A/N: Woo! Feeling good about this one. Ah, I appreciate the reviews. They really do provide an incentive to keep going, so the more, the better. In any case, Guns N' Roses is indeed the band referred to (and a good one at that), so, true to form, I shall insert a Guns N' Roses song into a chapter. So, without further ado...

The song for this chapter is Welcome To The Jungle by Guns N' Roses.

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2 Months Later

I stepped into the small cabin on the Corneria City Military Base. It was called a cabin, but it was actually just a small metal shack-like structure with a few bunks set up within. I entered and set down my belongings, which were pretty sparse. I had one bag that contained some spare casual clothes, and in the other hand was a case which held my trumpet, my prized possession. The place looked a little bit cramped, but after some of the quarters I'd slept in over the past two months, it would be nothing to sneeze at. I walked forward when suddenly, a lanky ferret vaulted over the side of one of the top bunks and landed in front of me. I hadn't even noticed him as I had come in. We looked each other up and down. The ferret was wearing a green Cornerian army uniform, just like me. He looked tall and good-natured, with a constant lazy, almost glazed look to his face.

"So you're the new guy, huh?" He said in a laid back accent. "Sarge said we were gettin' another recruit, but she didn't mention you were one of them country folk from way out in the boonies on Katina." I didn't quite like my home being referred to as "the boonies", but the guy seemed likable enough. Looking up at him (as he was an inch or two taller than myself), I replied.

"So, who are you?" I asked.

"Corporal Ricky D. Wilson, Cornerian 31st Infantry Unit. And you?"

"Private 3rd Class Louie A. Swan, and as for unit, I guess it's this one. The 31st?"

"Ha! I outrank you! But yep, this is the 31st, alright. Hey, I'll go get the others!"

I wasn't sure if the others would be as well-receiving as Ricky, but I could surely hope so. After dropping my sparse belongings, I followed Ricky outside, where he called to two other soldiers leaning against a wall, a male feline and a female. He called them by names, and they looked, then walked over closer to us. Ricky introduced me to the two as "the new guy", which prompted them both to look at me in curiosity. The female cat had mostly dark gray fur, with a patch of white at the eyes. She extended her hand to me first.

"A bird, huh? A swan, no less. Anyway, it's a pleasure to have you here, but don't expect much excitement on base, though. We've been waiting for action for a few months to no avail. I'm Emily, by the way. Max, introduce yourself." She said to the other feline, a full-maned lion, giving him a swift elbow in the ribs. After giving her a look of mock hurt, he extended his hand towards me, looking cautious as though I might carry some kind of disease. He eased up after glancing at Ricky and Emily and took my hand firmly.

"Maximilian Leo III, former heir to the Leo fortune." I peered at him. This was the heir to the fortune of the Leos, the wealthy Katinian family? I felt inclined to ask him why he was in the military, and apparently no longer the heir to the Leos' fortune, but thought it a question better saved for later. Emily looked at him and reprimanded him for being so evasive with me.

"Is that all you can say to our new comrade in arms? 'I'm Max and I'm supposed to be rich'?"

"Sorry, Sarge." I became curious at that point. She was a sergeant?

"Sergeant? So you must be the leader of the squad, right?" I said to Emily.

"Wrong. That would be me, private." Said a deep voice from behind me before she could respond. Realizing my commanding officer was here, I quickly threw a salute, as did the others. A tall, lean, muscular otter walked in front of me and looked me up and down, then nodded in what seemed a sort of approval. He had a scar running from the tip of his left ear to his right jawbone, and overall made a very intimidating figure.

"At ease. Avery tells me you were the best boot camp recruit in your batch, so I guess that means you're good for something. But here, you will be subjected to the same tasks as your squadmates. I assume you've been properly introduced to all of them? Sergeant Fitzgerald?" He said, addressing Emily.

"All but Aaron, sir." She responded. The otter sighed irritatedly.

"That damn kid." No sooner had he spoken, however, when another soldier ran up and hastily saluted before quickly explaining himself.

"Sir, Captain Irvine, I was in the bathroom. Sorry, sir!" He said in a rushed manner. He was a bright red-feathered cardinal, with some feathers sticking off his head in a slightly comical-looking manner. The otter captain named Irvine scoffed at the avian.

"Uh huh, I bet you were. You come see me later and I'll have a special job for you." He said to the soldier. He then turned to me. "Private Swan, I trust you've become acquainted with the quarters?" I nodded. "Good. It's getting close to dinner time. Just don't expect much. Sergeant Fitzgerald, show him around." Emily nodded once more as the captain spun and walked elsewhere. The rest of the squad began to walk toward the mess hall when Emily grabbed Ricky by the back of his shirt.

"You're coming with me, too, Ricky. You know the rules. Last newbie always helps tour the new one." She told him. Ricky let out a disappointed sigh.

"Ah, I was so close." Complained the ferret.

Welcome to the jungle
We got fun 'n' games
We got everything you want
Honey we know the names

--

"Home cooking, huh?" I commented as I piled some of the mess onto my plate. Emily, who was in front of me, laughed.

"Remember that most of the Cornerian military is made up of canines. Dogs'll eat anything!" She said. Ricky snickered at this comment.

"Hehe. Kind of like that one dog you went out with tried to eat your-"

"Shut up, Ricky!" She cut him off. Laughing, I inquired as to what he was talking about. "Ugh, nothing." She responded. "I went out with this guy once, and...nah, I'll save that story for later." I was curious as to what the story was, but I definitely had a few stories of my own, so maybe there would be a chance to tell them one day.

The rest of the meal was pretty uneventful. Max came and sat down with us, as did Aaron. Max seemed a little pretentious to me, and he seemed like he didn't have the biggest thing for me, either. But he was okay with me, and I guess I would be able to live with him too. Aaron just seemed like kind of a goof. He appeared to be pretty likable, though.

Afterwards, Emily and Ricky showed me some of the other facilities. The only notable ones were the command buildings, where our mundane chores would be carried out, and the bathroom. After the brief tour of the facilities, it was curfew - 6:45, so we returned to the cabin, and I was shown my bunk, right underneath Aaron's. Max and the captain, already soundly asleep (or so it appeared, at least) were already in. Aaron was nowhere to be seen, to which Emily sighed.

Welcome to the jungle
It gets worse here everyday
Ya learn ta live like an animal
In the jungle where we play

"Captain's gonna chew him to pieces when he gets here." She said. I looked at Captain Irvine.

"Isn't he asleep?" I asked, going by what appeared to be true. In response, Emily nodded in the captain's direction as an amused scoff came from the burly otter. Maybe he wasn't asleep after all.

--

The next few days went without incident. We did our tasks and jobs around the base, did our routine patrols around the local area. Nothing out of the ordinary happened. But that was the benefit of a peace time. And the time of peace was about get rained out...

/

General Pepper. That's what they called him now. He had been granted the title of High General some time ago now, of course, but it still seemed to move like a blur in retrospect when he thought about the humble origins which spawned him. He sat now in his office, lit only by moonlight from the moderately large (but blasterproof) windows at his rear. Before him stood a six-inch tall holographic representation of the Cornerian Prime Minister, the supreme leader and authority on the superpower planet, on his desktop.

"...An open attack on Katinian soil, loss of communications with the central radar station on Fichina. It is abundantly clear that this is an attack on our great alliance. We must take action, General, lest the next attack fall on our world. It has also become apparent that our worst fears are indeed true. He has assumed power and returned for revenge, as we feared."

"With due respect, your excellency, we have no evidence that he is the culprit behind this."

"Are you denying it, Pepper?"

"It's..."

"Enough. We will take decisive action. I want the fleet and army prepared for mobilization. There will be no more sacrifices.

"Please, sir, I implore you to wait until the Unity meeting! Half a week, that is all I ask."

"I refuse to see no action taken."

Pepper pondered for a moment. After a moment, he looked back at his superior.

"Very well. I will send an elite squadron to investigate the radar station. Is that sufficient?"

Now it was the Prime minister's turn to ponder. After another few moments, the reply came.

"I suppose this will be sufficient until the meeting. But a decision must be reached, General. I leave things to you for now."

"Yes, sir."

The hologram of the Cornerian leader disappeared from his vision. General Pepper wheeled his chair back so that he was able to more easily maneuver.

"I assume we'll be that 'elite squadron', then?" Came a voice from a figure in the shadows to the General's left. The General turned his head to look at the man.

"Yes. You will be recompensated. Can you find a technician to repair your ship and investigate the station by the end of the week?"

"I've already got someone in mind. We'll verify your technical difficulties and return here."

"Good. Get going."

The figure nodded and walked to the door of the office, revealing himself to be a vulpine easily no older than 22 wearing a green shirt, combat vest and camo pants with a blaster pistol holstered at his waist. He exited as General Pepper leaned back and sighed. What a day.

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How about that, huh? I apologize for the extensive length inbetween chapters now, but marching band has begun. Band camp has begun, and things will continue from here. I'm so excited to be back on the field, but I haven't had very much time to update the story. But rest assured, it will be completed, no matter how long it takes. Anyway, our story will now begin to unfold. Nothing much else going on. Man, it was tough to find a song for this chapter. I just couldn't find one I really thought fit well enough. I ended up using said GNR song here, but I wish there was something that fit better. Oh well, no harm done, right?