~ It was officially after dark; with clear skies and those beautiful stars which shined brightly about that beautiful sky. Just the way the lord intended it to be. A small forest was the location of the latest trial set forth by Gregory AeroStar; who was currently sitting down on a large tree stump with his legs crossed and his eyes closed. He was currently wearing a white night shirt and white 'pj'-like pants. He must've gone outside for a walk; or prehaps was in fact sleepwalking considering that Gregory was not known to go out for walks after dark (read: His mother forbids it because of those chilly evenings at Wesdon in the fall and winter seasons) let alone walk in his nightwear. The forest around him was thick with those needle-green evergreens; the kind of trees that rarely change color or lose their leaves unless they are suffering from eternal sickness. It was without a doubt a very quiet night for a stroll or a time for reflection......Until someone shouts out.....

"Gregory........" a familiar voice beckons out; but Gregory didn't respond; "Gregory" still no response; he must have been sleeping so the voice decided to shout out its message;"........Gregory!"

Gregory AeroStar opened his eyes and couldn't believe his own two furry ears. He could only speak one word; "Daddy?!"

"Gregory......" Maxim's voice commands in a gentle tone; "come closer....." As the words completed its echo Gregory uncrosses his legs; stands up straight like his father always wanted him to be and starts walking forward. He looked around but noticed that he could find anyone let alone Maxim.

"Daddy?" Gregory called out looking quite a bit frightened; after all Gregory considered Maxim to be dead by now; "I can't see you. I can hear you however."

"Gregory....keep going...." Maxim's voice beckons out once again; more stronger than before; "my son.....you're nearing me now......" Gregory walks around until he is now clear from the small; thick forest. However; something was going to be seem and become far too familiar to him. The walk ends when Gregory AeroStar sees a familiar cliff over the horizon; the same one in which he had Maxim AeroStar's very own memorial service (read: Still trying to flush that memory out but it keeps coming back.). However; there was one noticable difference: Near the edge of the cliff was a small granite statue (read: tombstone) which has a cross on top of the rock and has a compass carved right out of it. Inside the center of the engraving of the compass was a message which read as follows:

"A victim of injustice?" Gregory said in total shock. It didn't make sense...According to the reports Maxim's plane crash was as a result of engine failure. That's wasn't injustice; that was either bad luck or sloppy fixing by Oniz Mecha or whoever looked after Maxim's plane. Before Gregory could say another word; a sudden bright white light flashes so brightly that it knocks Gregory backwards to his seat. Appearing in front of the statue was the fainted ghost-like image of a medium Sienna-brown bear wearing a green sweater, green pants and a vanilla-white scarf. Gregory stared directly at the fainted image looking almost stunned. ~That's my Daddy?! How could this be?! Why has he come back in this image?! Is this an act of the lord?!~ he thought as those theories raced through his head faster than Oniz can fix airplanes.

"My son......" Maxim's Image began looking directly at his son for the first time since that moment almost two years ago."The answers lie in one man; one being with a gulity conscience. I don't know who it is; however I ask on behalf of the lord of two things.......one is to seek out the truth and find out who's responsible......" by the sound of Maxim's words it seemed to imply that Maxim was murdered instead of killed by engine failure; "and two; when or if you find the persons responsible for my death; I want you not to pursue justice."

"Not to presue justice?" Gregory said thinking that maybe it was engine failure and he should punish Oniz but it sounded like Maxim wanted him to forgive her which wasn't an easy task considering the events that have taken place; "I don't understand....."

"Soon you will discover why I tried to change the minds of people....." Maxim said as his already fainted ghost-like image starts to fade even more and he rises up almost like he was actually floating; "I may not have suceeded; however, when furries lives are at stake; sometimes you have to put your beliefs and your differences aside and work with government to stop this war and regain peace in this world....." Gregory was strangely stunned. After all those years of standing up for your beliefs and helping people; he now says that it might actually be dangerous. Nothing was making sense for Gregory now; not even from his father; "Thank you for listening....my son...." Maxim ended with the words that all boys yearn to hear and must be heard for the purpose of loving spiritual beings; "I love you....."

"Daddy?!" Gregory said loudly with a tear down his cheek; "I love you too!" The image of Maxim disappears in another flash of very bright white light which completely knocks Gregory off his feet and back to the point. ~

December 11th, 1917

Gregory opens his eyes and discovers that he is once again in his bedroom awakening to yet another strange dream. Gregory's bedroom was fairly big with a medium size desk beside the bed containing many airplane models all about the room which he and his father created together over the years. The walnut-colored chester drawers on the other side of the room contained his clean clothes (he cleans the clothes in the family). On top of the drawers were several book which included his diary. His diary was crimson-red in color; soft cover and contained a brass-covered lock to protect his privacy from peeping eyes. On the bottom is a crimson-red (read: Most holy books were crimson-red in color) hard-cover copy of the Bible. Above the bed there was a painting of an overhead picture of the AeroAvis. Gregory decided to finally get out of bed and remakes the bed as if his father would order him to when he was still alive. He rubs his eyes to get rid of the baggyness; since he wasn't getting the sleep he needed considering that he spent most of the night reflecting on the fact that Commander Wesdon summoned him once again. He walks forwards and opens the door to the living room. The living room is shaped like a circular dome featuring a vaulted ceiling made of glass panel similar to Marion Garr's special suite that Gregory had dinner yesterday. To the right of Gregory AeroStar was the family room featuring a large oak radio stand; a crimson-red colored sofa and two crimson-red love seats (read: It looks like the same room that was shown in the dream sequence where Claris AeroStar passed away on Gregory.). On the top of the oak-colored radio stand there was a large AM radio. ~I'm back in the real world once again! For how long I wonder?~ he thought as he breathed a sigh of relief that it wasn't another dream sequence. To the left of Gregory; there is an open-door kitchen and dining room. Suddenly Gregory started to overhear a conversation by Phillip and Sally AeroStar who were present in the dining room. The dining room was a dome-like room; a very simple; clean; wooden room featuring a golden marble table with a blue vase of white roses. Sally AeroStar was sitting cross-legged in a walnut-colored chair looking at one of the white rose; which made Gregory wonder why he bought those excess roses (Read: White Roses were very cheap in those days.) and realizing that Sally wanted those roses for her florial studies. This was the ultimate symptom of the death of Claris and Maxim. Sally was no longer wearing her dress which she wore at the memorial service for Maxim and instead was wearing white overalls and a blue shirt. As for Phillip he was looking considerably better than Sally; however, instead of wearing his suit; he was wearing a white shirt with a pocket protector and brown pants and he was sitting down on a walnut-colored chair; not cross-legged and was eating whole grain cereal with soy milk (read: Gregory forbids animal milk because of Claris' death.) and strawberries on top of the cereal. Gregory decided not to disturb them and returned to his room to get dressed. Everything was as normal as it should be. At least; Gregory thought it would be.....

"The wonders of a rose...." Sally said talking to no one expect directly at the white rose that she was holding; "You know Phillip; a rose is like a furry in many respects..."

"It's official...." Phillip said as she picks up the rose; "your head has lost it."

"....It flowers like a child; blooms into a full grown furry." Sally said completely entranced by the power of that rose in her hands; "It has the purity from the white petal and it can also have the thorns of scorn...."

"Sally; " Phillip said as he starts to take a spoonful of cereal; "there is a science behind being a florist."

Sally continues as Phillip calmly puts the cereal into his mouth and slowly starts to chew; ".....and the stem holds it all together. A stem so fragile that one slight break in the stem could seriously harm the rose beyond repair. Pulling its petals apart could affect the spirit of the the heart of the rose...." Sally stops to look up and realizes that Phillip was not even listening to her speech. He was putting yet another spoonful of cereal into his mouth; "Phillip? Are you listening?"

"Sally;" Phillip said firmly as he gulps the cereal down; "I'm not listening because I'm not interested in intellucal theorim which you seem to wax this to death." Sally couldn't believe what Phillip was saying. ~I'm depressed and you disrespect thee? I'll show ya ma power loverboy!~ she thought thinking about all the times where Phillip has been contstantly flirted by their mechanic Oniz Mecha; who was currently working in the Great War. Sally in one quick motion puts the white rose back in the vase and stands up firm to Phillip.

"So; you think that my feeling don't mean anything to you?" Sally said with a cross look in her depressed eyes and showing a few signs of ture emotion for the very first time in the week following the end of Maxim's life.

"That's right." Phillip said off-hand. That did it for Sally. Sally walks around and gets behind Phillip and puts a chinlock on Phillip causing him to drop his spoon;"Sally! What are you doing?"

"You can call this the 'Rub Thee Brain' theorim!" Sally said with a combination of laughing and pure anger as Sally did a famous noogie done by a mental expert in a famous book. Phillip begins to giggle and within minutes was laughing helplessly.

"Oh Sally!" Phillip laughed out loud dropping his spoon onto the table and giggling helplessly.

"Let's see now....." Sally chuckled as she pounded the kunckles deeper into the forehead gently; "The appex of the knuckles delivering natural energy to the forehead area. According to the theorim; it's enough to cause excessive giggling."

"Good theorim Sally; but enough horseplay...." Gregory said as he enters the dining room from the family room. Sally lets Phillip out of her chinlock allowing Phillip to resume eating his cereal. Gregory is currently wearing his trademark green sweater and green pants.

"Gregory; you are no fun anymore...." Sally exclaimed as she pouts over Gregory's somber mood.

"I'm sorry Sally." Gregory said admitting that he wasn't banning her fun with Phillip; "I'm just not in the mood to have fun."

"Gregory?" Sally asked feeling very concerned as Gregory looked clearly numb; "Are you okay?"

"Not really." Gregory responded numbly as he heads into the kitchen. Phillip knew exactly what Gregory was feeling; he had another bad dream."

"He's had those dreams again." Phillip said stating the clear path of real reasoning.

"Hush!" Sally shouted feeling very offended that Phillip would bother his already distraughted older brother. Gregory AeroStar re-enters the dining room with a tray of food. On the tray there is a bowl of whole-wheat cereal with soymilk and strawberries; a whole grapefruit and a slice of wholewheat toast. Also on the tray was a small spoon. Gregory places the tray down onto the table and sits down.

"Actually Phillip;" Gregory said feeling that saying something was of no consequence; " I did have the weridest dream yet to date."

"Gregory;" Sally said trying to change the subject on a less senitive issue; ".....isn't Tommy the paperboy supposed to be here?"

"That must be him now." Gregory said as someone was knocking on the kitchen door and that in turn forces Gregory gets down out of his chair; "Excuse me please." Gregory walks into the kitchen as Phillip looks red in the face; feeling very offended that Sally was intruding into his own business. Besides; Gregory sounded like he wanted to talk about this; a rare option for him.

"Sally!" Phillip said looking cross at Sally who had intruded into his business; "I wanted to hear about this dream Gregory had."

"Phillip!" Sally shouted angerly as she snaps back; "I don't think that it's anyone's business for you to talk about someone else's dreams."

"Well;" Phillip said seriously feeling that Sally was irrating him; "......you seem to believe that its your business to pound your 'Rub Thee Brain" theorim misleds into my head."

"In that case;" Sally said looking cross as she stands up and walks towards Phillip; "....prehaps another round of that theorim will make you see that you should stay away from Gregory's own problems." Sally once again puts the chinlock on Phillip and she puts her Rub-Thy-Brain noogie down on the forehead of Phillip once again. Phillip is laughing out loud once again.

"Hey; stop it!" Phillip said laughing out loud hoping that Gregory AeroStar does not hear him; which was a lost cause to say the least. He's squealing like a pig; not laughing like a bear.

"Let's go to the the dining room." Gregory's voice starts to be heard; "I'll pay you there." Sally quickly lets go of Phillip and sits down back to her seat somehow refraining from upsetting the table. Gregory AeroStar enters the kitchen with a brown kangeroo called Tommy Taylor entered close behind. Tommy Taylor was just ten years old and just over four feet in height and weighs under 80 pounds soaking wet. He was wearing a blue shirt and a Cape Suzette Red Sox hat which was worn to the side. His job was a simple one: delivering a paper; and he had a wicked sense of humor although at time he sounds hypocritical at times. His mother works as a freelancer while his father was serving in the war just like Maxim was. He also rides a bicycle and has had a dream that he will finally share with his 'friends' the AeroStars. I'm being very loose on the term 'friends'.

"Hello you clowns." Tommy said smirking. He had actually seen everything and Sally and Phillip never even noticed it.

Phillip didn't like the tone of voice Tommy was giving; "You certainly have a smart mouth don't ya?"

"I certainly do have a smart mouth." Tommy said smirking directly at Sally; "That is the case because I saw you acting like a bunch of clowns."

"Gregory?!" Sally complained at Gregory; however, Gregory would ignore the question and was getting tired of this. He wanted to say something.

"Okay; that's enough.." Gregory said having enough of this petty squealing; "..all three of you. Tommy; wait here while I get your proper payment. You can watch these clowns while you wait."

"GREGORY!" Sally and Phillip shouted at the same time as Gregory exits to the living room. Tommy sits down in Gregory's seat as Phillip and Sally AeroStar start to grumble; feeling like they were betrayed by their own siblings.

"You are a two-timer aren't ya?" Tommy said laughing; "Don't worry. I'll do my best!"

"Unbelievable!" Phillip said loudly and feeling like he was shafted by his own older brother.

"Don't even think about it...." Tommy said pointing at Sally's lame attempt to stand and try to give Tommy the Rub-Thy-Brain Therom. Sally once again sits down; not believing that a ten-year old boy was in total control of the situation. For Sally; seeing a ten-year old as the boss was totally wrong.....Time for the new plan to stick it to Tommy.

"So Tommy-boy!" Sally asked acting sarcastic on Tommy; "What are you going to do with your life?"

"Well; since you ask and you were asking..." Tommy said as his smart mouth continued to spew out sarcastic remarks; " ..somewhat nicely; I want to be an inventor."

"An inventor huh?" Phillip said snickering at the thought. ~Oh great; a 10-year old inventor! Just what the public needs!~

"Your point being?" Tommy asked looking very annoyed. The only good thing that Phillip did was stopping Tommy from sounding like a smart-kangeroo with a vulgar mouth.

"Well;" Phillip chuckled thinking about just what Tommy Taylor was going to invent in this conflict of interest; ".....just are you planning to invent?"

"A bicycle that can fly...." Tommy started to explain; but the idea caused Phillip AeroStar and Sally AeroStar to brust into fits of laughter; at the expense of Tommy's own ideas. Tommy felt let down ~It's not funny! It's a _common sense_ invention!~ he thought.

"Oh boy!" Sally chuckled as Sally and Phillip both laughed at the sight of it; "That is the most humorous thing I have ever heard of. Don't you think so Phillip..."

"Yeah; I don't see the benefit behind it." Phillip chuckled; beaming directly at the discouraged Tommy; "But it is certainly a novelty attempt at greatness."

"I think that it is a wonderful idea Tommy." Gregory said as he re-enters the dining room with a black-leather wallet.

"You really think so?" Tommy said with his eyes beaming at Gregory.

"Really?" Phillip and Sally said in complete shock. ~He's completely losing it....A plane with no oil?~ Phillip thought. ~That goes againest the old wisdom that's always right!~ Sally thought in unison.

"Yes; it turely is a wonderful idea." Gregory began looking directly at Phillip with a cross look and then Consider all the benefits it would have: Since a bicycle doesn't use oil as its fuel source and instead uses the fuel of a furry being to make it work. That would be a great way to lose some fat." Gregory said feeling that this is a great idea for Tommy to have some formal warning in creating such unknown products; " Now course, there are some issues that will have to be addressed."

"Issues?" Tommy asked looking concerned. Clearly Gregory found that Tommy wasn't ready to deal with the tough issues of creating a product that was completely new and unknown to the reeling public.

"Of course." Sally smirked off a nice bit of sarcastic smack on Tommy. She believed that this invention went againest conventional wisdom and wanted to show her mother adult that was in her.

"Like how this product can be used over long distances...." Phillip said smirking at what Phillip thought was a foolish invention; " After all even the most healthy of people cannot sustain long trips on a bicycle."

Sally then chimes in with her smack on Tommy Taylor; "...and like how you would protect people from the elements while flying with a bicycle." Tommy looked discouraged; he had a slight problem with people making fun in something that was clearly common sense to him.

"Tommy;" Gregory said ignoring the bizen comments that Sally and Phillip were pouring to a discouraged Tommy; "... these are questions that you have to ask and answer those very tough questions. Real inventors spend many years researching the concepts of theory, materials, conditions and so on. They will spend many years creating the product; adjusting and seasoning the product and finally it then must be demonstrated to be safe, effective and efficent. Yes; it is ture that is not an easy task; but no ever said that it was. It took my father Maxim nearly 20 years to convince Usland and Thembria to realize that Airabus' Archduke was abusing its power; and he had to learn how to fly a plane and to solve problems without fighting....." Gregory stopped in mid-term to realize just how little Maxim AeroStar was able to fix....Nothing has really changed...No one has really listened to the dangers that Maxim AeroStar was preaching when he wrote those editorials and now the real problems that Maxim feared were comimg ture in ways that even the diplomat could never imagine.

Tommy realized that there were people out there; there was a matter of digging around and finding him,"Thank you Gregory." he said proudly. Gregory nodded in agreement

"Oh! I should pay you right now...." Gregory said as he opens his wallet and fishes a dollar bill and hands it to Tommy.

"Umm... Gregory?" Tommy said feeling a bit uneasy of accepting one dollar when he didn't have exact change and couldn't make exact change; " The newspaper cost just 20 cents. I cannot make change right now."

"Tommy?" Gregory started to state his case to justify his actions, remembering that he failed to pay for his last four newspaper; "Remember that I haven't paid you for the past five days because I've been mourning the lost of my father."

"Are you sure?" Tommy asked feeling unsure that this was actually needed to be done; since Tommy had decided to pay all of Gregory's debts to the newspaper out of respect for the death of Gregory's father.

"Yes." Gregory said assuring Tommy on the importance of being honest; "Maxim would always do his civic duties to be fair and honest."

"Thank you Gregory....." Tommy said as he walks into the kitchen and exits through the kitchen door; "Oh; one more thing: Farris told me that he was coming over to the AeroAvis in about 20 minutes so you may expect someone knocking on the door anytime now."

"Your welcome Tommy. And thank you for that bit of news.." Gregory said as he suddenly turns to Sally and Phillip looking flush red with anger and frustration over the siblings actions towards Tommy; "...TOMMY IS JUST A KID!! CUT HIM SOME SLACK!!..." Gregory turns around and places his head againest the wall; tears coming down his cheeks; " He has dream just like us. Like everyone else!"

"Gregory? I'm sorry about laughing to Tommy." Phillip said coming to Gregory's aid; "It was just harmless fun; honest!"

"I'm not used to this." Gregory drizzles as he continued to rub his face againest the dining room wall ignoring anything his family said; "Adjusting to life after daddy."

"We shouldn't have taken advantage of poor Tommy." Sally admits feeling very foolish about their action to a 12 year old kangeroo; "His family is fairly poor right now."

"I shouldn't have yelled at you. I was only trying to give Tommy some hope." Gregory said as he formally removed his face from the wall feeling sorry about melting down in front of his peers; "Daddy loved the Taylors; working with them to help them get meaningful work. Its just sad that Tommy's without his dad now with this stupid war and all." This was just another exmaple of just how war was affecting everyone in the eastern area of Wesdon. With dad gone now; Tommy was really the father in the family and more importantly in a situation where Tommy was clearly not ready for it. So far; Tommy's dad was still alive and well.....but for how long? No one knows for sure and it was taking its toll; even if Tommy isn't feeling it himself.

"Gregory?" Phillip asked feeling worried; "It's about today isn't it?" Just as Phillip was finishing his line of questionning; another light knock is heard on the wooden kitchen door.

"Come on in please!" Gregory commanded. The door swinged open and in entered Farris Karnage whom which Tommy spoke of coming to the AeroAvis. Farris was dressing more towards him usual clothes as he is wearing a red-stripe white shirt, grey pants and black boots. However; the most noticable thing about Farris was that he looked very happy. That should be the last thing he should be at this time of need.

"Hello Greg!" Farris said smiling from ear to ear. Farris was really the only person Gregory knew that called him Greg; his nickname. Gregory didn't mind the nickname; but at these times this was starting to really annoy him.

"Hello Buddy!" Gregory said and then looks and points directly at him being as nice as he can; "Umm...could you step outside please for a moment? I'll talk to you out there..."

"Okay; Greg." Farris responds as he exits the AeroAvis through the same way he entered the AeroAvis: through the kitchen door.

Gregory then turned his attention to Sally and Phillip and gave them a non-repeatable message to them; "Now you two be on your best behaviour and remember that you two have flight school today."

"You're going to see Commander Wesdon?" Sally said as a tear runs down her cheek. Gregory to her was finally strarting to snap apart and she knew that the wounds of this affair would never heal again.

"Yes." Gregory said just one word; the word Sally did not want to hear. Just as quickly as he said that he walked into kitchen and exited through the kitchen door.

"Sally?" Phillip asked trying to calm down a weeping Sally AeroStar. But nothing has worked; Sally was fighting out of a spirtual chokehold and was losing air and the battle very quickly now.

"Gregory?! First Claris, then Maxim!" Sally wailed out of control; seeing the sad writing on the wall; "Please don't tell me we're losing Gregory now. WE'VE LOST THEM ALL!" As quickly as she said that; Sally AeroStar walks into the kitchen and quickly exits through the kitchen door.

"Sally; Wait!....." Phillip said cocerned as he walks into the kitchen and exits through the kitchen door in kind; "Wait! Sally Wait!" The breakdown of the AeroStar family was starting to get even worse now. Not even the splender of the AeroAvis property could ever hide the tears of a irreplacable family....Speaking of sights to behold.....

***

The AeroAvis House and Customer Building was a ture sight to behold; just like the black/white photograph hanging in Gregory AeroStar's room. The building is a wooden oak strutcture created in the 1890's ; a sort-of Art Deco style which made the varnish painted wooden oak structure look like it was ahead of its time; at least at the time it was built. It streches 30 feet long, 17.5 feet wide and 24 feet in height. It contains two floors and 25 windows each square in design and contained double-glazed tinted glass. (20 windows on the first floor, 5 windows on the second floor) The first floor streched from left side to right side in all directions; while the second floor was 20 feet long placed in the middle of the structure. the five feet left over had first-floor ceilings while the middle contained a vaulted ceiling which was the main piece in the over-sized hanger-like family room. The property is very large 500 feet long and 175 feet wide. The east side contains the medium customer building build out of the same wooden oak 1890's Art-Deco style and was 10 feet high, 25 feet wide and 15 feet long. The customer building also overlooks the natural treeline towards Mr. Ian Wiser's house. The west side has a number of large apple tree stands along with pear trees; both which were grown just a few weeks after the house and property were built during the 1890's. The West side overlooks the property of the Karnage family's house. The south side contain a slight grade hill loaded with grass and flowers lining the south line of property which overlooks the road. The expection is the relatively wide stone-graded road used for foot traffic and car traffic. Right next the south property line and the stone-laiden driveway is a medium side; spurce billboard containing serveral black-painted airplanes and a large bluejay . The black-painted letter on the bottom say: "AeroAvis Company- Private Shipping and Private Handling". The northern side to the left contained Oniz Mecha's workshop and in the middle of the the area was the large hanger and a medium landstrip for land planes and to the east of the area is a small lake for seaplanes. Exiting from the kitchen side of the AeroAvis house (read: the eastern side) which had a large wooden maple floor deck; looking more like a traditional vandera. Gregory AeroStar, Farris Karnage, Phillip AeroStar and Sally AeroStar all exit in single file and walked down towards the stone-laiden driveway. Farris was the only one who was clearly happy; Gregory was subdued, Phillip looked somewhat happy; however Sally AeroStar was clearly sad almost in tears in fact. Everything has gone wrong for her so far....Now; Gregory's firm words were starting to sink in; Sally was going to lose Gregory AeroStar and there was nothing that Gregory could do to change that. Nor is Farris' going to chear up the young AeroStar. This was going to be the longest walk yet in the family long history.

"How are you feeling Buddy?" Farris asked as he was walking towards the south side of theAeroAvis onto the stone-laiden road; right beside the very subdued Gregory AeroStar.

"Not very well I'm afraid." Gregory responded as he walked beside him looking directly as Farris.

"I don't understand." Farris said confused; he rarely saw Gregory have this much sufferage; "What happened?"

"I was doing business with Marion Garr...." Gregory began knowing that Farris was going to comment on it instantly; he was known for being detail-oriented. That was normal behaviour on Farris' part because Garland always told him that the devil (and the truth) is in the details.

"No kidding!! Marion Garr is my grandfather's idol!!" Farris said with bravado; giving praise to his grandfather's loves; "So how did it go?"

"It went smoothly." Gregory responded a bit subdued feeling that this was no big deal at all; "I got a 10-year cookbook deal from him."

"That's wonderful!" Farris said with bravado feeling very proud that Gregory was able to pull off a deal in these hard times.

"Until I got a phone call from Commander Wesdon." Gregory said pointing out the devil in these here details which in kind Farris should have known that it was too easy; "He said that I am under orders to appear at the Battle Carrier Wesdon in about four hours from now."

"If you don't appear Gregory; then?" Farris asked worried that he somehow knew the answer.

"I get charged with treason no doubt...." Gregory said as the phrase started to hang out quite a bit. That word treason was starting to haunt Gregory to the point of return and it gave him a massive amount of problems. On the one hand if he decides to avoid the conflict then he will be hung for treason by his peers. On the other hand; if he fights in this conflict then it would be like committing treason againest God. Gregory was walking more-or-less like a zombie; with the decision still hanging above his head like a noose ready to snap Gregory's neck should he choose one way or the other.

"What are you going to do?" Farris asked wondering if Gregory would ever be able to make a decision in which he loses his morals and was in a no-win situation. This was going to be a defining moment....Gregory's action will be relevent for the very first time in his life.

"He said he was going to agree to fight in the war." Sally said as the tears fell down her cheeks and refused time and time again to let Phillip comfort her. Phillip couldn't believe that Gregory would do a one-eighty on this important issue. What can Gregory do in a hopeless war; when he is completely unfit to fight or even strike a deal with the rogues? Nothing made sense to Sally anymore.

"What? Are you sure about this?" Farris said completely stunned at this latest revalation; "This is againest your beliefs Gregory?"

"I know;" Gregory started trying to justify something he knew was not just at all;"....but I had a dream last night...."

"You did?" Farris asked no surprised since Gregory has been having nightmare in real life since Maxim's airplane went down.

"You've been having these dreams before." Sally said trying to change to a less offending subject;" You don't have to tell us..."

"Well this one just beats them all...." Gregory continued feeling pretty sure about what he was saying; "I was dreaming about my father."

"You're right." Phillip responded; "This one is really weird."

"HUSH!!" Sally said loudly as she ribbed Phillip with her elbow causing a slight wince out of Phillip. A clear statement that Sally doesn't want to hear any more suffering coming out of Gregory's mouth.

"Really Buddy?" Farris asked with eyes and mouth open wide.

"Yes." Gregory said as he ponders the dream; "Last night; I was walking in a forest when I saw a gravestone near a cliff similar to that near the Wesdon chruch. I saw a large flash of white light and after that I saw the image of my father."

"You _saw_ Maxim?" Farris said. It had been said many times that the almighty will use dream sequences of lost loves to convey the messages to their sons. That is according to spiritual editorial commentary of course.

"....Yes I *did* see him." Gregory said pointing out what he considered was the truth about this dream; "He told me that someone did try to kill him and that I should seek the truth but not to find justice."

"Are _you_ sure that this dream is *valid*?" Farris asked sounded like this was completely againest the very things that Maxim actually stood for. Maybe this was some unknown power at work; possability even the devil himself.

"I don't know anymore." Gregory said feeling like he has been torn between the Maxim he knew when he was alive and the Maxim he knows right now; "Anyway; he said to me something that completely moved me."

"What?" Phillip asked sounding quite stunned. ~Maxim actually had something that moved the unmoved Gregory AeroStar?~ he thought.

"HUSH!!" Sally ribbed Phillip again. This time Sally was making it clear that Phillip should not ask questions.

"He said that sometimes you have to put your differences aside for the common good." Gregory continued to state what his _role model_; his father; "This 'Great War' is making us all suffer. It must end and that means we must join forces with the government in order to protect the furry race and restore peace to this world."

"You can't be serious Gregory?!" Sally shouted choking back a tear.

"I am serious Sally!" Gregory said ignoring Sally pleads; understanding that his role has now officially changed; "We can blame the government for failing to help reform the Airabus government later. The real concern is to restore peace to Earthia. Failure to do so will wipe out the furry race and then there will be no one left to blame, let alone save; nor will we have the right to complain in the end. That's why I'm going to see Commander Wesdon.." Gregory stopped and looked at the sky towards his father to say the final statement; "....to face the music....for real!" Sally AeroStar couldn't believe it; Gregory was going to commit hypocristy just because he wants to stop a major conflict that was only fixable by God. As they made it to the road; Sally felt completely helpless and was starting to show signs of lost direction. Farris was starting to get it now; their lack of support only made the war worse....once war starts; there is no turning back the clock now. Phillip was beginning to understand the point now. Gregory wants to bring peace back; but the war must be stopped before that even happens.

"I now understand Buddy!" Farris said realizing "I guess that real life isn't so easy after all; isn't it?"

"No; it isn't." Gregory said trying to find the bright side of this problem no matter how stupid it sounds;" But no one said the lord's work ever was. That's the makings of a furry."

"But that means that we might never see or hear from you ever again." Sally said choking back another tear.

"I know..." Gregory said as the taxi arrives. The taxi was not like the modern taxis; it looked like a yellow-painted 1890's Bord-type car used in the time period. Apparently the Great War has resulted in some budget cut from the city government. The taxi driver was a middle-aged brown ferret wearing sun glasses; grey jacket and white pants. Gregory felt this was the proper thing to say;"..That's why it's time for a big hug."

"Oh; Gregory..." Sally said as she and Gregory embrace each other; "..please don't go!"

"Gregory?.." Phillip pleads as he and Gregory embrace each other; "...Don't give in to _them_!"

"Don't worry." Farris said calmly as he and Gregory embrace each other as well; "I'll take over things here."

"Hey; hurry up..." the ferret taxi driver exclaimed loudly; ".....or I'll turn the meter on right now."

"Thank you Farris!" Gregory said as he opens the back taxi door and enters the backseat of the taxi; "Goodbye everyone.....I'll never forget you!!"

"Where to sir?" the ferret taxi driver asked.

"The Wesdon Seaport;" Gregory said firmly; "...the military district, West Wesdon."

"Very well sir!" the ferret taxi driver exclaimed as the backseat taxi door closes and the taxi drives off towards the city of Wesdon. Sally looks away from the taxi driving away trying to hold back her tears.

"He'll be back." Farris said looking very sure of himself. Sally looks directly at him; feeling offended by Farris saying this.

"How can that be?" Sally said as she wipes a tear from her eye feeling offended by the previous statement made by Farris; "How do you know?"

"I just do." Farris said turning his attention to Gregory's siblings; "Sally; Phillip.... you two should go to flight school and stop worrying. Gregory has made up his mind; the least you can do is support his decision. Now if you would excuse me; I have to see Mr. Wiser; I promised him that I would help him clean his house and garage. His wife is a nurse in the war you know. I'll see you later." Farris ends by turning on his heel and walks quickly towards the treeline leading towards Mr. Ian Wiser's house.

"Phillip;" Sally said as she quickly sees Phillip turning on his heel and beginning to walk towards the AeroAvis house; "...where are you going?"

"Sally; Farris is right." Phillip said as he walks towards the house; "We need to support his decision. Let's get going; we have flight school now." Once Phillip was in the house; Sally was sobbing quietly officially feeling alone.

"Now eveyone is againest us!" Sally screamed as she sobbed louder and louder; " IT'S NOT FAIR ANYMORE!!"

**

Inside the yellow taxi; Gregory is sitting down in the middle of the backseat staring down at the floor of the taxi. He was looking through his hands as if they were not there. The taxi driver looked concerned seeing Gregory looking very depressed and decided that he should talk to him. How to approch him without offending him was going to be a tough task for the taxi driver...Luckly; this taxi driver was a people-person and is able to relate to such diffculties.

"Are you okay sir?" asked the ferret taxi driver; eyeing the mentally unstable, numb Gregory AeroStar. Gregory takes a quick look directly at the driving taxi driver who was still driving pretty well and making perfect time before Gregory once again looks directly at his feet again resuming his reflection and despair.

"Yeah." Gregory said looking numb instead of being afraid of what might happen to him. His mind was clearly elsewhere. ~Why must life be a culture of war?~ he thought as the voices raced through his head one by one.

*Don't you realize that this is an abuse of power?!* the voice shouted; clearly his tone. It may have been an abuse of power; but it was a moral gamble that the Usland government was clearly willing to make to win this war. If there were really winner in a conflict that has no winners; but more wars. The taxi driver must have known something that would allow Gregory to express himself much more freely; it was clear by is underserved level of shameness that he needed someone to talk to and was clearly againest this war.

"War must have numbed you;" the taxi driver said stating the clear despair that Gregory was suffering; "....hasn't it?"

"Yeah." was all Gregory AeroStar could say. There were no more tears left for him; he was completely densentized and somehow was able to retain some ture emotion. ~Was this the lord's intention?~ the next thought rushed through Gregory AeroStar then the next more clearer thought; ~Perish the thought! God wouldn't be involved in this....~

*It is completely againest the beliefs of this family!* shouted Gregory's voice once again. Sure this was againest his family's beliefs; however it was clear that the government wasn't and shouldn't comply with the AeroStar's standards. I mean what right does the AeroStar have; even if many people actually side with the AeroStars. Government reside with the people and the majority were clearly with the government...Sadly; Gregory was a bonfide leader and leaders can have a diffcult time respecting other people's opinions.

"The War Measures Act is sickening; isn't it?!" the taxi driver explained. Gregory was surprised that this furry was in fact a pacifist. Maybe the majority isn't so major after all.....Well; Gregory knew better to celbrate hollow victories.

"Maybe.." Gregory said in agreement with him looking at him more directly and also a little longer too; but he knew something much more important; "..but the act didn't exist because of war. The war was started because of a lack of leadership from our government's failure to help the Airabus government reform itself." After that Gregory resecended back to his reflection and thoughts even quicker than before. ~Maybe my father didn't do enough?~ the next thought raced through his head. ~Oh; great! Now I'm blaming my father!~

*THIS IS A MOCKERY!!* his most screaming voice answered back. This was the line that hurt Gregory the most; mainly because it didn't change the fact that the Great War was taking its toll on the young man's mind; nor did it ever stop the war altogether. A wasted statement from a moronic nineteen year old child. Still; the thought was in fact a valid question. Then again; could one diplomat ever be able to do enough to bring ture peace? Prehaps Eric & Mercer were right in saying that in context that his father could never do enough because his peers weren't pulling their weight either. Most importantly; their verbal smirking on him might tell him how much weight Gregory should pull. However; the previous expression did impress the taxi driver despite Gregory refusal to admit it.

"I'm surprised!" the taxi driver exclaimed noting Gregory's calmness as an asset; "You're a pretty intellgent person for a youth."

"I am?" Gregory said unimpressed. In his own mind; he was a moron and he was going to do something that was moronic and hypocritical. He knew that the almighty was going to remind him (read: It is too unspeakable to mention it at this point) of this unthinkable decision. He wished that he was in those random worlds; but sadly he knew that he would have to face Commander Wesdon head on and take the truth of being drafted. ~Maybe I'm being selfish?~ was his next thought. His dad wouldn't like it if he was swallowing his pride over his faux-intellgence that this ferret has granted him. Then again; maybe pride is needed in a time where in the end Sally AeroStar may never see him again. Then again; there is the almighty's rule againest it and Gregory should play it safe.

*THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!* his voice screamed again in his head. This didn't hurt nearly as much mainly because he knew that Commander Wesdon actually agreed with him. If only the son could actually respect him again. Moral absolutes may be noble and right; if only the real world would fit that way....that's the setup for real peace.

"Yeah." the taxi driver said firmly and without as much as a second thought; " Why not take an interest in poltics? You sound a lot more like a ture leader than our current prime minister Miles Lakeview. He's such a lame duck!" Gregory wasn't surprised at the intellgence of this taxi driver for he was clearly more than 25 years older than he was. Almost an elder in fact. However; he was surprised that the taxi driver was having some remorse for the young moronic kid like Gregory. Maybe Gregory should realize that adults may be tough; but they also must have a heart and soul; just like any child that comes into the world; regardless the the reality. Gregory looks at him again directly.

"Figure of speech or is he really a duck?" Gregory asked sounded more lively. The taxi driver smiled weakly; for he had gotten at least a suitable dialogue out of the young man.

"Both." he responded smiling stronger.

"I see..." Gregory said smiling stronger and even giggling a little bit at the joke (read: even if it was very lame) and decides that he is much better off looking at him right now while he reflects on the past; prehaps he does have some mind-reading ability. Although that was declared pretty doubtful. ~That was a selfish act for me.~ he thought. It was not nice to make fun at the Prime Minister of Usland; particually if the majority believe that the joke was very offensive. However; Gregory couldn't cover his ears for that the voices in his head would only get stronger.....

*HAS THE WORLD GONE INSANE?!* the voice screamed in this head again; only this time it was much sharper and much more stronger than it was when he screamed right in front of Commander Wesdon on that faithful day when Maxim was drafted.

"Yeah;" the taxi driver responded as the dialogue continues without incident; "....no question about it."

"I'm too young to be a member of the Usland House of Commons." Gregory admitted honestly; "Besides; my late father is more of a leader than I am." There was his pride going ~So there!~ the thought rages on. One problem with that this that it could be taken as a symbol of pride and lead to sinful behaviour. ~Maybe that was too strong for his own good?~

*Does it matter?* the voice in his head beckoned out. Right now; it really did matter for the simple fact is that Gregory has been summoned by Commander Wesdon and it looked pretty clear that he was going to be joining Durin and Pledge in support of a practice that was againest his family. Gregory realized that this time; calling this a mockery would be high treason regardless of what Commander Wesdon really thinks. Gregory didn't look like his was helpless; although he can clearly feel that he was completely helpless to change fate now.

"Who are you?" the taxi driver asked with a smile.

"Gregory AeroStar sir." Gregory answered back feeling a bit hot under the collar of his white undershirt.~Was that a smart move?~ the next thought believed that he was revealing his beliefs to a complete stranger and that was not a good idea at this time considering that he didn't know who this person was. This was becoming more complicated as the taxi driver continue to make perfect time driving towards the western area of the city of Wesdon.

*I'll do it!* the first voice raced inside Gregory's head which was not his voice but Maxim's voice; that dreaded three words that changed the young bear's life forever; along with his dad's. *What?* was the only response Gregory could give. The voices inside his head were pretty selective; all of them focused on that day Maxim was drafted into the conflict. What could they all mean?

"You're Maxim's son aren't you?" he asked patiently and decided that it was okay to reveal his name; "I'm Mac Donald. Please to meet you!"

"Yes I am." Gregory said smiling and feeling stronger;" It's a pleasure to meet you Mac." However; being the son of Maxim AeroStar was taking a whole new meaning after since the death of his father; ~At least in name only. I don't know in spirit.~ he thought. Gregory AeroStar was expected to head his very own voice lash out againest him; only this time he discovered that the voice lash couldn't be heard inside his head ~No insult?!~ he thought again. Boy; this reflection was unmistakability confusing and this was clearly the worst time that it was to be confused. Anyway; Gregory reflection was going to have to be on hold for awhile longer: Mac Donald's yellow taxi had finally stopped near a sidewalk on a road leading to the Wesdon Boardwalk; where the western end; the Wesdon Seaport lies.

"We are here." Mac exclaimed as he looks at the meter; "The meter is at $4.35."

"I don't have exact change." Gregory said as he looks at the meter realizing that he didn't have exact change; "Can you accept a 65 cent tip?"

"Certainly." Mac exclaimed as he knows that accepting tips was a good practice, Gregory wasn't cheapskating him on this at all just as Maxim would do it; "Your dialogue was brilliant. Thank you Mr. AeroStar." With that; Gregory hands Max a five-dollar green-colored paper bill as Gregory opens the door.

"Your welcome." Gregory said as he steps out of the taxi and closes the door. The taxi then makes its exit down further towards the Wesdon Seaport. The Wesdon Seaport was a large wooden boardwalk with lots of iron-boat ships (about at least 30 in all) and a number of seaplanes were dotted all across the ocean water next to the boardwalk. To the left of the road; there were numerous Army stores and military depots where people who were reserves in the war would be dispatched here. Normally; this would be open to the public only in limited areas (Gregory was in that limited area by the way) because many military practices are done here. However; now the public is part of the military and most soliders from the draft are dispatched here. Gregory continues to walk around looking for a pilot who would fly him the Battle Carrier Wesdon. There were a total of 35 piers and at least ten seaplanes were dotting the boardwalk. Gregory starts to walk towards the end of the boardwalk wharf. When he reaches the sixth pier Gregory turns left to a navy depot to see if one of the Wesdon Navy personnel would guide him towards a seaplane that would take him to Commander Wesdon.

"Gregory?!" Fuzi states as he spots Gregory almost instantly. Gregory turns around to see Fuzi Nakasakai waving to him in front of his red seaplane which was doaked at Pier number six; a two Zolas-engine, Conwing L-17 seaplane called 'Jepang`s Hope'. If that was so ture than Maxim would still be alive today; Gregory knew that for a fact.

"Fuzi; Hello!" Gregory said as he approches Fuzi and shakes his hand; "It's a pleasure to meet you again."

"Ditto here!" Fuzi said as he shook Gregory's hand then he pops the question of the day; "You're here to see Commander Wesdon; right?"

"Yes I am." Gregory said feeling shaky trying to control his paranoia. Luckly; Fuzi Nakasakai was ignoring him and not seeing him being very weak looking in mind and soul. Fuzi _is_ the perfect friend regardless of religion or nationality. Gregory remembers him for being one the most useful pilots in the AeroAvis workforce's short lifespan before the Great War. Gregory could never forget the government's excessive criticism of Jepang-born or Jepang origin furries; and how Fuzi was forced to prove himself in front of the Usland government. Times have changed; if one thing good came out of Maxim's demise is that Fuzi was the one who spotted the crashed and got more respect for his honestly in a time where trust was at an all-time low.

"Well; hop on in!" Fuzi said as he hops into his seaplane; "I'll give you a lift to the Wesdon Battle Carrier."

"Thank you very much!" Gregory said as he hops into the backseat of the seaplane while Fuzi Nakasakai starts the engines. The red seaplane slowly departs from the seaport and quickly gains both speed and altitude and was making excellent time towards the infamous Battle Carrier Wesdon. To Gregory; he was closer and closer to having to face Commander Wesdon and get his orders to enlist in the battle that his own father tried to stop even it started and failed. This was the price you pay for putting ideas over humanity. (Read: or furanity in this case) Gregory simply looked over the water and said nothing; it was clear that he was still reflecting at this point. Now that Fuzi was flying in a straight line and was smooth, stable-like flying from here on end; it was the perfect time in Fuzi own mind to start a dialogue with Gregory; even if Gregory wasn't in the mood for it.

"I just put on a new coat of red paint on the plane yesterday." Fuzi said being gentle into his opening dialogue while at the same time he judges the attitude of his plane as it flies in a perfect striaght line.

"I noticed." Gregory said as he looks down over the sea water clearly not looking directly at Fuzi Nakasakai; "Looks beautiful!" However; that was clearly the last thing on Gregory AeroStar's mind right now, far from it in fact. Gregory's position of actually doing this was clearly not healthy as he continued to fill his head with paranoid thoughts ~Fuzi's a wonderful friend.~ he thought bravely. Gregory was clearly right on the money on this one. Despite all the discrimation and racism that Fuzi has gotten; he was stronger than ever before. However; that wasn't the first thought that crossed the young bear's mind; it was the fact that the insults in his head screaming on his ears like nobody business were nonexistent. ~I've must have ran out...~ he thought once again not realizing that the almighty spared no expense in being selective when Gregory is fully alert.

*Maxim would never accept these barbaic practices!* a voice screamed in Gregory's head again; once again it was Gregory's own voice. ~Spoke too soon!~ Gregory thought whincing at the fact that he let his guard down. Gregory knew that Maxim wouldn't accept these practices; but than again, what about the rest of the world? They were not afraid to encourage bloodshed in their world. The hypocritical world has shown just how the world and the lives within them is a ironic paradox. Irony will never die as long as the real world continues to act like a paradox. That's what was really barbaic in this world.

"I know." Fuzi said smiling from ear to ear; feeling very proud of his own job as a bodywork painter.

"You're feeling happy today." Gregory responded still looking at the seawater ocean. Happiness was not going to come any time soon for Gregory AeroStar. There was only selective despair coming out of Gregory's mind. ~Boy; my mind's been selective today.~ was the next thought in question.

*Well, Maxim? Are those just mere words?* strangely the voice inside Gregory own head was Commander Wesdon's own voice. Maxim proved that he was willing to put his words into action; even if the actions were considered unjustifable in the realm of peace. For Gregory; everything he said was just mere words.....nothing really rubbed off of Maxim; Maxim's essence was not skin-deep.

"Yes Gregory." Fuzi said firmly while still flying the seaplane nearly as well as Maxim; "Commander Wesdon has appointed me as an advisor to the Alliance in Jepang."

"That's wonderful." Gregory said proudly thinking about the moment as a sign that the conflict might be over; "I'm glad that you are finally getting some respect."

"I don't know about that." Fuzi said shaking his head. ~Maybe so; but it's still too dangerous in Jepang to go into that area to advice and retain peace. I'm delivering to Jepang for General Stateman; the same route that killed Maxim.~ he thought bitterly. Gregory realized that he made a mistake in taking this conversation of pride too far and felt bad for Fuzi. He clearly didn't like the new position at this point.

"I see...." Gregory said realizing that his harsh criticism of Commander Wesdon was starting to become more and more unfounded as the airplane ride continued along its merry way. ~I've been too hard on Commander Wesdon. It's not his fault that this war has gotten worse.~ he thought as he pointed to the obvious problem. The question should have been: ~Have I been too hard on him or on the contary; not hard enough?~ This question was still very debatable at this point.

*Sadly; it gets worse.* another Commander Wesdon statement stings the head of Gregory AeroStar. No need to explain this one; as both parties can fully agree on that statement. You don't expect it to get worse unless personnel dies by the thousands; several commanders excuted for treason and the rogue forces are holding their own againest a stronger force. However; Fuzi was also starting to feel gulity about not giving Gregory's dad a real line of respect.

"I'm sorry for your loss Gregory." Fuzi Nakasakai said giving a quick glance towards Gregory before turning around and resuming the flight of the red seaplane. Gregory was very surprised; Fuzi is the reason why he would be able to get closure for Maxim's death and also might be the key to stopping the conflict in Jepang. Gregory should be grateful for this; not depressed for something that he cannot clearly control.

"Don't be sorry Fuzi." Gregory said feeling that he should be sorry for what has happened; "If you didn't have the courage to stand up and tell the truth; my father would never have been found." There went the infusion of sinful pride into Fuzi's head ~Oooops....I went too far.~ Gregory thought panicky. Still; while the tone was pride-laiden;

*Gregory please calm down!* Strange voice this time; sounded like Colonel Willy. Colonel Willy was amazing in his own right; caught between a rock and a hard place. Ultimately; he was right to say that Gregory AeroStar should've calmed down proably to save Gregory from himself.....if only Gregory had listened to him; it would make the coping of the pain of death seem less unbearable.

"I'm not really a hero." Fuzi said not about to accept a title he hasn't earned just yet; "I only found his plane that went down."

"Well; you're certainly not the goat that's for sure." Gregory said. ~Although I feel like one now.~ the thought was right on the money. Gregory AeroStar's luck was running out faster than the speed of light; and he knew that Commander Wesdon wasn't about to tolerate an unstable kid once again.

"So; how's everything going at the AeroAvis lately?" Fuzi said as he changes to question to how Gregory was doing in these tough times.

"Well; the usual for the most part." Gregory said offhand and then decided to directly mention the deal he made yesterday; "I was however able to break a deal with Marion Garr on the shipment of cookbooks. That was perfect." However; Gregory knew that there was going to be an until sneaking up into the thought process of the young bear. ~Until Eric & Mercer Mann showed up!~ This was the ultimate embrassment for Gregory AeroStar. Gregory could certainly take the fact that Commander Wesdon was summoning him. What he could not stand was that Commander Wesdon sent Eric & Mercer Mann to Marion Garr's Resturant and Grill to find Gregory; tease Gregory as they always do and then telephone Commander Wesdon to tell the Commander that Gregory's here making a business deal. That to Gregory was the lowest thing that the Gemini Twins have done.

*A social life!* that sound that was like fingers scratching a chalkboard that Mercer stated. That was something that Gregory was envious of; a real life with no wars and no imorality. It was awful that it was someone like the Gemini Twins that were spewing this statement in his face and yet do not follow their own advice. ~Enough insults!~ Gregory's thoughts screamed almost as loud as the voices in his head. Now; the paranoia was starting to show on Gregory; despite the fact that Fuzi was more interested in other matters.

"It must have been successful." Fuzi said surprised at the move; "The Great War has ruined peaceful agreement and when a deal has been made it was always to aid this war."

"I know." Gregory agreed with a heartful tone and then decided to change the subject and wonder about Fuzi's own problems; "Fuzi? How is Jepang doing?" Gregory asked too late to realize that this was clearly a bad question to ask ~I'm not thinking striaght!~ he thought shaking his head uncontrollably. Boy was Gregory right about that; he had been not thinking straight since this entire war began. Irrational thinking was existing in Gregory's mind because others were thinking in exactly the same way. No surprises here.....

"Not much progress....I'm afraid." Fuzi said feeling a bit depressed; "The fighting's still going on."

"In other words;" Gregory replied firmly; "....its the song that doesn't seem to end."

"No kidding you. Anyway; we are almost there.." Fuzi said as a faint image of the Battle Carrier Wesdon was appearing onto the volume of the earth; Fuzi still had one question on his mind; "....One question; did he tell you why he's ordering you to appear?"

"He didn't say." Gregory said believing that prehaps Colonel Willy might have answers to that; but then again Commander Wesdon was a hush-hush type of Commander; "I couldn't go to the Puppet Show."

"Databyle Puppet?" asked Fuzi Nakasakai; having some experience with that kind of Puppet Show. Databyle had been a popular show for a number of months now and had been one of the few

"Yes." Gregory said firmly. ~There! I've changed the subject!~ he thought proudly before realizing that it may not be enough ~Not far enough though!~

"Databyle Puppet's puppet show is supposed to be around until the spring at least." Fuzi said pointing out something that wasn't always clear with AeroStar; "You'll have lots of time; I mean this war can't honestly go on forever." Gregory looked cross on the matter; as he clearly knew better than that and wasn't about to accept that statement at all.

"That's what Usland said in 1914; so I'll believe it when I see real peace." Gregory said knowing better of how not to underestimate the power; however evil it was of war. These last four years plus have proven that you never underestimate real life; no matter how confident you are. There are other people whose plans will always overlap others.

"Hmmmm...." The Black Ninja exclaimed laughing out loud as it continued to ride the small motorboat; "This shall be entertaining!" What is this furry doing here? Why is this Black Ninja involved? Back to the seaplane....The seaplane finally reaches the Battle Carrier Wesdon; the largest sail warboat of their time. Gregory looks directly at the war machine that his father used to work and it looked completely unchanged from the last time he saw his own father alive. The red seaplane started to spiral down towards the Battle Carrier and landed sucessfully onto the launchpad without incident. The same launchpad that Durin and Pledge landed on to inform Commander Wesdon of the death of Maxim AeroStar. On the launchpad stood a total of 32 furries: 12 weasels (6 brown, 6 beige), 10 dogs (5 black, 4 brown, 1 beige) and 8 birds (3 yellow carines, 3 bluejays and 1 red cardinal) all wearing army uniforms and standard rank-in-file hats; clearly showing that they are privates all working on some form of order given by Commander Wesdon. The final two furries are panthers; one of them was a white panther and clearly it was Colonel Willy who was given orders from Commander Wesdon to protect Gregory AeroStar (read: from evil and himself). The another black panther was taller than Colonel Willy; looked quite a bit younger; had a strong build (read: He used to be a strongman freak at the circus in his hometown in Parris before that was shut down because of the war.); and wore a blue navy suit and a blue triangle berret. Unlike the other colonels; Colonel Allen wasn't dripping with any medals or badges whatsoever. Colonel Allen wasn't showing much sign of happiness either.....

"Ah! Gregory!" Colonel Allen shouted firmly as Gregory and Fuzi each hop out of their planes and on to the cold hard steel; " We were expecting your arrival! Right on time!" Seeing Colonel Allen was a complete surprise to Gregory; he had rarely been seen outside of the Battle Carrier Wesdon. That was despite the fact that numerous censored letters from Maxim talking about this misunderstood boss; Colonel Allen has been his boss to Maxim. Amazing young man; and very strong too.

"Are you coming Fuzi?" Gregory asked feeling that he needed some support from someone who had a heart of pure gold much like his father did. However; Fuzi couldn't, he had work to do.

"I'm sorry Gregory." Fuzi said as he shook his head; "I have a shipment of green beans to deliver to Tikara."

"I see." Gregory said nodding his head; understanding about the situation that Fuzi is in wondering if Fuzi really was getting the holy grail; "Good luck."

"Colonel Allen," Colonel Willy asked staring directly that Colonel Allen to take that as a sign that he should obey; "....could you escort Fuzi to the storage area?"

"Yes sir!" Colonel Allen said saluting him recluently; grumbling a bit, feeling that he should be playing a much more certain role in the conflict; "Come this way avaitor!" Fuzi Nakasakai and Colonel Allen each exited through the western door which leads down into the bowels of the Battle Carrier Wesdon. Colonel Willy watches them exit and then a moment later; he turns around and starts to address the young Gregory AeroStar. Gregory knew that this was merely delayed the plain matter that was to come.

"Gregory?" Colonel Willy said feeling like he clearly knew what Gregory was about to face even though Commander Wesdon didn't state anything towards him; "It's time....come this way."

"I'm ready..." Gregory said feeling completely defeated; ".....to face the music." This was the last time in Gregory's own mind that he was even able to be the same again; not that the world was ever the same again. Colonel Willy and Gregory AeroStar walk towards the eastern door of the Battle Carrier Wesdon and exits through that door into the main hallway about to realize the truth behind the future of Gregory's life.....

***

The assorted weirdness of the deep aura surrounded Gregory AeroStar as he and Colonel Willy walked down that main hallway; ironically the same one that Durin Percy, Pledge Mason, Oniz Mecha and of course his very own father and himself walk before that. As Colonel Willy walks in front of Gregory; he notices something odd about him; this was clearly a changed (through no fault of his own) Gregory AeroStar. He looked completely unstable; understandable considering that it was only less than six days since Maxim's airplane crashed into the Jepang sea. He knew that Commander Wesdon was dealing with a person who was this close to being completely irrational. Still; orders were orders....Gregory had to see Commander Wesdon; despite Colonel Willy's objections to ask why the reasoning behind this visit was so hush-hush type.

"You look different compared to four years ago," Colonel Willy said gently talking to no one in particular even though the comment was clearly pointed to Gregory; ".....the last time that I saw you."

"I don't know......" Gregory said stopping in the middle of his take. He felt completely different; like some sort of aura was present within him; something that didn't exist more than a year and a half ago. Still; one thing he knew: It was like he knew exactly what was going to happen back then and he realized how helpless he was at the result of that meeting.

~ It was June 17th, 1916; almost eighteen months before Maxim met his ultimate demise. The past might have been a black-and-white affair; however, this was clearly in the realm of shades of grey. It was back inside the main hallway; the long walk towards the offices of the Commander of this battleship; Commander Wesdon. Inside that main hallway was Maxim AeroStar and Gregory AeroStar walking down; both looking very confused. Maxim has gotten a direct summon from Commander Wesdon to appear before him today. He didn't however explain why he had summoned Maxim but for some unknown reason; Gregory's father pretty much knew exactly what was going to befall him. They reached the end of the main hallway; towards the double-doors leading to Commander Wesdon's office and waited. Both felt uneasy and Gregory simply wanted to say something; if for his own selfish purposes just to gain a dialogue with his father; _any_ dialogue.

"Daddy?" Gregory asked seeing the strain of stress enprinted into his father's face.

"Yes; my son?" Maxim asked looking confused. It _had_ been almost a few hours since that direct order to him from Commander Wesdon was issued.

"Why are we here?" Gregory asked bitterly; almost knowing why Commander Wesdon was summoning his father; "We have no reason to fight in this war!"

"I don't know, my son." Maxim said honestly. Gregory was torn; on the one hand his father sounded very honest when he said that he didn't know. On the other hand; he saw some sign of confusion that Maxim might have known his fate and he hopes that his very own insight was wrong and they (Read: Maxim and family) could become a family again.

"Daddy; no matter what happens between now and the end of this useless war; we will always be together. No matter what!" Gregory answered in a strong statement; "Promise?"

"I promise!" Maxim said in the firmest manner even though he knew that this promise would be broken almost as quickly as war can break out on anyone. To Gregory the firmness of his father Maxim seemed very false; Maxim had never acted in such a manner that he would feel so uneasy. However; Gregory decided to accept Maxim's promise and they both started to embrace and hug each other. That action continued until Colonel Willy entered the hallway via Commander Wesdon's office.

"Gregory, Maxim."; Colonel Willy said shaking his head; sign of things to come; "It's time....."

"Let's go." Maxim said feeling uneasy. Gregory didn't want to know what his daddy was actually thinking; but something was turely wrong for him to feel unsure about this meeting.

"Right!" Gregory said as he himself and Maxim enter Commander Wesdon's office with Colonel Willy. A meeting was about to take place; a meeting which would prove to be the last time he and his father were together. The past was remerging with the present and Gregory realized just how helpless he became......How a promise was singlehandly broken by Maxim's death....~

*THIS IS A MOCKERY!!* a voice screamed right into Gregory AeroStar's mind. Those exact words were all too familar; they were the same words he screamed when he found out that his father had been drafted. He would like to if he had the faith to right there say the infamous words; 'Never Again!'; but he knew that Commander Wesdon sent him there for only one purpose: to tell him that he was going to have to aid and help fight in a senseless war; or face an unjust death through hanging. ~Why must terror be fought with terror? It doesn't make sense; it's like calling God evil and the White Phoenix as the Anti-Phoenix!~ he thought helplessly as Colonel Willy and Gregory AeroStar finally appear before the double-doors. A barrier between the hallway and Commander Wesdon's office. It was completely unchanged; just the way Gregory left it. There was nothing remarkable here.....

"Here we are." Colonel Willy announced; an announcement that did not surprise Gregory AeroStar in the least. He had heard this way too many times before.

"Colonel Willy?" Gregory asked hoping that Colonel Willy was willing to ruin the surprise and give Gregory some strength to relucently fight in a war; "Why did Commander Wesdon summoned me?"

"I'm sorry Mr. AeroStar." Colonel Willy stated shaking his head; "Commander Wesdon didn't tell me..."

"Typical Commander Wesdon!" Gregory shouted. Even Colonel Willy wasn't about to restrain the young AeroStar. This 'hush-hush' attitude of Commander Wesdon; in Colonel Willy's opinion was the cause of Gregory's mental unstableness and Commander Wesdon knew it. However; his command post is so authortive that Colonel Willy could do nothing to prevent Commander Wesdon from creating this attitude of 'hush-hush'. No time to dwell on Commander Wesdon's attitude: Colonel Willy had direct orders. So he started by knocking the double-doors. It was way too-quiet.....

"Commander Wesdon?" Colonel Willy asked wondering if Commander Wesdon was working.

"Yes Colonel?" Commander Wesdon said in an equally firm tone. ~He wasn't working; thank goodness!~ he thought ~The last thing I need is him working and incurring his wraith in the process.~

"Gregory has arrived Commander." Colonel Willy said firmly; "Shall I let him sir?"

"Oh; he is isn't he?" Commander Wesdon said in a shuddering tone that caused Gregory to shudder in unison; "Come on in!" Colonel Willy opens the double-doors and both furries enter Commander Wesdon's office. There was Commander Wesdon sitting down in his chair at his desk. Gregory quickly scanned the room and discovered that once again; like the main hallway was competely unchanged from the infamous last meeting. However; something was different in Commander Wesdon; apparently the Commander's standing up and flashing a faux smile was certainly a change from the unemotional announcement he gave to Maxim. Despite this; Gregory was not going to buy it. Commander Wesdon's attempt to humor Gregory into battle wasn't going to change the fact that this war is stupid. Even if Commander Wesdon actually agrees with him.

"Ah!" Comander Wesdon greeted Gregory with his faux smile; "Mr. AeroStar; its a pleasure to meet you once again."

"Save your buttering up for someone else!" Gregory hissed not even close to buying the fauxness of the moment; "You're sounding like you're gulity."

"I knew that you were mad;" Commander Wesdon said changing the smile to a concerned firmness that Commander Wesdon was best known for; "I just didn't imagine that you were this mad."

"Don't you think that this Great War would impact you to the point of madness?!" asked Gregory with a sound of a hissing snake. Commander Wesdon was confused; but of course he wouldn't completely understand Gregory's motives. Commander Wesdon was completely conditioned not to see through anyone's emotions.

"I don't see you point." Commander Wesdon said with a puzzled yet concerned look as he was about to realize just how stupid this war really was; "Colonel Willy; please guard the door?"

"Yes sir!" Colonel Willy obeyed without question as he exits Commander Wesdon's office to guard the door. Commander Wesdon stood up and looked directly at the madman. Gregory was ready now to let his action speak for his words. He was fed up with Commander Wesdon's backpeddling and he was going to give him a piece of his mind.

"You really don't see the impact of my madness; Commander Wesdon." Gregory hissed once again; "But it doesn't matter anymore. You're so numb to the point that you wouldn't care if I said that I am going to help Wesdon fight in this war. You wouldn't know considering your _Animeain_ pride....." That did it for Commander Wesdon! No one was going to insult his nationality as much as they are [read: Animea Government] to blame for this senseless war. Many of Animea's people and certainly Commander Wesdon didn't approve of this war; and they were not going to stand for this kind of stereotype. In one quick motion; catching Gregory AeroStar completely off guard: Commander Wesdon grabbed the young nineteen year old pilot in training by the neck and with a massive show of strength lifted Gregory's feet off the floor by a foot. Gregory struggled as Commander Wesdon squeezed on his neck; flush red-hot with rage.

"YOU LITTLE SUBMARINER!" Commander Wesdon screamed in a rare case of hot-tempered foam to follow; "How dare you attack my pride?! Let me tell you something boy! I didn't summon you to fight in this war! I didn't summon you just for you to show just how mad you really are! And I certainly didn't summon you just so that you could insult my pride!... I summoned you simply because I can!" Commander Wesdon was now looking striaght through Gregory AeroStar flush white-hot with anger; seemly a Animean foe in his own eyes; "DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!"

"Yes sir!" said Gregory struggling to catch his breath; but Commander Wesdon wasn't going to let off AeroStar that easily.

"I CAN'T _HEAR YA_!!" screamed Commander Wesdon directly into Gregory AeroStar's face.

"YES _COMMANDER WESDON_ SIR!" screamed back Gregory AeroStar as he continued to struggle feeling that his fur was starting to turn blue. Commander Wesdon decided that AeroStar had been punished enough. He let's go of Gregory's neck allowing him to fall flat on his back. Commander Wesdon returned to his desk without even showing an emotion; like nothing had happened. Gregory returns back to his seat; feeling hurt physically after getting his neck squeezed. ~I made a grave mistake!~ he thought. ~I attacked someone's nationality! I disgraced my father!~

"I'm sorry Gregory." Commander Wesdon said firmly pointing to the fact to remind Gregory that he committed racism on his watch as Gregory rose to his feet; "But I had to knock some sense into you. I didn't ask you to fight in this war."

"You didn't?" Gregory asked looking puzzled.

"Of course not!" Commander Wesdon said in a tone that uses common sense; "I would never let someone as mentally unstable as you are to fight in an increasely stupid war such as this one."

"But; the War Measures Act....." Gregory said reminding Commander Wesdon that there was an act in the lawbooks. But Commander Wesdon was ready for him this time; Gregory was about to get a lesson in always reading the newspaper regardless of how bad the press prints stuff on those papers.

"You never liked the government don't ya?" Commander Wesdon firmly smirked; "The Wars Measures Act states that only people over the age of 21 can be drafted into the war. The government pretty much knew that the undrafted parents of those under 21 were drafted that they would give them something to suffer about. In other words; you'll still be with your family for at least another three years. Unless this war ends before than of course!"

"So much for government revenge...." Gregory said breathing both a sigh of relief and a sigh of defeat. It was unbelievable that he didn't read anything from the government. He didn't pay attention to details and ultimately set himself up for an embrassing few moments with Commander Wesdon. The elders proves that time or better still patience and experience win out over emotion and skill. Gregory was slowly starting to see himself for what he was: an impatient; distraught little pest. Commander Wesdon didn't really care what state Gregory was in. It was time for him to get closure....

"I'm surprised...." Commander Wesdon looking at the distraught young bear; "I thought you and Farris were best friends."

"We _are_ best friends; sir." Gregory said feeling like he was being disrespected by Commander Wesdon.

"Well; I just surprised." said a surprised Commader Wesdon; "After all; Farris wanted to fight with Garland and Ramon when they were here the day before your outburst...." Gregory looked absolutely stunned; he thought that Farris was in agreement with him that fighting in this war was wrong; "I had to tell him about the War Measures Act. At least he was sane and understanding of the situation."

"I've lost my strength to chew him off." Gregory said quietly and giving yet another sigh. It was embrassing for him to see the real truth coming out of his friends; thanks to an older and wiser Commander Wesdon. Then again; Gregory has been acting like a hypocritic for the last couple of years, still failing to understand why Maxim chose to fight in this war.

"I'll do it for you okay!" Commander Wesdon said firmly as he stood up once again.

"You cannot be serious to think that you ordered me to be here just simply because you can." Gregory said trying to change the subject to why he was summoned...Commander Wesdon agreed; it was time to lead him to his father's mechanic: Oniz Mecha.

"Actually; I summoned you for a couple of reasons;" Commander Wesdon said firmly;"....because I wanted you to know this before we gave a briefing to the press." To Gregory there was no surprise there; he wasn't a huge fan of the press either.

"Oh; is it about my father again?" Gregory asked sounding like he was smart; even though he knew why was being summoned now: ~Commander Wesdon is giving me an update of my father!~ Since the investigation had to be done in secret in order to protect the AeroStar family; the AeroStar family and everyone else including the press was not told until they were at the battle carrier.

"Yes." Commander Wesdon said confirming Gregory's second reason why he was summoned; "Oniz Mecha managed to find a proable cause for the crash."

"That was fast!" Gregory said quite surprised as he knew that these types of investigation can take years to complete and sometimes the cases can go unsolved; "How come you were able to recover that plane; get it back to the Battle Carrier Wesdon and find a proable within five days?"

"It wasn't me." Commander Wesdon assuring that he shouldn't take full credit for how quickly his crew was able to find and salvage the burned aircraft; "Thank Maxim's mechanic Oniz Mecha for this. She created a wonderful invention to pull the plane back to base."

"What is it?" Gregory asked as it had been nearly two years since Oniz Mecha had been drafted into the war; "How does it work?"

"Look; I'm no expert." Commander Wesdon said honestly; technology was _not_ his strong point; being a solider was; "I'll let Oniz Mecha explain it; as she could do it better than I ever could." Commander Wesdon walked towards the iron double-doors of his very own Commander's office and opens the door. Colonel Willy feels it and turns around to salute him.

"Yes Commander Wesdon?" Colonel Willy asked in follow up.

"Where is Colonel Allen?!" Commander Wesdon demanded firmly causing Colonel Willy to sweat a little bit.

"Commander; Fuzi Nakasakai arrived picking up Gregory earlier." Colonel Willy answered saying each word very carefully;" Colonel Allen's escorting Fuzi to the storage area. You remember that Fuzi is supposed to be delievering a shipment of green beans to Tikara?" Commander Wesdon realized that he was right and was prepared to make his first excuse of the day.

"Give me an orange juice break Colonel!" Commander Wesdon barked in a tone that was vaguely familiar to another certain General; "I cannot remember every single thing that goes on in this place."

"Barry Stateman isn't going to like you for being so aggressive lately...." Gregory said smirking; letting Commander Wesdon publically know that he wasn't buying the excuse Commander Wesdon had just made. Commander Wesdon started to grumble sliently; feeling that Gregory was still getting the very best of him. War was impacting his on psychological mental health since Commander Wesdson is not all that old and had lots of energy left.

"Very funny aviator!" Commander Wesdon said still sounding like he was barking out orders like General Stateman, continuing to grumble sliently; "Come on Colonel Willy; I'm sure Colonel Allen will come up soon. Let's get downstairs near the bowels of the ship. Gregory; its time to give you some closure. You deserve at least that."

"I see." Gregory said as Commander Wesdon and Gregory AeroStar exit Commander Wesdon's office; it was time to ask a very important question; "Commander Wesdon?"

"Yes aviator?" Commander Wesdon asked puzzled that Gregory would ask a question; considering how he has always been on the offensive againest him since the Great War has begun.

"Why are you doing this?" Gregory asked figuring that Commander Wesdon would contact the press; considering that Maxim _was_ a public figure in the eyes of Usland since it was Maxim would bought out the truth from the strain of relationships between Usland and Thembria.

"Gregory? I don't really trust the press all that much." Commander Wesdon said grumbling a little bit. This sounded very ironic for Gregory AeroStar since it was his very own father Maxim who championned a non-governmental controlled press; "Sure; it's no longer under government control. But; I believe that you will get a better prespective on the problem if you saw it for yourself......" then Commander Wesdon decided to flash the question; the most important question that has been eating him up inside; "Gregory? Why do you trust Fuzi Nakasakai?"

Gregory could only say this; "I just do.....Maxim does....always!" That was all Commander Wesdon needed to know!

**

Meanwhile.....................Fuzi Nakasakai and Colonel Allen went down the stairs towards the third floor of the huge battle carrier Wesdon. The hallway was the same as all the others expect this one was much shorter in length; it featured two single steel doors; the first and second doors in between allow a ventalation shaft area to be created while the second door would open to the entrance to the storage area and the hallway overall was a foot shorter. It wasn't intended for security reasons but the room between the doors was used to bring air into both rooms. Colonel Allen looked a bit subdued while Fuzi Nakasakai acted quite normal. ~It'll be great to get this over with!~ Fuzi thought.

"Fuzi?" Colonel Allen asked feeling a bit of a let down; "Could you please wait outside? I'll get you the supplies..."

"Are you sure that you can handle this?" Fuzi asked honestly. After all the green bean shipment weighted more than 150 pounds and while Colonel Allen has lifted weights as a strongman before; he hasn't been in the profession for quite a while partially because of the war and partially because he had a very strong and understandable conviction of shedding his image of being labelled as a freak.

"Of course I can Mr. Nakasakai-man." he said grumbling at the thought that he was unable to handle the situation considering that he used to be considered a freak. Now he felt that he was being treated like a freak; "They don't call me 'The Strongest Furry in Windia' for no reason whatsoever..."

"Okay; I'll wait outside." Fuzi said as he closes the door;" More like 'The Tougest Talker in Earthia' to me." Sadly; Fuzi made no attempt to hide the comment and Colonel Allen's ear heard the hurtful comment.

"I heard that aviator!" Colonel Allen barked feeling hurt and was cursing under his breath. While what Fuzi said was more truth than it sounds; this was the last thing needed in war and Colonel Allen felt it was wrong to make jokes at a time that is very serious.

"Okay! Okay!" Fuzi said feeling upset over the fact that he couldn't get even a joke in even though jokes are the last thing needed in this conflict; "I get you now. Just scream when you need me to open the door."

"Okay I will!" Colonel Allen said with a grumble as he closed the door behind him;" Why won't Fuzi understand that there are other people besides him that have been put down by everyone." the grumbling started to ease off a bit with every word; "I've been in the service ever since I retired from being just a strong men sideshow 15 years ago. I've worked harder than I've ever had to when I was a strong man. But I still am unable to get any progression into my life." Colonel Allen opens the door and places a brick againest the door to keep from shutting on him since inside was a very dark room. Colonel Allen enters into the storage area and looks around; "Hello? Now where is that large box of green beans?" The storage room is half the size of Commander Wesdon war room; amazing considering that some suborinate have yet to publically state that the storage area should be in Commander Wesdon office. Then again; there are no windows in this room so security is higher here. There was lots of boxes and lots of bundled leather rope. It was also pitch black in there. Colonel Allen walks forward right into the northerneastern section of the room.

"Let's see now...." Colonel Allen said grumbling far less now that he was able to gently let off some steam; "the green beans should be over there..." as he said that he points to the northeast corner of the storage area directly pointing at a large wooden crate labelled (when seen in the light) : <Green Beans- Tikara #12151917>. Colonel Allen felt a sigh of relief; once he got done with Fuzi Nakasakai own trivial problems with delivery, he would be able to get back to his work of protecting Oniz's inventions. However; the plan created by a faceless (Read: for now anyway- as all faceless evil will always show itself in the end) furry was about to come full-circle.

"So; _What_ is this?" a female voice lashed out smirking at the unfortunate Colonel Allen; "You seem under the weather lately; _Strong Furry_?" Colonel Allen turns around and sees the slick-quick Black Ninja guarding the exit of the room. It's eyes looking very sharp.

"Intruder!" Colonel Allen takes out his silver six-shooter pistol out his side pouch; but the much quicker Black Ninja takes out a black, leather whip-like device and the whip rope grabs the pistol out of Colonel Allen's hand before he could pull the trigger. The pistol land right into the Black Ninja's hand causing complete yet justified disbelief out of the black panther furry;"My lord! You're good for an intruder!"

"Oh yes!" the Black Ninja exclaimed smirking violently even though Colonel Allen could not see its mouth as it was covered with some sort of blac cloth which matched her outfit; " It's amazing that you consider Commander Wesdon is a racist and yet you hold the keys to what I want." However; the sharp ice-red eyes of the Black Ninja were unmistakenable. [read: Ninja's do have to see you know.]

"Why you mocking bird?!" Colonel Allen said feeling that in wartime; no one had the right to call anyone a racist even if the furry does commit acts againest it; "Nobody mocks me and gets away with it." Colonel Allen rushes the Black Ninja; however that would prove to be a mistake as the nimble Black Ninja was able to sidestep the slow yet powerful solider and was able to use it's own legs to trip him up at the last second and cause Colonel Allen to fall flat on his face with a thud. Then in one quick motion; the Black Ninja stands up; opens the pistol that it stole from the Colonel and removes all seven of the bullets that were loaded inside the pistol. The Black Ninja closes up the gun and waits as Colonel Allen struggles to his feet.

"Don't think that you'll get away with this!!" Colonel Allen yells out tries to turn around and stand up but the Black Ninja was simply ready for this as it drew the back of the pistol which it stole from Colonel Allen.

"I have one thing to say......" The Black Ninja stated as it rushes Colonel Allen and smacks him flush on the jaw with the back of Colonel Allen very own weapon pistol; effectly pistol-whipping him. That ultimately caused Colonel Allen to fall flat on his back with a distrubing thud; "SHUT UP!" it screamed. The Black Ninja was only of medium-build as compared to it's larger; more stronger Colonel. Even so; that didn't stop the Black Ninja to carry Colonel Allen back into the storage room. Once the knocked-out Colonel Allen was fully into into the dark and pitch-black storage room, the Black Ninja instantly kicks the brick out to fully close the door and effectly shuts it. Meanwhile; back outside the other door Fuzi was once again starting to show signs of impatience.

"Hmmm....I heard a few smacks out there! Oh; I'm worrying too much about this. Colonel Allen can handle anything....." Fuzi said trying to relive himself thinking that Colonel Allen was able to handle any situation inside that normally uneventful area; "as he says. Although this _is_ taking quite a long time for his standards. I'll give him another five minutes; before I'll come in and help him...." Sadly; less than five minutes was all the Black Ninja needed to get away with the first crime committed inside the storage room. Meanwhile; back in the storage room.... the Black Ninja had Colonel Allen completely binded with thick leather ropes and his mouth was also gagged with a white cloth. The Black Ninja knowing that whomever was at the other side of the doors would be suspect of it; decides to reopen the door and replaces the brick back to where it originally was before it was kicked out. The Ninja was holding the set of keys and it's black leather whip is placed on a holder of the Black Ninja's belt.

"You may be the strongest knife in the drawer; but you certainly are not the sharpest! Now I have the keys to screw that good-for-nothing lame humor Oniz Mecha." The Black Ninja said laughing out loud; wondering why this Ninja knew this mechanic;" You'll wish that you kept your mouth shut. I'd torture you Colonel Allen; but you're out like a light!" The Black Ninja walks outside of the storage room and looks around the short hallway. The Black Ninja suddenly looks up and find a grate which looks like an opening to the ventalation shaft.

"Perfect! Now if I'm correct that shaft should lead me to Oniz's new toy." The Black Ninja said laughing as if there was a sign of 'Bingo' gleering into it's sharp-little eyes; "And then I'll give that so-called genius a well-deserved shaft." The Black Ninja takes out the whip and uses it to lash onto the grate and that attempt was sucessful. With the grate now taken out and the hallway only being about eight feet in total height; the Black Ninja mades a large leap and grabs onto the edge of the ventalation shaft and lifts itself up into the ventalation shaft withe the grate and whip in tow. Once the Black Ninja manages to get inside fully into the ventalation shaft; it replaces the grate and seals it back into its original place as if the event actually never happened. The Black Ninja puts its whip back into place.

"Okay; step one is completed!" The Black Ninja exclaims trying to get its own bearings in order; "This way...." The Black Ninja crawls slowly further into the confines of the shaft hoping to reach its destination. Meanwhile back at the other door; Fuzi Nakasakai finally had enough; five minutes were up and there was still no response. ~I cannot believe that furry hasn't come back yet. He should have the muscles and brain to return much sooner than this.~ he thought.

"You know something." Fuzi said trying to keep himself civil; "I'm getting fed up with this. I'm going to see Colonel Allen about them green beans." Fuzi Nakasakai opens the door and enters the short hallway and finally enters the storage area. While much of the place was intact; he did manage to find Colonel Allen in the eastern section of the storage area and find Colonel Allen all tied up and gagged to the point where he was nearly screaming under the cloth.

"Oh there you are...." Fuzi said as he comes over, unties Colonel Allen and takes the gag out of his mouth. Colonel Allen begins to stand up and look cold venom into his eyes. He was really angry at that shadow warrior for pounding him to a pulp; not to mention Fuzi for not coming in when he got smacked.

"Why are you _so_ calm?" Colonel Allen asked with venom in his voice.

"Well; I knew that you weren't the sharpest knife....." Fuzi started with an evnious tone; but Colonel Allen was downgraded from cold venom, right up to hot steam.

:"DON'T EVEN _MENTION_ IT!" Colonel Allen barked causing Fuzi to shudder violently; "I gotta tell the Commander...."

"What about those shipments of green beans?" Fuzi asked feeling the heat from Colonel Allen's present anger and the potiential anger that he would suffer at the hands of General Statemen if he doesn't get those green beans shipped on time. Colonel Allen couldn't believe that Fuzi would be more inclined to good food instead of protect potienal deadly weapons. After all; food no matter how good it is cannot defuse weapons.

"This is far the more important than something that is good for you...." Colonel Allen barked feeling hurt that this trivial matter was more important. After all; Colonel Allen was assigned to protect the keys to Oniz Mecha's most classified and most powerful inventions.

"But General Stateman will be chewing me off if you don't help me with those green beans." Fuzi protested to Colonel Allen believing that something that was good for you was important. The protests were of no avial to Colonel Allen who's anger raged even further.

"GOOD!!" Colonel Allen screamed out to send the message home; causing Fuzi to shudder even more as Colonel Allen exits the storage door running like mad to the Commander; "Prehaps you'll know excatly how I feel. This is _your_ problem!"

"This _is_ just great! I'm being denied again!" Fuzi said as he looked in the northeastern corner of the storage room where Colonel Allen went and spotted the box of green beans; "Ah yeah! This is _my_ problem!" He wondered about something: Was Colonel Allen really upset at him because of his origin being from Jepang and the tension surrounding there was finally starting to show signs of breakage in this part of the world? Or was Colonel Allen fed up with being a minority figure in an over-statured army of majority characters? The concern would have to be put to rest now....Fuzi Nakasakai had beans to deliver and prehaps he could score bonus points for General Statemen in Tikara for delivering those green beans back on his own. Although that might not be a good idea because for number one; if he did it himself, some people would become suspious of him and number two; bonus points would mean nothing if General Statemen found out that he was late......~On to the future we go!~ he thought.

**

Meanwhile.....on the fourth floor of the Battle Carrier Wesdon inside yet another long hallway, almost as long as the hallway that was present in the second floor leading up to Commander Wesdon's office. It was no different as Commander Wesdon, Colonel Willy and Gregory AeroStar were walking down that hallway; their denstation: Oniz Mecha's workshop!

"So; how are you enjoying the view of the Battle Carrier?" Colonel Willy asked as he walked beside Gregory AeroStar feeling assured that Gregory wasn't about to snap on him due to his own mental unstableness.

"It looks beautiful." Gregory said smirking at the thought; " At least I'm enjoying the tour without someone having a hand around my neck..." With that line Colonel Willy and Gregory AeroStar were laughing; not even trying to cover up the fact that Commander Wesdon heard both of them and he was clearly not amused at the seriousness of this visit taken by his second-in- command.

"Very funny you two!" Commander Wesdon shouted out; feeling unimpressed with Colonel Willy's conduct; "I'm not amused!"

"Look Commander...." Gregory points out trying to defend Colonel Willy's actions; "....you need to lighten up once in awhile."

"Why should I aviator?" Commander Wesdon asked beliving that it was that lightening up that was the problem with starting this war up in the first place.

"Maxim always said to me that if you continue to be intense for too long; you would in the end stay that way." Gregory pointed out the fact just the Maxim would to him when he give advice; "Furries stop caring about you afterwards."

"Why do you have so much faith in Maxim?" Commander Wesdon asked feeling that Maxim's attempts of peace have failed.

"Well; it's because he's _my_ father." Gregory said knowing the importantance of actually having one; "Wouldn't you have faith in _your_ father?"

"I wish _my_ father was honorable Greg." Commander Wesdon said feeling sad that he was about to bring back the reason why he left Animea; the conutry who was fighting againest us; "I really do.....but that was nothing more than a lie."

"You don't say?!" Gregory asked not believing that his father wasn't patrotic or loyal to Animea. The best thing about Animea was it's undeniable pride; while sinful in some quarters, was one of the best things a country can have for it's own self-determination.

"It was about 25 years ago;" Commander Wesdon started feeling a weak smile coming on his face as he looked at the ceiling; "....where I was a teenager still young and innocent and lived in the town of Falchonsburg in Animea. My father was a high-ranking officer of the Navy. He was a very humble man and would forefill his patoric duty. Considered as one of the most loyal soliders in Animea; he served his country very well. However; one day during a recon mission to Azloian he was shot down and killed. He was buried with honors. I felt so proud of my father for serving the good people of Animea at the time that it was so surreal; so beautiful to the point that I actually had something worth living for. However;" Commander Wesdon looks up at the ceiling; sneering at the thought of what would happen next; "..... one decade later; it all changed. It was nothing more than lies."

"I don't understand...." Gregory said feeling a bit uneasy. It was a heroic sort of life; why would be nothing more than lies; and besides Commander Wesdon was talking about something that was clearly private and none of Gregory's own business. There was an unlining reason for Commader Wesdon's words.

"I told the story of my father to a personal conference;" Commander Wesdon continued feeling angry; " when someone handed me documents concerning my father's demise. In the documents; it claimed that my father was really a spy for the government of Azloian....It said that my father had intentionally let himself get killed by the solider who confessed with the crime. The solider; which was edited out of those documents said that my father was actually delivering secrets to them instead and a partner of my father's found out about it. I felt disgraced.... I was living out a lie.....However; I never fully believed that my father was a traitor. "

"I'm so sorry to hear that." Gregory said feeling sad; " I feel terrible for you." Gregory AeroStar was starting to realize that traitors are a dime a dozen in this world that is supposed to be peaceful and yet; it is at war. Gregory was not alone anymore when it came to losing love ones and now he could finally smile again and feel like he wasn't the odd one out of the shuffle.

"Anyway; I couldn't live with the stigma of my father being called a traitor." Commander Wesdon continued looking very frustrated; "I was afraid that my assocation with my father would also make me a traitor of the state. So; I fled to Wesdon. Sadly; my mother passed away soon afterwards. I became a navel officer for Wesdon trying to escape from the suffering of stigma. However; my father's betrayal prevented any hopes of marriage and I'm lucky just to pay the bills." Commander Wesdon decided to come clean about why he didn't explain his life to anyone but Gregory; "Normally; I wouldn't ever tell you this part of my life...."

"Why did you then?" Gregory asked feeling that there must be reason for consenting to allow Gregory to hear a very private and very distrubing story.

"Well; it was when I read the editorial section after your father agreed to help fight in this war." Commander Wesdon admitting that his story was related to the suffering that Gregory was going through; " The 'Voices of the People' were not very kind to your father. Many of them called your father a traitor.... "

"WHAT?!" Gregory screamed feeling like a fool. For some reason; there were many people other than the ones that Gregory had known for years that actually backed up his side and may have not gotten the facts on how senseless the war had become. Gregory now saw his father in the different light; a light so dark that even those in the know would rather see him not do. Gregory felt like he was the one who caused Maxim's death simply be supporting a belief that Maxim's action couldn't follow because of war.

"When I heard that; I felt awful...." Commander Wesdon ended trying to shed a tear but the conditioning of war prevented him from doing so; "my heart broke once again. Because Maxim was a person I can look up to...Gregory; your father made a very diffcult decision.."

"I know. Prehaps one day we can find out who's telling the truth." Gregory said smiling and assuring him that the truth will be exposed.

"Thank you Gregory...." Commander Wesdon said smiling weakly; "....but I'm afraid that this affair is my business only. I'll deal with it soon. Besides; you deserve closure for your problem."

"Yeah; you're right!" Gregory said smiling back; "Well good luck....." As he and Commander Wesdon finally start to understand each other, Commander Wesdon's smile quickly turned into a frown as he and Colonel Willy made it to the end of the hallway; the entrance to Oniz Mecha's workshop was separated by two things. Number one; it was separated by a double-door made out of iron and in the style similar to the double-doors separating the second floor hallway to Commander Wesdon's office. Number two; in front of the double-doors was two brown gator named Private Recon and Private Reckon sitting down abnormally and were fast asleep. They were demoted by Commander Wesdon for their bad behaviour during the salvage and rescue mission to recover Maxim AeroStar's sercet seaplane; the 'Number 17' Commander Wesdon was frustrated yet again; the Wolde Twin were once again unable to do a simple job as gaurding a door without getting some shut-eye.

"Recon! Reckon!" Colonel Willy barked out loudly. The ver loud voice of Colonel Willy awakens the two privates from their sleep and they realize that the jig is up. The two twin start to stare at each other and also start to point fingers at each other out of fear that they would be the one blamed instead.

"You're supposed to stay awake!" Recon shouted pointing the accusing finger directly at Recon.

"No!" Reckon protested back staring at his twin brother with malice; "You're supposed to!"

Colonel Willy started to shake his head in complete helplessness as he saw the sight of seeing these two brown gator botch yet another job; "If there's one thing I hate about the War Measures Act it picks people like these."

"I know what you mean...." Commander Wesdon said as he shook his head in grief. The Usland government didn't do a good job in separating the needy people for the war from the not needy people for the war. One of these day; furries like the Wolde Twins were going to cost them a victory in battle and they knew it.

"Come on you two!" Colonel Willy said; " We are going upstairs..." Colonel Willy laughed with an evil laugh on the last phrase; "....so you can swap the deck." Recon's face simply shuddered with fear. They made another mistake and they knew it; now they are reduced to acting like pirates and swapping the launchpad with clean water. It was getting even more embrassing for them; they were already punished for acting improper during the search and rescue for Maxim's seaplane by General Stateman and now they can't even guard a door properly. For shame!

"I told you to stay awake!" Recon protested trying to defend one of the few jobs they had left.

"I told _you_ to stay awake!" Reckon shouted as he and Recon exchange fruitless comments at each other while they and Colonel Willy all walk together and exited upstairs to the top floor where the launchpad is. Commander Wesdon's face said it all: The War Measures Act is a joke; in more ways than one.

"Hey; I'd give those two credit." Gregory said giggling at the sence they just saw; "At least they didn't do anything that would endanger people."

"So...." Commander Wesdon said not getting the joke like he always did in the past; "......what would happen if say Oniz Mecha was threaten by some unknown attacker?"

"Well; she could always flirt them to death..." Gregory said laughing; thinking that this was Oniz Mecha's best answer to everything.

"You know something;" Commander Wesdon said finally cracking a smile; "....this visit is getting more interesting." With that business finally over with; Commander Wesdon opens the door and both he and Gregory AeroStar enter into the important area of the Battle Carrier Wesdon....... The bowels of the Battle Carrier Wesdon is large and looks like the insides of a gaint whale; expect that instead of flesh, the walls are made of iron/zinc combination metals. There are a total of ten areas on this floor which is technically the fifth floor. A large staircase leads to the area where a large rectangle pool of water stands and a large submarine-like machine on the water. To the left of the machine; there's a somewhat tall and strongly build orange/red bengal tiger who was actually female; about 35 years old wearing a yellow shirt, white overalls and an orange cap and she was kneeling right in front of a heavily-damaged grey seaplane which on the wing tip was the duct-tape number 17 on it; which was clearly Maxim's plane. She was trying to check the plane for the cause of the damage which was supposed to shed life into the cause of Maxim's death. To Gregory; she was named Oniz Mecha; Maxim's very own mechanic, inventor and technologist (Read: studies the effects of technology on furry and enivroments). She was hired just after Maxim settled down in order to help repair airplanes for the cargo shipping business; the AeroAvis. Not only was she an expert on fixing thing; she also invented things, including a makeshift plane that she attempted to fly herself which failed (Read: Oniz was also banned from flying airplanes.). One of those things was the large submarine-like machine just to the right of her and it was a sight to behold indeed. While Oniz's work is excellent; there were two things that exposed her dark side. Number one; she was a near hopeless flirt. The only people that have fallen into her trap are Maxim and Phillip AeroStar: one was married the other was simply too young. These actions made Gregory's mother Claris think twice about allowing his father to hire her. Number two and more so apparent is the fact that she could not crack a good joke if her life depended on it. Everytime she does that Gregory either hears the 'Bum-Bum-Ching' sound.. or he takes great offense to it. Simply put: her jokes are lame. Period. Gregory decides it is time to greet her so he walks up to Oniz.

"Hello; Oniz!" Gregory said. Oniz Mecha stands up and looks fairly cross as if she knew who was coming to see her work. Oniz turns around and lays a perfect backslap with her paw right into Gregory's kisser which in turn caused Gregory to fall to his seat for the second time today.

"HOW DARE YOU?!" Oniz Mecha screamed directly into Gregory's face.

"What do you mean?" Gregory asked looking quite dumb. Oniz Mecha hated people who acted intentionally dumb to cover up their own brutal comments.

"Don't give me that hypocritical trash!" Oniz yelled really taking offense to Gregory's presence as Gregory stands up again; "I knew you were up to something the moment I turn my back on you. Telling the church that I flirted at your father! I don't attack _your_ chruch so why do you attack _mine_?" Gregory then started to realize that this was as a result of a brutal comment he made during Maxim's memorial service about Oniz flirting at his own father. Durin Percy must have told her about it and Gregory AeroStar shouldn't have even mentioned it.

"Look;" Gregory said seriously; feeling so fed up with Oniz's lack of faith; "I'm sorry that I even mentioned it......!"

"Thank you!" Oniz said said changing her frown up-side down; "That's all I need to make me feel good....Actually; I should have known better than to hit on Phillip and/or Maxim; after all, wouldn't that just simply give Claris the broom..." Gregory could only hear one sound and it went something like this: Bum-Bum Ching!

"You have not changed. Still the same old Oniz Mecha...." Gregory said with bravado; "Always with the same old lame jokes..."

"And you haven't changed much either." Oniz Mecha snapped back; "You're still the same unsure fellow that needs my help."

"Umm yes." Commander Wesdon chimed in; feeling left out of the mix; "Isn't that why I asked you to investagate?"

"Of course Commander Wesdon;" Oniz Mecha said off-paw; "....of course."

"So; Oniz." Gregory began to ask; "What kinds of things did you find?"

Oniz felt it was time to show off her work into finding and salavaging Maxim's plane; "Would you like to know how I the great Oniz managed to get this wrecked-up plane back to the Carrier; eh?"

"I'd rather know what you found about the cause of my father's death than the technology....." Gregory said as Oniz grumbled; he was still the same Gregory AeroStar; always putting furries ahead of anything, not about to romancized about death and destruction; "You can always talk about the technology later."

"If that is what you want..." Oniz said stopping her grumbling and she and Gregory both kneel down right next to the trashed up airplane;"....then here we go."

"I'd better leave now. I'm expecting Durin and Pledge to arrive shortly with an update from Parris." Commander Wesdon exclaimed causing Gregory to smile; prehaps he can see them both before the day s done; "Don't leave here until Colonel Willy returns from his work with Private Recon and Reckon here." Commander Wesdon nods his head for the reason; "Sercuity reasons....understood?

"Yes; Commander. I understand." Oniz said. Oniz has known how important the work that she does will open the door to possible evil uses by rogue nations or deranged furries. The plan was to give the keys or tools to someone who wouldn't expect them to be holding such as Colonel Allen while Oniz would work in solitude inside the bottom floor of the Battle Carrier Wesdon. Also; as you can see; Oniz cannot leave until there is proper sercuity.

"Thank you....oh!" Commander Wesdon exclaimed; "Miss Mecha; I want to remind you that this is your last day in the service until further notice..." Commander Wesdon then went to Oniz Mecha and started to wisper something into her left ear; "[Just to give Gregory some time to adjust with the truth.]" Commander Wesdon then turned around and started to go back upstairs and exit the submarine area.

"Of course." Oniz said giving Gregory a sense of confusion. ~Why would Commander Wesdon dismiss Oniz?~ he thought. To him; Commander Wesdon showed no signs of worry about Oniz's safety and well being and she was doing her job almost too well. Oniz then turns to Gregory; Gregory starts to talk.

"Well Oniz...." Gregory begin but Oniz knew exactly the type of question that Gregory was going to ask.

"Well Gregory." Oniz said firmly and truthfully as she stared into Gregory's eyes; " I knew that something was wrong the moment Barry Statemen said that 'someone must have wanted him real bad.' " That statement confirmed everything.....Maxim's death was _no_ accident!!

**

Meanwhile..........Back onto the plane launchpad of the battle carrier Wesdon it was bustling with activity as it has been since the beginning of the ultimate misson. There were as many as fifthteen furries on the launchpad currently excluding Recon, Reckon and Colonel Willy: six cats (2 brown, 2 black, 2 white); four dogs (2 black Territor, 2 brown hounds) ; three birds (1 bluejay, 1 white hawk and 1 red cardinal) and two black panthers. There were only two things they all had in common. They all were wearing the same private gear that Recon and Reckon were wearing and most of them were repairing the Battle Carrier. Private Recon and Reckon could see how their trouble they caused earlier being reduced to cleaning patrol or in this case; reduced to being like incompent pirates. They were handling wooden-handled; white-absorbing cloth mops. Colonel Willy on the other hand was enjoying this; he had warned about the War Measures Act going too far and picking people who just couldn't handle the pressure. He wondered if these two's absence would have sped-up the conflict and ended it quicker. ~ Proably not!~ he thought.

"Now here is your mission....which you must accept.." Colonel Willy ordered with a hint of glee as he carefully grabs a steel bucket filled with clear water; "..you two will swap this deck and you will properly dispose of that dirty water. You know what that means: You will deposit that water in this Water Streamer;" he points directly to a large glass jar with a filter-like cover mounted onto the mouth located about one hundred paces south of the place where Recon and Reckon are located causing them to shudder; "......not over the side of the deck...." he then barked out the last statement in order to strike fear into the two privates; "Do you understand?"

"Yes sir!" Recon said without question.

"You can count on us sir!" Reckon chimed in afterwards. Colonel Willy simply shook his head; ~I'm going to regret this but orders are orders!~ he thought as he puts the bucket of water down onto the iron floor of the luanchpad right between the two private gators.

"That'll be the day..." Colonel Willy barked shaking his head feeling pretty short-sighted;"..Now get to work!"

"Very well sir!" Recon said without question or emotion and saluting his authorive boss.

"We will do our very best sir!" Reckon chimed in saluting his boss in unison.

"Where is Fuzi anyway?" Colonel Willy asked asking the question to absolutely no one in particular.

"How should I know?" Recon asked thinking that Colonel Willy was directly asking the question when he clearly was not.

"Because I didn't ask _you_ the bloody question!" Colonel Willy shouted very upset that the private would talk without being asked to. However; Colonel Willy should've known that talking to yourself was not a good idea; particually with Private Recon and Reckon hanging around with you.

"Oh....that's right!" Reckon said feeling a bit frightened by Colonel Willy's screaming.

"as you said...." Recon said sounding like a broken-record. For Colonel Willy; he had heard that same sequence of answers from Private Recon & Reckon Wolde for far too long already. But unlike the other commanders; Willy was more inbetween Commander Wesdon and General Stateman.

"Why do I bother?" Colonel Willy said shaking his head as a sign to show just how incompetent Recon & Reckon really were; not that the privates would noticed anyway; "Just get back to work!" Recon and Reckon decided to obey him without question; as they dipped the cloth end of their mops into the metal bucket and started to wipe the deck as commanded. It was a long and painful process; but considered how many times Recon and Reckon messed up orders; this was one thing that they should be able to do cleanly. At least; that's what Commander Wesdon and Colonel Willy hoped....However; more pressing matter were about to present themselves.

"Colonel Willy?!" Colonel Allen shouted as he ran from the door which led into the underbelly of the ship causing all the furries to scatter about and they all watch the sence closely not doing their assigned work as they should; "Colonel Willy?!" He came to a full stop; luckly not onto the wet areas in which Recon and Reckon were swaping the deck. Colonel Allen was breathing very heavily and felt a clutch of panic. ~What if it's already got Oniz's sub?~ he thought in a sea of panic-like thoughts.

"Allen?!" Colonel Willy asked seriously feeling that he was intentionally disobeying his orders to help Fuzi; "Aren't you supposed to be helping Fuzi?"

"I was until some black intruder attacked me." Colonel Allen said trying to catch his breath and failing to realize that he used the wrong context of words to describe events that happened on the third floor.

"Which one?" Colonel Willy asked laughing as he spoke. ~Nice context of words!~ he thought.

"Very funny!" Colonel Allen said trying to refrain from punching Colonel Willy's lights out. He _really_ hated that joke!

"Well; it would be no laughing matter if Commander Wesdon finds out that you were doing your job." Colonel Willy said firmly not realizing that Commander Wesdon has just entered the area using the same door that Colonel Allen exited; his own mighty presence was causing all fifteen furries to scramble quickly back to their posts. Commander Wesdon was not amused; ~I would court-marshall them if I wasn't so.....What is Colonel Allen....?~ he thought stunned. Recon and Reckon were all too busy wiping up the steel-plated floor of the deck to even notice the Commander talking to Colonel Willy. Commander Wesdon didn't notice them either; nor did he even care.

"Ummm....excuse me for being out to lunch again.." Commander Wesdon asked staring coldly at an equally cold Colonel Willy; "..but what is Colonel Allen *doing* here?" he then turns to a red-hot Colonel Allen; "You're supposed to be helping Fuzi with that shipment of green beans."

"Commander Wesdon; there is an intruder in the storage room..." Colonel Allen started to plead his case but Commander Wesdon interuptted him; as a sign that the Commander didn't buy a single word that Colonel Allen said from the very start. Most of the time it was like this and Colonel Allen was very close to snapping.

"Now; Colonel Allen!" Commander Wesdon said not believing the statement coming into his ears and was shaking his head; " Are you saying that this intruder is trying to excuse you from not doing your job."

"I am doing my bloody job Commander Wesdon!" Colonel Allen barked angerly without realizing that he was in the presence of his own superior; "I'm just being treated as a second-class solider by a first-class pig!"

"Now wait a second!" Commander Wesdon screamed turning from cold to hot in less time than it took to turn on the hot water tap; "First of all; I'm a bruin. You don't see me snorting! and second..." Commander Wesdon finally realized that Colonel Allen had a case after all; his jaw was red and looked a bit lumpy; "..did anyone tell you that your jaw is swollen?"

"May I check to see if your jaw's okay?" Colonel Willy asked seriously as he approches Colonel Allen.

"You two are crazy!!" Colonel Allen barked as he relucently allowed Colonel Willy to check his pocket; "I'd tell ya that you two still think that I'm just a tough guy with no head...." Colonel Willy turns around and looks directly at Commander Wesdon looking very discontented. Commander Wesdon could hardly get the comment in as he was still stuck in his own thinking; ~What is going on Colonel Willy?!~

"Commander Wesdon!!" Colonel Willy stated feeling panicky; "The keys to Oniz's invention are gone!"

"WHAT?!" Commander Wesdon screamed feeling a clutch of pain within his soul as well. Those inventions from Oniz were very powerful. He shuddered to think what kind of damage could be done if this 'Black Ninja' manages to steal of even worse destory something of Oniz that could cause damage to the battle carrier Wesdon or even death to the furries who work in it. Talk is now offically over; it is time for action. But Colonel Allen wasn't done yet; considering the massive insults that have flinged into his direction over the years. Commander Wesdon may be his boss; but to him he abused that position.....

"That's what I have been trying to get into your bloody head....." Colonel Allen snapped back halfway before Commander Wesdon started to panic again.

"Colonel Willy! Sound the alarm!" Commander Wesdon orders as Colonel Willy salutes causing all fifteen furries to scramble to the exits and get themselves position on the yellow alert as if Commander Wesdon's voices were in their heads ; "Put us on yellow alert and alert all furry personnel to secure the exits! Colonel Allen! Come with me...." Commander Wesdon orders at Colonel Allen; "We have to escort Oniz and Gregory to safety."

"Right!" Colonel Allen said as he salutes in unison. Recon and Reckon were seemly ignoring them as they continued to dip their mops into the steel water bucket and continued to swap the deck as they were ordered. Commander Wesdon finally makes eye contact at them.

"Recon! Reckon!" Commander Wesdon barks directly at the two privates as they finally both make eye contact at their superior; "Help Fuzi with the shipment of green beans."

"Right sir!" Recon said as he salutes his superior Commander.

"You can count on us sir!" Reckon said as he follows his twin brother in unison to his Commander.

"But sir! You know that Private Recon and Reckon make mistakes....." Colonel Willy said panicky that he had to switch jobs at a time like this; "What if General Stateman....?"

"If they do make mistakes;" Commander Wesdon barked out clearly his mind was on the task at hand; "....then Barry can blame it on them!.."

"Of course....." Colonel Willy said saluting while at the same time, smirking; effectively hiding it away so that Recon and Reckon couldn't see it. Colonel Allen, Commader Wesdon and Colonel Willy both nod heads as they walk towards the exits. Commander Wesdon and Colonel Allen use the western door while Colonel Willy take the eastern door; the door towards Commander Wesdon's office. Recon and Reckon didn't know what was going on; other than that they knew they must continue to swap the decks. Still; this attempt at hard work still made Recon and Reckon feel just a bit empty. They haven't gotten much right since becoming soliders under the War Measures Act; and they were afraid on every mistake that they would be hung for their insuborination and high treason even though they have failed to understand that they have not committed either crime and they should stop getting carried away.

"Reckon?" Recon said as he dips the mop into the steel water bucket; "we can finally get into good graces with the Commander."

"I don't know Recon....." Reckon said with a worried look as he places the cloth end of the mop and strokes the wooden handle of the mop to wipe the steel floor clean.

"Stop worrying Reckon!" Recon said assuring Reckon that it was not over yet and they can still prove that they are still worthy of being solider; "Sure; we have not been up to our full stuff. But we cannot give up!"

"That's right! For we are the Wolade Twins!" Reckon chimed in with bravado; "We may be accident-prone; but we will correct our mistakes and make people take notice." Recon and Reckon try to give themselves a running high-ten; but both of them slip onto the wet surface of the steel floor that they just cleaned a few minutes ago; and ultimately bumped into each other causing them to take a tumble and fall flat on their back. As they struggle to get back up; Fuzi Nakasakai enters from the western door which led to the third floor storage area; and was walking backwards dragging the large box of green beans feeling worried that the wood's contact with the steel floor would cause a fire. However; Fuzi Nakasakai was thinking about finishing the job at Tikara; not concerned about what was happening on the bridge. The good news is that Fuzi was slowly walking towards his plane which had been safely parked on the beginning lower western strip of the battle carrier Wesdon.

"No wonder Colonel Allen is so upset...." Fuzi said panting as Recon and Reckon get back on their feet; "You would be too if you had to carry one hundred pounds of veggies."

"We're ready to serve you." Recon said saluting him quickly walking towards Fuzi; but he slips and slides once again onto the wet surface and crashes directly into the steel eastern door which swings outside instead of in.

"As he said..." Reckon said saluting him quickly walking towards Fuzi in unison; but he slips and slides directly into Recon.

"No! I can do it myself; thank you!" Fuzi said as he shook his head and continues his work towards the airplane dragging the box of green beans in tow. The situation was about to get even more crazier.....

**

Inside the ventalation shaft; the Black Ninja continued to crawl forward inside the steel shaft which was only four feet wide and two feet long. While the vent was causing extreme pain for the Black Ninja.....but it was still on time for it.... "I'm almost there!" the Black Ninja exclaimed giggling; "Soon; Oniz Mecha will pay for what she has done...." The Black Ninja approches a dead-end. It finds a grate looking down directly at the submarine where Oniz Mecha is working on. The Black Ninja was on target to activate its plans to make Oniz pay for whatever she has done to it.

"Perfect!" the Black Ninja laughed; "Step two complete!" Meanwhile; back to the bowel of the Battle Carrier Wesdon and to the left to the submarine-type machine; Oniz Mecha and Gregory AeroStar have knelt down at the base of the crushed up plane. Gregory is looking very distraught over what Oniz has to say.

Gregory AeroStar was shaken to his foundation at the strong tone of words Oniz Mecha had say; " 'Someone wanted him really bad'?"

"That's right!" Oniz Mecha said without a second thought.

She was more surprised at the evidence that she was about to show Gregory; but the words and tone alone was causing Gregory to see that he pretty much knew what exactly what happened to dad; "I see."

Oniz decides to start her line of questionning; "Gregory; what do you currently notice about the plane?"

"Well; judging by the amount of damage to the central propellor." Gregory said looking directly at the damaged central propellor that Oniz Mecha was pointing to; "I would say that the plane crashed head-on with a hard rockface!"

"That was _too easy_ Gregory!" Oniz responded looking a bit annoyed that Gregory was stating the clear truth that was easy to see just by looking at it; "Okay; I'll be more pin-point: What do you see looking at each engine?"

"The engines are burnt to a crisp!" Gregory said as he looked directly at the engines. The engines showed their charred insides like they didn't care about the people who were commenting on them. The engines were the most damaged on the entire airplane except for the smashed propellor.

"That's right!" Oniz said nodding her head; "Now what does that mean?"

"The engines must have _really_ failed...." Gregory said acting dumb. He clearly didn't quite know the answer: ~Engine Failure or Arson. I don't know.....~ he thought

"I'll be the lame jokester around here!" Oniz Mecha said looking very annoyed; she didn't like dumb comments; "....and yet I'm not joking around. No Gregory; the engine doesn't catch fire when it fails. You know that!"

"So it isn't engine failure....." Gregory said agreeing with Oniz before she decided to whack Gregory on trying to iminate the great mechanic; "......so it must be sabotage!"

"Well...." Oniz said feeling that the cause was valid if you don't know all the fact so it was time to correct Gregory;"....there is just one problem...I fully inspected the plane moments before Maxim was making his final delivery; and there were zero problems. So then I realized that something was up." Oniz Mecha was smiling now; " So I decided to carefully open up the charred engine and guess what I found?"

"Scrambled eggs?" said Gregory looking clearly dumb.

"I told you that I'm the lame jokester of this outfit;" Oniz shouted out feeling that Gregory was taking this too far; although Oniz was well known for exactly the same thing; "......not you!"

"Okay! Okay!" Gregory said holding his hands flat againest the parrell; knowing the real answer to his question; "You found something that shouldn't be there....!"

"Well; you are one for two today." Oniz Mecha responded giving a deep sigh; "Actually I discovered this in each engine." Oniz Mecha stands up and walks towards her workshop and hands Gregory two metal object. The first object looks like it is in the shape of the bullet gunshot shell; silver in color with one half painted red. The second object is similar; but it's completely busted up. That proved everything; someone shot Maxim's very own plane and Gregory is completely shocked at the sight of it. He wanted to cry and sob loudly; but his body wouldn't do it...maybe because that dream with Maxim gave Gregory the clue of the cause of death.

"Daddy......" Gregory screamed acting almost like a pyschopath; "....WAS MURDERED!!" Oniz Mecha had her hands over her ears; but she understood what Gregory was feeling. If only Maxim decided not to be a diplomat.....

"No act of God did this...." Oniz said firmly feeling that she knew who didn't do it.

But Gregory thought that Oniz was being funny and using the almighty as a cheap laugh and he was getting closer to become a pyschopath; "THAT'S NOT FUNNY ONIZ!!"

"Calm down Gregory!" Oniz shouted out feeling that she was going to be physically threathened by a mentally unstable furry.

"Okay.....rewind a little bit." Gregory starts deep breathing and begins to completely clam down; "Okay; that's better....now where were we?"

"After I said that an act of God or...." Oniz stated trying to get her bearings once again.

"Yes!" Gregory answered loudly but was clearly sounding much more rational.

"Okay;" Oniz responded feeling that Gregory was not completely out of pyschopathic stage just yet; "I also found this quite strange...."

"What do you mean strange?" Gregory asked looking a bit cross that Oniz would this death strange. ~What was strange about this? Maxim AeroStar was shot down!~ he thought

"Well; I'm just surprised that whomever shot that plane down decided to go for the engine rather than go for the pilot." Oniz exclaimed feeling that this question was yet to be answered; "I mean if someone wanted to kill Maxim; why not simply go for the head?"

" Let's not get gory Oniz." Gregory said feeling that the comment was very morbid. Gore was clearly not Gregory's style.

"That's right....gore clashes with you. I forgot....bad joke...." Oniz said admitting that this was the way Gregory ; "Anyway; I was thinking that they had another motive for this crime of bloodbath....."

"Don't be dramatic Oniz!" Gregory said feeling that Oniz should stop the morbidness; "Comedy suits you better....but are you saying that this death is an accident?"

"I doubt it! Look; when I say motive; I say premeditated." Oniz responds feeling that Maxim was murdered as Gregory was screaming out of; "At any rate; the hole made in the engine was done with precision. So; no doubt that the cirminal intended to shoot the plane down.." Oniz then sees Gregory and he was completely numb-feeling. Everytime that someone was talking about Gregory's dad; Gregory starts to do something called 'spacing out'; "...Gregory?"

"I'm sorry Oniz;" Gregory said snapping out of the deep out-space; "I was spacing out again."

"What channel this time?" Oniz asked. All Gregory could hear out of thbat was the Bum-Bum-Ching sound coming out of his furry-ears. He never liked Oniz's lame jokes.

"Oniz!!" Gregory said feeling very annoyed about Oniz's intrusion; but decided to play along with her; "Actually; it was channel two...."

"You're thinking of Maxim?" Oniz asked thinking that was the reason why Gregory was spacing out. Trust Oniz; she knows that he's thinking of Maxim everytime he has been spacing out.

"Yeah; channel one is the government; channel three is the Wesdon Dance.." Gregory starts to have signs of confusion that made his eyes very dizzy and was about to suffer an acute headache; "...now I'm confused."

"Confused enough to change the subject and ask me about my new invention?" Oniz asked calmly. Meanwhile; unknown to them; the Black Ninja decides to make her move now and begin what was known as step number three to it. It opens the grate and throws it gently into the pool of water so no one would be noticing the splash that it makes. The Black Ninja quickly jumps onto the submarine. The submarine is black in color and measures 95 feet by 30 feet by 10 feet. There are white borders arounds the sides halfway up. The Black Ninja finds the hatch door and opens it; and finally the Black Ninja hops into the submarine and begins step number four of its master plan by closing the submarine door hatch before Gregory and Oniz notices anything that has happened. The plan was perfect now; and it was smooth sailing from here on out for it.

"Yes;" Gregory asked starting to agree that the subject should be changed; "....how did you manage to find a proable cause so quickly?"

"I knew that you would spew the moment." Oniz said as they turned around and looked at the black-iron sea driver submarine; "Isn't it a beauty?"

"It looks like.....it looks like....." Gregory said getting ready to bust a joke off Oniz; "... _a machine_!"...Bum-Bum-Ching!

Oniz just shook her head in amazement that Gregory was getting off most of the lame jokes in her presence; prehaps Gregory was finally starting to become completely out of character; "Very smart.... _smart guy_!" It's what I call a submarine." Oniz said with a gleeful smile as she explains the submarine with such bravado and pride; "I've even given it a name: The AquaMarine. It's purpose is to discover the depths of the sea. Just imagine Gregory: it can tow airplanes and boats back to base without notice of dection. Normally; we would have to put the airplane onto a salvage boat to Tikara and then put it on another boat back to Wesdon. It would take weeks to investagate; not to mention all the safety concerns and concerns of sercery....."

"I get it now." Gregory said understanding Oniz's somewhat confusing pyschobabble; "In other words; you are able to do something that would normally take weeks...months....even years would take only a matter of five days, Right?"

"Actually; it took four and a half days.." Oniz said correcting Gregory slight error in judgement; "...I'm a fixer; not a counter. That's Sally's dream of conquest...."

"I guess it is...." Gregory said feeling a bit cheated that Oniz would take his mistake so seriously. Gregory then makes the big mistake of turning his back on Oniz....Remember that Oniz is an almost hopeless flirt. And now that Maxim's gone

"....oooh!" Oniz started to approches Gregory from behind and places her head next to his shoulder; looking ready to flirt her new onwer of the AeroAvis into submission; "Gregory? Please talk sweet-something in my ear.....Anything..."

"You're flirting again!" Gregory said honestly as he nudges Oniz aside harshly; "If you think that your flirting is going to give you 'Mr. Right' then you should see a doctor." ~There! That'll teach her not to flirt in my presence!~ he thought with a bitter thought.

"Oh!" Oniz said feeling very shameful and somewhat cross; "Now who's playing the Claris card here....."

"What is that sound?" Gregory asked as there is now a light sound rumbling about the bowel of the Battle Carrier and it was progressively getting louder.

"Oh; that is the purring kitten sound of the AquaMarine..." Oniz said listening to the sound if it was music; "..Isn't it beautiful?"

"The sound is almost like music." Gregory said feeling the beat to be cool inside his furry ears; "It's amazing really...that it is doing it all by its lonesome...."

"Yeah; but I'm not controlling it.....What is happening?" Oniz and Gregory turn around to find that the AquaMarine is moving slowly away from the launch point and it was somehow increasing its speed. Oniz gave no such clearance for anyone to ride on the Aqua Marine execpt her and Gregory. Someone was stealing the AquaMarine.

"The sub's moving by itself!" Oniz shouted as then in one quick motion like nobody asked him to do or like he was ordered by some unknown force; Gregory AeroStar started running towards the AquaMarine causing Oniz Mecha to scream; "Hey! GREGORY! COME BACK HERE!" Oniz couldn't believe that Gregory would risk his own life to stop the AquaMarine. ~Why would he die for a piece of metal? I thought that he reflected on his airplane being defective?~ she thought as the message of Durin and Pledge was starting to show signs of backlash.

"Don't worry Oniz!" Gregory said as he was running towards the AquaMarine as it was slowly starting to gain speed; "I'll stop this sub!" Gregory gains enough speed (read: a lot of speed) and makes an unbelievable jump and lands on the platform of the AquaMarine very easily. That move caused Oniz's jaw to drop...~How the earth world did he managed to jump onto that submarine without killing himself?~ she thought. He was very lucky too; because the AquaMarine has now gain enough speed that no one else could be able to catch up with it if their lives depended on it. Gregory decides to quickly get down to his knees in order to preserve his balance and crawl slowly towards the submarine hatch. Oniz finally is able to put her jaw back into her mouth realizing that the AquaMarine was not safe yet; nor was the Battle Carrier Wesdon for that matter. The hatch doors leading outside were closed and the AquaMarine was heading striaght for them. Luckly Oniz Mecha knew exactly what to do; so she quickly head to her radio and dials into the control tower; where Private Glucose (read: Oniz's right paw private so to speak) heads the vertial hatch doors.

"PRIVATE GLUCOSE! OPEN THE HATCH! The sub's going to ram through!" Oniz Mecha barks into the radio to the control tower while Private Andrew Glucose was controlling the hatch which opens the Battle Carrier to allow the AquaMarine to go through, as that happened the red-alert siern alarm was blazing about; "Commander Wesdon must have known...." Private Glucose pushes a button from inside the control center which opens the vertical hatch door. The door opens just in the nick of time and just enough to allow the AquaMarine to escape without damaging the Battle Carrier. Gregory makes it to the submarine hatch door; the same one in which the Black Ninja entered earlier. Gregory then turns around and waves his arms at Oniz. The thief clearly had no intention to destory the Battle Carrier; so it had no personal grudge againest Commander Wesdon. So why just Oniz is this Black Ninja emflamed in such hatered?

"DON'T WORRY ONIZ!" Gregory screamed at Oniz; waving his hands to tell her that he was okay; "YOUR MACHINE WILL BE OKAY!"

As Commander Wesdon and Colonel Allen enter the bowels of the ship; Oniz Mecha was completely stunned at what Gregory AeroStar; the unstable furry has done and could only say one thing and this time she wasn't being funny; "That...._is_ one werid furry!" Commander Wesdon and Colonel Allen each go down the stairs to bring Oniz Mecha to safety. ~Gregory; you better know what you are doing? I don't want to be the one to tell Sally that you're dead.~ she thought as she bit her lip a bit.

"Oniz!" Colonel Allen shouted "The sub is getting away!"

"Like I didn't know." Oniz Mecha snapped getting back to her normal chatterbox self; "...And you were supposed to be _guarding_ those keys?!"

"Don't blame Allen, Oniz!" Commander Wesdon said as he came in between the two soliders.

"Huh?" Colonel Allen said looking stunned; almost as stunned as Oniz Mecha.

"Yes Oniz." Commander Wesdon said much to the shock of Colonel Allen who had never been defended before by the very boss who was making fun of him; "Colonel Allen was trying to help Fuzi with a large box of green beans when he was assulted by a..." Commander Wesdon gulped on this statement because he couldn't believe it either; "...black ninja...."

Oniz looked flush red-hot that the intruder could be a Jepang spy; "Don't tell me that someone from Jepang has breached...." Oniz then thought that prehaps Commander Wesdon was right the first time when he discouraged Fuzi from being part of the alliance; "Fuzi?!"

"It's not Fuzi!" Colonel Allen stated defending his collegue knowing that Fuzi would never stoop to that low; "The voice sounds closer to Usland.....and is female."

"I see...." Oniz said and then the thought of a female attacker ~Could it be her?~ she thought as if she had some idea of who was stealing the AquaMarine. There was no time to lose; she instantly goes back to the radio.

"Private Glucose!" Oniz screamed into the microphone; "Get down here!"

"Yes Oniz sir!" Private Glucose said as he salutes her as he enters from the control room. He was a siena-brown cat who was fairly tall with a semi-strong build (read: not as strong as Colonel Allen) and was barely over 20 years old. He used to live in New Fedora; but now lives as a private solider in the Wesdon navy. He has so much patrotism that he has never married and would never accept a promotion from his bosses. In other words; he simply went about his business and felt that he was too far ahead for his own good.

"It's time to use my next big invention." Oniz Mecha said with glee and pride since at least she knew this invention would work; " Glucose? Send out the.....Port-A-Boats!" Commander Wesdon started to gripe with fear....He hates the Port-A-Boats; or more accurately; what they do to his own neck and back. Believe him; it is not pretty at all.

"Yes Oniz sir!" Private Glucose shouts as he salutes her in under orders from Commander Wesdon.

"Please just say 'Yes Oniz'." Oniz states as Private Glucose and Colonel Allen quickly go towards the storage area. Commander Wesdon was shuddering; he hated the Port-A-Boats with a passion and yet there was no way around it with Oniz Mecha having some authority in these kinds of work.

"Oniz! I don't think that this is a good idea......" Commander Wesdon said wiping the sweat and trying with no success to destory his fears of the invention; "I mean do we really have to use the..... Port-A-Boats?"

"Do you have a better idea?" Oniz Mecha complained trying to make her point clear with Commander Wesdon knowing that the answer was clearly no; "Using plane doesn't work and besides....." as she was complaining; Private Glucose and Colonel Allen drag the two Port-A-Boats and places them in the water;" We need security here!!" Now the Port-A-Boats were small compared to AquaMarine and were blue in color. They start off as cylinders measuring 4 feet by 10 feet by 4 feet. One end contains a two-cylinder engine while the other end contains a push button. Colonel Allen and Private Glucose place the Port-A-Boats into the pool of water and both push the button; and the barrels split into two. They in the end; expand two orange inflatable rafts 7 feet by 8 feet by 2 feet and are very soft; but are not confrontable for bigger people. Colonel Allen can tolerate it because he was a strong man and was used to fitting into small places at time. Commander Wesdon was not so simple.One final note; the motor engine is set under the raft separated by plywood.

"Okay;" Commander Wesdon said as he pouts about; ".....but I just hate it when I have to sit with my back seat." With that statement it was official....the trill to stop the Black Ninja was officially on right now......

**

Meanwhile; back on board the AquaMarine, Gregory AeroStar was starting show signs of second thoughts of actually jumping onto the ship; ~What if I never see my family again? How can I throw my life just to save a cold-hard machine? Isn't that what Dad did when he died in that 'accident'?~ he thought feeling sorry for himself. For a moment; he felt upset as he was crawling towards the entrance hatch into the AquaMarine, but soon realized that he had to face whatever consqeuences he would get as a result of his decision to presue the AquaMarine. At any rate; Gregory quietly opens the AquaMarine hatch door sucessfully and hops feet first into the opening of the hatch and lands directly into the AquaMarine lightly on little cat's feet. The inside of the AquaMarine is surprisely well-lit; behind him was a large pincher-like device apparently a device used to pick up large amounts of cargo and placed them into the rather large submarine. ~ That must be how Oniz got the plane in.~ he thought. To the left of Gregory there was a yellow flip-switch board with grey flip-switches; probably used to control the pincher-like device. To the right of Gregory was a pile of wooden boxes. However; the prize was right in front of him; the control room for the AquaMarine; where the submarine was driven. Standing at the control was AquaMarine was the Black Ninja; laughing as it puts some strange and sticky semi-liquid goo into the place where the key had been inserted. ~This criminal's trying to destory Oniz's machine....And what is to stop it from using it to ram into Wesdon harbor. It's gotta be stopped.~ he thought.

"This should gum up the works a bit. Now Oniz; how does it feel now?" The Black Ninja laughed with a laugh that sounded a combination of female and male giggles; "For the last five years; I've had to play second fiddle to you; you got me fired.....my life has suffered so badly; but no more.....I'll ram your so-called breakthrough into the rock face and sink your future!" The Black Ninja was laughing as if it had won. To it; nothing could stop it now; execpt....

"Not if I can stick it to you...." The Black Ninja turns around and discover that the voice perfectly matched the figure know as Gregory AeroStar; standing just below the hatch-opening and behind the pincher-like device. The Black Ninja was once again trapped between a man and cold steel. The Black Ninja was not impressed; because it was yet another male-type figure.

"So another so-called superior man with an Oniz-like sense of humor." The Black Ninja chuckled brilliantly; "Are we not just getting so old over this?"

"I see; so I should let you; the very mocking bird get away with this crime?" Gregory asked with a sarsatic tone; "You are blinded by your mask of dishonor!" ending it was an unbelievblely sick preachy tone. The Black Ninja looked closely at the AeroStar and couldn't believe its eyes; this one was unarmed unlike Colonel Allen who it was able to take down rather easily and he had a pistolgun. This _foolish_ man (Read: according to this furry) was even stupider than Colonel Allen.

"I don't expect you to....however; here's a little gift from the whipping girl!" The Black Ninja admits that she was a female ninja; surprising Gregory AeroStar only a little bit. Quickly; she takes out the whip; the very whip that disabled Colonel Allen and gained access to the AquaMarine in the first place and thrusts the black leather rope towards Gregory AeroStar. It lashes onto the self-defensive wrist of Gregory; causing Gregory to whince slightly in pain. The Black Ninja starts to become surprised as Gregory stares directly at her; an icy cold stare that caused the Black Ninja to whince herself. No one was able to intimdiate her quite like Gregory had.

"That was a pretty good lashing you've given.." Gregory said giving the Black Ninja all the props to give her a false sence of sercuity and she would fall for it; "...but I'm afraid the last lash is on you!" The Black Ninja shows a very sharp sign of surprise that she figures out that Gregory had tricked its nearly inpertinable defence. That proved to be costly as Gregory tugs on the whip rope from his self defence arm and yanks with all of his strength the Black Ninja forward and its hits its own head on the pincher-like device with a thud. The Black Ninja slumps to her knees and is completely seeing stars from the attack. Gregory approches her with judgement in his eyes; his day ruined by this criminal; this Black Ninja. While the Black Ninja continues to see stars; Gregory AeroStar holds the Black Ninja harshly by the shoulderblades and force her to her feet.

"I don't know why you are doing this and I don't care." Gregory said angerly; his eyes very sharp and direct into the Black Ninja's eyes; "I'm in a very bad mood thanks to losing my father's love..." Gregory knew that hiding under a mask was an act of cowardice; so he takes the mask clean off the Black Ninja's face only to reveal a beautiful female face of a golden cat. One that Gregory knew instantly; "...Zinna Tolay?!"

"Congraulations on figuring that out.....Oh! and here's your prize!"; Zinna said as in one motion punches the shocked Gregory in the face causing him to fall flat on his back holding his jaw. Gregory knew her as Zinna Tolay; a citizen of Wesdon and was nearly three years ago as the best mechanic in the world. She was one of the few ture patroits in the war; willing to serve her country proud. Zinna Tolay was above average in weight and height and was almost 40 years old. Sadly; she was discharged dishonorably in Falmouth because of an accident (Read: Which the Usland Army blamed her on) and wasn't seen until now. Like Oniz she was a mechanic, inventor and technologist and had a strong sense of feminism (Read: Much more than Oniz Mecha did). She was very tough and dislikes indifference particually from males. Gregory was starting to feel her wraith right about now.

"OUCH!" Gregory screamed holding his jaw to relive the pain he was suffering. Zinna was considering giving him his last rights; because now that she was discovered, Gregory must be put to death to prevent him from finding out what was going on. However; when she discovered that the AquaMarine was heading into the rocky and sharp-pointed rockface, she realized that dispatching him would be a bad idea. (read: for her at least) She gets her whip from Gregory's wrist and replaces back into its holder.

"It should feel brutal on your jaw!" Zinna shouts coldy; still not believing that this person found out about him; "I'd play with you now; but my job here is done....Another time; *if you survive*!...." Zinna hops onto the ladder and opens the unlocked hatch and exits the insides of the AquaMarine. She walks onto the cold steel top ceiling of the AquaMarine and looks into the same direction as the out-of-control AquaMarine. She sees that the submarine was heading towards the rockface as planned. Zinna then turns to the opposite direction and runs quickly forward. Zinna then reaches the tail end of the Aqua Marine and makes a combination of a high-type and long-type jump into the ocean; hitting the water without injury. As Zinna bops up from the surface skin of the water; she starts to see a small white motorboat whizzing just beside her and accidently(?) splashing her with health-ruining seawater. Zinna starts to cough repeatly and looks rather steamed.

"Hey you little jokester! Do you realize that salt ruins my health, not to mention my hair?!" Zinna says with an angry tone; as then there she sees a brown and green crested snake wearing a brown trenchcoat, steel knuckles on his hands and an investgator-type hat: " Cassium!" she said in shock as Zinna was being pulled up into the wooden motorboat by none other than Cassium Victor. While his brain wasn't always in the smarts department stores; he had unbelievable power in his steel fists. He stood more than seven feet tall in height and was somewhat musclar; however his muscles were reducing since he was even older than Zinna. Ten years older to be exact..... His favorite love in life was boxing; he used to be the HeavyWeight Champion in bare-nunkle boxer for nearly 20 years; before he was banned from boxing and later boxing was considered illegal due to the many deaths and bloodthristy boxers (Read: with Cassium Victor being the worst; mainly because he used steel wool gloves or so the urban legendist's claim at least.). He did however study airplane flying in the early 1900's (like Maxim did) and then disappeared without a trace much like Zinna did. People believed that he lived in the lawless country of Freelanda and is still part of gang activity; however, that is considered rumor at this point. However; today, Cassium did not looked pleased at seeing Zinna. Understandable considering how Zinna treats men.

"The boss warned you not to seek revenge." Cassium said sternly; not pleased with the action of his partner in crime; "He's not going to like this....."

"Oh; shut up and take us back to base.." Zinna said with power; for some reason Cassium was able to tolerate her hatred for the male gender; "..My task is complete anyway!" Cassium restarts the motorboat and exits east towards the city of Wesdon and to parts unknown. For some reason Zinna had a new employer and the employer has an obession to steal the Wesdon Navy's watercrafts and destory them on rockfaces. Speaking of which; back inside the AquaMarine; Gregory AeroStar start to get back up to his feet still holding that sore jaw of his.

"Ooooh....she hits harder than most people I know." Gregory said as he was still holding his jaw from the punch that Zinna threw at him; "I'm going to be sore tommorrow. Now let me get my bearings again...."

"Oh great! How do I stop this machine?" Gregory said with a clutch of painc; " Leave it to Oniz not to have an instruction book!" Gregory AeroStar accidently slams his paws onto the console and accidently hits the blue button 'submerge'. Luckly for AeroStar; Oniz Mecha had yet to install the device mechanism and the submarine failed to dive slowly into the skin of the water surface. Still; there was a good reason why Oniz didn't write an instruction book. Zinna would have stolen that before finding the submarine and she would have been able to start the AquaMarine much faster. Gregory then notices to the left of the console was the starter where the key was insterted and Zinna poured a sticky liquid down the sides of the key and the starter. Gregory attempts to twist the key out of the starter. But it was no use.....

"It's stuck...." Gregory said furstrated but not about to slam his fist down on the console again. He looks at something that suddenly caught his eye and found a black soft-plastic pipe sealed up by screws underneath the console;"I wonder if this is the...." He sharply tugs onto the soft-plastic pipe and it separates from the screws that were connected to the motor engine and fuel spills out quickly. Gregory felt calmer now and felt that he finally found a way (despite being very messy) to slow down Oniz's wonder machine.

"That must have been the fuel line." Gregory said feeling better now; "Maybe that will slow down the AquaMarine!" As Gregory said that; the fuel poured out quickly and spilled onto the floor. As predicted the AquaMarine was starting to slow down. However as Gregory turned to the front window he discovered that the AquaMarine would not have slowed enough to halt just short of the sharp rockface. Gregory once again felt a clutch of panic.

"The sub is not slowing down enough." Gregory said cursing under his breath; "I've got to redirect this submarine somehow before we hit." Gregory then notices to the right of the console was the steering wheel; the very wheel that controlled the ship (read: Oniz believed in standard ship equipment for easy usage by the Wesdon navy.)

"Arrrrgh!" Gregory screamed as he lost his balance and falls backwards as a result of the rubbing between the rockface and the AquaMarine. ~Oniz's going to kill me now.~ he thought as remembers just how obessive Oniz Mecha really is. The submarine finally slows down to the point of actually grinds to a halt. Gregory finally breathes a sigh of relief; surprised that the AquaMarine was very strong (read: the entire left side was dented; but there were no signs of gashes caused by the rubbing). Although he knew that Oniz Mecha was going to be mad and really chew off of him. Still; Oniz Mecha should be grateful; her invention almost fell into the opposition's hands. However; something seemed to bother Gregory. For one; why did Zinna return after being fired from her job in Falmouth? Why does she hate men and Oniz Mecha who was a female in particular? Nothing seemed to make sense and the fumes coming from the fuel spilled throughout half of the AquaMarine was making the situation almost unbearable. (Read: Luckly no one had a match or had a smoking condition.) Gregory rolls away from the pool of oil and gets back onto his seat looking directly up at the sky.

"Well; that is that! Wow; what a day this has been." Gregory said as he breathed heavily; "First I have a strange dream about my father who thinks differently than when I last saw him alive."

*The answer lies in one man; one being with a guilty conscience.* a voice calmly stirs up in his noggin. It was Maxim's voice; strange how a dream sequence could still come back to haunt him after all the events that came together.....

"It's almost like I was walking on thin ice when Commander Wesdon said yesterday:" Gregory began expecting a voice to come down from the heavens again. He was right on the money again......

*Easy! I called the Gemini Pilots Organization!* a voice beckon in his head. It was Commander Wesdon again; and for some reason Gregory's own soul chose this statement; possabilily to mock poor AeroStar again. But Gregory had more important things to reflect upon....

"I can see Tommy now; bright and cute...." Gregory continued as he looked directly at the ceiling reflecting at the events that haunt him right now as the Great War was starting to take its toll; "His invention may revolutize life as we know it. It's sad that he is being held back by the fact that his father is in this war. He must be very lonely and through no fault of his own nor his father for that matter...... Sally must be worried about me; boy did I act like a goof when both she and Phillip were playing noogie with each other. That was a turthful sign that they were only hiding the fact that they were feeling the impact of losing our father and even more so... me.......Farris....My buddy; my friend for the last ten years. He was like a hero to me.....He was a normal furry being..... When will we ever have normalcy; I still don't know......I met a new friend today; a little-know taxi driver; Mac Donald. He is a very bright furry and even some brillilance when it comes to politics. Prehaps the only way I'll ever bring thoughtful change to the social fabric of Usland is to get in bed with the evil.....How can I say that?!.....Fuzi Nakasakai; he is really on the up and up. He has the mutal respect of the Alliance now; although they should have done that years before. Fuzi Nakasakai has been well known to both me and my family for at least 12 years and he never betrayed the ture spirit of the lord.....I still wonder if Colonel Allen can gain this grail as well and/or as quickly as Fuzi has. Time and attitude will tell......Then there is Commander Wesdon; one year ago he was the assertive bear of Animea; a powerful verbal solider. What a difference a full year can be. Even petty insults which Wesdon would normally ignore; he took my neck and squeezed it hard; screaming in my face.....Behind that cold emotionless bruin lies a balloon that was this close to being popped; finally popped.... He is in pain; it is more than just being betrayed by his father although I don't believe it myself. It was the betrayal by a country hungry for power; by any means necessary. Compared to him I'm lucky; he still hasn't had some closure.....yet!.." Gregory then sits up and stares at his feet; "...And then the mask fell when Oniz Mecha slapped me in the face for mentioning her flirting; she telling me what Barry Stateman had known for the last five days that my father is not a coward and that he never betrayed anyone..." tears started to come down his cheeks; his tone feeling seemly hurtful;"......SOMEONE TOOK MAXIM'S LIFE! But why?! Why did they go for the plane? Is there another motive? I guess Commander Wesdon wasn't joking when he said that I would get partial closure because I'm still asking the dumb questions; not to mention that I'm still holding the bag. And then to add a little sideshow; Oniz's new invention the AquaMarine was stolen by a former friend. Why has Zinna turned againest Oniz and most male furries?..... Most people wouldn't experience this much in two lifetimes compared to just one day. They are the lucky ones.....And I still have at least a quarter of a day left who knows what else could happen....." Just then Gregory soon realized that he was dwelling on the negative and that he was given at least three years of freedom. Gregory instantly gets back to his feet.

"Still; I cannot feel that my life is miserable." Gregory said strongly; " It is time to laugh again. I cannot be drafted for another three years; so I can be with my family and my friend Farris...I can now do anything that I like to do...." As Gregory was interuptted; he starts to hear the sounds of furry feet on top of the AquaMarine. He suddenly realizes that it must be Oniz and Commander Wesdon on top of the AquaMarine. It's doubtful that Zinna would come back to finish him off after she failed to ram the AquaMarine into the solid rockface.

"I guess Oniz Mecha's already here." Gregory said listening to the thuds on the top of the AquaMarine; deciding to go topside feeling a bit concern since he had to break Oniz's knew toy; "I better go top side before she worries about me. I have a feeling that Commander Wesdon will not be happy about this." Meanwhile on top of the AquaMarine with the two Port-A-Boats tied with a hook againest the tail end of the AquaMarine's rear-engine unit (read: they plan to tow it back without activing the actual submarine itself; the propellor would chew up the ropes rather easily.); stood Commander Wesdon, Colonel Allen and Oniz Mecha; each surveying the damage. Commander Wesdon was at the front the submarine; with Colonel Allen checking the back, Oniz Mecha checking the top sides and Private Glucose (read: Oniz's second deckhand) would inspect the middle sides using the Port-A-Boats. Private Glucose was wonderful with this equipment; after all he helped design it with Oniz Mecha and has become a godsend to the cause; expect for Commander Wesdon's grumbling and holding his hand to his sore back. The Port-A-Boats were not design for his height and weight.

"Oniz;" Private Glucose points out as he observes the rather large dent running along the side of the AquaMarine; a reminder of the damage caused when it rubbed heavily across the left side as Gregory AeroStar attempted to steer clear to the right; "I thought that I saw some damage on the left side of the submarine."

"Ah yes; there is a nasty bump on the entire left side;" Oniz states as she walks to the left side and give her critical look;"...but it is regular for the most part. And I don't see any major scratches punturing the metal. This is easily fixable." Oniz felt relived that Gregory somehow was able to stop the AquaMarine from getting into war's greedy hands. Even though he did some damage; chewing him off would simply be unfair to him.

"No visiable damage up front here." Commander Wesdon stated firmly. To Oniz it was strange seeing the Commander actually helping instead of barking out orders. Commander Wesdon knew that this was Oniz's line of work and she knew this type of technology; so issuing orders to Oniz would be a big mistake at this point.

"No visiable damage back here." Colonel Allen said in unison.

"Well; I expect most of the damage to be inside anyway." Oniz stated getting ready to go inside the AquaMarine to meet up with Gregory; notices that Colonel Allen is approching her sounding a little slow in the uptake as if he was ashmaed of something; "Colonel Allen?"

"Oniz; have you ever had problems gaining acceptance to people?" Colonel Allen asked causing Oniz Mecha to stir. No one.... not even Maxim AeroStar has ever asked her such an interesting question about her. The stirring causing Colonel Allen to stir right back; realizing that he was turely not alone when it came to feeling alone.

"Well Colonel...." Oniz Mecha began to explain; "I am a woman; a sort-of tom-boyish kid who doesn't believe in faith [a white lie]......I'm not married. I don't even have a boyfriend. All I care about is fixing new stuff and create new technologies which no one needs and proably no one cares about...." and then the impulse of flirting came back; verbally of course; "Not to mention that I cannot flirt a man to be a boyfriend...."

"That's terrible!" Colonel Allen shouted; beginning to realize that the unequality of the problem was much more closer to home than even he had expected.

"It wasn't all that bad Allen." Oniz said reassuring that her loyality remained with Gregory AeroStar; "Because I found furries out there who believe in me as an equal. I use to be one of Maxim's pilots. I wasn't very good at it; so I decided to become his mechanic since he needed one. Maxim already has 12 pilots besides himself who are far more capable of flying then I am. Maxim respected my wishes even though he offered me a chance to improve my skills as a pilot."

"I see..." Colonel Allen reflected realizing that how important the grail was to both Fuzi and Oniz; that Colonel Allen is destined to reach that point as well; "Oniz? Allen is my last name." he added.

"You have a first?" Oniz asked. While she has known many of the names on the Battle Carrier Wesdon; she did not know Colonel Allen all that much.

"Of course I do." Colonel Allen nods believing that it was common sense to have a first name; "My first name is Forte."

"Oh I get it! Strong Allen.." Oniz Mecha said remembering some of her studies in french public speaking; "..It makes sense."

"Actually; my name is Forte Allen." Colonel Allen said blushing at the thought of being more high-class than it was healthy.

"Well; Colonel Allen. Forte does mean 'strong' in French." Gregory's voice beckoned. Everyone stared at the hatch as predictabilty; Gregory AeroStar opens the hatch and hops out of the inside of the AquaMarine. Commander Wesdon was the very first person to walk quickly towards Gregory after hearing him.

"Are you okay Aviator?" asked Commander Wesdon; feeling relived that the young AeroStar was alive and all right.

"Besides my jaw and wrist; of course I'm okay!" Gregory said with a much livier tone; a tone taken by Commander Wesdon as a sign that Gregory was starting to become more mentally stable.

"Well; your jaw isn't swollen too badly so you are going to live." Commander Wesdon chuckled as he looks carefully at his jaw much like he did with Colonel Allen; "I'm just glad that you are safe.I would have simply broken down completely if I lost you like I did Maxim..."

"You didn't lose my father. I've been too harsh on you Commander." Gregory said admitting that Commander Wesdon did the right thing under these tough times; "I believe it is time to stop pointing fingers at the people who causes this war; and simply stop this war. Peace can only be created with peace. Sure; justice can help; however, if you only depend on it you miss the parts that make up peace. And it only get worse...."

"I'm impressed. I thought you were the most unstable person I had ever seen." Commander Wesdon said surprised at the tone of voice Gregory gave. It was strong and firm; no signs of mental unstableness; "But I was wrong. You have handled this like a pro."

"Thank you Commander." Gregory said with a blush tone. ~Well; let's get back to the Battle Carrier before someone discovers us!~ he thought. For some reason Commander Wesdon was reading his mind; ~Not yet aviator! I want to know how you stopped this 'Black Ninja' from sinking the AquaMarine?~ he thought.

"Anyway; I have one question." Commander Wesdon asked causing Gregory AeroStar brow to show signs of sweat; "How did you stop the submarine?"

"Yeah?! That must have been magical...." Colonel Allen said excited to hear what Gregory AeroStar had to say. Gregory looks at both parties as he turned his back from the hatch.

"No; it was something like this...." Gregory started with sweat dripping down and as if it was directly on Gregory's cue; Oniz re-opens the hatch and walks out strongly from the inside of the AquaMarine looking very steamed. She just discovered the damaged caused by Gregory's attempt to stop her toy from being sunk permantly.

"Okay; you little smart aleck!" Oniz screamed venomly causing Gregory to jump on purpose knowing exactly what was coming; "What kind of man you are? There's oil all over the floor; the fuel pipe is pulled out; the steering wheel is sticky and the starter key is stuck in the holder with molasses."

"Oniz...." Gregory said looking completely off nerve feeling sorry for ever getting involving with the AquaMarine; "..I'm sorry for hurting your sub."

Suddenly Oniz's mean look was gone and she started to smirk; a slightly evil smirk at that; "Just kidding Gregory!" It was so funny that everyone from Private Glucose, Commander Wesdon, Oniz Mecha, Colonel Allen and even Gregory AeroStar began to laugh out loud. Gregory was blushing from embrassment considering that Oniz was in fact grateful for Gregory to stop Zinna from destorying her prized invention..........Or was she? As the sun starts to goes down; the party decided it was time to return to the Battle Carrier and give transportation to Gregory AeroStar back to the AeroAvis. The return trip proved to be let's just say..._entertaining_........

**

Back inside Commander Wesdon's office stood Commander Wesdon himself along with Colonel Allen, Private Glucose, Oniz Mecha and Gregory AeroStar. Everyone felt relived expect for Commander Wesdon who looked quite a bit light-headed; mainly because he simply refused to sit on the Port-A-Boats again due to the unbearable back pain that he endured as a result. So he decided to sit right inside the AquaMarine instead. That sadly caused Commander Wesdon to breathe in the fumes coming from the oil that was poured on the floor. The AquaMarine was towed via the Port-A-Boats back to the Battle Carrier Wesdon exactly the opposite way that the AquaMarine left the Battle Carrier. It entered the Battle Carrier and was placed under heavy security; despite the fact that it left the launchpad only lightly secured while the repair crews (read: all picked by Oniz Mecha as mechanics; only six in all) repaired the AquaMarine. Commander Wesdon decides to sit down and try to shake this light-headed sickness off. He was only having limited success; however.

"So; now that this little event is over." Commander Wesdon said slurring his speech a bit; a side effect of the smelling of oil;" I hope that this visit was educational."

"It certainly was Commander!" Oniz Mecha said smirking causing Commander Wesdon to be confused; or was it the light-headed response to the funes of gasoline.

"Yeah;" Gregory said laughing at the thought of Commander Wesdon's decision to go inside the AquaMarine instead of staying above the surface;"I didn't realize that you were _so_ attached to that sub!"

"Very funny aviator!" Commander Wesdon said slurring his speech feeling embrassed now about taking the easy way out; "I just do not like the salt air everytime I get into those Port-A-Boats." Gregory knew right away that it was because he had a bad back from sitting too long in that small tight Port-A-Boat that Commander Wesdon took the risk.

"That's ture." Gregory said pointing out the benefits of having a bad back over bad lungs; "But I'm surprised that with all that oil on the floor, you would take the harmful fumes from the fuel over the sea's salty air."

"Well aviator." Commander Wesdon said as Gregory notices that his slurred speech was starting to improve; Commander Wesdon was also giving Colonel Willy a piece of paper; "If you stand around this place for the last six years; you would get use to it. At any rate; I would like to thank you Oniz for your service to the Great War. You are hereby dismissed until further notice." Colonel Willy reads the paper and nods with approval as he exits Commander Wesdon's office after hearing a slight knocking on the door.

"Your welcome Commander!" Oniz Mecha says as she salutes him. Commander Wesdon grumbled a little bit; to him a lady saluting him on a cause that was considered male brutality at it's worst. Colonel Willy then re-enters Commander Wesdon's office with Durin Percy and Pledge Mason in tow. They had just completed the dangerous task of mailing a letter from Mr. Ian Wiser to his wife who was playing the role of nurse in Parris; which had been taken over by the Airbus Government. Commander Wesdon wasn't really surprised by their return; Pledge was very surprised that Durin decided to reconsider his attitude and attempt to do the absolute foolish and foolhardy task.

"Hello Gregory!" Durin said waving his hand towards Oniz Mecha. It had been a while indeed!

"It's nice to see you again!" Pledge said waving his hand towards Gregory AeroStar. Gregory and Oniz turn around to greet the two pilots of Commander Wesdon's elite squad.

"Durin?!" Gregory and Oniz said at the same time; "Pledge?!" This was certainly a surprise indeed considering that Durin and Pledge was fighting over a letter just yesterday.

"Ah yes! Your right on time." Commander Wesdon said nodding his head even though Durin and Pledge were a few minutes late, Commander Wesdon turns to Gregory and Oniz; " You may have noticed that Fuzi Nakasakai has left to deliver a shipment of green beans to Tikara; so for today Durin Percy and Pledge Mason will fly you and Oniz home okay?"

"Thank you Commander." Gregory said feeling that Commander Wesdon was making the right call here.

"Your welcome Mr. AeroStar." Commander Wesdon stated as he was now able to speak clearly again; "Colonel Willy; will you please escort the pilots and mechanic towards the launchpad? Colonel Allen; you stay here. I need to talk to you.... Private Glucose; you go with Colonel Willy too. You have to help Private Recon and Private Reckon with swapping the deck. "

"Yes Commander Sir!" Private Glucose said as he salutes his boss before exiting Commander Wesdon along with Durin, Pledge, Oniz, Gregory and Colonel Willy. Colonel Allen was told to stay behind and he did as he was commanded. He was unprepared for what was about to happen to him.

"Now; Colonel Allen." Commander Wesdon said staring directly into Colonel Allen's dark eyes; "It is now time to talk about my consideration for you to be premoted....." Colonel Allen was in disbelief. Could it finally be the holy grail that he was working for finally becoming ture......We'll have to find out on another time.... Meanwhile; back into the imfamous hallway leading to Commander Wesdon's office now considered in the re-checked eyes of Gregory AeroStar a less inhostile place; walking down the hallway walked Durin Percy, Colonel Willy, Pledge Mason, Oniz Mecha, Gregory AeroStar and Private Glucose were going about their business approching the door that leads to the Battle-Carrier Wesdon's launchpad.

"Well;" Colonel Willy asked; "....how was the new AquaMarine?"

"Colonel Willy?" Oniz Mecha asked forgetting about asking Commander Wesdon when the AquaMarine will be repaired; " When will Commander Wesdon's crew finish repairs to the AquaMarine?"

"Well;" Colonel Willy said remembering that Commander Wesdon did hand him a piece of paper telling him that her submarine was on the mend; "Commander Wesdon has informed me that the crews should have the submarine fixed within two weeks and it should be on the dock at the Commerical Dock in West Wesdon a few days after the fact."

"That's good." Oniz Mecha said smiling from ear to ear; "One more question; is Gregory part of the crew?"

"ONIZ?!" Gregory shouted feeling very defensive. He thought that Oniz was serious about the damage he caused trying to Oniz Mecha's submarine, the AquaMarine.

"Well _GREGORY_!" Oniz snapped back smiling loving being able to make Gregory squeal loudly; "You were the one who did the most damage to my fair child!"

"Are you serious?" Durin asked looking dangerously curious.

"Durin; stay out of this!" Pledge shouted trying to convince Durin that this was none of his business.

"Oniz!" Gregory shouted out on defensive mode once again but still not getting the joke that Oniz was playing on him; "Zinna ruined the starter!"

"WHAT?!" Oniz shouted realizing that Gregory was taking this matter very seriously and then making the mistake of saying something out of context;" That jealous mechanic?!"

"Oh;"Durin pointed out;"......that was the mechanic that was digraced in Falmouth when she was terminated for blowing up the furance terminal....." That statement was in Pledge eyes was disgraceful and was upsetting for an event that nearly killed innocent drafted civilians. He wanted to do something......

"Durin!" Pledge said as he yanks Durin's ear causing Durin to squeal a bit; "Stay out of people's business!"

"Wait?!" Oniz said feeling the time was right for the unflitered truth; much like Gregory's closure for the death of his father; " Pledge let me speak!"

"Are you sure Oniz?" Pledge said not sure if Durin would make fun of this unfortunate event once again. However; Oniz Mecha didn't care. It was time to share the pain that she went through.

"I am." Oniz said as she lowers her head feeling very ashamed about the events that she was going to speak; "Just one month into my service; I was teamed up with Zinna in Falmouth on a simple repair jobwork. She was a wonderful fixer and very savy with new inventions. However; one day, I was supposed to shovel snoot into the boiler/furance terinmal in order to keep the water from over-boiling and causing it to blow up. After about ten shovels of snoot; I started to brag about how strong my arms were and how many muscles I had. Zinna wasn't impressed with what I had and she wanted to show off her 'ladies strength' as she would normally say. However; she would accidently shovel a pile of snoot that contains some pieces of paper into the furnace.That causes the smoldering fire to reborn into a small blaze. However; it was small enough to overheat the boiler to overboil and the steam pressure became too high." Oniz looks up to eliminate any sense of shame that might have tainted her; "The whole boiler blew up causing scores of scalding hot water to come down. Much of the equipment was damaged."

"That's terrible Oniz!" Gregory said. The truth that Oniz was saying was a lot different from the press' take on the whole subject of Zinna Tolay. In Oniz's eyes; Zinna made a terrible mistake and was completely influences by her arrogrance. This event has changed Oniz; impacted to the point where Oniz was starting to question her own impulses. The press' eyes saw Zinna Tolay's mistake as equal to a crime and treason againest the effort to stop the war. That was the difference and Oniz wasn't liking it for one second.

"As terrible as it was; the good news was that one was hurt and we were able to clean up the mess." Oniz Mecha with a faux sigh of relief as she knew that the real consqeuences were coming forth; "The bad news was yet to come however." As Oniz Mecha and Colonel Willy both open the main doors leading towards the Battle Carrier Wesdon's Launchpad. Already on the launchpad; on the southeastern side of the launchpad stood Private Recon Wolde and Private Reckon Wolde; clearly showing more composure for their actions after nearly hurting themselves trying to help Fuzi Nakasakai. While they didn't play a role in helping Fuzi; their lack of action actually was a good thing. Fuzi would be able to deliver the green beans on time and the Wolde twins escape further punishment from Commander Wesdon. To the northwestern side of the launchpad; stood proudly two airplanes; the first was the green Viper CT-15 which happened to be Durin's airplane. Like Fuzi Nakasakai had for his own plane; Durin Percy had a special name for his plane: "Gaia Avis" which means "Birds to the Earth". The other airplane was a red Viper CT-16 which happened to be Pledge's airplane. The special name for this plane: "Flight of Morals". Pretty self-explaining name to most untrained souls.

"This conversation has been interesting;" Colonel Willy said honestly knowing that they would have to split up;"....but I have to get back to work...." Colonel Willy stops and walks towards the southeastern side of the launchpad, "Private Glucose? Come with me."

"Yes sir!" Private Glucose said as he follows Colonel Willy towards Private Recon and Reckon who were continuing to wipe the launchpad deck clean. Although many people would consider this line of work to be somewhat of a letdown; Andrew Glucose _is_ a loyal solider. If Commander Wesdon tells him to risk his life in battle; he's going to do it. If he's assigned to swap the deck; then he'll do that too. Patroism at it's best as they would say in defensive circles. As Andrew joins the privates; Gregory took a quick glance to them and that made he feel lovely ~It's nice to see that Recon and Reckon can actually do something that they can't make a mistake on. This proves that they are not as dumbfounded as many people claim them to be.~ he thought. There was no time for reflection: Gregory AeroStar joined Pledge Mason, Oniz Mecha, and Durin Percy towards the end of the launchpad where Durin and Pledge's planes were.

"So; Zinna was fired after that?" Gregory asked; which to some would sound dumb because the answer was very clear.

"Yes she was." Oniz stated feeling very subdued; clearly wasn't and shouldn't be proud of what happened that day.

"Well; she didn't look before she shovelled." Gregory pointed out not realizing that he just missed the entire reason why Oniz even wanted to talk about this; "Zinna _was_ careless!"

"She didn't deserved to be fired Gregory!" Oniz yelled out causing some of the workers, mainly Recon and Reckon; on the launchpad to turn around and notice her for a moment. They went right back to work almost as quickly as they reflected on Oniz; "Sure; she did deserve to be repremended. She was in fact expecting to be punished. However; she never expected this. I wasn't even chewed off or even mentioned in the entire incident even though my bragging caused her carelessness. To make matters worse; she cannot be redrafted into the war because of the War Measures Act. I never saw her again and I felt guilty; guilty because I look like a man and she was fired because she was a woman...." Oniz started to recently realize why many preachers forbid women to cross-dress. To her if she had dressed like a woman instead of a man; then prehaps she would be fired as well and maybe was able to talk Zinna Tolay out of comitting this sort of terror; a hineous crime. It would have been a benefit to her as well; despite the fact that would in the eyes of the social fabric elite to be a traitorous act. However; Oniz like Maxim, was a discourager of war and Commander Wesdon knew that their togetherness would be an asset because Maxim needed some freedom and most importantly protection which was something Maxim would glady give up some freedom for because he knows exactly why he was drafted; in order for his usefulness to be used at its fullest. To Commander Wesdon and to Oniz Mecha herself; Maxim's diplomatic connections and his peaceful attitude were clearly needed (read: proably the real reason why Maxim was drafted in the war) not only to win this war; but make it even more diffcult for rogue states or even war-minded people from starting another conflict. For Oniz; there were other troubles that could be a hot-spot for war and respect for woman was one of the biggest ones to date.

Gregory and company soon realized Oniz's pain; her female image was hurting her and they wondered if there was anything that they can do; "Oniz; I'm sorry for...."

"Don't be...." Oniz said sticking out her hand and gesturing that it wasn't as big of a deal as she has made out of it as Pledge Mason and Durin Percy each hopped into their planes at the front seat; "Gregory AeroStar, Pledge Mason; Durin Percy: I want you to understand this.....once the Great War is over; if it ever ends we will be fighting other wars. Many of them will not be physical conflicts and most can cause destruction that will not be so easy to solve nor spot."

"Let's go home;" Oniz ending her speech as she hops into Durin's plane at the back seat;"....we have some explaining to do. Right Gregory?"

"Right!" Gregory said believing the the first thing he had to do ~And I have to know if Sally's okay.~ he thought as he hopped into Pledge's plane at the back seat. Durin and Pledge started the engines on both of their planes and the wind propellors at the front of the planes as well as the side propellors of the wings started to move and turn around in a circular motion. This caused the wind to pick up around the planes and caused the hair of the pilots and passengers to whip in the wind. The planes' wheels then started to move quickly and the planes continue to pick up speed. The planes leave the launchpad sucessfully and starts to gain attitude. However; Gregory didn't notice the prefection of the planes; he had only one thing on his mind..~And if me and the world can ever regain peace again!~ he thought if only he could actually do something to stop this biggest outrage.

**

The Airplanes of Durin and Pledge's were making excellent time; they were three-quarters of the way to the AeroAvis. Above the planes; the skies are orange as the sun continues to set down slowly in the west. Below the planes is clear without a cloud in the sky and you could see the large city of Wesdon. However; Gregory head was seemly in the clouds over all the events and not to mention hearing Oniz's commentory on women and on the unfair treatment that Zinna seemly got from her bosses in Falmouth. The conversation begins with Gregory AeroStar sitting in Pledge's airplane. Gregory was wondering only one thing: ~How many more of my friends have faced injustice?~ he thought. He decided to ask Pledge the question of the day.......

"Pledge?" Gregory began to ask feeling very neverous; "I have a really personal question to ask you."

"Sure Gregory." Pledge answered calmly feeling a bit surprised that Gregory would be so neverous since he was a good speaker in his own right; "Ask away...."

"Pledge; have you ever.." Gregory said as he stalled for just a moment so that he could make sure that he had the right words; "..thought about the people and friends who had died an unjust death?"

Pledge Mason relaized the motivation behind the question and wasn't surprised by the question; "It's about Maxim isn't it?"

"Well; yeah..." Gregory said deciding that was time to explain why he was feeling so; "..It just seems that I cannot shake him out of my mind. Everytime someone talks to me; I seem to space out when my father is involved."

"You're not alone here Gregory." Pledge said in an understanding tone; "I always seem to reflect as well about my late friend Thanos."

The name was sparking familiarity; "The famous modern painter?" Gregory asked.

"Yes Gregory. That's him...." Durin said beginning yet another story about promises and how they can be broken; "..I've used to be a friend of his for 15 years. Thanos and I use to play chess together. I still think that we were still tied after 250 matches. However; he always know for his wonderful artwork. It was always modern works and he won many blue ribbons at the state fair over the years. Although there were many pictures that had to be destoryed because of the fear of tensions between Usland and Thembria. He was even put in jail once for refusing to give up painting that they the government of the day considered dangerous. In other words Gregory; Maxim was not alone in his lust on the government's attitude at that time..." That statement caused Gregory AeroStar to both shudder and sigh at the same time; knowing that there were more people hurt in this world than his own family; sometimes in even worse ways;"..Anyway; our friendship was shattered when both of us were drafted into the war about a year and a half ago. That was the day I found out that we really didn't have that much in common at all. I made the decision of working on bringing aid to the allies; however, Thanos said that he would fight directly. He felt that it was a patiotric thing to do even though I believe that it was wrong to engage in bloodshed." Gregory realized that he couldn't blame either person opinion's for approching this conflict; turning a blind eye was the worst thing Usland and Thembria could've done ;"That disagreement ended our relationship. However; less than one month into the forced service; I got a letter from Thanos, it turned out to be his last. I saw the last words printed weakly: 'I will die in ture peace'." Pledge wiped the sweat of his face; he was more scared than upset at the tragedy; "I never heard from him again. I joined Durin six months later."

"You were haunted by this?" Gregory asked feeling very sub-dued; mainly out of respect, although Pledge was clearly not searching for pity or comfront; a sign of numbness from the war going on as of this moment.

"I wouldn't say that I was haunted." Pledge reassured Gregory with his feelings; "Although I was haunted by learning that Thano's wife had passed away three months ago." This time Pledge was shedding a tear, a sign that Pledge wasn't as numb as Gregory thought; "They say that she passed on because of a heart attack; but to me she had a shattered heart because of this war. I was surprised that I was able to continue on."

"I've been haunted from losing both my mother and father." Gregory admitted sadly. While he was not surprised that Pledge was deeply affected by the grand conflict; he was very surprised that Pledge was somehow able to understand his signs of spacing out.

"Maybe there's a blessing in that." Pledge said surprising Gregory even more; considering that war is not a blessing by any means at all; "Maybe our creator haunts us with these images and spacing out in an effort to make sure that we honor our parents and the friends that we _do_ care about." Gregory then saw his answer;~Honor thy father; Honor thy mother~ he thought as Pledge finished his explanation; "We must never forget who has brought us up to this point in time."

"I understand Pledge." Gregory nodded feeling more assured that he was not alone in the realms of this world; "Thank you for the answer."

"That's what real friends are for aren't they?" Pledge said shrugging a bit; "Your welcome."

As the planes continue to fly; the conversation gets officially started in Durin's plane with Oniz feeling quite a bit uneasy. She hasn't been able to talk about her personal problems since the Great War began. Importance on the war has blinded her judgement on what she is as a furry being. She needed a question answered; "Durin? Do I have an impluse?"

"Well;" Durin said feeling the same wave length that her collegue was suffering; after all he has had to restrain from the impluses or face Pledge's wraith; "I remember the many times that Pledge would seek help or say that would seek help everytime I would express and opinion. He always believes that I talk too much and I express opinions at the wrong time. Pledge said I wasn't showing enough 'self-restraint'."

"Self-restraint _is_ a good practice." Oniz agreed with Pledge's concerned; it was considered a proper thing to do; "It makes better relationships as I am told. Gregory does it all the time. When I'm making all of those poor jokes to him; he becomes _el-tolro_! However; when I make a joke that is clearly out-of-bounds;" Oniz really puts the power into the last phrase; "he become _el-shrieko_!"

"I'm beginning to see your point.." Durin said feeling a bit sweaty after the power Oniz put behind her words; "..At any rate; we all have impluses for one reason or another. However; I also believe that impluses are taught and can be untaught. In other words; we are not born with these impluses. The trick is trying to overcome those impluses that are considered unwanted or bad and maintaining those impluse that are good and/or benefitical to the people that grace Earthia."

"Thank you for the advice." Oniz said nodding her head in approval, understanding her role in the grand design; "I'll do my very best to overcome my own problems."

"Your welcome...." Durin said returning to concerate on the flying task onhand. Meanwhile Pledge Mason's plane was going to be the start of yet even more dialogue. Pledge decided as fair game that since Gregory started talking to him even though it was more of a question; it was his turn to ask a question himself. He knew exactly what the question should be.

"So Gregory..." Pledge asked resuming his conversation with his airplane passenger Gregory; "..what are you planning to do now?"

"Tonight I plan to have a meeting with my friends to discuss the events so far." Gregory answered quickly; "I feel that an unflitered account of what I learned from Commander Wesdon should be told. After that; I will have supper, read the bible, take a bath and then go straight to bed."

"Actually;" Pledge asked feeling that his answer wasn't enough; "What I'm asking is that what are you planning to do tomorrow ?"

"Oh.." Gregory said realizing what Pledge meant by what he said by plans; "..well now that I haven't been drafted into the war and since tommorrow is Sunday; I think that I'll finally attend the Databyle Puppet's puppet hour."

"Sounds like a plan to me." Pledge said feeling that Gregory's answer was enough. Gregory felt that since he was free; he wondered if Durin and Pledge were dismissed from Commander Wesdon until further notice.

"Would you like to come along?" Gregory asked nicely.

"I'm sorry Gregory." Pledge said shaking his head; "But me and Durin have to go back to work."

"So you won't be attending the meeting...." Gregory started thinking that Durin and Pledge would not be there to witness Gregory explaining the tradegy. ~They must have known...~ he thought.

"Actually; both me and Durin will be attending the meeting that you planned." Pledge responded;"Commander Wesdon was expecting this."

"I got to give that bruin credit; he and Oniz would make great leaders..." Gregory said loudly and proudly; full of bravado; giggling; " ..They could tell the truth while acting lame on Question Period...." However; Gregory AeroStar was loud enough for his voice to reach Oniz Mecha's ears. Oniz directly looks at her pilot partner Gregory.

"I HEARD THAT!!" Oniz Mecha snaps back ;shouting causing Gregory's ears to ring just a little bit. Luckly the planes didn't shudder or shake as a result of Oniz's screaming.

"You're as brutal as Durin today!" Pledge said believing that his area was full of bad taste humor. And not just from Oniz Mecha.

"I wouldn't say that it was _brutal_;" Gregory giggled softly; "I'd say it was quite humorous....."

"Boy; Gregory is _so_ vicious today!" Oniz said shaking her head thinking how lame that joke Gregory cracked off really was. Meanwhile back onto Durin's airplane; Durin saw something in Oniz that was quite noticable. Oniz wasn't opening herself to anyone unless she had something to say. Weither it was the impact that was created as a result of the conflict all over the world or something else; Durin felt that it was time to get aquinted with the outspoken lives; "Ummm.... Oniz?" Durin asked.

"Yes Durin?" Oniz asked feeling quite startled over the fact that anyone would be trying to open some form of dialogue for her; let alone start talking with her. Usually; it was her peers who ask her for input and one-liners only; but nothing that Durin was about to say.

"Now that you have been dismissed; what are you planning to do now?" Phillip asked not surprising Oniz one bit. It was clear that Durin was trying to create dialogue between her and Durin. Oniz wasn't in the mood to talk; the experience at the Wesdon's top Naval technologist being directly involving in the war has numbed her to no end. It was a relief to see her back home again......

"Well; I don't know." Oniz said without making herself emotional; almost like a machine; "The AquaMarine won't be ready for another week or so...."

"I've got an idea." Durin said as the lightblub goes up through his head; "Why don't you attend the Databyle Puppet puppet hour show. I heard that it is very neat."

"It's not for me." Oniz said unemotionally; "I'm not interested."

"Oniz; you should try something new every chance that you have." Durin explained trying to show the benefits of a social cinemtic experience; "You never know when you will be called back into service and have to feel lonely all over again. This will give you an experience that you wouldn't have otherwise."

"....I'll think about it." Oniz said letting out a sigh. Oniz Mecha couldn't understand why someone would consider watching a bunch of puppet dancing around a wooden stage. ~Isn't there better things for people to do than create garbage.~ she thought. One thing about Oniz was clear: when it came to business of technological history; Oniz Mechas was a whiz. But she could not cut the mustard when it came to social history and loving the unknowns in life.

"....Aaah...here we are.....the AeroAvis." Durin said as he looks down and finds the typographic area of the AeroAvis property; "Time to take our plane down." Durin's plane begins to spiral down towards the field to land planes near the AeroAvis property. Pledge looks down as he saw Durin's plane spiral down and realizes that they were at their final destination. [at least for Gregory and Oniz; for now anyway] Gregory felt surreal in a way that wasn't meant to be surreal: he was able to walk home and see his family for three more years; instead of spending possability the rest of his life; risking his life and nearly successfully joining his father in death. It was _so_ surreal; to the point of being obsence.

"We are at the AeroAvis now!" Pledge shout out so Gregory AeroStar can hear; "Hang on!" Pledge's airplane begins the spiral down. Both airplanes increase their diameters until they are able to straighten out and sucessfully aim for the landing strip. Durin & Pledge slow their planes down as they both sucessfully land on the landing strip in the backyard of the AeroAvis; the eastern side. The planes snarl to a stop sucessfully while Pledge & Durin turn off the engines and hop out. The doors from the AeroAvis's kitchen opened to reveal Phillip AeroStar; looking very weary after hearing the noise outside and ran towards the landing strip where he sees Oniz Mecha and Gregory AeroStar hop out of both planes. Phillip was in complete disbelief; ~I'm dreaming! Gregory AeroStar is here!~ he thought as he ran past Oniz Mecha and look directly at Gregory.

"Gregory!" Phillip laughed and cried at the same time; embracing his older brother; "I thought I'd never see you again!"

"Well; I'm now the officially the boomerang of this family." Gregory said his laughing muffled by the clothing of Phillip AeroStar;" I do keep coming back."

"I see your point." Phillip said as he separates promptly from Gregory arms and decided to pop the question to the older AeroStar; "Anyway; what happened with Commander Wesdon?"

"I'll explain later." Gregory exclaimed to Phillip; assuring him that he knew what he was doing and what must be done; "Phillip; I need you to make a phone call to both Eric & Mercer Mann and Karneaux Pierre Bossuard. Tell them to come to the AeroAvis for a meeting. They must know..." Still that statement Phillip heard still concerned him ~If he's hiding it; then he must have been drafted.~ he thought.

"Okay; Gregory!" Phillip answers as he runs towards the AeroAvis building and re-enters the building the same way that he exited the building earlier.

"Durin?" Gregory asked turning his attention to the black cat furry; "I want you to go see Farris and tell him to bring his family to the AeroAvis for a meeting."

"Right!" Durin said as he ran towards the Karnage's family estate; exiting there.

"Pledge?" Gregory asked as he looks directly at Pledge the same way he did with his partner; "I want you to head to Mr. Wiser's house to inform him that we are having a meeting."

"Right!" Pledge said as he ran towards Mr. Wiser's house; exiting there. Oniz felt a bit inflammed; that she didn't get any role to play in yet.

"What do _I_ do?" Oniz asked feeling inflammed.

"Oniz; you will come with me into the AeroAvis." Gregory said as he and Oniz Mecha exit towards the AeroAvis; side-by-side.

"[I cannot wait to see the look on Sally's face when she sees me again....]" Oniz wispered to herself smirking with an evil smile. Problem was that Gregory AeroStar saw that smile right away and knew what she was going to say.

"No way.....Mr. Claris AeroStar says you are going to sit down...and _no flirting_ on Phillip!" Gregory preached strongly making sure Oniz got the message; "Understood?"

"I...." Oniz said grumbling as Gregory AeroStar and Oniz Mecha entered into the AeroAvis' kitchen; "....understand." The AeroStar's kitchen area is fairly large and circular. To the right of the train there is a large green stove/oven with the white fridge to the left of the oven. There is a small broom closet with small oak non-varnished wooden doors to the right. In the middle was an island-type large iron-cast sink lined with maple non-varnished wood trim with the underneath being a storage place with door made out of the same material. To the left stood Phillip talking to his friend Karneaux on the old-style black telephone which was sitting on a small wooden non-varnished oak table in front of Phillip.

"Yes; Karneaux." Phillip said as he continued to talk on the phone with Karneuax; "Gregory is arranging a meeting in about ten minutes from now and would like you to attend....You will? That's great! I'll see you 10 minutes? Okay?....Goodbye." The phone clicked to dead-air as Phillip puts the phone cup back to its original holder.

"Do you know where Sally is?" Gregory asked.

"She's upstairs in her room and she's very upset right now." Phillip said with a sad concern look on his face.

"She didn't do well today at flight school?" Gregory asked worried that Sally was so affected by his departure to Commander Wesdon. He was starting to regret leaving Sally AeroStar like that. He was more so starting to regret hugging her as if he wasn't coming back.

"No; she was doing just fine on her test...." Phillip said feeling very concerned about the health of Sally; "..However; Jason Molynair was concerned about her mental state. She even refuses to speak to me."

"I'll go comfront her. Oniz?" Gregory said as he attempts to exits the room towards the family room ;"You stay here.." then Gregory remember the warning to give; "...and no flirting!"

"Okay! Okay! I get you." Oniz said trying to convince Gregory that she is all over that impulse.Gregory walks into and enters the dining room and then enter the hanger-like family room. It was left pretty much exactly like it should have been. The family room contains a large wooden spiral staircase which lead upstairs to where Sally and Phillip's bedrooms were. Gregory AeroStar figured Sally must be upset about something so he walked up the staircase towards the second floor. Sally's bedroom was the first stop to the right [read: Phillip's bedroom was the first stop to the left and Maxim's bedroom was striaght ahead.] and the door was wide-open; almost as if Sally didn't care about her privacy. Gregory entered Sally's bedroom which was very similar to Gregory's room. There was Sally AeroStar lying on top of the bed weeping sliently. Gregory had to say something......

"Sally?" Gregory asked gently. Sally rolls to her side and sees the youthful yet looking very tired Gregory AeroStar; her brother who was supposed to be working for Commander Wesdon; or so she thought. Sally wipes her eyes of tears to see if what she saw was an illusion. There was no bad luck there: it was the real AeroStar. Sally instantly starts to sit up.

"Gregory!" Sally screams in delight as she stands up and embraces him. He had only been gone for a day; and yet the magnitude of Gregory leaving was surprising that he would come back after everyone felt that he was drafted. Boy; did Gregory have a surprise for her....Gregory realized the problem and it was _so_ obvious.

"You said that life wasn't fair...." Gregory said as the AeroStar siblings twirled around and fall onto the bed with Gregory AeroStar first on his back with Sally to follow;"Well; it's time to make it fair!" Gregory then instantly applies the very same 'Rub Thy Brain' noogie that Sally gave to Phillip earlier today. Sally begins to laugh uncontrollably.

"Oh! Stop it!" Sally screamed laughing in dischord; "You have no mercy on me!" Gregory realized that Sally had reached her threshold and instantly lets go. Sally rolls and sit properly on the top of the bed. Gregory rises up to his seat and sits next to her.

"Well; Sally..." Gregory chuckled intentionally finally feeling very good about himself; "..I may not be merciful; but with the compassion that is enstowed in me.....I'll never go away."

"Were....you.....drafted?" Sally asked seriously still in disbelief that Gregory was in fact smiling.

"No." said Gregory in an effective one word phrase. Sally felt a partial sight of relief; on the one hand Gregory was safe and sound in her very own bedroom. However; her mind still began to wonder: ~How did he dodge the draft?~

"You mean that Commander Wesdon sent you there for no reason....." Sally said just before....

"...other than to cause me everlasting suffering.." Gregory cut her off at the pass saying it in an even happier tone; "..of course not!"

"I see." Sally lays back onto the bed once again and Gregory follows her lead and he was smiling even larger.

"Actually;" Gregory said feeling happy once again; "I was told that I cannot be drafted for another three years."

"You're not serious! How can that be?" asked Sally feeling shocked at the revalation that the War Measures Acts has yet another loophole.

"The War Measures Act doesn't allow people under the age of 21 to fight in the war. Which reminds me..." Gregory said as he faintly remembers that he was about to give Farris his buddy-less walking papers of sorts; "..I'm going to give Farris a piece of my mind for not telling me about this." Sally felt another sigh of relief; it made sense not to draft children into a war that even adults have no business or morals to be in.

"So the government was thinking after all...." Sally said before realizing that there was really no rest for the wery. There was still a war going on and as long as war is still on the worries of being drafted by the Usland government still exists within the mind of an already depressed Sally; "..But; Gregory that still doesn't put us as a family out of the woods yet. The war could still go on by that time and there's no sure way that you won't be drafted into this....."

"I know....." Gregory said as he began to stand up and do yet another pointless preaching speech; "....and that is why we must make every single day count between now and three years down the road. All of us must take the time to love and cherist the fragile bondage of life; because you never know when someone may lose their life....."

"I understand." Sally states as she stands up and embraces Gregory for yet another hug. The hug lasted for a couple of minutes; until Phillip AeroStar started to enter the room and noticed the two hugging. The face expression of Phillip said it all: ~This is distrubing!~ Once Gregory caught the image of Phillip with his arms folded he realized that the fun was over. Both Sally and Gregory let go of each other and falls back onto the bed.

"Ummm....Gregory?" Phillip said flushed with embrassment; "The guests are all downstairs right now waiting for you. I think that you should start the meeting...." 

"Oh; okay." Gregory said a little puzzled that all the guests being in the family room so quick It must be important; "I'll be downstairs."

"Okay." Phillip said as he exits his sister's room. Sally begins to stand up.

"Gregory; what is this meeting about?" Sally asked wondering why Gregory was asking for so many guests to be in the house. It was only five days since Maxim's death and lord knows what kind of condition Gregory was in mentally since he was the first to realize closure on Maxim's own demise.

"I'll explain in full once the meeting starts." Gregory said firmly and without a hint of emotion; " In short; it's about Maxim."

"Maxim?!" Sally realized that she should shield herself from this latest bit of news because of her depression; "Let's go."

"Right!" said Gregory who also begins to stand up. Gregory and Sally AeroStar exit her bedroom and go downstairs back into the hanger-like living room. In the living room sitting in chairs are Farris Karnage, Lucas Karnage, Tanya Karnage, Salah Karnage, Durin Percy, Pledge Mason, Ian Wiser, Eric Mann, Mercer Mann, Karneaux-Pierre Boussard and Oniz Mecha. On the couch sat Phillip AeroStar; with Gregory and Sally AeroStar walking over and sitting next to Phillip. Lucas this time around was wearing a white shirt and brown pants; while Salah is wearing a blue shirt and grey pants and Tanya was wearing a yellow shirt and a black blouse. Karneaux was wearing a white sailor shirt and tan overalls. The placement was perfect; expect that Tommy Taylor's mother was not here. With her husband off fighting the war; someone clearly had to protect her son and it would have been detrimental to her son's future to be exposed to this horrible event that is already ensuing in the AeroStar family. Gregory AeroStar begins by standing up.

"I call this meeting to order." Gregory began what would be without a doubt the toughtest meeting he ever had."This is a very short brief and I would ask if you could hold your question until after the update..." Gregory decided to ask the silly question and get that out of the way; "Does anyone want refreshments before we begin."

"Yes!" they all said in unison.

"Well; we have no _regular_ milk unless you like _soy_ milk." Gregory said despite some groaning from the guests; "However; we have every juice flavor and water. What would you like?"

"Me and Tanya would like some apple juice. Lucas likes orange juice." Salah said.

"I'll have some of that soy milk." Farris said trying to show that he was perfect friends with Gregory. Gregory would rather have Farris be Farris and not him. Salah didn't mind Farris drinking soy milk as long as it does interfere with his own meals.

"Me and my brother will have cranberry juice." The Gemini Twins exclaimed. For once Gregory was able to tolerate them; maybe they aren't so unstable after all.....or maybe not.

"I'll have some apple juice." Mr. Wiser said in unison.

"Just water please." Karneuax said honestly. He believed that water was the purest thing to have; not juice or milk.

"I'll get the refreshments, Gregory....." Phillip said raising his hand to volunteer. Phillip has been doing this in the past and Gregory felt like he could handle this part of the hospitiality. Gregory nodded in agreement.

"Okay; Phillip...." Gregory states as Phillip stands up and exits towards the kitchen; but before Phillip is halfway into the kitchen he turns around and notices that Gregory is standing around doing nothing expect for counting seconds of time before Phillip comes back with the refreshments.

"Gregory?" Phillip exclaimed feeling impatient in wanting to know what happened to his big brother; "You can start the meeting now...."

"I thought that we'd wait until the refreshments are made." Gregory said believing in some good manners. But Phillip was impatient.

"That's not necessary." Phillip said as he finally was fully in the kitchen and into the fridge and fishing out the Soy Milk, Ice Water and all the wonderful juices Gregory loved; "I can hear you from the kitchen thank you." Gregory then turned around and thought ~What the heck? I might as well say it since Phillip is going to take his sweet time...I wonder if he still has some issues?~

"Okay; I will begin by saying this....." Gregory began feeling a bit uneasy at the fact that he was publicly speaking; something that is normal for young people; "...I have _not_ been drafted."

"That's because furries under 21 cannot be drafted because of the War Measures Act." Mercer said with a smirk on his face; almost laughing at the sight that an intellgent furry being didn't decide to read the entire War Measures Act because _he_ was still denouncing it as barbaric.

"Mercer!" Tanya said angerly feeling that her civity was violated as a result; "That's not polite!"

"Simmer down Tanya!" Gregory shouted out and then turns directly at the Gemini Pilots ready to give them their just desserts; " Of course it was not polite for you and Eric Mann to spy on me and then contact Commander Wesdon. So I would consider againest interrupting me again..." Gregory then turned to Farris and looked at him with a sarcastic look; " ..Now; Farris remind me to speak to you personally after the meeting please. Okay?"

"Okay!" gulped Farris as he stared directly into Gregory sarcastic eyes showing them to him that he didn't do a good job into explaining him why he should've told him about the War Measures. ~You can't blame the government on this one Buddy!~ Farris thought that would be Gregory AeroStar's response.

"Okay; now that this has been settled; the second thing concerns my father's demise." Gregory asked trying to get a show of hands who did watch the radio reports so that he can give his side of the story; "Has anyone heard any radio reports concerning the cause of my father's death?"

"I'm afraid not!" Lucas stated showing the pride of his family values; "We do not have a radio."

"That's because you hate technology." Eric smikered in as everyone was mumbling about is gossip over the twin once again putting the boots to someone's own beliefs are aren't theirs.

"Leave the Karnage family alone." Karneaux shouted in the sudden lack of civilty that was befallen on this house; "Their beliefs are just as valid as anyone else's."

"Thank you Karneaux; but our family doesn't need to be defended." Salah said feeling that she wasn't helpless; "And for another thing; we don't hate technology. We just hate inventions that overwhelm the faith."

"And if you Eric & Mercer Mann don't learn to shut up quickly; then I suggest that you leave." Gregory shouted firmly and strongly with the authority and clarity that was solely missed in him earlier. Eric, Mercer and the rest of the guest were stunned in silence. They never expected Gregory to ever show this kind of emotion.

"Good; that is settled." Gregory said as he continued the report without delay; "Now I went to see Commander Wesdon and Oniz Mecha today about the proable cause of death of my father: Maxim AeroStar. As you proably have realized; Maxim's plane crashed into a rockface near Jepang a couple of days ago. Many believe that the cause of the crash was engine failure; in fact almost everyone believed that theorim with the expection of Mr. Barry Statemen At any rate; Oniz managed to tow the plane back the Battle Carrier Wesdon using her new invention....the AquaMarine. Oniz started her investigation with the engines and found that the engines were servely charred. This proves that engine failure was not likely the cause....so Oniz" Gregory was pressing his luck was a little cockyness;"...... opened the engine very carefully..." Oniz looked at Gregory looking very cross giving his a warning to simply get on with the actual point; "..and actually found two damaged bullets inside the engine which caused the fire and disabled the stablizers. In other words; Maxim was shot down! Questions?!"

~There! I said it!~ Gregory thought. However; he looked at the guests and discovered that they were completely stunned by the news. Not one was crying or even asking question. They were all just sitting there acting absolute quiet. This was not good for Gregory; ~Where did I go wrong?~ The first question should have been: ~Why is everyone stunned? Shouldn't you be crying now that you know Maxim didn't deserve to die?~ he thought as Phillip came in with all of the refreshments sitting on the wooden tray and places the tray down on top of the wooden end table. All the drinks were there: Mr. Wiser, Salah and Tanya's apple juice, Lucas' orange juice, Eric and Mercer's cranberry juice, Kanreaux's glass of water and Gregory and Farris' soy milk. Oniz, Sally and Phillip both had strawberry juice.

"Excuse me please Gregory? I need to...make a phonecall?" Kanreaux said as he grabs his refreshement and stands up surprising Gregory a little bit.

"The phone is in the kitchen." Gregory said as he pointed towards the dining room. Gregory felt a bit uneasy. ~Why is Kanreaux decideing to make a phonecall at this hour~ he thought.

"Thank you Gregory." Kanreaux said as he starts to make his lead to the kitchen taking a rather large sip of his refreshments.

"Your welcome as always......" Gregory said as he turned around and continued the meeting without delay"....and then Oniz showed me her new invention. However; there was a little sidetracking when Zinna stole the sub....but we got it back."

"Zinna?!" Karneaux said loudly and accidently spitting cold liquid causing everyone including Gregory to look straight at Karneuax; some thinking Kanre was rude. Mr. Bossuard was blushing in embrassment as he puts his refreshment down on the wooden end table. Thoughts raced through his head wondering if he would be caught with something that was top secret. Gregory was wondering; ~This person is surprised at the word/name Zinna. Does he know more than what I know about her?~

"Karne?!" Gregory asked trying to force the rest of the guest to stop looking at Karne. Noticing that the question was raised; the rest of the gang went back to looking striaght at the speaker of the moment Gregory AeroStar.

"I'm sorry Gregory. I was spacing out." Kanreaux said looking very terrible. The rest of the people in the room didn't take notice; they felt that Kanreaux was suffering from the same diease that Gregory was. Gregory looked more puzzled than cross; at least for him it wasn't intentionally rude like Eric and Mercer. The Mann twins were pretty cross with Gregory since Gregory allowed Kanreaux to be rude and they almost got kicked out as a result of their so-called unintentional rudeness.

"Boy and I thought that I had it bad....At any rate....." Gregory starts to continue the meeting as Karneuax Pierre-Boussard exits the family room and enters the AeroStar kitchen and dining room and finds the telephone in exactly the same place as it was expected to be. He takes the talking end off the hook and begins to dial: 109-3209; the phone number for the Boussard residence. Karneuax continued to sweat through the entire ordeal as the dailing was complete. He waits for the operator...1 ring-ding.....2 ring-ding.....3 ring-ding....4 ring-ding....and so on; one ring making Kanre sweat even more. ~Don't tell me the stupid phone company's out of service again?~ he thought as the ring-ding's progressed.

"Hello; may I help you?" asked the operator just after the seventh ring-ding. The voice was clearly strong like a male furry; but not where near the strength of Colonel Allen's voice.

"Can you connect with the Bossuard residence please?" Karneaux asked feeling the continuing panic that he heard from Gregory that Zinna was back and that she wasn't the same person that was well known to Wesdon as the best technologist in the land.

"Certainly sir!" the operator's voice said politely feeling a bit puzzled that someone was committing excessive hype-ventilating. But a customer was a consumer and the operator had to do his job.

"Thank you." Karneaux said with a weak smile. The operator disconnected the operating number and plugged into the socket to his own home assuming that his daughter was still home. The phone started to ring and ring repeatly...one ring-ding, two ring-ding, three ring-ding, four ring-ding and so on. Karne started to get impatient wondering if his daughter was home in fact or went out somewhere without the father's own premission.

"Hello?" the voice exclaimed as the phone clicked to the correct number and area after the tenth ring. The other side of the phone sported yet another female voice; only this time it almost sounded like a male and even that the voice was quite a bit surprised; startled. It was pretty clear that Karneaux is not used to calling at this hour of the average day.

"Is that you Amber?" Karneaux asked still acting like he had just seen a ghost...or worse....

"Hello Karne...." Amber asked feeling a bit surprised that Karneaux would call her at this hour; "What's up?"

"Amber;" Karneaux said sounding like he was in complete fear causing Amber to shudder a little bit; "I want you to relay this message to the Captain that Zinna has been spotted. It looks like they are returning again." Returning again? What did Karneaux mean and why hasn't he informed Gregory about this?

"I'll give him the message....." Amber said as she was preparing to hang up the phone and say goodbye; but finds out that Karneaux had more to say so she decided to allow Karneaux to say goodbye first.

"One more thing Amber...." Karneaux said with drops of sweat dripping around his face; "tell him that his prediction was ture....Maxim AeroStar was in fact murdered!....._Now I see the power_." While this latest event proved that there was more than meets the eye; it still leaves us open to many questions besides the most obvious question of whom want to take Maxim's life. Who is this captain that Karneaux has mentioned and what role does he play in Maxim's life? Why has Zinna turned to evil? Has she found something that was in the past not suitable to her? And most importantly....is this all going according to the grand design's plan? All Karneaux knew that Gregory's life was only going to get more complex that even he has been able to handle.

++++ End of Chapter II ++++