Bering Sea, the Retriever is sailing north in these waters, huge icebergs floating nearby. Patton and Seamus are steering the ship around the bergs.

"I doubt our shields can withstand an impact with an iceberg at the speed we're traveling." says Bengal.

"Message from the Ruegger ma'am." says Slick "She and the Mills are safely docked at Dutch Harbor."

"Good." says Emerald "Seamus, can't you make this boat go faster?"

"In these waters? No offense ma'am, but are you crazy? We're pushing it as it is going this far north. And we'll soon reach the pack ice."

"This ship wasn't designed to handle this kind of weather sir." says Bengal

"And my equipment is beginning to freeze up." says Patton.

Emerald sighs in annoyance.

"Hunter said this was urgent, we need to get to Ivanoff Island ASAP."

"We just can't do it ma'am." says Seamus

"Why don't I take one of Tailspin's choppers with a small group and see if we can't help with just a few of us." says Bengal "We can't take this ship through the arctic ice pack and hope she'll be seaworthy when we leave."

Emerald sighs in defeat.

"Very well. All stop Seamus. Bengal, form your away team. But I want reports from you every four hours."

"Yes ma'am."

Below on the hangar deck, the crew is bundled up in arctic gear. Bengal walks up to Kenai and Tex McCoy. Kenai is wearing his regular uniform.

"I see the cold doesn't bother you." says Bengal

"On the contrary." says Kenai "I thrive on this weather."

"You should have been born a polar bear." says Tex with a grin

Kenai just shrugs.

"Have you selected who's going with?" says Bengal

"Yes sir." says Tex "T-Bone, Mojave and Brody."

"Fine. Tailspin is on deck waiting for us. Let's go."

On the flight deck the six of them climb into Tailspin's chopper. Kenai sits in the back of the aircraft in a specially made seat, while Tex and his Pouncers stow their weapons away.

"All set Mr. Bengal." says Tailspin "Where we headed?"

"Ivanoff Island."

The chopper lifts off the flight deck and proceeds north. After some travel they spot a group waving at them from the ice pack a little distance away from the island.

"Take us down Tailspin." says Bengal.

The chopper lands and Tailspin shuts it down as the crew file out. Bengal and Iceberg exchange greetings.

"I'm Bengal, first officer of the Retriever."

"A sabertooth." says Yukon in awe. "Will wonders never cease."

"Iceberg, leader of the Ursa Majors. This is Togiak, Chiniak, Katmai, Kiska, Yukon and Adak."

Tex and his group step up.

"Major Tex McCoy, Pouncers. This is Lieutenant T-Bone, Sergeant Mojave and Corporal Brody."

"'Tex McCoy'?" says Yukon "That's a human name. Were you human once too?"

"That's right."

"Russell Watkins." he replies shaking Tex's paw "But I go by Yukon now."

"Glad to meet you."

"Another grizzly." says Togiak

They all turn to see Tailspin and Kenai walking toward them.

"I'd heard that a team of bears would be formed." says Kenai "I'm glad to finally meet them. Kenai, Retriever ordinance chief."

"Name's Tailspin, pilot."

"So, mind telling us what the situation is?" says Bengal

"Certainly." says Iceberg "Let's get to the island and we'll fill you in on what's going on."

At the top of a rise, both groups look down on at Ruth Gabriel's prefab town as Iceberg explains the situation.

"GONV Forces drones?" says Tailspin "I thought that pile of microchips was put out of business."

"They were." says Iceberg "But Miss Gabriel managed to shield a platoon's worth away for a special occasion."

"So, how do we take these guys on?" says Mojave

Tex thinks for a minute.

"Let's deploy into two person teams and surround the town." says Tex "I doubt they can defend against all of us coming in at different angles."

"Good plan." says Yukon "Who goes with who?"

Tex looks at Bengal.

"It's your plan Mr. McCoy, you deploy as you see fit." says Bengal

Later, the men working away from the prefab town retreat to indoors as Ruth Gabriel seethes.

"Blast it! They just don't get the message! Quinn, send out the drones and anyone man enough to go out there!"

"But none of them are fighters ma'am!"

"I don't care! Get out there and stop them!"

Several of the men take up defensive positions as the drones are activated again. Tex is with Yukon at another point on the island and is talking to the others with a walkie-talkie.

"All right, at my command Yukon will do his blizzard thing. That's your cue to move in and take them. Understood?"

Six clicks are heard from the walkie-talkie.

"OK, Mr. Yukon, its your show."

Yukon raises his arm and begins his blizzard force, surrounding the prefab town with a blizzard of snow.

"Now!" says Tex

The Retriever crew begin running for the town laser rifles blazing; the Ursa Majors right behind them. Weapons fire comes from the town as an all out melee ensues.

Adak and Mojave are headed for one point of the town as Adak uses his ability to disappear in the snow and reappear behind a drone. He pops a panel in its back and starts to rip out wires when another drones hits him with his rifle, stunning him. Mojave goes to his aid but is stunned as well.

The same story happens with the other teams as Yukon's blizzard loses its force. Togiak and Chiniak with T-Bone and Tailspin respectively toss their enery snowballs and icicles at the drones to no effect. The four of them are also cut down. Katmai, Brody, Kiska, Kenai, Tex and Yukon. Finally only Iceberg and Bengal are left. Iceberg is defending himself admirably with his paw sword, Bengal shooting around him.

"That's it!" shouts Iceberg

Iceberg runs at top speed towards a drones and jumpkicks the drones straight on. The drones snaps in two and Iceberg finds himself next to Ruth Gabriel, taking shelter behind a prefab with Quinn. Quinn aims his rifle at Iceberg but he neatly slices it in two and backhands Quinn away. Iceberg raises his energy sword.

"Get away from me!" shrieks Ruth

"This ends now Gabriel!"

But Iceberg is suddenly hit from behind from a blast by a drone and crumples to the ground. Ruth looks and finds Bengal also out, next to another building. Quinn walks up to her nursing his arm.

"You know what to do with them." says Ruth

"Yes ma'am. All right you pile of curcuits you heard the lady!"

"Executing command."

The drones and some of the men begin to drag both groups away......

to be continued.....