replied between mouthfuls of sugar cookies that had been supplied and were lying on the table in front of us.

The president finished his conversation with Commander, taking his seat at the head of the table, Alright everyone, I am so glad you could come so I would like to begin the meeting with some prayer, then a little headline.

The Chaplin appeared out of nowhere with paws together and head bowed. Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for getting us here safe today and I thank you for providing us with a beautiful planet to dwell. I pray that we would resolve all of our issues in a calm, diplomatic way. In your precious and Nicholas Cage name, we pray, Amen.

The Chaplin disappeared and the President reappeared, Alright Dr. Quinn please tell us what you have found.

Dr. Quinn relayed what she told us earlier, A few weeks ago, I was part of a research team in El Glazia’s core, studying the temperatures. We found the temperatures were decreasing at a pace of 3 degrees every two weeks. After we left, we could notice the plant life closest to the core was withering and the hot springs were losing their heat and increased in alkaline levels. This behavior, if sustained at the current pace, could make this planet unable to sustain our current level of life within 1 – 2 years.

A high ranking Senator piped up, What will be the fate of our planet?

Computer 4-D models suggest we will see our planet likely be either a comet because of our water or much like Mars, with no water. Our atmosphere will dry up and ‘fall’ in on the planet.

Commander Sherman raised his paw, Is there any possible planets with life that we could move to?

Well, that is one of the issues we have to discuss. The only planets with life in our colony ships range are Earth, Mars, the Jovian colonies, and our various outer colonies with insufficient infrastructure. Earth is large enough to contain us, but then we would become pets and would be outlawed. Mars is owned by the Interplanetary Defense Alliance so it would be impossible to stay. It would be recommended to send a task force to try and make diplomatic ends, but that is up to you, Mr. President.

We could terraform a nearby planet? I suggested. El Glazia was lightly terraformed along with Mars to make them more habitable.

The cost of terraforming a nearby planet would exhaust many of our resources leaving us at a serious disadvantage if we were forced to fight a war.

I think Earth sounds best. Our colony ship's FTL drives could be there in a week.

The president nodded slowly, Well, to be frank, to be able to move everyone would be near impossible unless we build more colony ships or make it much easier. Plus, we would have to do this without the public knowing, which would be impossible. Telling the public is a no go for a lot of reasons. Are you sure we can’t feed the core or give it energy?

Well, Mr. President, we do have a research team working on what makes up the core, and if we could infuse energy into the core to make it work again, but, any solution like that would be temporary. Latest reports say if we could infuse energy it would give us an additional 3 to 6 months before the core rejects our efforts and continues on its downward streak. Next question?

I raised my hand, Could this type of situation happen on Earth causing humans and our rival hamsters to come here?

Thankfully, no. The only viable apocalyptic situation that would happen in Earth is the sun dies out and engulfs the Earth, but by then civilization would be so advanced they could go farther into the Orion arm than we can now.

Adam raised his hand, Do the cats know about our core problem?

As far as I know, no. I am sure we would want to tell the cats in due time and work with their scientists to come up with a feasible solution to remedy our problem.

As good as any other journalist, he asked a follow-up question, When should we begin to look physically for new life bodies?

Excellent question, but I can’t give you a concrete answer. Technically, we should begin now but that is out of my control to be frank. Any other questions? No? Well, I will give the floor to the President.

He sauntered over to the microphone, Well, thank you, Dr. Quinn, for your knowledge and you will be rewarded for helping us in such dire times. Ladies and Gentlemen, I have been talking to a special council of experts on this matter and I want to inform you that Project Core is now in full effect. We have determined that One: we need to prolong the life of our core; Two: work on large ships capable of taking large amounts of civilians to a new planet; Three: start working with our rivals the cats and; Four: we should send a bi-partisan committee of both dogs and cats to Earth in an effort to work out peace. I know this is a lot to put on you, but I wanted to put this on the table for discussion or debate.

The entire room was dead silent except for the furious scrawling of digitizers on data pads. Commander Sherman decided to break the near deathly silence, Sir, do you have a suggested amount or people that you would like to send to our next door neighbors? It can be a hostile place sometimes.

Commander Sherman, if you would be willing I would let you choose two strong representatives of ours to travel to the CN capital and recruit two strong cat representatives along with escorts to Earth.

Commander Sherman looked over at me and Adam, Sir if you would be okay with it I would like to nominate Logan and Adam for this mission. They have proven to be excellent recruits who can look danger in the eye and laugh in its face. I don’t know anyone else I would trust more than these two.

The table erupted in applause making me blush. Well, thank you, sir. I promise that I will hold up to the standards you would hold me to.

The president’s eyes narrowed then relaxed. Good to have you onboard boys! I am glad to see someone I can trust these days.

I nodded my head but inwardly I felt his eyes burning holes through me. What did he mean by that?

Adam’s faced was beaming with pride. Sir, there is no greater honor than this! Thank you so much!

My smile quickly turned into a frown. Why would he look at us like that? Anyway, why ruin a good celebration, right?! The president took the reins of the impromptu celebration. Let’s get back to business. We have to plan extremely carefully before we celebrate. Commander Sherman, and my other top military generals, I would like to meet you tomorrow at 0-800 hours to give you further instructions. The rest of you are dismissed until further notice. Please have a good afternoon.

I turned to leave when Commander Sherman grabbed my shoulder. Adam and Logan, I want to have a serious talk with you. I want to meet at our usual in 20 minutes. Do ya hear?

Yes, sir! we responded. He walked over to the president engaging in a conversation.

Opening the double doors, we headed down the hallway, So, Adam, why do you think we got chosen? I mean, I screw up all the time, and you aren’t the best ever in the history of Special Forces.

Oh yeah, the most trusted name in the business for sure. Adam responded.

Whatever, I pulled out my phone scanning for text messages. Yeah! The fiancée texted.

Wanna go out tonight for a movie? Maybe go to a nice restaurant? What are you doing??

My amazing paws replied,

Got some good news about work, how about a nice Moa restaurant?

Didn’t have to wait long for her response, Why not? Let’s go to Twigs.

Uh... sure why not?

Great! Glad you wanna take me! Oh and btw I kind of invested all of my money in junk so it would be great if you could I don't know foot the bill?

She always pulls this crap on me. I hope she makes some money on all the crap she invests in.

Of course I would! Anything for you. I have got to go though.

K. Bye!

So Mr. Love muffin how is the lady doing? Adam snickered.

Hey! At least I’m engaged, you are, like, nowhere, dog.

Lay off my case! I just like being single for a while, you know that! It gives me a chance to relax before being all serious and junk. When is the glorious wedding I have to go to?

Next month, my man. Well, we might have to put it off with the new mission. Ah man, I forgot about all about it! Do you think she will mind if we have to put it off?

It all depends on how your relationship is. If she truly loves you, she will be okay to put it off. If she doesn’t, then she will throw a fit and say all bets are off. I mean, I know she isn’t bad or anything. I think worst case is, she gets angry for a while, then comes back to her senses.

Alright, I will trust you this time.

Hey Jack, you should trust me every time!

Nah brosky, can’t be trusting people with no experience.

Ah lover boy, I love how you can say that! Besides, enough talk of love—which won’t last if we don’t meet Commander!

I don’t think anyone could argue with that logic! I picked up my pace running for my favorite coffee shop. The coffee shop is a big place filled with people poking at smartphones or larger Infinity devices for sustained typing and reading. We walk in and I see the last thing I ever want to see, Aw crap she's is over there!

Ha-ha lover boy! I told you love doesn’t last long! Look, the Commander is over there in the back as usual. Might as well meet him and get it over with right?

I mournfully passed my girlfriend to meet a sour looking Commander, Good evening, Sir!

Ah Shaddup and sit down. I have some very serious and sensitive things to tell you.

I meekfully took my seat, Sir, I want to thank….

Don’t give me all that crap now, soldier!

I froze in place. Why where his eyes bloodshot?

"Alright, so first I want to tell you why I chose you. Soldiers, when I first met you I knew you were Special Forces. Not big, but not scrawny--you were perfect for corps. That is why I always call you in my office and chew