It was bound to happen. Between the unquenchable intensity with which the Japanese whaling fleet had been pursuing the Pacific Greybacks, and the quixotic endeavor to protect the endangered species driving Greenpeace, emotions were rampant, and an escalation to pointed violence was inevitable.

Due to the general upsurge in vigilantism throughout the country, it was of no general surprise that the RAINBOW WARRIOR VI became a true warrior through the addition of armament. Crew members were issued sidearms, and the ship was fitted with twin, five inch guns. Armor was added to the bridge and upper decks, the radar was beefed up and a computer controlled fire base system was installed.

The day the newly armed WARRIOR sailed from San Diego harbor, there were thousands lining the jetties to see her on her way. She was bound for Maui, where the last known pod of Pacific Greyback Whales was currently spending the winter. The whales, the only twenty in existence, were protected by virtue of being inside the state waters of Hawaii, but the Japanese whaling fleet were waiting outside a self-imposed two hundred mile limit. Just waiting, knowing that the whales would eventually head north, directly toward the fleet. Like lambs leading themselves to slaughter. Except Greenpeace had armed the RAINBOW WARRIOR VI to protect the whales.

No sooner had the WARRIOR appeared on the scene, then the whales began their migration north. Some on the WARRIOR swore that the whales sensed their protective presence and knew they would be safe from the killer fleet in waiting. Others, more observant of the weather, and the calendar, knew it was more man-induced than whale. Despite the origin, the end result was the RAINBOW WARRIOR VI and a couple of support runabouts steaming over the horizon, barely twelve miles behind the pod. Chase boats, following until the WARRIOR strung out her hydrophones, listening and recording as the whales sang, reported to the press that the mood of the protective fleet was high and optimism prevailed.

Therefore it was unexpected that the fleet return, two days later, in silence. It didn't take long for the story to get out. It seemed that the Greenpeace fleet intercepted the first of the Japanese whalers as it made a kill, and took three shots from the RAINBOW WARRIOR VI to sink. It was a bizarre sight, the whaler, listing toward sinking, alongside the dead Greyback, barely floating on the surface. As the Japanese fleet approached, the WARRIOR challenged them, and moved into an intercept position. When the Japanese fleet charged toward the whale pod, the Greenpeace vessel opened fire.

During the following thirty-five minutes, the entire Japanese fleet was sunk, with no survivors. Only about half the Japanese vessels were sunk by Greenpeace. The other half were sunk by the whales. According to the Greenpeace scientists, the whales became confused during the destruction, and began ramming the Japanese whaling boats. Survivors in the water were either subject to the entire weight of a whale driving them deep into the water, or were simply bitten in half.

The problem, complained Greenpeace, was the confused state of the whales. Spokesman for the organization stated publicly that the whales went crazy and beat themselves to death against the sides of the steel hulled whaling boats. Trying to save the whales from extinction, the opposite occurred. The entire remaining group of Pacific Greybacks died in the naval engagement.

The Japanese government announced the loss of an entire whaling fleet in a freak, out of season Typhoon. Greenpeace announced the loss of all the Pacific Greybacks. The entire world mourned the loss of a whaling fleet, and the passing of a species, then went back to work, or school, or dancing, or whatever.

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