Sandra awoke slowly, rubbing sleep from her eyes almost reluctantly. When she saw where she was however, a smile came to her face.
``Dorothy couldn't have put it better way.'' She muttered to herself. ``There's no place like home.''
Climbing out of bed, she grabbed her hat, boots, and her hoodie (all of which Marcus had taken off of her before putting her in bed), and made her way to the dining car that served as the dining room/meeting room. Benjy and Bentley were seated at the table, pouring over blueprints and road maps, comparing notes and drawing out plans. Marcus and Murray were bringing in large plates laden with food, the smell causing Sandra's stomach to rumble. Carmelita and Sly were both sitting off to the side, having what looked like a private conversation. However, that quickly changed when Sly spotted Sandra in the doorway.
``About time you woke up.'' He called.
Everyone turned towards her as she walked into the room.
``How long was I out?'' she asked as she sat down.
``Pretty much all day.'' Marcus replied, sliding a plate of food in front of her.
Sandra immediately started scarfing down the food as everyone gathered around the table. In between bites of food, Sandra looked around the table and wasn't too surprised to see the file she'd snatched from Garrett's office open and its contents scattered.
``I see you started without me.'' She commented. ``Not that I blame you. I was out.''
``We figured you wouldn't mind.'' Carmelita replied.
Sandra just snorted, waving it off like no big deal.
``Nah.'' She assured her. ``This isn't the first time Benjy and Marcus did the planning while I was snoozing. Won't be the last either.''
Benjy gave a knowing smile as Bentley spoke up.
``Well, now that you're awake, we can go over what we know.'' Bentley began.
The turtle sifted through the piles of paper as if searching for something while Benjy took his turn to speak.
``About a week inna ar recovery, Garrett had me meet wit a sketch artist.'' The koala reported.
Sandra smirked.
``And let me guess, you gave him a detailed description from their physical features right down to the brand of deodorant they wore.'' She surmised.
``Aye, I did.'' Benjy replied with a chuckle. ``And he managed te git quite a bit a info on te two-bit hustlers who tried ta kill us.''
Bentley finally found what he was looking for and grabbed it. He held it up triumphantly, then handed it over to Sandra.
``After reviewing the profiles of the attackers, both Benjy and I agree that our first target is this one here.'' He informed her.
Sandra took the profile, examining it with a serious glance.
``Harleen Shyre.'' she muttered, then her eyes widened a bit. ``General Harleen Shyre.''
``That's right.'' Benjy said. ``Big shot General in te South African army, and de woman who was leadin' de siege of ar warehouse.''
Sandra looked at the photo clipped to the profile, a shiver running down her spine. Harleen was a fierce looking lioness with half of her face made out of metal. Flashes of this lioness threatening her and her friends went through her mind.
``I remember her...'' Sandra recalled. ``I can still hear her snarling at us.''
``Yeah.'' Marcus added. ``She was pretty tough.''
``Of course she was tough.'' Bentley interjected. ``According to her file, she was orphaned at a young age when her family was caught in the cross fire of a big oil war. She joined the army at 16 and used her strategic prowess and ruthlessness to rise up in the ranks at a record pace.''
``Afta tha' she was injured in battle, losin' er left eye an ear.'' Benjy added. ``She was sent inna the Cybernetics program, but by te time she got out, the war was ova. And er side had lost.''
``But how did a big shot general in Africa end up beating the snot out of you three here in Paris?'' Murray asked.
``I'll make sure to ask her when we pay her a visit.'' Sandra replied. ``Where is she?''
``Last known sighting is in a military compound on the outskirts of Shakakane.'' Bentley supplied. ``We'll have to arrange air travel to get down there. What to plane tickets cost these days?''
Sandra, Marcus and Benjy all looked at each other for a minute, then they all busted out into peels of uncontrollable laughter. Sandra started pounding the table and Benjy fell clean out of his seat. The original Cooper Gang watched this, wondering what had been said that was so funny.
``Umm...'' Carmelita finally said. ``Did we miss something?''
Sandra finally managed to calm down, but she was still giggling.
``Hehe...'' she chortled. ``You guys use planes? Hehehe!''
``Well, yeah.'' Murray replied. ``Well, there was that one job we pulled where Bentley turned the van into a plane, but it kinda broke after that.''
Benjy picked himself up off the floor, turning to Bentley.
``Well den, it looks like we've got some work ta do before we cin go anywhere.'' He announced. ``We gotta git yer van sky ready.''
Murray's eyes lit up.
``Sky ready?!'' he exclaimed.
Benjy turned back to him, a smile on his face.
``Aye.'' He replied. ``Ar RV cin fly, why not yer van?''
Benjy walked off, Bentley hot on his heels to help. Everyone watched them go as Murray smiled.
``I love the future!'' the hippo cheered.
...
It took the rest of the night, as well as a good portion of the next day, but by the time dinner time rolled around again, the Cooper Van had gotten a major modification.
``Alright mate.'' Benjy said over the comms to Murray, who was sitting in the driver's seat of the van. ``Listen carefully. Yer van's now equipped wit hover engines in de wheels. To activate em, press de circle button on de console.''
Murray did so and the Van lurched, hovering slightly in the air as the wheels flipped themselves horizontally.
``Now, steering's a bit different from wat yer used ta.'' Benjy warned. ``Once ya activate flight mode, de wheel automatically unlocks. Turnin's de same, but if ya wanna go up, pull de wheel towards yerself. Ta go down, just push de wheel back inna place. Da speeds still ta same.''
Murray gave it a test, sending the van up and down, as well as making a couple laps around the derelict train yard. The grin never left his face as he flew.
``This is awesome!'' the hippo exclaimed.
Benjy chuckles, leaning back in the seat as Murray brought the van to a landing.
``Glad ya approve.'' He said happily.
Once the van was safely back on the ground, Benjy hopped out and approached the rest of the group, who were watching from the roof of the RV.
``Test drive passes, we're ready ta fly when ya are mates.''
Sandra stood up, a smile on her face.
``Thanks Benjy.'' Sandra told him. ``I just got one thing to say.''
Benjy said an eyebrow as Sandra's grin got wider.
``SHOTGUN!!'' she suddenly shrieked.
She then leapt through the open sunroof as Benjy laughed, shaking his head.
``Ya always git shotgun, Sandy!'' He yelled as he climbed into the back of the RV. ``Why doncha let me havva go one day.''
``NEVER!!'' she swore, shaking her fist dramatically.
Bentley, Sly and Carmelita all shared a laugh as Marcus helped them off the RV's roof.
``Are those two always play fighting?'' Carmelita asked.
``Yep.'' Marcus replied, a small smile on his face. ``I've missed their playful banter. Thanks for rescuing us and helping us take these guys down.''
``Don't mention it big guy.'' Sly replied.
Murray honked the horn of the van.
``COME ONE GUYS!'' He shouted. ``IT'S A LONG FLIGHT TO SOUTH AFRICA!''
Marcus quickly climbed into the RV as the rest of the Original Cooper gang and Carmelita got into the van. Within seconds, they were flying over the horizon.
...
Things had gotten a bit boring on the long flight to South Africa, at least until Benjy and Bentley activated the holographic communication link set up between the two vehicles. Using the device that Bentley had given Dimitri when the gang went on the time traveling adventure, the two genii had managed to create a way for all seven of them to be in constant contact. At first the connection had been used to try and develop different strategies for when they got to South Africa, but had quickly devolved into a session of jokes and story telling that had all seven of them, even Carmelita laughing.
``So wait...'' Sly asked in between chuckles. ``Garrett caught you stealing a cross from Notre Dame, and the best joke you could come up with was `The Devil made me do it'?!''
Sandra snorted, nodding.
``I was hanging upside down.'' She tried to rationalize. ``I blame it on the blood rushing to my brain.''
``Blame it more on Garrett dressed as a priest!'' Benjy commented laughing at the memory. ``Frock and everything.''
Everyone laughed at that, imagining the stern, serious wolf dressed in priest's garbs. Then Carmelita spoke up.
``Remember that inside job we pulled in Morocco, Sly?'' Carmelita asked.
``The one where we pretended to be kitchen staff at the Sheik's palace?'' Sly replied.
``Oh, I don't think this was written in the Thievius Racoonus.'' Sandra commented, settling in for a story.
``We had gotten word that Sheik Omar Ben Salaad was working with smugglers to get illegal contraband out of Morocco and into Europe.'' Carmelita explained. ``He was holding this lavish party with guests from all over the world, so Sly and I snuck in, disguised as waiters.''
``I'm serving food, and that's when I spot Rajan.'' Sly added.
``Rajan?!'' Everyone except Carmelita exclaimed.
``I thought he was selling Persian carpets in North America.'' Bentley interjected.
``Apparently it was a front for a smuggling ring.'' Sly explained. ``He would hide the contraband in the carpets and ship them across the world, where his agents would remove the goods from them and sell them off.''
``Makes sense.'' Benjy commented.
``After all, a tiger can't change its stripes.'' Marcus added.
That earned a snicker from everyone as Sly and Carmelita continued.
``I'm of course freaking out because I'm sure that he's gonna recognize me.'' Sly commented.
``And I'm freaking out because I think if Sly sees him, he'll start to remember.'' Carmelita added. ``I'm scrambling to come up with a plan, then remember I'm holding a large bowl of mashed potatoes.''
Everybody's eye's widened, save for Sly, who just snickered.
``You didn't...'' Murray said.
Blushing slightly, yet smiling widely, Carmelita gave a nod.
``I did...'' she admitted. ``I `accidentally' dumped the entire bowl of mashed potatoes on Rajan's head!''
Everyone busted out into laughter, Sandra and Sly both laughing so hard they were slapping their knees.
``Oh He must have been mad!'' Bentley chortled, remembering how Rajan had been when the gang had confronted him in Operation Wet Tiger.
``Oh he was.'' Sly remarked in between chuckles. ``You never would have thought he'd stopped eating Spice with the tantrum he threw.''
The two gangs laughed a bit more, but the festivities were then cut off by an alarm going off in the RV.
``Proximity Alert!'' Marcus shouted.
His outburst was then followed by an explosion that shook the two vehicles and sent everybody (except Marcus and Murray who were buckled in and driving) bouncing around like kernels of popcorn. Once they recovered, everyone looked out the windows to see a HUGE military base beneath them, with what could only be missile launchers aimed directly at them.
``Buckle up mates!'' Bentley cried, jumping into his seat and buckling in. ``I do believe we just got spotted!''
Sly strapped himself in as Carmelita put Bentley back in his chair then took her seat. Sandra then strapped herself in just as a second explosion rang out.
``At least we know we made it to South Africa.'' Sly joked.
Carmelita braced herself for another explosion, shooting the raccoon a serious glare.
``We're getting shot out of the sky, Ring-tail.'' She snapped. ``Can't you be serious for once?''
``I'm always serious.'' Sly replied. ``Besides, I trust Murray's driving abilities.''
As if to prove his friend right, Murray successfully dodged another missile, floored the gas and made a bee-line for the small village of Shakakane, a few kilometers from the military base. Marcus quickly followed the Hippo's lead.
``We need ta land, hide de Van and de RV, and git a safe house right quick!'' Benjy explained.
Sandra then pointed out the window.
``Over there!'' she shouted. ``That farmhouse looks promising! We can hide the rides in the barn!''
Without further ado, Marcus and Murray both made a hasty retreat towards the farmhouse.
...
The gang managed to hide the two vehicles in the large barn and get to the safety of the farmhouse before a search party came looking for them. Once they were safely inside, Benjy and Bentley got to work setting up their usual systems. Marcus and Murray teamed up to barricade windows and doors while Sly, Sandra, and Carmelita all peered out at the street.
``Cut that one a bit too close for comfort.'' Carmelita remarked.
``Agreed.'' Sandra replied. ``Shoulda been keeping an eye on our trajectory.''
``At least we made it in one piece.'' Sly interjected with a positive note to his voice. ``Nothing got destroyed, nobody's hurt, and we're where we need to be.''
``Still, where we need to be is a gigantic military base.'' Carmelita retorted. ``Look at this place.''
``I have to agree with Carmelita on this one, Sly.'' Bentley called out. ``This place make's Dr. M's fortress on Kaine Island look like child's play.''
Sandra turned to Bentley with an optimistic smile.
``Don't worry about it, Bentley.'' Sandra insisted. ``We'll be able to handle this.''
Bentley met Sandra's gaze, his expression the epitome of seriousness.
``Sandra, when we took down the Kaine Island fortress, we had The Guru, The Panda King, Dimitri, and Penelope.'' He listed off. ``Not to mention Carmelita and an army of hired mercenaries and we STILL barely got out of there with our lives.''
``We can do it.'' Sandra insisted. ``We have two Coopers, two of the strongest people ever, two complete criminal genii and we have one of INTERPOL's best inspectors. We. Can. Do this.''
Once again, Sandra had proven herself a Cooper with tha notorious Cooper optimism. Bentley found himself believing her words as he sighed.
``Alright, but we still shouldn't take any chances.'' He relented. ``WE should try to work in pairs where we can, just so we don't get caught unawares.''
``Good idea.'' Marcus commented.
``You think awesome, Bentley.'' Murray added.
Carmelita then turned away from the window, her cop instincts analyzing the situation like a sting operation.
``If we're going to do this, then we'll need to survey the area.'' She suggested. ``Get our bearings, figure out key locations, the usual stuff.''
``Sounds like us, Sly.'' Sandra remarked, snagging the spare binoc-u-cam. ``You coming old man?''
Sly snickered, snagging his own and heading for the door.
``Im gonna make you eat those words, `Sandy'.'' He teased.
Sandra just smirked then headed out the door, Sly right behind her.
...
Running across the rooftops of the small huts and farms that dotted the savannah, Sly and Sandra could make out dozens of soldiers patrolling the streets of this tiny village.
``Sheesh.'' Sandra remarked. ``This entire place is under martial law.''
``Considering how close this place is to Harleen's military base, it only makes sense that she'd seize the village.'' Bentley commented through the comms.
Sly perched on the chimney of one of the buildings, Sandra directly beneath him.
``Still, this is serious overkill...'' He murmured.
``Well, she did spot two - hopefully - unidentified objects flying through the sky.'' Sandra replied.
``True.'' Sly relented. ``Besides, this gives us a peek at her forces.''
Taking out their binoc-u-cams, the two scanned the area, focusing on the patrols. They could see Hyenas and leopards milling about the village, as well as the usual flashlight guards, who appeared to be large hippos.
``Murray's not gonna like this.'' Sly whispered.
``Not gonna like what?'' Murray asked.
Both Coopers winced.
``The flashlight guards.'' Sandra clarified. ``They're hippos.''
``Yeah, so?'' Murray asked. ``They're bad guys, not like `the Murray'.''
Sandra and Sly exchanged a glance, but shrugged it off, then continued.
``We may be able ta use dis ta ar advantage.'' Benjy commented. ``If Harleen's got hippos on da payroll, we may be able ta git Murray in as a new recruit.''
``Good idea Benjy.'' Sandra replied.
The two raccoons then made their way towards the Military base, which was with GIGANTIC complex set up just on the outskirts of the village. It was surrounded by large, electric gates lined with barbed wire and guarded by several of the hippo flashlight guards. Roaming spotlights also took out any crevice of shadow there may have been around the perimeter. The base also didn't have any trees or buildings nearby, making a piston pole vault/paraglider combo impossible.
``Sheesh, I can't tell if this woman is cautious or paranoid.'' Carmelita commented.
``You're telling me.'' Sandra replied. ``I've seen Maximum Security prisons with less protection than this place. This place is impenetrable.''
``Nothing is impenetrable.'' Sly remarked. ``Still, the direct approach is all but shot. We'd need a way over or under that gate, and judging from the artillery they were shooting at us when we were overhead, I'd prefer under.''
``We'll figure out a way in later, but right now, try and find the encampment's CCU tower.'' Bentley interjected. ``Benjy and I'll need it if we're gonna figure out Harleen's plans.''
Sandra spotted it first, right smack dab in the center of the camp.
``I found it.'' She whispered, ``However, It's gonna take some serious ingenuity to get at it.''
``We'll figure something out.'' Sly assured her.
A loud rumbling off in the distance sent Sly and Sandra both diving for cover in the tall grass as a line of large military trucks came rolling up the dirt path. Instinctively, the two Coopers pulled out their binoc-u-cams once more.
``Hmm, looks like a supply convoy.'' Bentley stated.
``Figger out wha's inside.'' Benjy suggested.
Luckily, that wasn't too hard as a pair of hippos came over to inspect the cargo. Reaching into the back, one of them pulled out a very large firearm. Bentley and Benjy immediately flipped out.
``Tha- Tha's an AR-56!'' Benjy exclaimed. ``One a de latest models of assault rifles currently in production!''
``If that entire convoy is carrying weapons like that, then Harleen's preparing for WAR!!'' Bentley cried.
Sandra gulped, lowering her binoc-u-cam.
``We gotta get in there and figure out what the heck she's planning.'' She muttered, gripping her cane tightly.
Sly gave a nod, scanning the area for any sign of weakness, until he spotted something.
``Over there.'' He said.
Sandra looked over at where Sly was pointing, a small smile gracing her face. There was a water runoff drain off the side of the cliff. There was a grate over it, but that could be easily dealt with.
``What did I say?'' Sly said with a smirk. ``Nothing is impenetrable.''
Slinking through the grass, the two raccoons approached the grate. Sandra braced the butt of her cane against the metal, mashing the circle button and breaking the stress points. Within minutes, the grate was gone and the way was clear.
``After you.'' Sly said with a bow.
``Age before beauty, old man.'' Sandra quipped.
Sly shook his head with a smile, then crawled into the water drain with Sandra right behind him. The tunnel starts out skinny, but soon becomes wide enough for the two of them to walk normally, and right next to each other. When they reached the end of the tunnel, it was no big surprise that there was another grate barring the way, but they didn't take it down. Instead, they pulled out their binoc-u-cams and tried to see what they could find.
All around, they could see entire platoons of soldiers running around, perform drills, marching, and training. From the sheer number of soldiers, there was no doubt what Harleen's intentions were.
``Looks like your hypothesis was correct Bentley.'' Sandra whispered. ``Harleen is preparing for war.''
``Guess it's a good thing we chose her first.'' Bentley remarked.
It was then that the two thieves heard a very distinctive, and very commanding voice call out over the noise of the soldiers.
``COME ON MAGGOTS! I'VE SEEN CUBS MOVE FASTER THAN YOU LOT!!''
From the way Sandra flinched, Sly knew that the voice could only belong to the one and only General Harleen Shyre. He followed the voice until he finally found the lioness. She was tall and very well built, like a professional wrestlers or weight lifter. Her fur was light brown with even lighter patches on her muzzle and paws, with short brown hair that was pulled back into a tight bun. She had multiple scars that peeked out from underneath army fatigues, the most notable ones being the ones that stretched out from underneath the left side of her face, which was entirely metal. Her left eye was glowing yellow, and gave her an even more menacing appearance than she already had.
``Wow... That picture did not do her justice.'' Sly whispered.
Sandra just stood there, shaking like a leaf. Sly turned to her and gently took her shoulder, trying to calm her down. Instead the red raccoon practically jumped at the physical contact.
``Sorry...'' she whispered apologetically.
``Trust me, I understand.'' He replied. ``The last time you saw her, she was attacking your friends. Just remember, this time it's different.''
Sandra was still a bit shaken, but took a deep breath and steeled her nerves.
``Right.'' She said. ``Benjy, Bentley, need any more pictures?''
There was a second hesitation before Benjy came on the line.
``See if ya cin git a picture of da storehouse an de ammo dump.'' He requested. ``Dat may come in handy.''
Sly and Sandra quickly manned the binoc-u-cam, searching for the requested buildings. The ammo dump wasn't too hard to find, thanks to the convoy from earlier. Sly managed to spot one of the delivery trucks driving right up to the large clearing chocked full of different weapons.
``I've got the Ammo Dump.'' Sly whispered. ``You find the storehouse?''
``3 o'clock.'' Sandra whispered back.
Sly turned to his 3 o'clock and saw the large storehouse. It was incredibly big, big enough to hold enough food to feed an army for months at least.
``I think that's good for now.'' Bentley told them. ``Get back to the safe house. We need to come up with a plan.''
The two raccoons stowed their binoc-u-cams and snuck back through the tunnel to the safe house.
...
Sly and Sandra got back to the safe house without incident, handing over their binoc-u-cams so Bentley and Benjy could analyze the footage. It took the two of them about 30 minutes to figure out what needed to be done, and they quickly gathered up the gang to explain.
``Alright gang.'' Bentley started. ``This operation is gonna be one of our toughest yet. It's gonna take all of us working together if we're to succeed, and that includes you Carmelita.''
Carmelita just gave a nod, having decided to accept the fact that she wasn't exactly a police officer right now. Benjy then took over, bringing up random shots of the base.
``Ar first priority is gittin a peek at Harleen's plans, but ta do tha', we're gonna need a man on da inside.'' Benjy announced.
``That's where you come in Murray.'' Bentley explained. ``You'll go in as a potential recruit, and with your strength, I have no doubt that she'll take you on.''
Murray smiled as he flexed.
``Don't worry pal.'' He assured his fried. ```The Murray' shall not disappoint.''
Benjy continued from there.
``Afta ya gain their trust, yer gonna hafta find a way ta git rid of da grate blockin tha pipe without getting caught. Tha'll let me come in an take care of tha CCU tower and figger out where Miss Harleen's war is.''
``While Benjy's dealing with that, Sly and Sandra will plant a bug in Harleen's quarters.'' Bentley added.
``What about me and Marcus?'' Carmelita asked, determined to make herself useful.
``Yeah, what about us?'' Marcus added.
``We haven't forgotten you two.'' Benjy assured them. ``You'll be takin out de bridge de convoys use te git inna da base. Wit it down, dey'll hafta rely on wha they got.''
``Which won't be much after we initiate phase 2.'' Benjy concluded.
Sandra whistled, smiling.
``Man, I am glad you two are on our side.'' She chuckled.
``Yeah. I'd hate to have you guys as enemies.'' Sly agreed.
Carmelita, having been on the receiving end of some of Bentley's plans, nodded in agreement. With a plan in motion, the gang put their hands in, each portraying a confident smile.
``Let's bring down this war monger.'' Sandra declared.
