Epilogue

Of course, the Huskies couldn't celebrate at an official venue given that they had just completed an unofficial mission, but they felt that it was just as well.

Congregated in Bill's favorite bar, 'Joey's', they didn't have to wear dinner uniforms, nor were there dignitaries or media personnel around to hassle them. This was celebration at its purest- just letting go and kicking out, forgetting all their losses and defeats, making present their latest victory.

There were shouts of jubilation, verbal roastings and beer songs hanging in the air. Glasses were filled, emptied, then filled again. Pilots were comparing kill totals and debating matters of utmost importance, like which brand of Katinian beer was best.

It was at eleven in the evening that the bartender allowed Bill to stand on the bar. As Bill clambered on, the pilots began to cheer and applaud.

"Hey! All right, quiet everyone! Hey! Pipe down!" Bill shouted. When everyone was more or less silent, Bill began his speech.

"Well, as you know there are two very grateful pilots here this evening, Flight Officer Matt Keeler and Flight Officer Blaze Walters. First, I honor each and every one of you who stepped forward and forced yourself onto this mission, knowing the risks and yet pressing forth anyway. For those of you in Husky Squadron, it shows how well we bind together and stick with one another in times of strife. And that goes too for everyone in the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing. This really wasn't your fight, but you came forward to help us anyway, and for that the Huskies are eternally grateful. Of course, it wasn't just us behind this mission. I'd like to make a toast to the one who made their retrieval possible, the one who organized the whole thing…"

"Oi Bill! You're supposed to toast other people, not yourself!" Jeered Benny. The assembled group laughed.

Bill grinned at the veiled compliment. "… I speak of Admiral Hendrix, of course, without whom we wouldn't have even been able off Katina for the mission." Bill stared squarely at a casually dressed lion in a back corner of the bar and raised his glass. "To Admiral Hendrix!"

Many of the pilots glanced around in surprise- they had paid little notice to the lion who had been sitting, watching the frivolity.

"Admiral, if you'd care to comment?" Bill asked.

Hendrix stood and raised his own glass. "I'm glad you idiots came back alive."

Many pilots laughed. "Hear, hear!" one shouted.

Bill whistled to get everyone's attention again. "I have more to add, our young friend Damon was of course too young to attend tonight-" Bill shot a cross look at the bartender, who shrugged helplessly. "-But I've received word that he's been reunited with his aunt, some good news there." More applause.

"I'm sure most of you have heard the truth about Blaze now, and since he's willing to reveal who he truly is now, you'll be seeing more of his amazing talents come into play. Keeler's finally earned enough hours for Flight Officer status like the rest of us, so not only did we bring two of our people back from the dead, they got back better and stronger than ever.

We might have suffered losses in the past. We've lost battles and of course we've lost friends. But in the name of their memory and in the name of the free planets of the Lylat System, we go on, getting stronger with each battle, win or lose. We'll rebuild, strike again and make it count.

Some of you may be better pilots than your comrades. Some of you might have special skills. Some of you are fearless, some of you have flown through countless battles, some of you have fame and some of you are unknown. But you have, every one of you, shown the stuff of legends. You've shown courage, will, tenacity, comradeship and warrior values, and that makes each of you a hero."

A roar went up from the pilots, cheering and clapping each other on the back.

"Now quit listening to me and live it up. You've earned it!"

In a darkened room deep inside Katina City base, a report on the analysis of the computer core recently retrieved by Husky Squadron was delivered to Katina's chief intelligence officer, General Forbes, an Avian.

Forbes spoke with the young agent who had delivered the information, questioning this and questioning that. Most of it consisted of events that had already transpired, accurate and complete. Even some of the most recent battles had been included in the plan.

Analysis of some of the upcoming attacks included in the computer core's memory corresponded with evidence already gathered by Katinian intelligence, and Forbes authorized deployment of forces to counter those threats.

Then he came to one of the last projected attacks, due to commence in three months. He paused in reading, his eyes widened and a cigar dropped from his beak. He was up standing and shouting orders to inform the military. But the young agent did not budge, instead calmly suggesting Forbes read some of the last pages before he issued further orders.

Forbes scrolled down. There, as an added bonus were the names and addresses of every turncoat and spy in the Cornerian and Katinian Armed Forces. As he read, his beak slackened more and more, and his eyes, if it was possible, continued to widen.

He finished reading. He looked up at the intelligence officer who now looked ready for orders.

"Move in on them all. Every single one. I want them all in my prisons within the week."

…Continued in Husky Squadron: The Dogs of War

Preview in next chapter!