Chapter 1

'Major General Balto Leonhard' Balto thought 'has a nice ring to it.'

Last night The brown furred, golden eyed wolfdog had receive not only a promotion but a new assignment. Project Phantom was the name of a secret government weapons project Balto had been hand selected to participate in. Balto assumed it must have been something like a new gun or explosive maybe even a new form of aircraft, but he wasn't getting his hopes up that it was anything special.

"Balto…" Balto awoke from his thoughts at the call of his name, he and his Commanding officer, Lieutenant General Charles Barkin, were on their way to the Military Base where Phantom was being held.

"Yes sir?" Balto replied to Charlie.

Charlie Chuckled "Balto how many times to I have to tell you if no one else is around, just call me by my first name."

"Sorry Charlie just habit I guess," Balto said looking over at his friend, a mutt by all standards and classifications Charlie looked mostly Shepard but claimed to be part Collie and even a little Great Dane the biggest difference however was height Charlie stood a good 6 inches over Balto "So what did you want to tell me?"

"Well…this project…I've been with it for a while now and I just wanted to I've you a heads up about it," As Charlie said this Balto couldn't help but notice his friend seemed very uneasy, "the reason the location is far removed from society."

Balto had to admit the Base was in a very secluded area, about fifty miles away from Nome, Alaska, Balto's hometown, which in and of itself was hundreds of miles away from the nearest city.

"Why's that?" Balto questioned as there had been a brief pause as if Charlie was trying to get up the courage as whether or not to tell Balto the military's true motives behind his assignment and why it was so far removed from the rest of the world.

"The real reason is this program isn't…the most ethical." Charlie finally spit out as he glanced over at Balto who was giving him a very confused look.

"Well don't see what you so worked up for lots of things are unethical…hell chemical weapons are unethical but that doesn't stop them from being developed." Balto quickly responded Charlie really had him going for a second there but Charlie's expression didn't brighten.

'What could possibly be that bad that he's this nervous?' no sooner than Balto asked himself this question it was answered.

"No, I don't think you understand," Charlie said gripping the wheel of the military convoy jeep tighter, his whole body seemed to tense underneath his clothing, regulation artic camouflage, "this program does testing…live testing…" Charlie sighed deeply as he finished his sentence.

Balto was about to reply and ask live testing on what but he noticed the jeep had come to a stop as they arrived at there location.

"Here we are." Charlie said opening the driver's door and stepping out into the snow.

Balto got out of the jeep and noticed that there was nothing it front of them. Well nothing that looked like a military base any way.

"Charlie, this is a mountain where's the base?" Balto commented as they began walking toward the mountainside.

Charlie just shook his head and laughed "well not only is the base far removed it's also very well hidden see that door at the base of the mountain?"

Balto looked straight ahead and as they got closer he could make out a rectangular shape that didn't look like it was naturally formed. As the dogs approached it Charlie reached out and simply pushed the door open.

"All that and the damn front door is unlocked!" Balto exclaimed thinking there would be some kind of security checkpoint or at the very least a key.

Charlie laughed again "Just wait it get's a lot weirder," as he opened the door the room inside was completely dark with the only light coming from the now open door "Ready?"

Balto sighed, Charlie's words still ringing in his ears, "As I'll ever be."

The duo entered and the door closed behind them.