The Cartwright's preparation of the tournament

Deep in the classic American West, the animals live out their normal lives, grazing & such. 2 men on horsemen watches a lone wild Chasmosaurus grazing alone, "Hmm, seems he's alone don't you think?" asks the owner, who is named Ben Cartwright. "Yeah, I beleive so, pa." says the man next to him, who is Ben's oldest son, Adam. They both look on as Adam soon spots a familiar wild dinosaur, a Daspletosaurus, unlike the usual coyote's & bears, there's also theropods here, mostly Daspletosaurus. "Look pa." Adam says as Ben looks down, "Hm, Daspleto. We'd better keep our distance." Ben says as they prepare to witness a hunt before they return to their home to prepare for a long train ride to NYC for the JFC tournament.

"When Calls the Baron...."

The American West- home to many wild adventures & stories. The Ponderosa was no exception. Here a wide variety of American West dinosaurs roamed freely. Where the cycle of predator & prey continues. Here in the west, visitors & strangers are often a rare sight. But not as rare or different as what is about to head toward the Ponderosa today! Something completely alien is heading towards the direction of the western territories. In the vast blue skies, something vastly approaches. From a distance, it seemed to have looked like a massive bird or an eagle. But kept growing more & more! Bigger & bigger until it was far too big to be any known bird! The sound it was making was nothing the likes of any bird or animal had ever made! Such a noise was loud, even in the air, echoing for at least a mile. They were engines. Belonging to a large, high tech shuttle, capable of flying at high speeds. It's origin remained a mystery. As did the question of who's jet it was. It soon came into view by the locals as it soared over head.
Upon the side of this mysterious craft was a logo. A rather large one at that. Both on the tail of the shuttle & on the metal hall. Coated with a blood red in color. But one good glance at it & one could just picture & realize that what had come was not a very good sign! For it was the very same signiture logo imprinted on the shuttle flown by Strucker back in the arena in New York. Recognizable by a single skull surrounded by long tentacles........The mark of HYDRA!

The Chasmosaur continues to graze, as it turns it's head, it sees the Daspletosaurus walking out, looking at it, growling. It grunts & turns & sees a suprise, 2 more Daspletosaurs, a pack. elizing these were youngsters, the Chasmosaur flees & runs & the Daspletosaurs give chase with 2 more following, the adults. In these deadlly gangs of any type of tyrannosaur, youngsters provide the speed, adults the power. It's a hunting strategy they use to deadlly effect. One youngster runs up & bites the frill of the Chasmosaur, which quicklly turns to face his enemies, shaking its head at them. Another youngster tries to bite it on the side, but it was smacked by the horn of the ceratopsian, scratching its face barely, then flees again. But the youngsters are once again right on his tail, gaining up on it. Soon, the 3rd youngster rams its body on the side of the Chasmosaur, hoping to knock it over, then bites on the side of the herbivore, pinning it down. Soon, the others join to work together to pin down & kill the herbivore & the feast begins. Ben & Adam see this, "Man, what a hunt." Ben says. Adam looks up & sees the jet flying by, "Pa, look." he says, pointing at the jet. Ben looks on, "What on earth?" Ben says. The Daspletosaur pack sees the jet & roars at it before returning to their meal.

The massive shuttle was massive. Nearly 60 feet in full wing span, it cast a large shadow over the land below & over the dinosaurs who looked upon the massive vessel. Soon, it remained still. Hovering above the land with it's engines roaring. Then it slowly began to make it's descent to the prairie grounds below it with a sudden thud. From there the shuttle remained absolutely motionless. It did merely nothing nor made any sudden movements. Inside this strange & large vessel, a battalion of troops readied themselves to exit the vessel & out into the opening. Troops in which, like the ship, bared the mark of HYDRA upon their uniform! But that wasnt all. No, it was far from all.....There, in the shuttle & on the master chair sat a mysterious & forbidden individual. Who's very presence was enough to make the spines of other men shiver & quake in his presence. A man who also bared the mark of HYDRA upon his own uniform. Though his own outfit was different. Signifying something else other then the organization. Upon his head, a large mask covered his entire face & his head. Any sign of emotion was nearly impossible to see other then a set of menacing & lidless eyes. That gazed upon the screens & monitors before him intensively. The folks around these parts had no idea what kind of trouble they had just now gotten themselves into. For the moment nothing was done. The dark & mysterious figure merely sat before the screens with such a sinister gaze. Cold, forbidding & relentless.

The pack of Daspletosaurus saw the shuttle land nearby & sense that it was danger. Instinctivlly, they roar at the shuttle, protecting their territory & their newly killed carcass.
Ben & Adam watch on, sattling back on their horses & ready to ride down to where the shuttle had landed, not knowing what is was & who it belonged to.

The shadowy man remained seated upon the high chair of the shuttle. Almost like a massive thrown of a king of great nobility! A soldier soon began his approach near the man himself with an immediately halt & salute!
"Heir Baron." he said. "We have just finished quick scanning of the entire area. So far the only anumals around here are western live stock & a few species of American Dinosaurs. Sir, if I may, I recommend we delay-" he began to say when he was immediately interrupted by the shadowy man! "No!......There will be no delay. Proceed as planned." he demanded with a sinister tone in his voice!
"Y-Y-Yes sir." the soldier then replied, preparing himself & his men for exiting the shuttle.

Ben & Adam look on, but they come up with a plan, "Adam, let's go get Hoss & Little Joe. We'll need the back up needed. Whatever this is, it looks dangerous." Ben says. "Yeah, I agree pa." Adam says as they turn their horses & begin to ride back to their home just 3 miles from where they're at.

The area & the land where the shuttle had landed began to grow quiet. Too quiet. The peace had been disturbed & the animals dared not venture closer. Soon enough like a classic sci-fi movie, the shuttle's bridge began to open with steam exhaust emitting from the circuitry. Much like a Star Wars scene. The bridge opened slowly, before finally making contact with the ground below with a metal thud. The air once more grew silent when the sound of marching feet suddenly thundered across the area!

Soon enough, Ben & Adam reach back to their ranch as they desattle their horses & head inside of their log house where Ben's other 2 sons, Hoss & Little Joe, are at. They both go in & see them doing house work. "Oh, hey pa. Just doing housework." Hoss says. "Listen, you 2 sattle up & follow me & Adam." Ben said. "Why, what's wrong?" Little Joe asked in a confused voice. O.o "There's a strange flying object landing on a large field." Ben explained. Hoss & Little Joe hear this & gear up & sattle their horses & all 4 Cartwrights ride down to the site of the HYDRA jet at.

The thunderous sound of marching feet soon echoed across the area. The Battalion of troops marched out from the shuttle & onto the land before them. Each step was taken in complete unison. One after another with a thunderous sound. Such a sound began to echo across the area, causing nearby dinosaurs to move away with slight fear. Such a sound was so alien they did not know what to think of it. Before long the troops then began to form two lines near the bridge of the shuttle. To form a path way for one final person....Their commander.

About that time, the Cartwrights appear over the hill & stay there, "See? What do you make of it?" Adam asked.
Hoss just looked on with a wide eyed expresion, not sure what to make of all this, "What in tarnation IS that?"

Inside the massive ship, a dark figure soon stood out. A tall shadowy & sinister looking man. The same sinister figure that was inside on the master chair before. Slowly this man made his way out, walking along on the ship's bridge with the cladding of his military boots. While his dark leather coat flowed in the slight breeze behind him. The very sight of the man & the troops soon threw their arms up in salute! "HAIL HYDRA!!" They all roared & shouted in unison! The sinister man kept walking along without a glance to anyone or a salute back. He kept his hands behind his back in the classic villain pose, with no means to trifle with his minions. For he had his eyes set on a much bigger goal as he saw the dinosaurs in their vast numbers before him. This man, this sinister man, was one of great reputation. The very mention of his name spread fear & made lesser men tremble before him! A high ranking commander of HYDRA & latest to be crowned in a long & ancient blood line in which he was a part & the crown ontop of his head further proved it.

For this.......Is Baron Heinrich Zemo!

The Cartwrights looked on at the strange, suspicous man that exited the craft. "Is it an alien, pa?" Little Joe asked.
"No, this is human. Someone I may have read about before, but I can't think of his name." Ben says as he looked on with his 3 sons as Baron Zemo stepped out.

Zemo soon paused before the battalion of troops. He kept his hands & arms behind his back in a classic villain pose. Looking out into the vast field before him. There he saw several species of dinosaurs roaming freely in the field amongst other dinosaurs. Consisting of cerotopsians & hadrosaurs. Even species such as tyrannosaurs as well. A land rich with dinosaurs would serve his purpose & his intentions well. "Prepare for the operation." he said coldly under his mask to a nearby guard. Who gave full repspect & attention to Zemo with a salute! "Yes Heri Zemo!" the guard replied as the men soon prepared for their "operation."

The Cartwrights continues to look on at Zemo & his troops. They think of riding down to where they are & find out why they're here.

The troops began to enter another entrance of the shuttle. Leading to the large storage area inside as they prepared for the operation at hand. Zemo meanwhile stood precisely where he was. His gaze fixed upon the fast number of dinosaurs in the field before him & not averting his eyes from them for a second. Zemo had come with big plans on his hands & there was no doubt it had to involve the dinosaurs here.

Ben & his sons look on as they see Zemo's troops prepare for something, "C'mon." he says as he & the sons begin to ride their horses down to the ares where Zemo is, wich'll take a couple of minutes to get down there..

Seconds pass & the other troops begin to assemble strange equipment taken from the shuttle. Such tech is infact technology that Baron Zemo has designed himself! As he is among one of the greatest minds of mankind! Rivaled only by a few others. The men begin taking stranger parts out of the storage area of the ship & begin construction for their operation. But soon, another soldier approached Zemo immediately with a pause & salute.
"Heir Zemo!" he said, remaining silent as Zemo kept his back to the lesser man.
"You may speak." he replied.
"Our scanners show movement outside the area. 500 yards or so & approaching."
"Movement?"
"Yes sir. 4 unidentified sources."
"See to it that they are identified & taken care of."
"Yes, Heir Zemo!" the guard finally said before turning away.

The Cartwrights continued to ride down the hill slopes. Ben can tolerate visitors, but he can tell by just looking at the troops & Zemo that they are tresspassers.The sound of 4 horses stampeding dien the hill as they still head for them.

The troops continued working on constructing the strange devices. While preparing & arming what appeared to be high tech weapons & firearms! Until suddenly the sound of galloping horses can be heard! As one soldier turned his head, he could see a cloud of dust in the air & 4 figures approaching fast! He turned to Zemo to warn him immediately!
"Heir Zemo! Incoming!" he said, pointing to where the cloud of dust was. Zemo turned to see this himself & merely looked on with menacing gaze. Wondering who would dare interfere with his operation!

The Cartwrights ride closer & closer to Zemo & his troops. Soon they get out their pistols & shoot in the air, making them think their shooting at them!

"Were being engaged!" One solder soon shouted!
"Prepare to return fire!" another shouted! The sound of the gun shots immediately set them off into their defensive protocols! They soon armed themselves with their own set of weapons. Some of which were to be used for the operation! They wait until the right moment, until they can see who or what is presumably shooting at them! But soon the horses themselves come into view. As do the men mounted on them- The Cartwrights!

Soon enough, the Cartwrights stop firing as they all stop in front of Zemo & his troops, "Hold it! Just what do you think you're gonna do? You steal from the Ponderosa & you answer to Ben Cartwright." Ben says as he had his gun pointed in the classic Western pose, looking on at Zemo & his troops.

"Lay down the weapon or we will shoot! In the name of HYDRA!" A commanding officer soon stated as he & the other troops soon aimed their own weapons at the Cartwright's! Outnumbering them 12/4! But suddenly, without even raising his voice, Zemo soon went into action & raised a simple but demanding hand up! Ordering them all to stand down! The soldiers then obeyed without question or word & standing down. "Lower your weapons......I will deal with this myself." Zemo soon replied as he stepped forward himself! His black leather uniform flowing behind him at his feet & stepping before the Cartwright's themselves, looking upon them with an emotionless expression & lidless eyes from the mask he wore.
"You shouldnt rouse my men up in such a manner......They can be antsy at times. Or as your folk here in the west so call it, Trigger Happy." he then said to them.

"I have no idea what you're wanting with the dinosaurs of the Ponderosa, but whatever it is, you will not take them." Ben says as he doesn't care if he & his boys are outnumbered as they've fought Indian squads that outnumbered them before & scared them off, this was no different here.