Cramped, small, uncomfortable, loud, hot, stuffy, all could describe the place Skye had found herself in. She had participated in six other missions prior to accepting this one. She joined the military at 18. Rather she was drafted. Every able body in Vulpesia served a minimum two years military service. It was necessary in such a small nation that was surrounded by enemies or potential enemies. After her mandatory two years she had to decide what she wanted to do in life. She had enjoyed her time in the service. So much so she stayed in. Even volunteered for the air borne divisions and then special forces. It was that decision that landed her where she was now. Although it did help her to advance in rank quickly. Now, at the age of 28, she was already a major. Having just been promoted a couple of weeks before receiving this assignment. After this experience, she was beginning to reconsider her choices. She knew she didn't want a desk job. Maybe something in the air borne divisions? She had heard rumors about the possibility of a new unit being put together.

She was so distracted by her thoughts she almost didn't notice the truck coming to a stop.

'tap,tap'

The all clear signal. She waited as Jack exited the cab and made his way to the bed of the truck. Once there he opened the hidden door to Skye's compartment, allowing her to exit and stretch her weary muscles and aching bones.

"This is it." He stated. Reaching over to the box with the hidden compartment that held the equipment Skye would need to complete her mission. Skye moved beside him reaching into the box and started removing her equipment. Consisting of a specialized rifle with a night vision scope and silencer. Along with two twenty round magazines of lethal ammunition. These had been hand loaded by Skye to achieve the exact performance she wanted from the rounds. A third magazine consisting of two specialized rounds with GPS trackers inside the bullet itself. While this technology had been tested in the lab it had never seen field use before. The second round was a backup. Setting the rifle and ammo aside she pulled out a backpack and checked its contents. Inside was a med kit, cleaning equipment for the rifle, food, water, a GPS and a small device she wasn't familiar with. It was just a small palm sized box with a red button. She then pulled out a second bag from the compartment. Reached inside and produced a ghilli suit. She dawned the suit grabbed her bag and rifle. Stepped out of the truck and took in her surroundings.

They were at an old run-down cabin in what looked like the middle of nowhere. The road they had come up was unused.

"This will also be our pick-up point. I'll be back in 5 days. If you need me before then activate the emergency beacon in your pack."

"The small switch?"

"Correct, I'll never be more than 3 hours away so keep that in mind should you need to use it. Good luck."

The quickly shook paws and Jack promptly left in the truck. After he was out of site Skye pulled out her GPS and checked her location. It only had one set of coordinates programmed in. Her destination. She made a mental note of her current location but didn't dare put it into the GPS. For fear if she was captured the enemy would know the pickup point and that would mean Jack could be captured as well.

She pulled up her destination on the device and saw that it would be roughly a day's hike. She placed the device back in her pack. Took in a deep breath. Her strong nose catching a hint of rain approaching.

"Perfect." She said begrudgingly. And with that she was off.

Hopps burrow

Judy had spent most of her day helping her mother with choirs around the house. Her mother Bonnie hadn't pressured her any more about calling Logan Skipson since this morning. Judy had been too busy to even try calling right now anyway. The Skipsons owned the farm next to theirs and Logan was probably busy with work as well. But the end of the day was close approaching. Judy was beginning to feel nervous and had doubts. She wasn't so sure that Logan would support her like her mother suggested.

After finishing her choirs, she walked into the kitchen and took the number off the refrigerator. She walked out onto the back porch and looked around to make sure no one was within earshot of her. She looked it over for several minutes before finally taking out her phone and dialing the number. She paused above the call button. Her nerves were starting to get to her. She had never really talked to a boy before. Not like this. All the others thought she was weird for wanting to be a police officer. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"It's just a phone call." She said. Pressing the call button and sat in a chair on the porch, waiting for the other line to pick up. Three rings went by before someone answered.

"Hello?" a male voice answered. She shot up out of the chair nearly sending herself airborne. "It must be Logan." Judy thought to herself.

"Hello? Any one there? Judy?"

"Yes!" she finally answered. Her name bringing her out of the panicked state she was in. "Is this Logan?"

"Hey!"

"Hey back at ya!" smooth she thought. She could hear him laughing on the other end.

"I was beginning to wonder if you were gonna call."

"Yeah sorry it took so long. Just busy with choirs and all."

"Yeah I know how that goes. But hey I was wondering. Um, would you like to go to the fair with me this weekend?" His voice shaking just slightly with a hint of nervousness.

Judy thought for a second. He's really asking me on a date? "Sure, that sounds like fun."

"Great I'll pick you up at 8. How's that sound?"

"Great I'll see you then."

"Great!"

"Great!" she responded.

"Okay then."

"Okay."

"Bye now."

"Bye."

And with that the call ended. Judy fell back into a rocking chair. Letting out a loud groan as she fell.

"Real smooth Judy, real smooth."

Nick drew nearer to his target. He lazily strolled down the sidewalk, his ears high and alert, listening for the slightest rustle of leaves and grass that might alert him to an unwanted presence. He had left his fatigues behind. Opting instead for some tacky green Hawaiian shirt and slacks with a dark blue tie with purple stripes. He made it to the driveway of his target. He pondered on which approach he should take. The front door was the obvious answer. But going that way might mean he'd meet resistance on the way to his target. He opted for the stealthier approach. He slid between the two parked vehicles and the house. Staying low enough he couldn't cause a silhouette to cross the windows. He easily jumped the low fence of the back yard. Meant to keep something in, something small, not to keep intruders out. He moved up to the back door of the house. Leaning close he listed. His ears pressed to the door. Letting what evolution had giving him do its job. He could hear the unmistakable sound of metal hitting metal. He placed his nose to the crack of the door way and breathed in deeply. Using his powerful nose, he could detect that his query was indeed located just beyond this door. Slowly turning the doorknob, he eased the door open without making a sound. And just as quietly stepped into the abandoned back room. Easing the door shut behind him. He stood there silent for a moment. Not moving. Waiting to hear or see if anyone had noticed his discreet entrance. He peered around the next-door way.

He couldn't believe his luck. His target was sitting in the open. The only guard facing away busily working on something else. He removed the tool he had brought with him from his pocket. An instrument of precision and certain doom for whatever fell under it. He tip-toed around the open doorway and leaned over the unsuspecting target. Checking that the guard was still unaware of his presence. He moved the instrument into position. Ready to make the plunge into the soft outer flesh of…..

SMACK!

"Ow!" Nick cried out. Pulling his paw back to his chest rubbing the top of it with his other. Looking down at the plastic spork from an MRE that had fallen on top of the blueberry pie sitting on the kitchen island. He looked up at his attacker. The guardian of the kitchen and all things sweet and delicious. An arctic vixen with eyes blue as ice. Starring at him with a scold that could melt said ice. Nick's ears fell back behind his head and his tail between his legs. He ducked his head down doing everything he could to make himself seem smaller to the imposing figure before him. He was bigger and much stronger than her, he was sure. And to see her you wouldn't believe she would be anything to worry about. She was slightly smaller than an average arctic fox. Wearing a floral dress and a pink apron, she almost looked welcoming to anyone else. But he had been on the receiving end of her fury on more than one occasion. And knew that the wooden spoon in her hand could be just as dangerous as the bayonet on the end of an assault rifle.

"Nicholas Piberius Wilde!" She shouted. "How many times have I told you not to sneak in here like that! You almost gave me a heart attack!"

"You! What about my paw?" Nick held the offended appendage out to her as though he was expecting her to kiss it and make it better. Just like his mother would. She was very much like his mother. Had been for a long time. Even though she was only a couple of years older than he. She always treated him like a kit. Either to award him for good behavior or punish him like now. As she smacked the paw he held out again for good measure.

"Ow!"

"Linda, what's all the…oh, hey Nick," LTC Van walked around the corner, a large grin growing across his muzzle to an all too familiar sight. "I see your trying to sneak a bite of pie again."

Van decided to take advantage of the situation. His wife Linda was steadily pushing forward, forcing Nick to back into the corner of the room. He reached down to grab the spork, only to receive a sharp tone from the corner of the kitchen. "Don't even think about it!" He looked up to see his wife glaring over her shoulder at him, spoon still pointed at Nick. He flashed a toothy grin and beat a hasty retreat the way he came.

"What happened to 'no mammal left behind'?" Nick called after him.

"Acceptable casualty rate." Was all Nick heard from the other room. Grunting at the reply, he looked back at the still irate vixen in front of him. He offered his best puppy dog eyes and innocent grin. Her expression softened almost immediately. She loved him, not as much as his mother had, but she did love him in that way. She let out a loud sarcastic sigh and turned back to what she was doing.

"All right." She spoke softly as she turned. "Go in the living room, dinner will be ready in a few minutes."

As soon as she was completely turned around, Nick walked passed the table making a reach for the spork still sitting on the tempting pie.

SMACK!

"Ow!" he looked at Linda who had turned around before he even knew what happened. Slapping his paw with the wooden spoon again.

"Get!" she said in a stern voice, pointing the spoon in the direction of the dining room. Nick didn't hesitate and darted out without even looking back. Leaving Linda alone in the kitchen. Once he was out of sight she couldn't hold back the smile as the giggles that came took hold of her. Shaking her head side to side, she turned back to the dish she was almost done preparing.

Have fled from any further harm, Nick rounded the corner from the kitchen and headed straight into the living room seeing the TV turned onto a Pawball game. When suddenly it dawned on him. He'd forgotten something. Just as soon as he froze three grey and white little bodies pounced on him, tackling him to the ground.

"Uncle Nick!" They all exclaimed. Nick laid on his stomach his arms stretch out in front of him, having failed to brace his fall. They all jumped up and down on his back playfully. Jason, Joseph and Lacy, the three children of Jacob and Linda Van.

"Alright you three, let him up." LTC Jacob Van leaned over from his recliner telling his kids to let Nick up in a sharp tone. Once the furry ambush of small foxes was off his back, Nick brought himself up to his knees and glared at Van.

"What happened to my reinforcements back there?" throwing his pointed thumb over his shoulder towards the kitchen.

"Got out flanked." He said with a shrug. "We need a new plan of attack." Turning his attention back the TV. "She's caught on to our scheme. You can only pull the same play so many times before the enemy figures out your tactics." Over the ten years that he had known the couple Nick and Jacob had come up with several plans to sneak bites of Linda's cooking. Most of the time they were successful until she would catch on to them. Lately though it was becoming more and more difficult to get past her. She had come to expect it from them every time Nick came over.

"Hm" was Nick's only reply. He stood and stretched backwards causing his spine to give several relaxing pops. He sat down on the couch and started watching the game. The Red Bandits, his favorite team, were being murdered by the Grey Ghost. After watching several terrible plays, Nick started to ask if they could change the channel when he heard a voice from the dining room.

"Jason, come help me set the table." The 10-year-old grey fox who was the spitting image of his father appeared from the hall way and ran into the kitchen. "At least I won't have to suffer much longer." Nick thought to himself. A couple of minutes later Linda stepped into the door way of the living room.

"Dinners ready you two." She then turned back into the dining room and took her seat. Nick and Van stood up and walked to talk their seats. The table they sat at was not overly long. It could seat 8 adult foxes comfortably with two at either end and three on either side. Jacob Van took his seat at the head of the table with his wife Linda to his left. Nick sat to his right. Next to him sat Lacy one of the twins. Her fur was just as white as her mother's. Almost as pure as the first snow. Joseph, the other twin, sat next to his mother. His grey fur a much lighter color than his fathers, the fur on the bottom of his muzzle a kind of dirty white that started just under his nose and followed his chin down to his throat and into his shirt. Finally, Jason sat at the other end of the table. Not so much to be by himself, but to make it appear as though he were an authoritative figure head like his father. At least to his younger siblings anyway.

After offering grace the foxes began to enjoy their meal making small talk as they did so. Their meal consisted of chicken and dumplings with steamed vegetables, rolls and a blueberry pie for dessert. Nick eyed the pie as his mouth was over salivating at the thought of the deliciously warm filling under the golden-brown crust. He didn't stare too long. He knew Linda wouldn't let anyone partake of the delicacy until they had eaten at least one plate of dinner.

"So, Nick," Linda started to talk, "when are you going to find someone to settle down with?"

This was often the topic Linda would start the diner conversation with. When Nick first met them, and they started inviting him to their home, he thought she was just trying to get rid of him. Thinking maybe she didn't like him hanging around so much. He even turned down a few invitations because of it. Eventually, he came to realize the real reason for the topic. Genuine love. She only wanted to see him happy. Especially after the kits were born. She noticed how careful he had been when handling them and how well he tolerated their rough housing. He had even served as a baby sitter on multiple occasions. They had always come home to pillow fortresses in the living room so elaborate you would have thought they just pitched and army tent up. And when they came home later than planned they could usually find the four of them inside the makeshift fort curled together. Nick's tail protectively wrapped around them.

Nick had usually dodged the question with simple clichés such as I haven't met the right one yet. This time, however, he used the wrong line.

"Whenever, I can find someone who can make a blueberry pie as good as yours. You set a pretty high standard you know."

"Oh, you should meet my sister." Nick nearly choked on a dumpling. He knew Linda had a younger sister. He had met her three brothers. Even went to Ranger school with one of them. But she had never suggested a vixen for him to meet. Especially, not her sister.

He forced the large portion of unchewed food down his throat. The pain of which showed clearly on his face as he was to stunned by the sudden remark to keep his usual calm and collected self in the front.

The look on her face was of horror and concern that he might be choking. Jacob Van simply laughed in amusement. They finished their meals as Linda continued, once she was assured that Nick was ok, telling him about her sister and how much she thought they would like each other.

After the meals were finished and the table cleaned. Nick and Jacob went to the back room where Jacob had a desk that he used when working from home.

"So, what did you want to talk about boss?" Nick asked as he pulled a fold out chair up to the desk.

"This morning I got a call from JFH, they approved our proposal and want to get started right away." Nick had a grin on his face that said, 'I told you so' written all over it. "Yeah, yeah you can wipe that smug grin off your face now."

"So where do we begin?" Nick now focused on the papers that Jacob had spread out on his desk. Some were drawings of something Nick couldn't quite make out others were list of different unit types, infantry, engineers, medics and several others in different patters together.

"Well they approved the idea of an expeditionary force but not a division sized force like we suggested. They want us to come up with plans for a brigade size force." An expedition force was a new concept that the foxes had never used before. The threat of attack had always been from outside forces. And with no real allies there was never a need to send any units to other countries. With the possibility of Canisia attacking Burrowland to get at them, High Command didn't like the idea of waiting till the wolves were on Vulpesian soil to fight back.

"Why just a brigade? If they attack in force one brigade isn't going to stop them?" Nick asked. Puzzled by the down size of the unit.

"We had enough support to convince them to send someone to check everything out. However," Jacob paused to emphasize what he was about to say, "most are unconvinced that they'll attack. But they like the idea of having a unit designed specifically to operate outside of normal parameters."

"Well what exactly are they looking for then?" Nick leaned back in his chair. Arms across his chest.

"Something like this." Jacob help up a sheet of paper that had a listing of unit types. The list was broken up into columns. Each column representing a battalion with five in all. The first was an infantry/air borne battalion followed by two tank battalions, an artillery battalion and a support battalion. The one that drew Nick's attention was the infantry/air borne since that was him. Under it was listed six companies. An HQ company, four infantry companies one being a heavy and lastly an engineer company.

"They want me to present this to them tomorrow." Jacob continued after allowing Nick to look over the paper a few moments. "I was also going to show them this." Picking up one of the papers on the desk that had a drawing nick looked over it for a moment. It was a drawing of a unit patch. Most unit patches in the Vulpesian military were simple shapes with numbers. The upside-down triangle with the number 8 and an air borne tab above it being an example of the air borne divisions. This one, however, was more akin to the patches the special forces wore. It was in the shape of a medieval knight's shield. Almost like an upside-down triangle, but the sides were curved out slightly. In the middle was an olive branch crossed over by a single arrow. Above and center the two was a single five-point star. The border of the patch was dark red. The back ground a dark blue, red arrow, green olive branch and the star white.

"The star represents Vulpesia," Jacob spoke as Nick studied the drawing, "The olive branch the universal symbol for peace and the arrow crossed over the top to represents the protection of the peace."

"Perhaps you should put the olive branch in the front." Nick stated once his friend was finished. "That would show that we want peace first but are not afraid to protect ourselves."

"I like that." Jacob began to quickly draw Nick's version of the patch. Watching as his friend drew flawless lines across the paper, Nick saw that he could have easily been an artist instead of a soldier. And wandered what life would have been like outside of Vulpesia for his friend.

"There," Jacob said as he finished, "I'll present this with our unit lay out in the morning."

With that the two stood up and walked back into the living room where Jacob's family was sitting watching a movie. Jacob sat in his favorite rocking chair next to Linda and reached out to hold her hand. Nick sat on the couch where the kits were sitting. Still large enough to fit all four of them while the three kits were starting to stretch out and lay down on the comfy piece of furniture.

His belly full from the evening meal and a boring kid's show on the TV, Nick slowly began to doze off. As the tender embrace of rest closed around him, slowly pulling his eye lids shut, he had only one thing on his mind. "I wonder if she can cook like Linda?"