As expected, the news raised a fuss as it reached the dinosaurs. When Rambo and his partner returned to the lake that evening, the debate broke out.

The dinosaurs had gathered around Sobek and were arguing heatedly while waiting for their pack leader to decide what to do. The spinosaurus for his part remained calm and sought a solution to that problem.

"We must attack now!" Carnopo roared. "Before they attack us!"

"It's right! If humans invade the forest up to here then we will lose acres of land!" Buck gave him support. Many dinosaurs gave their assent.

But Old Li was of another opinion. "We're not ready" he pointed out. "We don't have the numbers to defeat the entire human army. We are still a long way from that goal"

Sobek knew that Old Li wasn't wrong. Currently following him were more than 200,000 dinosaurs which amounted to at least an army of two million humans. With such an army he could have fought on an equal footing with two human superpowers. But Eden had five superpowers, not counting countless smaller nations.

"And so? Our army is more than enough to wipe out that city and reclaim land as far as the mountains! There we can establish a second line of defense that will buy us time" Buck replied, who obviously was thinking in terms of ground troops.

Unfortunately, this was not the case. "Humans not only have armies, they also have ships that sail the oceans and planes that travel in the sky" Al pointed out.

"Not to mention the bombs they will throw at us. Or the fact that many of us still don't quite know how to fight and use weapons. Or thousands of other factors that would penalize us" Old Li continued. "We are not ready for an open war!"

"So what should we do? Withdraw and wait while we lose even more forest? Humans now know about us. Even if they won't say anything for the moment, there is no guarantee that they won't do it in the future. What if their governments found out about our existence?" Carnopo objected. "They will take countermeasures against us and we will face a much more bloody war! This is our only chance to surprise attack!"

"Carnopo is right!"

"No, we have to wait!"

"I say to fight!"

The dinosaurs roared and bellowed louder and louder. The noise was such that they could have deafened a person. Finally Sobek blurted out: "SILENCE!"

Suddenly everyone fell silent. No one dared to breathe while they waited for the response of their pack leader. "What Old Li says is true" Sobek said. "We are not ready for an open war"

Many dinosaurs muttered in dissent: it was clear that they expected a different response. But Sobek surprised them. "However, Carnopo is also right: we cannot withdraw. If we did that we would not only lose acres of forest, but humans would discover the fortifications we have erected and discover of our existence. In light of the facts it is better, as Carnopo argues, to carry out a preemptive attack and save what can be saved"

Most of the dinosaurs were satisfied: that was the answer they wanted. But Old Li was not of the same opinion. "Pack leader, with all due respect, we cannot win this war with our current resources"

"No, we cannot. But our current resources are more than enough to buy us time" Sobek replied. "What we need to do is keep humans in check until our numbers become enough to support a full-scale war. For this, I have a plan. Apache!"

The quetzalcoatlus came close to that call. "Yes, pack leader?"

"Form a team of pterosaurs who carry supplies to all who are coming to join us. Travel from one part of the continent to the other and supply our companions every day, so that they don't even have to stop to hunt, and tell them to speed up their march to the maximum possible" Sobek ordered. "Make sure they understand the urgency of the situation. The sooner they arrive, the better for everyone"

Then Sobek turned to the other dinosaurs. "I and the six legions already formed will be enough for what I have in mind. We will gain enough time to increase our ranks sufficiently. As for everyone else, you will stay here and I want you to intensify your training. I will need capable warriors as soon as possible"

Sobek didn't want humans to find out how many soldiers his real army counted. Better therefore to bring into battle only what little he was already trained. Sobek didn't want to uncover all of his cards right away. After all, the key to winning wars easily is to surprise the enemy.

"My soldiers are ready for battle at any time" Buck announced, obviously ready for action. His legion members roared to support their leader.

"I am pleased, because soon we will have to fight a battle". Sobek stood up. "Rest everyone! Tomorrow the six legions and I will march all day and reach the edge of the forest, and during the night we will act. The days ahead will be red the color of blood, but if everything goes as planned it will be human blood, not ours"

The dinosaurs roared in triumph at that statement.

Slowly the clearing emptied as all the dinosaurs and pterosaurs went to their beds to sleep. However, it was not yet time for Sobek to rest. "Al, bring me Blue. Immediately" he ordered.

As the allosaurus walked away Old Li stepped forward. "Pack leader, may I know what you have in mind?". Carnopo and Buck were also eager to know.

Sobek rubbed his muzzle wearily. "We will have to participate in a delicate game of power. In the coming days, battles, strategies and, above all, negotiations await us. If my plan works, then we should be able to earn a few more months, maybe even a year"

"By that point most of the continent's dinosaurs will have already arrived" Buck murmured making a quick calculation.

Old Li didn't seem convinced. "Are you sure of this decision, pack leader? Humans will come to know about us. If something goes wrong, we'll be in big trouble"

'Yeah, I know. Mine is a gamble, but this is the only way' Sobek thought. 'Three months is not enough time to build a truly unbeatable army. I need more time, and also more resources. If this plan goes well, I'll buy as much time as I need. Not only that, but with the bonus money I earn, I'll be able to create many more weapons and armor. A large army isn't enough if it isn't well equipped, after all. And also, as humans will learn about intelligent dinosaurs, I will get enough fame points to evolve further and unlock new skills and also the [AA System]. Of course, guaranteeing a year of respite is still a risk ... humans will surely use that time to improve their arsenal ... but I doubt that in a single year they will be able to build an atomic bomb. Even if I'm taking a leap in the dark, the odds of winning are in my favor'

"If it doesn't go well we will fall back and play on the defensive for a while. We prepared ourselves for a possible siege" Sobek explained to reassure Old Li. "With the countermeasures we have taken we will be able to resist for a long time even against all human armies united together. But in my opinion this situation is very unlikely. If I were the humans, after I'll see what we are about to do, I'll wait to gain more information before attack"

"I understand. You want to do something incredible, so that they think they can't face us now" Old Li said. "A demonstration of force?"

"Some sort of it, but also something else. You'll see" Sobek responded. "However, we will act with the utmost caution. Rambo!"

"Yes, pack leader?" the rhamphorhynchus asked, happy to be spoken to for the first time since he had brought the news.

"I have a task for you. You'll have to fly beyond the sea"

"B... Beyond the sea?"

"Yes. I know that your wings are too little to permit you to make this trip across the ocean, so you'll have to fly in the north emisphere of the continent and then cross the little stretch of sea between this land and the human continents. There you'll have to find a bird. You'll have to tell him 'dinosaurs together strong'. This phrase will confirm to him that you came under my order"

"Ok... and what I'll have to do then?"

"After that, the birds af all the human continents will be under your orders. You'll have to do the same thing you did here: spy. I want to know every single movement of the humans, every decision, every word, every idea. Use every means necessary, including [Ambush] and other abilities. You'll have to send me one of your subordinates periodically to give me all the informations you acquired. Understood?"

Sobek knew that, during those months, birds and also many dinosaurs and pterosaurs on the other two human continents had joined the herd, since he could see it thanks to the [Contract]. It was time then to start his own intelligence agency. Using [Ambush] and being very small and fast, the birds were the perfect spies. Larger birds, by contrast, would have made excellent couriers. That communication system was somewhat inefficient, but Sobek had nothing better at the moment; he hoped that after his next evolution the [Contract]'s mind-sharing ability had improved even more allowing him to communicate like a radio.

He wasn't exactly sure Rambo was the right one to lead an intelligence agency, but at the moment he had nothing better, so he might as well cross his fingers and hope he turned out to be suitable for the job.

The rhamphorhynchus flapped its wings happily. "I understood everything! I will leave immediately!" he exclaimed. Sobek snorted: at least he had become able to understand the instructions...

"Good, then leave immediately" he ordered, while he rummaged through his things at the foot of his bed, among which there were mainly jars full of tincture. "Your contribution will be very important, so put your effort into it. Oh, here you are, Blue" he said seeing Al return accompanied by the velociraptor.

"Have you called me, pack leader?" she asked.

"Yes. I have a role to entrust to you. You have proved your intelligence and ability several times: you have cut the stakes for the walls and you have created the tincture from the fruits of the earth. You are arguably the smartest dinosaur here". Sobek walked over and dipped a claw into one of the jars, pulling out the silver dye. "From this moment I bestow the title of 'scientist' on you. Your intellect will increase dramatically and allow you to understand otherwise complex problems. Know that you will be essential for the success of my plan"

As he bestowed the title, Sobek drew a silver moon on Blue's forehead. He would have preferred to wait longer to evaluate the various dinosaurs more, but he couldn't wait any longer. To carry out his plan he needed a hacker, and only a dinosaur with the title of 'scientist', which increased the intellect by 600%, could provide such abilities. Fortunately Blue, like Apache, had become loyal to Sobek after his speech announcing his open hostility against humans, so he could bestow her a title.

When he finished, Blue's eyes were suddenly wide open. Sobek almost thought he saw new neural connections forming in her head.

Without giving the troodon time to say anything, he pulled one of his cell phones from the [Inventory]. "Take this" he ordered throwing it at her. "You have to learn everything about it. You have to understand how it works and from there you have to become an expert in its functions. It's your mission"

He expected Blue to ask him at least how to turn on the phone, but the velociraptor in a few moments had understood how to do it and was already browsing through the applications and learning to use Google. "I won't disappoint you!" she assured him. Sobek decided to believe her.

"Good. Go now. Take a rest you too. Tomorrow you will have to be at your best" the spinosaurus ordered to Buck, Carnopo, Al and Old Li. All four withdrew without object: they could understand for themselves how difficult the challenge that awaited them would be.

Sobek rested his head on the ground, letting out a tired huff. "So, it's time to start. Because from now, we are at war"

************

Abe had kept his word and had gone to Malcolm's house that same evening. Ellie, Malcolm and Alexander had greeted him with all the courtesy they could, but behind their smiles Abe could read the urge to know what was happening. As they sat down at the table, Abe didn't hide anything and explained everything he knew about the Mother Cell to them, obviously omitting the fact that Jocelyne Jersey was his instigator.

When he finished, the three were shocked. "So... are you telling us that some kind of virus is infecting the dinosaurs and making them intelligent?" Ellie exclaimed.

"It's not a virus. It's more... a mutation, or something like that. It doesn't matter anyway" Abe replied. "I and... those who sent me suspected that it was happening, but we had no certain proof. Now, however, it is impossible to deny the reality"

Malcolm rubbed his temples. "Dinosaurs that became intelligent, crazed cells that infect living organisms, a sort of superpredator in charge of everything... do you at least know who did all this?"

"No. Obviously it is impossible that it is a natural event, but we have no clues as to who could be the cause"

It just wasn't true. Abe knew that the Reiden Global was probably behind it all, but it was best not to reveal that information for now.

"So... who exactly are you?" Alexander asked curiously. "A secret agent? Some sort of 007?"

"I can't reveal my identity. Sorry" Abe replied dryly.

Incredibly, Alexander seemed more satisfied than disappointed. Abe heard him whisper softly: "Just like what a secret agent would say...!"

"So, Abe..." Malcolm muttered. "What do you advise us to do?"

Abe sighed. "Honestly, I have no idea. This is not a situation that training can prepare you for. My personal advice would be to pack up and get out of here before the situation gets worse"

"So the situation will get worse"

"I don't know, I told you"

"But you take it for granted that it will happen"

Abe remained silent, knowing that contradicting him would be a lie.

Ellie shook Malcolm's hand. "Dear..."

"Tomorrow I'll talk to Dreyfus" the man interrupted her. "I'll ask him to give me a few months of holiday. For the moment it's better to get away from here"

"I confess I approve of your decision" said Abe.

"What about all the other people who are here?" Ellie asked rightly. "If they are in danger we must..."

"We all know that no one will ever believe that talking dinosaurs exist" Malcolm said. "We will think about what to do when we are safe. For the moment the priority is to get as far away from the colony as possible".

Abe couldn't blame Malcolm for his decision.