Rabu City, Rabu, Middle East. An Arab woman watches her children play in an outdoor courtyard, a bubbling fountain nearby. Two boys are kicking a soccar ball at each other while their older sister jumps rope. An explosion rocks the peaceful scene and all activity stops. Tanks roll down the road waving a red flag with two fists crisscrossed at the wrists holding daggers pointed in a stabbing position. Traffic veers wildly to avoid them, creating many fender-benders. The lead tank points its weapon and fires at a nearby building sending debris everywhere. The mother shouts to her children and they run away from the courtyard, the girl screaming. Forgotten, the soccer ball rolls onto the street where it is crushed by the treads of the lead tank, which fires at the fountain.

*****

U.S.S. Retriever, Captain Bowser's office. Emerald has just entered.

"I just heard; your going to be commandant of the Double R, S and P Academies?"

"So it would seem." says Bowser "Rusty, Bandage and Winston are going with me to become instructors. Apparently, Master thinks very highly of us."

"It wont be the same without sir." says Emerald.

Bowser sighs.

"I know. But even if its a little early, congradulations, Captain Emerald."

"Thank you sir."

"Sultan to Bowser."

"Yes?"

"Could you come down to the situation room please?"

Situation room. Maps, tvs, radars and other information systems dominate the room. Bowser and Emerald enter the room to find Sultan, Raven and Rajah already here. Sultan merely point to the television sets showing numerous news anchors reporting on the Middle East.

"Rabu?" says Bowser "I'm not familiar with it."

"Its a fairly new nation." says Sultan "It sprang up around the Yemen/Oman/Saudi Arabia border region a couple of years ago. Its been invaded by a rouge faction of former Iraqi military fanatics. Their leader it seems is Hassan Kali-Baba, or as he's more commanly called "The Madman"; because he had the fearsome reputation of going into battle like a viking berserker."

"Winston to Bowser"

"Yes?"

"I just heard from the Master, we're to proceed to the Arabian Gulf immediatly. The U.S. and Britain are sending several carrier task forces of their own into the area."

"Have Seamus make course for the Arabian Gulf, battle speed."

"Aye sir."

*****

Conference room. The entire senior staff is here. Bowser is addressing them all.

"The U.S. is sending the carrier task forces of the Enterprise, Constellation, and Ronald Reagan into the area. Britain is sending in the H.M.S. Eagle. I want this ship prepared for battle by the time we reach the Arabian Gulf. Rika, your mechanics and ordinance crew are going to be working late tonight making sure the planes are skyworthy. Maverick, Akira, your going to be working with the Brits in making all airspace clear of bogies. Bengal, keep your eyes peeled for any submarines or gun boats that come in the area. Sultan, will the Ruegger and Mills be joining us this mission?"

"Yes sir."

"Good. Hotshot, keep missile tubes on stand by in case we need them. Slide, I want the mini-sub in perfect working condition. Tex, keep your platoon on stand-by in case we need you. Patton, I want all weapons ready in case we have to defend ourselves. All right people, you know your jobs, all but Sultan, Raven and Rajah dismissed."

They all file out and Bowser turns to the three of them.

"What's the situation?"

"Kali-Baba's air force is flying over nieghboring counties like they own the air space." says Raven "Our first job is to neutralize those fighters."

"I won't start a war here." says Bowser" Rajah?"

"He has no navy to speak of, other than half a dozen gunboats, and those are barely seaworthy."

"Sultan?"

"Kali-Baba's forces are massing along all borders. Yemen, Oman and Saudi Arabia are on high alert. They have numerous Scud and SAM sites all over Rabu and the population is streaming out of Rabu at an alarming rate. Ferries, buses, whatever they can get their hands on, Rabu is in serious trouble."

"What about Kali-Baba?"

"Enjoying every minute. There are rumors that when he's done in Saudi Arabia, he'll reunite Kurdistan and Sunshia back into Iraq, Greater Persia back to Iran and defeat Israel."

"I wouldn't doubt it." says Bowser "All right, dismissed."

****

Days later, airspace above the Arabian Sea. Maverick and two of his pilots are patroling the area."

"Mutt Leader, this is Mutt Two, I got three bogies on my radar."

"Roger Mutt Two. Those are the Brits were flying with. Mutt Leader to Spitfire Leader, do you copy?"

"Roger that, lad. We're coming up along side."

"Hard to believe those pilots are canines." comes another voice.

"Button it Spit Two." says Leader. "To whom am I speaking with Mutt Leader?"

"Maverick here as Mutt Leader. Caboose as Mutt Two, and Apache as Mutt Three."

"Are those your call signs, or your names?" says Spit Two.

Caboose scoffs.

"Our names silly."

"Captain Nigel Hawthorne, of Her Majesties Royal Air Force."

"Whoa, bogies coming in from inland!" says Apache.

"Confirmed." says Hawthorne

"Mutt Leader to Doghouse, multiple boges coming at us. We believe their itching for a fight."

"Spitfire Leader to Green Field, did you copy that?"

"Roger Spitfire Leader."

"Roger Mutt Leader."

"We need reinforcements up here ASAP!" says Maverick "Kali-Baba's made his move! Break formation!"

to be continued.....