Semper Canis

Tex and Cobalt are back in Savannah in the same office with Hunter and Colleen.

"Nice job back in Mansville Captain." says Hunter "I'm sorry about your father."

Tex only gives a pained look.

"Thank you sir." says Cobalt "We got lucky. How's that shih tzu doing?"

"Jesse? He's doing ok, considering."

"However there's something else that you should know about." says Colleen.

"Sir?" asks Tex

"Come with us." says Hunter

They walk out of the office and head for a meeting room where both squads are seated around a large table.

"Atten-hut!" shouts T-Bone

"As you were." says Tex "What are you all doing here?"

"I asked them here."

A human in uniform who's back was to the front turns and faces Tex.

"General Stoner!" says Tex, saluting. He salutes back.

"You have a lot of explaining to do Mister McCoy." says Stoner

"Sir?"

Hunter sighs.

"It would seem that your in trouble because we sent you on a mission and not the Corps."

"Correct. Did you think you could just take orders from just anybody?"

"I'm a Road Rover now, sir." says Tex "We all are."

"Wrong!" says Stoner "You are a Marine Corps Captain, under the command of the United States! Just because you switched bodies doesn't mean you can go off on your own. You are subject to orders McCoy; and that goes for the rest of you! The way I see it, you can either resign now or face a general court martial for deserting your post."

"What?!"says Frodo "Over one mission?!"

"As you were Lieutenant!" says Tex

"There is a third option." says Hunter "You could always join the Pouncers."

"That is out of the question!" says Stoner "They're Marines, not your personal commandoes!"

"There's a difference?" says Colleen.

Stoner tries to reel in his anger.

"I should have you shot, b****!"

Both squads stand in shock.

"Sit down, all of you!" shouts Stoner

"No sir." says Tex quietly "Because we refuse to take orders from you."

Tex rips the marine corps patch from his uniform and puts it on the table. The others do the same.

"This is mutiny!"

"I thought that was a navy term?" says Hunter

Tex turns to Hunter and salutes him.

"We respecfully request to join the Pouncers sir. The Marine Corps isn't the place for us anymore."

Hunter turns to Stoner.

"You will take all sapiens currently in training or on duty with the marines and place them under the Pouncers command."

"I will not!"

"You will if the President orders you." says Hunter "You see we have connections into the government, most of whom support us."

"This is an outrage!" thunders Stoner

"Do you really want to blow your career over this, general?" says Colleen.

Stoner sighs in defeat and slumps into a chair.

"Do you know how much time, money and effort has gone into the military's sapien program?"

"I do." says Hunter "And rest assured you will be compensated. Agreed?"

Hunter extends his paw. Stoner sighs.

"Agreed."

"Cool."

Hunter turns to Tex. Tex comes to attention.

"Platoon, atten-hut!"

"You'll be returned to the the Retriever within a few hours, Major McCoy."

"Thank you sir."

"What's that phrase your so-called Master always uses?" says Stoner

"Deep inside every dog, is a Road Rover." reply all but Stoner

*****

Retriever flight deck. The platoon, now in Pouncer uniforms, has just gotten off a chopper and Captain Bowser waits at the bridge entrance. Tex salutes Bowser, who returns it.

"Welcome back, Major." says Bowser "I hear it was an interesting little getaway."

"Thank you sir. I'll be sure to tell you about it someday."

"Ready to return to duty?"

"Aye sir."

"Good. Dismissed."

They salute each other and the Marines----no scratch that, the Pouncers go below.

to be continued.....