"Have the devices been prepared?", Zang asked, as it stood atop a very tall crag with a small army of tinkerers and engineers.

The Eshlar Engineer nodded. "Yes, oh Claw. The devices have been prepared. Each Shap has a small device that measures air pressure, so that when the Shap goes below a certain altitude the device will know."

Zang nodded its approval. "Good, very good. Do they know the route to each sector of the target?"

Another Engineer, this one a Lokai, answered. "Yes, oh Claw. The Shaps have been flown along this route 12 times each. Six times on their own. They have been rewarded with treats each trip, and will fly directly to their individual sectors of the target City expecting more treats on arrival."

Red Mon'Ka, an Unarran Pilot-Officer pointed to the scale model. "As you can see oh Claw, the target City is located upon a river bed near the level of the sea. Air pressure is low here atop the high crags, but grows steadily higher as one approaches the level of the sea."

Zang nodded, smoothing back its head-tentacles, "Go on."

"When the air pressure reaches the setting of 20 Unarra-Heights above the level of the sea", the Pilot-Officer continued, "The pressure ball will burst along its seams and trigger the pitch-torches. The pitch-torches will flare up, igniting the 50 liter waterskins of liquid-tar that each Shap carries."

The Engineers and Officers gathered about the test table, as the Shap-tamers prepared the Shaps for their final flight. A few tamers shed a tear or two as they fed some last grass-stems to their doomed animals.

The Head Engineer, a burly Eshlar with brown skin, pointed to the scale model on the test table, "Here's how it should work. As the Shaps descend towards their various landing spots throughout the target City, they will each ignite as they descend below 20 Unarra-Heights above the level of the sea."

The burly Eshlar pulled a lever, and the 70 miniature Shap models suspended above the test table each burst in flame, and fell upon the scale model of the target city, instantly igniting the small paper buildings.

"As you can see", the Head Engineer continued, as everyone took a step back from the flames, "the target City should be completely destroyed by fire."

"Very good.", Zang said, turning to a black-furred Tyrusin in the group, "First Claw Svenn, what effects will this have on the strategic situation?"

"Good ones we hope", the Tyrusin chuckled, "Basically, the target City is the only source of enemy resupply along the Karsh River Valley for a full two days march. With that source of supply gone, the barbarian army along our Northern flank will have no choice but to withdraw back towards their source of supplies."

Zang nodded, "And with our forces on the Northern flank freed up....hmm...."

"Exactly oh Claw", interjected a youthfull Cavolon Officer,"with the added weight of the Northern forces shifted to the Southern flank, we'll be able to break the barbarian lines, and free the globe from barbarism and ignorance!"

"Are our agents out of the target City?", Zang asked.

A small non-descript Lokai in average-looking clothing with a normal-looking shell nodded. "Our agents withdrew this morning."

"Send the Shaps, and pray that Allmighty-Glurg guides their path." Zang commanded, nervously smoothing its head-tentacles.

A signal was given, and orders relayed, and the Shaps were aloft. 70 unknowing messengers of Glurg's wrath flapped into the night to hopefully be delivered hours later as flame upon the barbarian Northern Army's source of supply.

(Click here to go to Chaper Two)