A/N:  Man, I've been reading watching, and playing too much Tom Clancy stuff.  I was just watching "Sum of All Fears" when the idea for this story popped in my head.  Well, here goes.

            Oh yeah, since I don't know the official ages, I'll give you mine.

            Sonic:  20 ½.  Will turn 21 on January 27.

            Tails:  13

            Knuckles:  21

            Amy:  19

            Rouge:  20

            And another thing, you'll notice that Robotnik/Eggman's E-Series bots do not have blasters.  I decided to give them modern assault rifles.  Kinda makes this a little more realistic.

            And another thing, just when I'm about to go post this, this site goes down.  Ain't that about a bitch?!  Oh well.

And off we go!

Moscow, Russia.  Kremlin.  January 24, 2003.  10:34 P.M. local time. 

            This was a terrible day to be assigned perimeter security, the Russian soldier thought.

            It was January, and raining, which made it cold, wet and miserable in Russia.  The gray fox anthropoid, clad in his gray camouflaged BDU (Battle Dress Uniform), continued his patrol around the Kremlin.  Stopping when he reached the southern perimeter, as per regulation, he retrieved his water-resistant radio, switched it on, and reported blandly.  "Lieutenant Boris Provalov reporting no problems on the eastern perimeter.  Now moving to patrol the southern perimeter."  And he went on with his patrol.

            There was another soldier on patrol, coming his way.  He was a human under his command; only ranked Private.  This was probably his first mission, because he held his AN-94 assault rifle at the ready, instead of having it slung over his shoulder.  When the two met in the middle of their route, Provalov clasped the soldier on the shoulder.  "Don't be so anxious, comrade."  He assured his squad mate.  "This meeting should be concluding soon."

            The human shook his head, as if to say he wasn't nervous.  "I'm not worried about that, sir.  Though I'm curious we're discussing with the Americans though.  Any ideas, Comrade Lieutenant?"

            Provalov shook his head.  "The subject is classified well beyond my level of clearance.  It could be anything from assistance in Chechnya, to another antiballistic missile treaty.  Our entire squad is—"

            A mechanical sounding noise came from the woods to the south.  "What was that?"  Provalov whispered.

            The human shrugged.  "I don't know, Comrade Lieutenant."

            Provalov flipped down his night-vision goggles, and readied his AN-94.  "Back me up, comrade.  I'm going to investi—" That was the last word out of his mouth as a silenced sniper round ventilated his skull.  He was dead before he hit the ground.

            The remaining soldier immediately hit the cold, muddy ground, frantically grabbing for his radio with shaky hands, and after a few moments of desperation, finally turned it on.  "Private Nicolai Kulov reporting, south flank.  We have—" That was the last he got out before meeting the same fate as his superior.  Almost immediately after, a squad of eight E-Series bots, armed with silenced AK-74Us, and covered with protective rubber, stepped out of the woods, and into the open.  One performed a visual scan of the area, and then tapped into its comm.  "E-102-235 reporting cover still remains.  Proceeding to primary objectives."

            There was talking coming from both dead soldier's radios.  "What's going on?!  Respond!"  When nobody responded, the other end continued.  "Communications with the southern flank have ceased!  All perimeter units, flow to that area and investigate!"

            The apparent leader of the E-Series bots gestured to two others.  "Hide the bodies.  The rain will wash away the blood."

            "Directive received."

Inside the Kremlin.

            "Comrade Commander, two of our soldiers on perimeter patrol have gone AWOL.  Lieutenant Provalov, and Private Kulov."  A Russian soldier announced.

            "What?!"  *BOOM* A flash bang grenade detonated outside.  Both soldiers ran to the window.  "Oh, dear God!"  He whispered.  The bots had broken through the perimeter, and had entered the courtyard, assault rifles firing with incredible efficiency.  All the soldiers he could see were dead.  "Evacuate the building!  Get the delegations in the gunship(helicopter), now!"

            "Comrade Commander, there are two incoming aircraft.  They seem to be dropships of some sort!"

            The commander ran up the three or four flights up steps to the roof, where the heliport, and one KA-60 Kasatka "Killer Whale" medium transport helicopter rested.  The delegations were further down from his starting point, so they weren't there yet.  He scanned the raining night sky, and to the south he saw the bogeys (military talk for unidentified aircraft).  For lack of an imagination, they looked like dead ringers of the Pelican dropships off of Halo.  One of them turned to head for the east gate, and the other didn't change its vector…

            The Russian and American delegations finally arrived at the heliport, escorted by a squad of soldiers, the soldier in the rear laying down cover fire at the advancing bots.  One soldier noticed the commander just looking at the southern sky.  "Comrade Commander, shouldn't we be inside the Kasatka?"

As soon as the soldier said that, the dropship fired a rocket at the Kamov, effectively turning their only means of escape into a heap of twisted, burning, charred metal.  There was no escape for them now.

            "Cease fire!"  Ordered the commander as he saw the E-Series bots, some with missing arms, surround them with AK-74Us drawn.  "It's no use."

Well, how was that for a start?  R/R and let me know!