* * *

      Crumbicus sat on a plush purple beanbag and growled to himself. He pawed a button, and the chair he sat in turned cold to facilitate rational thinking. This whole situation had quickly spiraled out of control. He had expected to find fully trained Bearhodian squadrons imprisoned on earth, waiting to be released. Instead, he was forced to waste his armaments on these incompetent locals. What had happened? What could have caused such a proud race of bears to become blithering, honey-craving morons? The question, he knew, was of little relevance. All he needed to do now was convince earth’s leader that he was a force to be reckoned with.
      “Admiral Crumbles!”  A young, brown bear interrupted Crumbicus’ reverie.
      “What is it now?” Crumbles almost roared, warming his chair to calm his nerves.
      “A human woman escaped the tent. One of our new recruits apprehended her.”
      “What do you want with me, then?”
      “The guard who caught her is here. We thought you would want to speak to her.”
      “Bring her in then.”
      The docile guard was marched into the room, a few candy threads still clinging to her black fur. She kept her head bowed in deference as she approached Crumbles, and knelt before him. “Hello admiral,” she said in impossibly perfect Bearhodian, “ I am delighted to be of service to the empire.”

Zounds! Cliffhangers abound! What will Admiral Crumbles do to show Earth he means business? What exactly is Sellica up to? Will Kevin, Ted, and Dale hit that truck? The suspense is enough to fell a bull elephant or awaken the Kraken! Join us next week and feast your hungry eyeballs on more succulent EMERALD CYCLE PROPHECY.