Dedicated to Shepherdboy17 for his great ideas and collaboration on this story.

Shere Khan sat in his limo, waiting to see his personal combat helicopter closing in on the Crimson Den. Also with him was Ralkan. He had waited two months for this moment and in another thirty seconds, the complex would be burning. Tons of protesters were being held back by his panthers.

Khan was all smiles, about to give the order to fire, and suddenly the alarmed voice of the chopper pilot came over the speaker system of the limo. "What the hell is that?" he demanded.

Shere Khan turned to Ralkan to see his expression change from confusion to barely controlled alarm, and he knew something was wrong.

"Mr. Khan..." Ralkan began to say.

And suddenly the pilot's voice went up an octave as he screamed, "Oh Fuck! Nooooo!"

That's when the helicopter exploded. Automatic gun fire was heard and Khan's panthers were slaughtered. The protesters ran for their lives, not wishing to die.

Just then the Khan and Ralkan was pulled from the limo by Jones, Delgato and Fangmeyer. They were thrown into the mud at the feet of Nick Wilde.

"Weak am I?" he asked, then dropped a small shinny orb in the mud. Nick and his friends put on gas masks. Shere Khan and Ralkan watched in horror as a green colored gas sprayed from the orb, filling their lungs with the awful poison.

The tiger and Elk began choking, their eyes turning red as they struggled to breath, but the more they resisted, the more painful it was. Finally, Ralkan gave up and gave off one final loud gasp for air as he died. Khan followed quickly after him.

And across Zootopia, all the members of the board of directors were killed.

But, if Nick and his colleagues thought that this would fly under the federal radar…well they just weren't too bright in that matter.

The sound of freshly polished Blucher Oxfords on linoleum floors echoed through the empty corridor of the most secure building in America. Well, maybe second to the Pentagon. But, the owner of the two feet making their way toward an inner room within the CIA didn't have time for that sort of thing, as evident by how he nervously adjusted the numerous medals on his khaki service uniform, his greying brown/ginger fur on his head, topped with a peak cap, seeming to blend perfectly with the material, all while his other hand gripped the handle of his black leather briefcase tightly. So much so that one could actually see the knuckles under his fur turn white.

This was Colonel Anthony Shaughnessy, U.S. Marine Corps.

Tony to his friends.

And as Tony reached the end of the corridor, he wasted no time in opening one of the double doors, briefly looking at the floor after punching in the code on keypad. But as he closed the door behind him, he suddenly realized he was not alone, as evident by the sound of one of the rolling chairs pushing out from the large, round table.

Turning to the source of the noise, Tony's brown eyes landed on a young German Shepherd, the canine dressed sharply in Navy Dress Blues, a peak cap and briefcase, matching the one in Tony's own hand, resting on the table. But, Tony could only allow himself to smile at the young Lieutenant, his rank clear to any military and government official by the two thin gold bands on the cuffs of his jacket.

"Richie Barkin, I can't believe you beat me here," Tony said with a laugh as he strode over to the equally amused shepherd, who offered a crisp, but still relaxed salute to his superior, who offered his hand after briefly returning the salute.

"I like to be early. Hello, colonel," Richie said with a light laugh, the two canines giving each other a firm handshake before taking a seat at the table. And before their tails could even grace to cushy pleather, Tony started speaking again.

"You can use my name. The room is safe."

"Yes Sir, Tony," Richie said with a laugh, "but it's still proper."

"Well," Tony continued after a long moment of silence, his smile still present on his face as he reached forward to gently grasp Richie's wrist that rested on the table, "it's good to see you again."

"You too, Tony," Richie responded, the young officer settling back in his chair as Tony continued to speak.

"I trust NSA orientation is going well enough for you?"

Richie could only laugh at this. And as Tony noticed, the laugh, while genuine, seemed to also be laced with playful annoyance as the shepherd pinched the bridge of his muzzle, shaking his head like a parent who had just heard their child say one of corniest joke sin history. And to him, all he was going through seemed like a joke.

"Well enough. Everyone's been really coy about what exactly I'm allowed to know."

"It's called compartmentalization. It's the nature of the agency. We don't let any person know everything."

"Soldier's trust each other, Tony," Richie added in, his smile slightly faltering as he did, "that's what makes an army."

"Last time I trusted someone, I nearly lost my boy, his wife and their son."

This was said with dead seriousness, Tony's smile now long gone as he stared down Richie, the younger canine fidgeting a bit in his seat. Looking for a desperate need to change the now tense subject, Richie decided to just keep the ball rolling.

"How is Garth and the rest of them doing, by the way?"

While Tony knew Richie was changing the subject, he still couldn't help but let his smile come back.

"Doing good…Lilly's still at the Howl full time, and Garth performs there on ladies' night when he's not surveying in the Park."

"And Al?"

Richie was of course referring to Tony's grandson, Albus, though everybody called him Al for short.

"How old is now, six?"

"No," Tony said with a laugh as he rubbed his forehead, "he just turned nine."

"How time flies," Richie added with a laugh, joined by Tony.

"And your family…how's it going with them?"

The question from Tony had a strange effect on Richie, as the older wolf noticed. Richie was suddenly quiet, still, his face void of any discernible expression. But much to Tony's relief…and concern, Richie did answer.

"Uh, well, pretty good," Richie responded with a forced smile.

"Actually, after we're done here, I'm hopping a plane to Zootopia, meet up with Rex, Cody and the kids and flying to Jasper. Gonna see Humphrey and his family. Been awhile since I've seen my step-bro."

Given the forced smile on his face and the hesitance by which his answer was given, Tony knew that Richie was trying to avoid a very delicate subject.

"I know," Tony responded with a sly smirk, "I'm not gonna be too far behind you."

Richie returned the smirk, knowing full well what Tony meant; He was tired and ready for a vacation, and figured he might as well go see his boy and his family.

"But while we're here…"

As he said this, Tony's smile suddenly fell, which seemed to unnerve Richie, especially when Tony opened the briefcase. And the moment the files within were splayed out before him, Richie let out a deep sigh as he shuffled through them.

"'King Bear O'Conner attacked in Jasper'," he said as he read a report sent from an anonymous informant.

"'Canadian Prime Minister and Alberta Governor in talks for international aid," he continued as he kept flipping through the pages, all while Tony just sat there and watched him intently. But the moment Richie got to the last page…his anxiety turned into annoyance.

"'Nick Wilde en route to Jasper."

"What about Mr. Wolf, Diane Foxington and Ms. Tarantula?" Richie asked.

"Already there," Tony replied.

"Puss in Boots and Kitty Softpaws?"

"Already setting up shop."

"Shenzi?"

"Got a job lined up at the Moonlight Howl."

"O'Brian and Sterling?"

Tony hesitated, letting out a brief sigh before answering.

"TENTATIVELY on board, with Sam making it clear, in no uncertain terms, that if this goes south...he and Dax were never involved."

"This is going to be one heck of a mission," Richie sighed.

"Looks like a working vacation," Tony said with a small grin, which did not ease Richie's annoyance.

Seems like everyone's Swinging by Jasper, Richie thought to himself.