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Cooper Hawkes was on his way back from the flight deck when he heard the cry. It wasn't a familiar sound, so he tilted his head slightly to one side, waiting to see if the sound was repeated.

The cry when it came, was weak and full of pain. It plucked at something deep within him, making him want to stop and help. Cooper followed the soft, intermittent cries to a storage closet. The storage closet had a low overhang, and Cooper had to duck his head to look inside. It was dark inside, and he fumbled for his penlight. Cooper heard a soft rustle to the back of the room, as he flicked on the penlight. The thin beam of light illuminated the dust motes suspended in the air, and various cleaning supplies. A quiet rustle came again from the left hand corner of the room, and Cooper searched the area with the penlight.

He jumped back surprised, when his light reflected on two bright orbs that seemed to be watching him suspiciously. And promptly nailed his head on the low roof. Cursing loudly, Cooper searched for the light switch with one hand, while keeping a eye on those strangely glowing orbs. His fingers encountered the light switch and he pressed it on. A loud hiss came from the corner as light flooded the small closet. Cooper peered at the creature with surprise. He recognized it as a cat, from a movie he has seen in the Rec Hall a while back. The cat hissed at him again, as Cooper squatted down to get a better look.

The first thing he noticed for a ragged, matted gash on the cat's side that looked inflamed. The cat was very thin, and looked the worst for the wear.

"Nice kitty." Cooper intoned and he reached out a hand to the cat. The cat growled deep within her throat, and pressed her ears flat against her skull. She watched the intruding hand approach with narrowed eyes. When she finally reacted, it was lightning quick.

"Oww! Damnit!" Cooper yelped as a claw flashed out, and left a bloody furrow on his hand. He leaped backwards and again nailed his head on the roof. He glared at the cat, and the cat glared back. How could something so cute be so mean, he wondered.

The cat tried to scoot further back against the pile of rags in the corner. Her growl was louder this time. It was then that Cooper noticed the smaller forms wiggling behind her. Kittens! She had babies!

"Wow! I guess that makes you a mommy, huh?" Cooper asked as the cat shielded her kittens with her body, and hissed at him again. She definitively needed help, Cooper decided. So he flicked out the light and closed the door firmly. Then hurried back to the 58th's quarters. The only one present in the quarters was Vansen. She looked up from her book curiously at him as he came rushing in.

"Coop, what is it?" She asked, seeing the look on his face.

"I need your help, Please!"

"Well, sure, what's the problem?" she asked.

"Just come with me, please." Cooper urged, grabbing her arm and pulling.

"A storage closet?" Vansen asked as Cooper opened the door and switched on the light.

"Yeah, I need your help. Look in the left hand corner." Vansen gave him a puzzled look and bend down to look in the corner. She slowly straightened up and looked back at Cooper.

"She looks sick. You didn't touch her did you?" Vansen asked.

"No, but she did me. You will help her, won't you? We have to do something, she's got kids!" Vansen looked at the scratch on Cooper's hand.

"She also could be carrying some kind of disease. I want you had been go get that looked at."

"But we can't leave leave her here, she needs help!" Cooper pleaded. His eyes dark and earnest. Vansen took one look at his face and sighed inwardly. He looked every bit the worried little boy right now. She chewed on her bottom lip for a minute. He was right, she had to do something.

"Ok, I'll see what I can do. Go get that scratch looked at."

"Promise?"

"Now Cooper."

"Ok, and thanks Vansen. It...means a lot to me."

Vansen had the cat and all five of her kittens in a box back in their quarters when Cooper got back a couple hours later. "Sorry I took so long, but they were busy giving annuals when I got there." Cooper explained. His hand was neatly bandaged. "How is she?" Vansen frowned.

"I have a friend that took a few years of Veterinary medicine down at the lab. She checked her out, and said it didn't look like she was carrying any diseases."

"And?" Cooper probed, looking at the Cat who was also neatly bandaged.

"Well, Coop, the wound was infected, and she's not exactly in good health." Vansen told him, hoping against hope, he wouldn't get attached to the cat.

"She'll get better. I know she will." Cooper said looking at the sleeping cat, and the five tiny kittens.

"I hope so Cooper, but don't get your hopes up. She's pretty sick." At Cooper's crestfallen look, she took out a bottle of medicine. "My friend said to give her three drops of this four times a day for a week. It's your responsibity, understand?"

"Three drops four times a day. Sure, I'll be glad to! I better find someone to do it for me if I'm out on patrol."

Patches was a fighter, as Cooper had named her. The calico seemed to rally for almost two weeks. Cooper's spirits seem to rise every passing day with his self confidence. Even the rest of the want to 58th seemed to want to help him out. But he took his job seriously.

Cooper noticed the kittens meowing loudly one afternoon as he was returning with Patches' food. He looked in on her and froze. The rest of the 58th found him later holding her and sobbing quietly.

Paul gently squeezed his shoulder. "I'm sorry pal. Really I am."

"She was doing so good. I really thought she would make it. I was so careful." Cooper said in a broken voice.

"We know you did, Coop. You got up even in the middle of the night to give her medicine." West offered quietly.

"Why did she have to die? Why?"

"Maybe it was just her time to go." Vansen offered gently. "You did all you could."

"I don't understand. I just don't understand." Cooper bewailed.

"None of us do, Coop, none of us really ever do." Damphousse offered. "It's just the way it happens sometimes."

Vansen finally got Cooper to let her take Patches away. To give her a proper burial, she insisted. The rest of the 58th sensed he needed some time alone, and granted it of him.

Damphousse came back about a hour later with a bowl of milk and some soft rags. She had seen the deep pain in his eyes, and wanted to help. "You know you'll have to be the kitten's mom now." She offered, worried by the blankness in his eyes.

"I don't know nothing about being a mom."

"Then you'll have to learn, won't you? They need you Cooper. You're the only one they have." Something glinted in Cooper's eyes.

"Will you help me? You being a woman and all."

"Sure, Cooper, sure."

It was a very trying day for Cooper. The kittens were too young to drink milk by themselves. All the milk he dribbled into their mouths tended to run right back off. He was frantic with worry, when a soft knock sounded at the door.

"Yeah?" Cooper yelled out in a angry, stressed voice. The woman standing at the door peered in. She had soft blond wavy hair that came down to her shoulders and the prettiest eyes Cooper had ever seen.

"I'm Captain Vansen's friend, Lt. Walker. She said you had some baby kittens and might need a little help?" Her smile was balm upon Cooper's taut nerves.

"They won't eat." Cooper said, all the worry in his eyes showing as he looked at her.

"Well, I think we can fix that. These should help." Lt. Walker said holding up a box of test tubes with rubber nipples on the ends. "And I brought you a small heater to warm the milk. "

The next hour, Lt. Walker showed Cooper how to warm and test the milk until it was right. Then they had the busy job of feeding five very hungry little mouths.

"So why are you helping me?" Cooper asked, curious.

"Because these kittens need a helping hand. And maybe, because you are almost as cute as they are."

Cooper stared at her, dumbfounded. "Me cute?" He asked in a shocked voice.

"Handsome then. Do you think I could adopt one of the kittens when they are old enough?"

"Oh." Cooper said completely nonplussed. "Yeah, I guess it would be ok for you to adopt one." He said awkwardly.

"Great." Lt. Walker told him. She found his boy-like charm adorable. "You'll need to feed them every 2 or 3 hours. If you need to pull patrol or something similar, let me know and I'll cover for you. Ok?"

"Yeah. Thanks!" Cooper told her, with a bashful grin. The smile she returned warmed him clear inside. Maybe this wasn't turning out to be such a bad day after all. Cooper thought to himself.

Cooper found out that Lt. Walker had a really great sense of humor the next few weeks. She always managed to lift his spirits, and even made him laugh a few times.

He was deeply grateful she was there with her comfort and support when two of the kittens died. Cooper considered her a friend. Almost as good a friend as the rest of the 58th, who he considered family.

"So have you named them yet?" Lt.Walker asked as she put one plump kitten down, and readied a bottle for the next one. "Yeah. This one," Cooper said, picking up a charcoal grey kitten that had green-gold eyes. "Is Amy. She seemed to be the creative one, making up games for the other two."

Cooper patted Amy, then put her down and picked up a rust colored kitten with vivid green eyes. "This is Rusty. She's real intelligent, I almost think she understands everything I say." He put Rusty back into the box, and patted her a few times.

"And who's the one that keeps trying to climb out of the box?"

"That's Tigger." Cooper told her, picking up the kitten that had been balancing precariously on the edge of the box. He placed the vividly colored tiger-striped kitten on his lap. She looked up at him with her bright golden eyes, and purred as Cooper patted her. "She's the adventurer of the group." He told Lt.Walker with a smile.

"Hi Coop, Lt. Walker." West said breezing into the room. "How are the cats?"

He asked, peeking into the box. "Wanna go for a ride, kitty?" He said, swooping Amy up, and swirling her through the air.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Cooper told West.

"Meow!" Amy cried out.

"Why not?" West asked, settling Amy on his shoulder. Suddenly a strange look crossed his face. "Oh geez, Coop, your cat just peed on me."

"That's why. She gets Motion sickness." Cooper explained, watching Tigger carefully, as she climbed up his chest, and sat on his shoulder.

"Here let me take her." Lorita offered, removing the frightened kitten from West, and comforting her. Amy curled her tail around her protectively, and cuddled up in Lorita's lap to glare at West accusingly.

"Who's got motion sickness?" Vansen asked as she entered with the rest of the 58th.

"Coop says his cat does." West offered, as he went over to this locker and removed a clean shirt.

"Good thing they don't have to fly HAMMERHEADS then." Paul Wang joked.

"Oh, they are getting so big Coop. They sure are growing fast." Damphousse said, playing with Rusty in the box. "You probably will have to find homes for them pretty soon."

"Aren't they too young for that? Maybe in a couple of months." Cooper offered, trying to keep Tigger from climbing up his collar. "Nope." Vansen said, trying very hard not to laugh at the kitten trying to get on top of Cooper's head.

"I was just going to get permission to take Amy home, actually." Lorita told Cooper.

Cooper looked disturbed. I guess I just don't want to let them go." He mumbled.

"Spoken like a true mother." Wang said smiling. Everyone laughed but Cooper, who just managed to look confused.

"Mother's never want their kids to leave home." Lt. Walker explained.

"Oh, well, yeah I guess that's true." Cooper said, putting Tigger back in the box with Amy and Rusty. "You think Mcqueen will let me keep one?"

"Will I what?" Mcqueen asked as he stepped into the room. He frowned at the way everyone seemed to cluster around a box.

"Well, I better be going, I'll see you later, Cooper." Lt. Walker said. "Sir." She acknowledged Mcqueen. He nodded, and she slipped from the room.

"What's in the box?" Mcqueen asked.

"Uh...." Vansen began. At Mcqueen's look, they all moved aside. Mcqueen leaned over the box and looked inside. Tigger and Amy were playing with each others tails. Rusty looked up at the man leaning over the box. The zipper hook from his flightsuit swung back and forth intriguingly. Rusty watched the movement of the zipper hook for a few seconds, and then began to bat at it with her paw.

A puzzled look crossed over Mcqueen's forehead, and he straightened up. Poor Rusty, who was not the most coordinated of kittens, managed to get her claw caught in the zipper and was hauled into the air.

"Meow!!!" Rusty cried out. Mcqueen looked down at the kitten dangling from his flightsuit. Mcqueen calmly unhooked the tiny claw, and placed the kitten back in the box with a gentle pat on the head.

Luckily, he never noticed how everyone had to stifle bursts of laughter at the sight of a kitten hanging from his flightsuit. Rusty purred, and climbed back up so she could look over the top of the box at the nice smelling man. She was totally smitten.

"Sir. Cooper found the kittens in a storage closet. I had them checked out for any diseases. They won't be a problem, I assure you." Vansen explained.

"How long have they been here?"

"About four weeks, Sir." Cooper offered.

Mcqueen pursed his lips. "I'll hold you to that promise, Captain. Mission briefing in 15 mikes." Mcqueen then turned and walked out of the room.

"Whew. I thought we were dead." Wang said.

"I almost lost it when that kitten was hanging from his flightsuit." West admitted.

They all looked at each other, and burst into gails of laughter at the memory.

Lt. Walker came back in a few days and picked up Amy.

"Find homes for the others yet?" She asked.

"No. But I'm trying." He told her.

Lt. Walker nodded and then promised Cooper a dozen times that she would take good care of Amy.

"You can come and visit her if you want." Lt. Walker offered with a big grin.

"I'd like that."

"Hawkes!" Cooper halted just short of the crew quarters. He was understandably nervous of the possible consequences of this encounter.

"Yes, Colonel Mcqueen?" Cooper asked, wishing could hide the plate of cat food he was holding.

"I'd like a word with you, now if you don't mind." Cooper Hawkes nodded mutely. "Mcqueen indicated the crew quarters with a motion of his head. They both stepped inside.

"Cat food?" Mcqueen inquired, looking at the dish.

"Yes, Sir." Cooper quickly gave the two kittens their food, and took a place on his bunk. Mcqueen noticed the dejected slump of the soldier's shoulders. And the worry in his eyes.

"Vansen told me that you've been taking care of the kittens almost solely by yourself. That you even have someone to cover for you when you've been out on missions."

"Yes, Sir. I've tried to be a good mom to the kittens."

Mcqueen almost smiled at the use of Mom and Cooper in the same sentence. But he knew that the young IV was deadly serious.

"That shows responsibility." Cooper looked up at Mcqueen.

"Colonel Mcqueen, I was hoping that I might be allowed to keep one of them. "

"Why?"

"Well because...." Cooper's words trailed off. Mcqueen noticed that he was searching for the right words. Noteworthy for the outspoken young man.

"Well, because they liked me unconditionally. It didn't matter to them that I was a Tank. They liked me just the way I was." Cooper's eyes grew dark and misty. "I've never had anyone accept me like that before. You, and the 58th are my family, but it wasn't the same."

Mcqueen nodded silently. It was true. Maybe having the responsibility of a pet would further mature him.

"I'm willing to give you and the cat a chance. But if I see any deviations in your performance, it goes. Understood?"

Cooper nodded eagerly and smiled. "Yes sir, Thank you. Thank you very much Colonel Mcqueen!"

Rusty was very excited. Her man was back. She was beginning to fear that he would never come back for her. She even let Tigger get more then her fair share of the food, because she was keeping an eye on him. She was so happy she could purr! But wait! He was leaving! He was leaving without even stopping to see her. Indecision filled her young head. Then her bright green eyes gleemed. She knew what she had to do.

She gave Tigger a friendly swat goodbye and jumped to the top of the box. She made it with no problems for once, and was very proud of herself. She landed on the floor with a soft thump, almost knocking the breath out of herself. Why did she have to be so clumsy! No, their was no time to waste thinking about that. She had to follow her man and get him to accept her.

It turned out to be was worse then her worst nightmares. Rusty ran and ran, trying to follow her fast walking man. There were loud horrible crashes and noises. Rusty would have normally run and hide in her box at such things, but now she couldn't. It seemed that everyone was yelling! Her poor heart threaten to burst from her chest with fear.

And she was so very, very, tired. She didn't know how much longer she could keep up this pace. Rusty wanted nothing more then to curl up in her nice box and take a long nap. With a determination she didn't know she possessed, Rusty kept going.

One of the deck hands laughed. It was damn funny to see a small kitten following Mcqueen. He bet Mcqueen didn't even know he was being followed.

"You find something amusing Ensign?" Mcqueen snapped.

"No Sir." The deck hand said quickly. "Just thought of something funny. No disrespect meant Sir." He stated quickly.

Mcqueen frowned deeply. He walked on, wondering why the hell everyone he encountered either met him with a smile or outright laughter.

He discreetly checked his flightsuit to see if anything was of place. No that wasn't it. Looking around, he saw nothing else that could possibly cause such an outburst. Puzzling, very puzzling. The one place Mcqueen had missed was looking down.

Rusty stopped and caught her breath. She was so glad her man had stopped for a few minutes to let her catch up. That was so nice of him. If she wasn't so out of breath she would have purred. Ooops, he was off again.

She got up and once again followed him. Mcqueen reached Ross's quarters and knocked quietly. Ross invited him in. Rusty reached the door just as it shut in her face. It was too much! She was so upset! She tried scratching until her paws were sore, to no avail.

Now she was really mad! She had come all this way through all kinds of dangers, and run herself to the point of exhaustion. Now she was locked out here,all alone in this scary place. So she did the only thing she could think of. She let out a full fledged yowl of unhappiness.

"Have a seat." Ross said, indicating the chair in front of him. We have a major problem, and I need your input."

"Certainly." Mcqueen said, taking a seat. "We've had three ships explode right after takeoff, and the tech crew haven't been able to discover anything that could be causing the problem."

Ross stopped suddenly. "What the hell was that?" He asked.

"I didn't hear anything." Mcqueen stated. "I heard something, but I'm not sure what." Ross said walking to the door and opening it. Rusty let out another yowl just as the door opened and a man appeared. Her green eyes widened. This wasn't her man!

"Well, hello. What are you doing here?" Ross said, picking up the small kitten. Rusty smelled him. He smelled friendly, so she gave him a grateful look. Maybe this nice person could help her find her man. Ross walked back to his chair, and placed the kitten on his desk. He stroked the kitten's fur gently. "You're a cute little thing, aren't you? I wonder where you came from, little fellow?" He asked softly.

"Meow!" Rusty replied, letting him know she was a SHE! Mcqueen groaned inwardly. He should have known that those cats would cause him problems sooner or later. Luckily, it seemed Ross liked cats. Rusty was quite content to let this nice man pat her, until she noticed Mcqueen. He was here! It had all been worth it! She wiggled out from under the other nice man's fingers and walked towards Mcqueen.

Rusty stopped at the edge of the desk, and looked at the great chasm that separated them. It was big, but she hadn't come all this way to chicken out now!

So she lifted her little butt, and wiggled her tail for good luck and sprang. She made it almost perfectly too. She landed on her man's hard knee and knocked all the breath out of her body. To her horror, she felt herself slowly sliding off his knee and down his leg. She landed with a hard thump to her dignity on her man's boot. Mcqueen had a totally lost and confused look on his face. Ross looked over the edge of his desk and and laughed. Rusty gave them both her best "I meant to do that!" look.

It all clicked together then for Mcqueen. The kitten must have followed him from the crew quarters all the way across the ship to Ross's quarters. That was why everyone seemed so amused. He had to admit he vision of a tiny kitten following him around was a bit on the funny side. the vision it brought. Afraid that she had made a fool out of herself, Rusty then proceeded to perform her best cute routine which consisted of playing with his shoelaces.

"Stop that." Mcqueen ordered. Ross looked over the edge of his desk again. And burst into laughter once again.

Rusty stopped what she was doing when her man spoke to her. It was the first time he ever said anything to her, and she thought he had a most wonderful voice.

"Well, at least she listens." Ross said with a smile. "God, Ty, I needed that laugh."

Mcqueen watched as the kitten clawed her way determinedly back up his leg and curled up in his lap, purring loudly. Safe at last, she decided to take a short nap. "She seems to like you." Ross offered. Mcqueen shrugged. "Looks like you got yourself a cat their to me."

"I don't have time for a pet." Mcqueen told him. "Don't have it or don't want it?" Ross asked pointedly. Mcqueen looked down at the small form sleeping so trustingly in his lap. It triggered a warm feeling deep down inside him.

"It would probably interfere with my work." "Ty, you are the most efficient man I know. You could make time for a pet if you wanted to. But it takes a lot of care and responsibility to have a pet. You up for it?"

As if sensing people were talking about her, Rusty opened her green eyes and looked up at her man. She butted her tiny head against his hand, wanting him to pat her. Unconsciously, Mcqueen stroked the soft head, and was surprised to hear such a loud purr coming out of such a tiny creature. "About the explosions..." Mcqueen began, avoiding the subject.

Ross smiled inwardly at the way Mcqueen was stroking the tiny kitten. Maybe this is just what the man needed. "We've had four ships explode shortly after takeoff. Analysis of the wreckage still hasn't given us any clues. Any suggestions?"

Mcqueen was quiet for a moment. "Any abnormalities in the pre-flight checks?"

"Nothing. We've checked and re-checked. Gone over the ships with the provibal fine tooth comb. And nothing seems to be out of place. We have to nail this problem down before things with "OPERATION ROUNDHAMMER" start heating up." Ross said, taking a drink of his now cold coffee. "I don't like to admit it, but I'm at a loss. I'm relying on your insight here, Ty."

Mcqueen nodded. "I'll get on it right away." He picked up the kitten and stood up. He frowned for a moment, seeming at a loss of what to do. Then he opened up a zipper on his flight suit, and gently tucked the kitten inside. Making sure she was secure, he walked out of the room.

"Gotya." Ross said with a grin, after Mcqueen had left.

All and all, Rusty and Mcqueen got along pretty well. He located a small box, and tucked in a worn out t-shirt. He placed it by his bunk, and Rusty settled in quite happily. She learned quickly not to disturb him unless he was sitting idly at his desk, or lying on his bunk. She showed off all her cute tricks that Amy had taught her, like chasing her tail, and old bootlaces. And never once did her human yell at her when she had one of those embarrassing bathroom accidents. She grew to love him when he never laughed at her when she tripped over her own two paws. It was a match made in heaven, she felt, as she lay purring on his chest one night while he lay reading.

"Don't even think about it, cat." West said, and he swung his legs over his bunk. Tigger looked disappointed. How was she supposed to wake her humans up if they didn't let her nibble on their toes?

"Lighten up, Nathan." Vansen said. She lay on her stomach on her bunk and dangled her fingers over the edge of the bed. Tigger raced over and swatted playfully at the fingers, purring loudly.

"Yeah, yeah. How come she never chomps on your toes, when you get up to take a leak?"

"Cause she's intelligent?" Came the muffled reply from Paul Wang.

West picked up his pillow and threw it at Paul, who skillfully deflected it. It landed with a thump very near Tigger who decided to pounce on it.

"Breakfast, Tigger." Cooper called, as he entered the room. Tigger raced towards the voice of her favorite human, narrowly missing Damphousse, who had just returned from the showers.

"Faster then a speeding bullet." Vanessa said, smiling.

"Mission briefing in twenty mikes" Mcqueen said entering into the room. He stepped nonchalantly over the kitten that was eating underfoot.

"It makes me feel damn uncomfortable." Wang was saying as they headed towards their HAMMERHEADS. "Knowing your's could be the next ship the explodes without notice."

"Put a lid on it Paul. We all know the situation. We have to go out and get some readings on that dust cloud we passed through a few days back. "

"Yes, but it is eerie." Damphousse agreed.

A loud sneeze came from behind them. Cooper looked around and saw that Tigger had followed them. "No Tigger. Bad kitty. You know better then to follow me here!" Cooper scolded.

The kitten was next to his HAMMERHEAD, exploring a dark spot where some fuel had spilled out onto the deck. The kitten sneezed again, so hard that she landed hard on her butt.

"I thought you trained her not to come here anymore." Vansen said disgustedly. "I'm working on it, honest. She just has a problem learning what areas are off limits. Maybe I should lock her up back in our quarters."

"Might be for the best." Wang suggested.

"Don't look now, but I think you have problems, Cooper." Damphousse said pointing to the kitten. They all looked at Tigger who was reeling around drunkenly. She fell to the ground, and began vomiting. "

Oh no....Tigger!" Cooper said, scooping up the sick kitten, who promptly vomited on his flight suit.

"Cooper we don't have time for this." Vansen said in a terse voice.

"Give me five minutes and I'll be right back. I'll drop her off with Lt Walker. ok?" "Go!" Vansen ordered. "And make it quick."

Cooper docked back at the SARATOGA. He took off his his helmet and threw it into the cockpit of his HAMMERHEAD. Then he took off at a run to medical labs. "Well, we all know where he's going." West remarked.

"Nathan, take it easy on him, he never had the experience of having a pet before." Damphousse said. "I'm going to go drop off these reading with Mcqueen, and I'll meet you at the showers." Vansen told them.

Vansen was rubbing her head dry when Cooper and Lt. Walker entered the room. "How's Tigger." Vansen asked.

"She's going to be ok." Cooper said, "But I think you should hear what Lt. Walker Lorita has to say. I think it's important."

Vansen put the towel down and looked at Lt. Walker. "What is it?" She asked.

"Well when Cooper brought Tigger in, I checked her out and her symptoms started me thinking of a certain set of coincidences. She's been to the docking bay lots of times, right?"

"Yeah." Vansen agreed. "But she's never gotten sick there before, right?"

"Nope." Cooper said, looking anxious.

"And she came into contact with some spilled fuel, is that correct?"

Vansen looked puzzled. "She was playing near one of the HAMMERHEADS that had just been refueled. Wait a minute, you're not saying something in the the fuel made her sick?"

"I reported the incident, and some tests are being run right now on the fuel. But what really clinched it for me is that four deck technicians have been admitted to the Medical labs in the last few days for dizziness, difficulty in breathing, and uncontrollable vomiting. Sound familiar?"

Vansen nodded. "I think Mcqueen should be notified about this."

The 58th, Lt. Walker, and two of the head lab assistants were gathered in the ready room. Ross finished the last page of the report, gathered all the pages together, and gave them a neat tap before placing them back on the table in front of him. He looked up at the people gathered around him. "The fuel supplier has been arrested. He claimed he didn't notice the change in the shipment of fuel. His ties with the AI's are being currently probed."

"You showed good initative, Lt. Walker, and helped saved the Core a great deal of money and lives. My comments on your record will reflect this."

Ross looked at Cooper. "Lt. Hawkes. Your act of charity also saved the lives of many men, your own squadron among them. Your actions will also be duly noted in your records."

Ross gave a faint smile. "The real hero here is a bit of a surprise. I am not in the habit of awarding medals to animals, so I will not do so. I do, however, have something that might suffice." He handed Mcqueen a box, and the other two to Lt. Walker and Cooper.

"These were suggested to me, by party or parties that wish to remain unknown." Ross informed them.

Cooper opened the box. Inside, in miniature, were a set of dog tags with the name "Tigger" and a set of serial numbers. "Consider your proteges honorary members of the 58th squadron, with all the rank, respect and privileges that brings."

"Cool!" Cooper said as they left the ready room. Her own dog tags....!

"I don't envy you the job of getting them on her, though." Lt. Walker said with a wink. "Come on, let's get a celabratory drink at the "TUN TAVERN."