Hondo charged up the stairs to Roses room and knocked on the door. she was awak and said for him to come in. She was curled up in a red fuzzy blanket and was readin'.
 
"Whats up?" Rose asked as she looked up from her book.
 
" Fernando and I are goin' out flyin'. He wants you to do your old job with some new twists." Hondo said.
 
"What you mean?" Rosie asked as she sat up on the edge of the bed.  
 
"You use to navigate and do coordinatin' for the navy. you were a science tech and you know the navy. Fernando wants you to familiarize yourself with the SWA crew, especially the logistics group, and help in your field of expertise as well as get them in touch with the navy, We might need the firepower and soon." Hondo said.
 
"But I want to stay with you. we're a team!" Rose said.
 
"We are, but when I'm not around and there is no fightin' you can help them. Not use gettin rusty, eh?" Hondo said
 
"Your right. Ok . . . What if I get done before you get back?" Rose asked. Hondo smiled and sat down beside her.
 
"I doubt you could get all that done in a week, but if you get some spare time study the quick strength exercise, the take down moves and practice with your and my pistols. I know mine are a little big, but you don't always have the option of choosin' a weapon." Hondo said. he kissed her quick and got up.
 
"You have to leave right now?" She asked.
 
"yup, Fernando has the copter warmin' up now. I'll be back." Hondo said as he walked out quickly.
 
"Please do, and in one healthy piece." She whispered.
 
Hondo ran down th the kitchen and grabbed a handful of coffee beans which he popped into his mouth and grabbed a glass of tea to wash them down. he then ran out to the copter. He jumped in and looked back at the house to see 2 of the SWA agents watchin' them. He thought it strange, but he was pretty sure they were on their side, for the moment.
 
"where to, Boss squirrel?" Hondo asked
 
"Nemi. And drop the boss stuff." Fernando said. Hondo rolled his eyes and did final checks. All was fine so he took off and juiced the NOS a might for effect.
 
Meanwhile Rose dressed and met the logistics team. She wanted to help, even if it was just gettin' them hooked up with the navy.

At 1200ft, 1/2 way to Nemi, Fernando tells Hondo to turn North 90 degrees.
 
Hondo: Where are we going?
Fernando: To the Milan Hideout. I could not say that before because I did not wanted the others to hear. Hope you're armed and loaded.
Hondo: Always am.
Fernando: Good.
Hondo: Why are we heading there?
Fernando: To refuel, and then go to the border near Solvenia.
Hondo: What for?
Fernando: Lets say I have a hunch I need to check out.
Hondo: What kind of hunch?
Fernando: An LSD shippment is coming in later in the evening. We're going to capture that shipment and start asking questions.
Hondo: I would be down for that, but we're just carrying light arms.
Fernando: That's why we're stopping at the Milan Hideout. We'll refuel, and if there are a couple of anti-aircraft .50 cals, they'll get mounted, along with a couple of other things.
Hondo: Hmmmm… (after a slight pause) When do you expect the drop to come?
Fernando: In about 5 hours- we have plenty of time to get there.
Hondo: That's calling it close aint it?
Fernando: How so?
Hondo: It will take us 3 hours to get to the Milan Hideout, and lets say another hour to prepare, right? That leave an hour to get there and catch the rat-bastards.
Fernando: Afraid to run her at full speed? She's been modified with more powerful engines, you know. More efficient too.
 
Hondo just looks at Fernando at the corner of his eyes before reaching for the throttle controls and pushes them forward for more power. The aircraft accellerates like a kick in the pants without delay or lag that it had once before. The record for the fastest helicopter of 250mph, by a British made  Westland Lynx ZB500. They had beaten that record by a good 35mph, giving them another 45 minutes to work with and a lot of time to 'play' with.
 
Once at the Milan hideout, Fernando plugs in his laptop tp down load the lastest information that he was stored away at the Rome safe house's servers. He also checked on his room through the home security netwrok- finding it empty. Hondo goes down stairs to the basement and starts looking over the weapons cache. Fernando goes to the basement once the download is complete. He points out at a few items for Hondo to look at.
 
Fernando: Take those to 50-cal anti aircraft guns, I'll take the computerized swivel heads and the preprogrammed armament computer I swiped from a dead apache.
 
Somehow, Hondo manages with 2 large 50 caliber machine guns and 2 boxes of 500 rounds of ammunition; taking them outside. Fernando takes the swivel heads, the computer, along with some tools. As Fernando adds the computer and swivel heads, Hondo reloads the fuel tanks with water.
 
With one swivel heads in place, Fernando starts to put in the computer and run its diagnostics. Hondo adds the guns to them and bolts on the ammunition box to its sides, loading the belt or bullets to the machine gun. Once diagnotics are done with the first swivel head, Fernando blots on the screen to the bottom of the helicopter's dash on the co-pilot's side. A targetting joystick extents to either side for either person to aim and shoot with.
 
Fernando walks into the house and comes back with a couple of cold roast beef sandwiches and some Pepsi sodas in glass bottles. He tosses a set to Hondo.
 
Fernando: Sorry, that's all they have in there.
 
Hondo catches them, looks at them and starts munching on it.
 
Hondo: It tastes like its been sitting for a while.
Fernando: Its been in the frig for a week, that's when I put them in there.
Hondo: So you were expecting to return to this dump?
Fernando: Only as needed. I loaded up the frig with cold cuts and put it on the coldest setting. There are a couple more if you want.
Hondo: Bring them out and let them thaw. We'll eat and drink on the way. So, How much time do we have left?
 
Fernando looks at his watch.
 
Fernando: Looks like we have a couple of hours before they arrive. Let me check.
 
Fernando pulls out his laptop, and type in a few codes. A map pops up of the Italian/Slovenian border, with roads marked off. A red dot seems to be moving along on the Slovenian side of the map.
 
Fernando: We can hang out for another 30 minutes and take our time flying to the border or we can fly now and really take our time.
 
Hondo looks at the computer screen, seeing the moving red dot on the map.
 
Hondo: That's our target?
Fernando: Yup.
Hondo: Whats the longest we can relax before we need to take off.
Fernando: We can hang out for 45 minutes, but I don't want us too relaxed.
Hondo: Boil a pot of coffee then, I got a phone call to make.
Fernando: Make it short then.
 
They walk inside the house, drinking and chewing.

Hondo did leave out tellin' Rose that they were on their way into possibly heavy fire. He was goin' to, but didn't want to worry her. *I'll be fine.* he thought and hoped for roses sake. He grabbed a cup of coffee, and took it along. he hated coffee, but needed the caffeine still. He had a sandwich in one hand and his coffee in another as he and Fernando headed back out to the copter. as the engine warmed up again Hondo ate and checked his guns over again.
*never can be too careful,* he thought. his rifles and pistols were in order and all systems on board checked out. They lifted off smoothly and headed toward the drug dealers meetin'. aS Hondo took off he said to Fernando, "Lets crash a party! YEEHAW!!" He threw the whirly bird into full throttle with a NOS boost and they were off like a shot to their destination, and a fight.

Tammy, Priscilla and Bink walk about the Rome Shopping centers, gathering various girlie items, and talking about what female squirrels in mating season talk about- the latest and greatest in fashions, trinkets, missions, guns and denying mating season is there although talk of guys is not excluded. They walk about the lingerie area of the department store. Priscilla picks up a flimsy see-through panty and teddy set, tossing it at Tammy, hitting in the face with it as she was looking over a more traditional set or intimate garment.
 
Tammy: HEY!
 
Tammy takes the tossed items off her face and looks at it.
 
Tammy: What's the meaning of this?
Priscilla: A little something for you to show off to Fernando?
 
Bink looks at it and does not know to whether laugh at it or be discussed. Instead, she heads to the more patterned and colourful underwear suited to the younger but more mature set. Tammy throws back the see through intimates back to Priscilla.
 
Tammy: I can assure you that this would not interest Fernando.
Priscilla: And how would you know?
Tammy: I know.
Bink (from several feet away hidden in an aisle): Maybe its because he's a flying squirrel and she's not!
Tammy; BINK! I SWEAR!
 
Its harder to say who was giggling harder- Priscilla who was a couple of feet away from her or Bink who was a few aisles away checking out bra sizes.
 
Priscilla: Well, how would you know? Have you two, you know- done it?
 
Bink yells out the answer before Tammy could.
 
Bink: NO THEY HAVEN'T!
Tammy: BINK!
Priscilla: THEY HAVEN'T?
Tammy: PRISCILLA!
 
The two of them start laughing as they start running through the aisles. Tammy was about to chase them but decided to go back to getting what she needs. She picks out a few packages of basic and matching bra and panty sets. She puts them into the carry-all the store supplies to free the shopper's hands. She starts heading to the shoe section, only to have Bink and Priscilla run up to her from behind and stuff her carry all with their items, making it heavy suddenly.
 
Tammy: HEY!
Priscilla: Hey is for horses!
Bink: Yeah, we be squirrels!
 
Tammy just grumbles along the way to the Shoes Section of the store, being the butt of attention of the other two.
 
They were more behaved while looking over shoes, showing off various styles, and talking about what would match with them. Some shoes requiring an entire wardrobe just for them. Tammy takes a set of low pumps, and to keep her quiet and behaved- a set of kitten-heels for Bink. These along with a pair of sneakers and a couple of causal wear shoes, they move along to dresses, then to everyday wear (shirts/sweaters/skirts/pants/jeans). They make a last stop at make up and perfumes, where Priscilla gets a bottle of Pupa perfume for Bink, though Tammy thinks that its for Priscilla herself.
 
They go to an outdoor cafe for a bite to eat: coffee/tea and pastries.
 
Bianca and Michelle walk down the sidewalk, also looking for a bite to eat. They spot the outdoor cafe from across the street, and heads towards it. In a matter of a few seconds, Michelle, Bink, Bianca and Tammy were soon staring at each other, and Priscilla being the odd one out.
 
Michelle: Its her...
Bianca (drawing out her Glock17): Get her!
 
Priscilla pounces on Tammy to get her out of the line of sight, as the table gets kicked up into the air. Bink pulls out her Tu-Tone P239 9mm, and shots are being exchanged by the two. Priscilla takes her P236 9mm and joins in the fire fight as Bianca starts pulling Michelle away, also shooting a glock. They manage to hide around the corner and run for it. The smoke of burnt gunpowder clears, and the authorities were soon dealt with just a cell phone call. Jean shows up with Rico and ask them questions. Priscilla does all the talking. After all is said and done, the girls gets their belongings and head back to the hideout. But their discussions does not end there, as Tammy drives back 'home'.
 
Tammy: Why you knocked me down onto the floor?
Priscilla: Duh- They had guns drawn and you had a mouth full of canollli staring back at them like a doe staring back at headlights of an on coming car!
Tammy: I was pulling out my weapon when you knocked me down!
Priscilla: You Were Not Fast Enough!
Tammy: You Did Not Give Me A Chance!
Bink: You were not fast enough, sis...
Tammy: Not you too!
Priscilla: And You- BINK! You Did Not Hit Anyone Of Them! I Never Seen You So Sloppy, Since You First Joined!
Bink: I did my best!
Priscilla: You're A Cyborg! You're Supposed To Be Faster Than A Normal Person!
Bink: But...
 
Bink begins to cry.
 
Tammy: Oh Now You Done It!  

Fernando and Hondo make their way to the Slovenian/Italian border, more or less maintaining altitude of slightly 3000 ft. to keep the whirring blades from being heard. Using the GSP and Tracking software, they make it to the border and wait for the truck to arrive. It still have several miles to go through before crossing the abandoned and ill maintained border crossing road.
 
Fernando: When they cross the border, follow the truck for a few miles and lower us to tree top level.
Hondo: Sure thing, but what you intend to do?
Fernando: I'm going glide to the truck to tie the wench cable to the back of the it. You are going to go full throttle, which will either lift up the truck or flip it over.
Hondo: I'm going to need a bit more breathing room to do something like that.
Fernando: Well, the cable is only about 800ft...
Hondo: 800ft I can use.
Fernando: I'm going to need some slack to tie it to the bumper.
Hondo: I'll give you something. But what if that bumper snaps of?
Fernando: Well, we can hope that it will put them out of control. Then, there is always Plan B.
Hondo: Plan B?
Fernando: Make it up as we go along.
Hondo: I see.
 
After a moment of silence.
 
Hondo: You did not think this through, now did you?
Fernando: When do we ever have a chance to think it through? We are told to do something but we are left to figure out how to do it. That's the only thing I hate about the spy game.
-- -- -- -- --
Back at the Safe House:
 
Despite the argument between Tammy and Priscilla, it was basically quiet. Ferro had already received the call from Jean telling her what had transpired in Rome. Tammy tries to end the argument by taking Bink up to their new room and put away their things.
 
Tammy spills the content of her bags on Fernando's bed, putting them into grouped piles before giving them the attention that they needed: removing plastic and tags, folding them and putting them into one of the empty dresser drawers. Bink goes through the same motions, just getting on Tammy's nerve accidentally. Tammy calms herself down before taking it out on her younger sister. She looks up at her younger sister before saying anything.
 
Tammy: Thank you.
Bink: For what?
Tammy: For acting in Time and saving my life back there.
Bink: Oh, that. Its my job to keep you from harm.
Tammy: You don't know what that mean, don't you?
Bink: I may or may not, I just do as I am conditioned to.
Tammy: Don't you have any free thoughts of your own?
Bink: I do, but...
Tammy: But what?
 
Bink remains silent for a moment.
 
Tammy: But what?
Bink: But... I'm not to act upon them if it goes against you, your wishes, your orders or the agency's orders.
Tammy: So, if I tell not to carry your gun again, you would?
Bink: That goes against agency's orders. I cant do that.
Tammy: What about here or at the SWA?
Bink: That's different.
Tammy: How so?
Bink: We are surrounded by SWA personnel, and I can get my gun or any other gun easily if the need arises.
 
Tammy thinks about it for a second.
 
Tammy: Give me your gun.
 
Bink pauses, as if to think of what is being asked of her to do. She finally reaches into her hidden rear belt clip-on holster and hands it over to Tammy. Tammy takes the gun out of the holster and examines it before putting it back in. She takes it to the bunk beds, reaching over to the top bunk and puts it under the pillow. She then returns to packing her clothing. Bink can only do it think as to why her sister would ever do what she just did.
 
Bink: Why?
Tammy: I don't want to see gun, or smell gun oil or gunpowder. We are beyond using them.
 
Tammy reaches into her back and pulls out her gun by the clip-on holster. She reaches out to Bink with it to show it off.
 
Tammy: We are not violent people. We don't need to have these things with us all the time.
 
Tammy goes to the dresser drawer where she was packing her clothes and stuffs her gun in a corner. Bink tries to explain as Tammy returns to the bed.
 
Bink: But these are violent times and we have enemies everywhere- enemies who want us dead. We have to defend ourselves.
Tammy: Defend- yes. Hunt down and bring the fight to them first- No. Know that difference, Bink.
 
Bink bows her head down.
 
Bink: I will.
Tammy: Good.
 
Bink can only look at her, unable to say anything.
 
Tammy: Tomorrow, You are going to wash your clothes in the basement laundry machines. This way you got fresh clothes to wear during the week.
Bink: What about the new stuff we got?
Tammy: You will wear both as needed, but your clothes from the SWA have been sitting around too long and are getting stale. Washing them will freshen them up.
Bink: O... Kay...
Tammy: I'll do mine tonight so I don't tie up the laundry room when you or the others need it.
Bink: How many machines are there?
Tammy: 2 large washers, 1 small washer and 2 large dryers. Fernando told me that they work. There is also an ironing station down there so you can iron your things as needed.
Bink: OK...
Tammy: After we are done here, you are free to be with the other girls to take a time off. I think there is some left over ice cream in the frig if you like.
Bink: Why?
Tammy: Why? I cant reward you for doing your job until things calm down a bit. That may take a while.
Bink: Oh... Uhm... can I wash my clothes now instead?
Tammy: Don't you want the free time?
Bink: I can have free time tomorrow if I wash my clothes today. And when I'm done today, the time left can also be free.
Tammy: You  know how to use... oh never mind. If you can use the agency's washing machines, you should know how to use these... go ahead.
 
Bink stuffs her things into the gym bag she was carrying, and heads downstairs to the basement laundry room. Tammy continues to go about with putting away her things.
 
The safe house's door bell rings, putting everyone in high alert because no one was expecting any guests to arrive. Everyone on the first floor freeze in place with their hands on their holsters. The door bell rings again.
 
Ferro: Isn't somebody going to get that?
 
They all look at each other, with no one wanting to move.
 
Ferro: Olga- answer the door.
 
The elder rabbit walks over to the door, looking into the peep-hole. A long blonde haired mouse wearing purple mechanic's jumpers and goggles stood on the patio, awaiting for an answer. Olga upholsters her gun and hides it behind her back as she opens the door just a bit, putting her foot against it to keep it from being opened further.
 
Olga: Who is it?
Blonde Mouse: Is this were Tammy Squirrel is at?
Olga: Who are you?
Blonde Mouse: Who Am I? Well, I'm Gadget Hackwrench, but all my friends call me Gadget...
 
Rose runs out from the computer area to the front door, almost pushing Olga out of the way.
 
Rose: Let Her In!  Let Her In!
 
Rose opens the door wider and takes Gadget by the wrist, hauling her in and slamming the door. She takes her to the living room and almost throws her onto a nearby seat.
 
Rose: Gadget! What brings you here?
 
Ferro approaches them.
 
Ferro: I would like to know how she found out about the place.
Gadget: Who me? It was easy actually, with all the modern tech these day, you know, it is just a matter of tying up a few proper servers and....
Rose: Gadget... You don't need to explain. But why are you here?
Gadget: I wanted to see my friend Tammy. Things at the café are going crazy and many are asking about her, you know. So I figured that I would...
Rose: Gadget- you're rambling...
Gadget: I am? I thought I quit that nasty habit. Took self help classes...
Rose: Gadget...
Gadget: Oh. I'm sorry. But, where is Tammy.
Rose: Let me take you to her.
 
Rose takes Gadget by the wrist and takes her upstairs.
Gadget: Gee- this is a large house...
 
Olga, Priscilla and Ferro look at each other.
 
Olga: If a civilian can find this place...
Ferro: That is no civilian.
Olga: Is she a threat?
Priscilla: With a scattered brain like that?
Ferro: She's no scatter brain...
Priscilla: You mean its all an act?
Ferro: That's the way she is. You two need to sit down and read the rest of the café member dossiers.
 
There is a knock on Tammy's door. Tammy walks over to it to answer it.
 
Tammy: Bink- there is no way you could have (door opens)... Rose... Gadget?
Rose: May  we come in?
Tammy: Yeah, No, wait... Well... excuse the mess... I was just cleaning up.
 
Rose enters with Gadget in tow. Once inside Tammy and Gadget look at each other, before holding hands momentarily and then start hugging each other.
-- -- -- -- --
A helicopter slowly makes it descend upon a moving truck down a side road, making its way to the highway just several miles away.
 
Fernando: Take it down to 500 ft.
Hondo: I'll need more room than that.
Fernando: Take it down to 500ft so I can jump out safely with the cable. Then you can zoom up to 800ft when I give you the signal.
 
Hondo just lets out a sigh, before pushing the joystick forward to begin its descend. The truck below them was making much noise of its down, making the helicopter above them hardly audible.
 
Fernando goes to the back of the helicopter, grabbing and pulling out  as much of the wench cable out so he would not have to fight against the tension of the wench unwinding. He ties it to the back of the belt of his pants before jumping out off the helicopter, gliding down to the roof of the truck below. He makes his way down to the rear bumper and ties up the steel cable to it before fastening the cable's locking latch onto itself. He then climbs up the cable 40 ft before radioing to Hondo.
 
Fernando: OK Hondo- Go for it!
 
Hondo pulls back on the joystick and throttle, making the helicopter go up sharply. The rear of the truck lifts up suddenly, but its front wheels still contact with the road, making it swerve wildly. Fernando scurries up the cable further and holds on. The truck makes contact with several trees before it finally lifts up off the ground.
 
Hondo take the helicopter another 50 ft and holds it there. Automatic pilot is activated to keep it in place. He goes back to the wench, where he looks down to see Fernando partly up the cable with the truck dangling on the end of the cable. Hondo radios down to Fernando.
 
Hondo: Everything alright down there?
Fernando: Yeah- quickly, find a clearing big enough for all of us. I don't know how long this will last!
Hondo: Gotcha!
 
Hondo returns to the controls, and flies about in a circle, finding an empty clearing used for camping less than a kilometer away. He takes caution to get there. Placing the truck onto the ground was less than gentle, making it land hard on its nose and flipping it onto its roof. Fernando jumps of the cable and flies down to the truck, drawing out his gun as he approaches it on foot.
 
Inside were two mice in their young twenties, badly beaten up by their horrific ride. Intelligence would tell someone to put on their seat belts, lets just say that they were not too intelligent. Fernando manages to open the passenger door as Hondo lands the helicopter several yards away in the clearing. Very few words were exchanged as Fernando handcuffs the mouse to the cable tied to the back of the truck. Hondo takes the driver out of the truck, and shoves his gun into the mouse's mouth as it tries to explain in Italian Gibberish that it knew nothing. Fernando catches up to Hondo, slapping handcuffs to the driver as he did the passenger. They then take their captives and secure them to the bumper of the truck, before untying the cable and rewinding it back onto the wench. Fernando goes through the passenger cabin and takes what values and evidence he can find.
 
Hondo: Now that we got them, what shall we do with them?
Fernando: I doubt you are fluent in Northern Italian or Slovenian. (Fernando thinks to himself for a moment) Radio Marco back at the house and tell him in these exact words, 'We struck gold in the mountains.' He will ask for the GPS coordinates, so read them off the laptop. Also tell him that we got some nasty bad boys for him to punish. I will secure the prisoners in the back of the helicopter.
Hondo: That is all?
Fernando: That is all.
Hondo: What about the truck?
Fernando: They will take care of the truck.
Hondo: Hmph...
Fernando: What?
Hondo: I was hoping that we were to use those big guns.
Fernando: Just consider us lucky that we didn't. But one day you will. That's what they are there for. Come on- we got a long way home.
 
Hondo returns to the helicopter and makes radio contact with the members of the SWA in the safe house. He did not get Marco, but he did relay the messages to Ferro. She tells him that they will take care of the rest.
 
Fernando secures the prisoners to the back seat of the helicopter, needing to thorazine dart them to keep them quiet. After a bit of cleaning up, they were on their way back to the Rome Safe house, with a refueling pit stop in Milan.
-- -- -- -- --
Anne is taken to a surgery room, where work on her upper torso was done to repair the damage to her ribs, muscles, arteries and lungs. 5 hours of work was done to fix the damage to her with no guarantee that she would wake up from her coma. She was taken back to her room, where she was reconnected to life monitoring machines. Many hours into the night, she stirs, but still lays there in a deep sleep.