Indian Ocean, international waters off Madagascar. The Retriever and her escorts come to a stop. Below decks in the mini-sub bay, Bowser, Rusty, Bandage, Rika, Tex, Emerald, Slide and Pandora are here.

"I wish you'd reconsider captain." says Emerald.

"Noted Emerald."

"Are you sure you don't want me to take you sir?" says Slide.

"I happen to be a qualified pilot, Slide." says Tex "I can handle it."

"Everyone in." says Bowser. Rusty, Bandage, Rika and Tex go into the mini-sub. "We may be gone for several hours, so keep on station."

"Yes sir."

"The ships yours Emerald. Good luck."

"Yes sir."

Bowser seals the mini-sub and fastens himself into the co-pilot seat.

"Everyone buckled up?" says Tex

"Take her out, Captain McCoy." says Bowser

The mini-sub dives out of it's bay and heads for bottom.

"So anyone going to let me in on what were doing?" says Rika "I hate surprises."

"Very well." says Bowser "Below us is a secret international science lab called The Atlantis Project. There are secret projects and experiments going on down there."

"I thought the Atlantis legend was in the Atlantic Ocean, not the Indian." says Bandage.

"It's the name they picked for this project."

"We're coming up on it, sir." says Tex.

"Atlantis Project, this is Captain Bowser and company from the Retriever requesting docking clearance."

"Roger Captain Bowser, your clear for Bay One. And welcome to Atlantis."

Tex maneuvers the mini-sub into a garage type bay and then lands the mini-sub. The door closes and the sea water is pumped out and the crew gets ready to disembark.

"One last thing you should know." says Bowser "The head scientists are a little....odd. So don't be too surprised."

They get off the mini-sub as the doors to the bay open letting in a virtual menagerie. A lemur, clydesdale horse, hyena and a bald headed eagle greet them. The Retriever crew minus Bowser look at them with jaws dropped. The lemur steps up to Bowser.

"Welcome to Atlantis Captain, I'm Professor Frank. My colleagues, Professor Stein, Moreau and Derksen."

"Good to meet you." says Bowser "These are my crewmembers, chief engineer Rusty, chief of medical Bandage, chief of mechanics and ordinance Rika and Captain Tex McCoy, United States Marine Corps."

"From the looks on your crew's faces they must have a lot of questions." says Prof. Frank with a smirk.

"Yeah." says Bandage "Most countries have banned everything but canines and felines from being turned into sapiens."

"We weren't originally." says Prof. Moreau "We volunteered for these changes. We're working, among others things, on projects for the Space Rovers and other organizations. You see, they've started an operation called Project Shepherd to see if other animals can be productive citizens."

"But that's not why we asked for you." says Prof. Frank "You see, we need help. We believe that Zachary Storm has found out about us and plans to steal our secrets, one way or the other. And we need your help to fortify this place."

"You can count us to help Professor." says Bowser

"Excellent. Right this way then."

"How does this thing hold back all the water pressure?" asks Rusty.

"A reinforced synthetic metal that is stronger than titanium." says Prof Frank. "Plus, having a shield helps as well."

"Shields?" says Tex "You've come up with shielding technology?"

"Yes."

"Whoa. That'd be great if we ever went to the stars."

"The Space Rovers are already there Mr. McCoy." says Bowser

"Has someone watched to much Star Trek?" says Tex

Prof. Frank chuckles.

"Where do you think we got the idea? Now then, about the defenses. Rusty, Rika, Prof. Stein will take you to the EMP jamming dish. It's imcomplete at the moment and we need your help to finish it."

"Aren't there hand-held EMP jammers?" says Rika

"A hand-held won't disable an entire submarine."

"Oh. Let's get to work then."

"Bandage, Prof. Moreau will take you to the infirmary; just in case."

"Got it."

"Tex, Prof Derksen will take you to our weapons lab and defend it. Captain Bowser, you and I will head for the command center."

****

Ocean, a single submarine glides through the water. On the bridge Zachary Storm scowls at the backs of his crew.

"E.T.A.?"

"Ten minutes sir."

"Battle stations. Ready all torpedo tubes. I want those secrets!"

****

On the bridge of the Retriever.

"New contact on my scope." says Bengal

"What is it?" says Emerald

"A submarine, bearing the marks of Captain Zachary Storm's submarine the Rovers encountered.

"What? There's another one? Are we in danger?"

"No ma'am. It's headed for the ocean floor."

"Keep watching it. If it comes near us we'll go to battle stations."

****

Atlantis Project command center. Bowser, Prof. Frank and a menagerie of animal sapien techs are at consoles.

"Bogey sub incoming." says a Doe at sonar.

"This is it." says Frank. "Rusty, Rika, how's it going down there?"

"Give us ten minutes, and I think we'll be done." says Rusty

"You have five!" says Bowser.

"The submarine is attempting contact." says a female skunk at communications.

"Put them on."

"Atlantis Dome, this is Captain Zachary Storm. Surrender your secrets or we will take them by force."

"I would advise you to reconsider Captain." says Prof. Frank "We are armed with advanced weaponry."

" Some reinforced metal keeping the sea water out? I think not. Get ready for a pummeling!"

"He broken communications." says the skunk

"Four torpedoes incoming!" reports the Doe.

"Brace yourselves!" says Bowser

Sparks shower them as the torpedoes hit, sending most of them sprawling.

"The shield is holding so far." says a rabbit sapien

"Rusty, Rika, where is that EMP jammer?!" says Bowser

"They're nearly ready." says Prof Stein

"Two more incoming!" says the doe.

A console goes up in a shower of sparks at the hit. A rat sapien takes an extinguisher to it.

"I got an idea." says Bowser "Communications, get through to the Ruegger."

"Got them, go ahead."

"Ruegger come in, this is Captain Bowser. Captain Denali, please come in."

"This is the Ruegger Captain Bowser is that you? what are you doing on this frequency? says Sammy.

"Where's Denali?"

"Here Bowser. What's up? All our sonar's report a battle going on down there."

"I'll explain later. Do you have depth charges?"

"We do."

"Use them on the submarine firing those torpedoes. And hurry! Out!"

"Four more incoming!"

The blast knocks them off their feet.

"We can't hold them off forever!" says Prof Frank.

"Rusty to Bowser, all finished."

"Open fire, Rusty!" says Frank

****

On the bridge of the submarine. Several crewmen wearing headsets scream in pain and throw them off.

"What's going on?!" says Storm

"We're being bombarded by an EMP jammer!"

A series of explosions hit the sub.

"Now what?!"

"Depth charges! They're coming from the destroyers up top."

"Laser turret!"

"Nonoperational!"

Storm pounds an armrest in his chair in frustration. Another series of explosions go off.

"We've got several leaks in the aft compartments!"

"Get us out of here! This ain't worth it!"

****

Command center.

"They're leaving!"

Everyone breaths a sigh of relief. Several hours later in the mini-sub bay, the crew is gathered back here. Prof. Frank is seeing them off.

"Oh, man captain you should have seen the medical equipment they have!" says Bandage "Makes my sickbay look simple."

"And the weapons they've developed is something to see." says Tex

"I'm glad you enjoyed your vist." says Frank "But I must tell you that what you saw here is classified. You must not talk about any of it to anyone."

"We understand." says Bowser. "Everyone in. And feel free to call on us another time Professor Frank."

"I will Captain Bowser. Nice to have met you."

****

Retirever, mini-sub dock. Emerald is there to greet them.

"How was your trip captain?"

"An interesting experience Emerald. It was worth it."

"Interesting he says." says Tex sotto voice.

"I know what you mean." says Rika "I'd like to be assigned there myself."

"Hey, remember it's classified." says Rusty.

"I know, I know." says Tex "But man, what a trip."

The End.