Jurassic War

by Hinton, Charles

In an apartment, a man and a woman were making love. They stopped, and the woman said, “Honey, we should have left this city. There’re

  dinosaurs in the street and they may come in here.”

  “Don’t worry, the Army will be here soon.”

  “Let’s get out of L.A. I’m scared.”

  “Sweetheart, it’s safer in here. We don’t know what’s out there, and besides, I have a gun under my bed and my front door is made of steel.”

  “Honey, I still don’t feel safe in here. I’m leaving.”

  She got dressed, grabbed her car keys and left the apartment. As she

  started her car, two dromaeosaurs jumped on it. One pressed his head

  against her window. Terrified, she screamed and one broke the window.

  As it stuck its hand through it, loud gunfire erupted and the creatures fell dead. Her boyfriend came to her car with a gun and said, “I told you it was safer inside.”

  Glad, she got out of her car, kissed him on the lips. “Thanks for saving my life.”

  A cop cruiser was leaving the city. The driver said to his partner, “This week isn’t over yet. It seems as if we’ve have been working

  for a month. We’ve been helping and directing people out of this

  city, stopping looters, killing dinosaurs, rescuing people from that

  damn earthquake. I’m tired. I’ll be glad when we get out of this city.

  I need a good night’s sleep.”

  His partner said, “Millions of people have left already.”

  “Yeah, but there are plenty left. Look ahead, there’s an old lady

  lying on the road.”

  Their car stopped and they get out to assist her. The driver said, “Are you all right, lady?”

  “I’m just tired. Hundreds of dinosaurs were chasing me.”

  “How did they look?” the partner asked.

  “Like ostriches.”

  “I don’t think they’re chasing you, ma’am, they’re probably running from predators.”

  From out of nowhere, a rex came toward them and roared. The cops drew their weapons and shot it, wounding it, but it kept coming toward them, growling and showing its awesome teeth. The driver shouted,

  “Everyone for themselves!”

  The cops ran, leaving the lady behind. She was too tired to move. The thing approached her and opened its mouth. She screamed as it was about to eat her, but suddenly it stopped and walked away.

  “Thank you, Jesus!” she shouted and headed for the cops’ vacant car.

  She got in it and drove off. As she drove she saw the two cops running, they waved for her to stop. She kept driving. “Sorry boys, everyone for themselves.”

  In the city, a front door to a house had been, left wide open. Two burglars went into the living room. One of the burglars said, “Look

  at all of this stuff these people left behind. I hear something in

  the kitchen.”

  “Maybe it’s a cat,” the other said.

  They entered the kitchen and saw two raptors looking in the refrigerator.

  The things turned and stared at them. The burglars quickly ran to

  the front door, but they were trapped by two more raptors who blocked the entrance. All four raptors attacked, ripping flesh from burglars’

  bodies, killing them.

  A bus with twenty passengers broke down on a road leading out of L.A.

  The bus driver shouted, “Don’t worry, help will be here shortly!”

  “You said that an hour ago!” a passenger shouted.

  “Yeah! Get the damn thing moving!” another passenger shouted. “I don’t want to be eaten by dinosaurs!”

  The driver yelled back, “Don’t worry, the dinosaurs are miles away from here!”

  Heading toward the bus was a pack of coelophysises. They were similar to the raptors, but smaller. Terrified, a passenger shouted, “Dinosaurs are heading this way!”

  He and a few other passengers quickly ran off the bus, and were chased, caught, attacked and killed by the pack. Several of the passengers screamed as they stared at the creatures through the windows. “If we don’t get off this bus, they’ll probably get in and we’ll be eating!” a passenger shouted. “Let me off this thing!”

  “You fool!” the driver shouted. “Sit down!” You saw what they did to the passengers who left!”

  Panicking, the passenger punched the driver, making him fall from his seat. As he reached for the button to open the doors, he was shot in the back by a female who pointed her gun at the rest of the passengers and shouted, “I’m a cop! Stay in your seats!”

  Suddenly, from above, police helicopters fired at the dinosaurs. A few were killed by the spraying bullets and the rest scattered.

  The passengers and the driver cheered and thanked the cop for shooting the man. The helicopters landed and rescued them.

  Chapter 6

  A plane arrived at a military base in California, carrying Mark and an Air Force lieutenant who was escorting him to Halfway’s briefing

  room. As they walked down the corridor, they heard a voice shouting,

  “Mark.”

  They stopped. Surprised, Mark grinned. “Larry! I thought you were dead! I’m glad to see you!” He embraced him. “What are you doing

  here?”

  “I had to give a bloody general information on how many dinosaurs died in the quake. The chap’s name is Halfway. This morning I went

  back to Dinosaur Land with a team that he provided to account for

  and figure how many creatures died there. Now the bloody chap wants

  me for an adviser and he told me you’re going to advise him. He reminds me of a general I saw on TV, who fought in War World II. I can’t remember the name of that chap.”

  “Patton,” the lieutenant answered.

  “Yes, that’s the name,” said Larry. “I heard the chap kicked a colonel in the ass.”

  Surprised, Mark said, “Oh, my God.”

  The lieutenant and Larry laughed.

  “Let’s go. We can’t keep the Black Patton waiting,” said the lieutenant.

  Mark and Larry entered the briefing room. They saw Halfway, his aide and commanders sitting at a conference table. Halfway was at the

  head of it. He stood and greeted them. “Take a seat, gentlemen.” He

  began his briefing. “We’re in a war, gentlemen. It may not seem like

  one, but it’s a war with an enemy just as dangerous as man and maybe

  as clever.

  “We didn’t start this, they did, by attacking every human who was in their way. I want to win this war in three days, gentlemen. When

  this meeting is over, Operation Terminate Reptile will begin.

  “Major General Johnson on my right will be in charge of Army operations. Next to him is General Clover who’ll be in charge of Air

  Force operations. Next to him is General Hutton. He’ll be charge of

  Marine operations. On my left is Colonel Standwall, who’ll be in charge of Army Special Forces. Next to him is Mark Water, the former Director of Dinosaur Land, and Larry Fisher, the former Game Warden. These

  two civilians will keep us advised on how to track these dinosaurs My aide will be the liaison.”

  “General, if the main function is to terminate dinosaurs,” Mark said.

  I suggest your troops attack them during the day because some have

  better night vision than humans. When you attack them, they’re going

  to respond and they’ll attack back.”

  “Mark, wars aren’t won during the day,” Halfway said. “The amount of troops we’ll have for this mission, gentlemen, is two hundred and

  fifty thousand.”

  “My Air Force will bomb the large animals,” Clover said.

  “I’ll send my units to housing complexes, projects,” Standwall said, “neighborhoods throughout the city to terminate dinosaurs that are

  in these areas but before my troops do it, the Air Fo
rce needs to

  terminate the flying dinosaurs, who’ll probably attack my helicopters transporting my troops.”

  “Colonel, they aren’t flying dinosaurs, they’re pterosaurs,” Mark said.

  Angry, Standwall slammed his fist on the table. “I don’t give a damn what they’re called! They need to be destroyed!”

  “Colonel!” Halfway shouted, “no need for the outburst! The Air Force will destroy them before your troops go in.”

  “There won’t be a problem in destroying the pterosaurs,” Clover said, “because our jets are ten times faster and fly higher, plus, the pterosaurs can’t shoot back.”

  “Good heavens, sir, don’t take them for granted, they’ll attack your jets in flocks,” Larry said.

  “If they can catch one,” Clover chuckled.

  “I’ll send my Marines into the business districts and shopping districts of the city,” Hutton said.

  “I’ll send my infantry and artillery to all the suburban areas,”

  Johnson said.

  “I see you all know your jobs,” Halfway said. “The Air Force will go in first and terminate all pterosaurs and bomb the large dinosaurs.

  Clover, please tell you troops not to destroy buildings unless it’s

  necessary. The President doesn’t want buildings destroyed, but I

  think that’s impossible when you’re fighting a war in a city.

  “Special Forces will flush out dinosaurs hiding in city neighborhoods, the Marines will flush out dinosaurs hiding in large buildings. The

  Army will give maximum land power.”

  “Halfway, you’re talking as if you’re fighting War World II,” Mark said. “The only danger I see is the meat-eaters. When they see large

  numbers of troops invading their area, they’ll use a strategy. They

  may stay out of sight and then attack when they have a chance. Remember, these animals are natural born hunters.”

  “Gentlemen, he’s right,” Halfway said. “We’re not fighting an enemy who has guns. We’re fighting hunters with sharp teeth and claws.”

  “The plant-eaters are gentle as lambs, but some can be dangerous if you provoke them,” Mark said. “For instance, triceratopses will charge at anything if they’re attacked. They’re bulky and some weigh up to

  six tons, and they have huge sharp horns. They can knock down practically anything.”

  “Our Air Force and Army will bomb the hell out of them,” Halfway said.

  “All of this bombing you’re talking about is going to cause a reaction,”

  Mark said.

  “What type of reaction?” Halfway asked.

  “Well, they may charge toward the city and knock buildings down.”

  “What do you suggest we do, hippy?” Standwall asked. “Lead them by the hand back to your war-torn Dinosaur Land!”

  Angry, Mark shouted, “I’m not a hippy! You red-neck bastard!”

  “Settle down Mark!” Halfway said. “What do you suggest?”

  “Well, have your troops use tranquilizer guns, using them won’t cause a stampede.”

  “I can’t do that. I have orders from the President to terminate. Besides, my troops will not use tranquilizer guns. Now, gentlemen, we’re facing fourteen thousand dinosaurs. Two thousand of them are meat-eaters

  and twelve thousand are plant-eaters, there’re also a hundred pterosaurs.

  “The most dangerous dinosaurs are the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Velociraptor, Troodon, Coelophysis, Dromaeosaurus, and Ceratosaurus. Mark will give you a breakdown of them and others.”

  “The majority of the meat-eaters may be in the city because they’ve developed a taste for humans,” Mark said. “The raptors are clever.

  The troodons, coelophysises, and dromaeosaurs are similar to them

  but not as clever. They all have sharp claws and teeth that they use

  to kill their prey. These are your small meat-eaters. They’re hunting in the city and suburbs.

  “The ceratosaurs and tyrannosaurs are your larger meat-eaters. The ceratosaurs are similar to the tyrannosaurs, but each is about twenty feet, and they have short horns on their noses and sometimes hunt

  in packs. They’re probably in the urban or suburban areas hunting

  for prey. The tyrannosaurs are sneaky and cunning. It will take bombs to destroy these creatures. Some may be hunting in the downtown area

  of the city or in the suburbs.

  “The plant-eaters you’ll find at large vegetation areas, such as the parks, the railroad areas, the suburbs and any large areas that have

  thick foliage. Some of these animals are huge, especially the Brachiosaurus, which weight up to a hundred and ten tons. When you kill these animals you’re going to need a large cleaning crew to follow.”

  “My engineer battalion will do the cleaning,” Johnson said.

  “Well, Commanders, that’s all I have to add right now,” Mark said.

  “When your troops are attacking the small meat-eaters,” Larry said, “tell them to aim for their heads, shooting them in the head will kill them quicker.”

  “Gentlemen, you know what you have to do,” Halfway said. “I want full reports of your combat situation at all times. Tomorrow we’ll

  have another meeting; I’ll expect some results from you. You’re

  dismissed Commanders!”

  The commanders left the room. Halfway said to Mark and Larry, “You two will be at my side the majority of the time until this war is over.

  You better get used to seeing my big black bald head. Now, how

  about joining me and my aide for dinner at the mess hall.”

  “What’s a mess hall?” Mark asked.

  “A cafeteria where the military eat. The food is excellent. It also serves dinosaur meat.”

  While they’re eating, Mark said, “You’re right, General, the food is delicious.”

  “That’s because there’re excellent cooks in the military.”

  “General, I heard a rumor that you kicked a colonel in the ass for calling a soldier a nigger?” Larry asked.

  “Some of it is true,” Ben said. “The colonel the General kicked was Standwall.”

  “Well, that’s a long story,” Halfway said.

  “Can’t you tell us, General?” Mark asked.

  “Certainly. Standwall and I are the best of friends. He would’ve been a general today if it wasn’t for his quick temper. About five years

  ago, I was a colonel, and he was a lieutenant colonel. We were having a drink at the officer’s club. A black colonel and he got into an

  argument about something stupid. They stood and argued loudly. The

  colonel called him white trash, and he called the colonel a nigger.

  “As Standwall was about to hit him, I quickly stood and kicked Standwall in his ass. Kicking him stopped him from hitting the colonel. If I hadn’t kicked him, and he’d hit the colonel, that would have been the end of his career. He was angry from my kick, but later he thanked me for saving his career. The black colonel spread the story that I kicked a white colonel who called him a nigger.

  “I picked Standwall for this mission because he’s hard-core and if he’s successful, I’ll be able to promote him to brigadier general.”

  Mark joked, “I wish you would have kicked him when he called me a hippy.”

  Everybody laughed.

  At an Air Force-base, in an air tower, along with radio operators and air-traffic controllers was Clover. A radio operator shouted to

  the gray-haired general, “General Clover! Twenty of our jet fighters

  are approaching the city projects and neighborhoods!”

  “General! On radar, five of the twenty planes are approaching a flock of pterosaurs.” an air traffic controller said.

  “What sector is the flock in?”

  “Sector one, sir.”

  “That’s the projects,” said Clover.

  “Sir, the squadron commander of sector one is on the radio!” an operator
shouted.

  Clover took the receiver, and the commander said, “General, the flock has separated and the pterosaurs are flying low. We can’t destroy

  them without destroying some areas of the projects. There still may

  be some people still living there. It’s your call, General.”

  “Damn! People were told to evacuate! Well, I hate for innocent civilians to die, but as Halfway said, ‘This is war, and innocent people die in war.’

  Commander, have your jet fighters fire on the pterosaurs and let’s hope we don’t kill civilians.”

  The jet fighters fired, hitting the pterosaurs, who screamed as their bodies exploded, but some missiles missed their targets and hit houses which went up in flames. Finally all of the pterosaurs were destroyed in sector one.

  The sector one commander phoned again. “Sir, the enemy in sector one has been destroyed. No jets or military casualty losses, minimal damage to properties, not yet determined civilian casualties. Enemy loss, thirty.”

  “Good job, Commander, you and your troops will be rewarded.”

  “Sir, the commander of sector two is on the radio!” an operator shouted.

  Clover clicked the receiver. “General, the pterosaurs are scattered.

  Some are on rooftops, in trees and circling in the sky. Since the

  areas we’re covering are neighborhoods, there’ll be heavy property

  losses because of the stabilization of some animals. There may be

  a few people in the areas. With these circumstances, do you want me

  and my troops to pursue with the attack?”

  “Yes, Commander.”

  The pterosaurs were shot down and their body parts scattered to the streets, on sidewalks and in yards and some neighborhoods were destroyed in the process.

  Sector-two commander phoned. “General mission is accomplished. All pterosaurs in sector two are terminated. No jets or military casualty losses, heavy civilian property damages, possible civilian losses-”

  An operator shouted, “General, the commander of sector three is on the other line.”

  Clover clicked over. “General! There’re herds of plant-eating dinosaurs wandering around. Some are in yards, in parks, on lots and some are

  being chased by meat-eaters. If we bomb them we’ll have to destroy