“I repeat. This is Corporal Jess Adams of HEDGEHOG. Over.”

“Ermmm. Jess. Hi. Over. Ruff.” came an eventual and slightly distorted reply. It didn't matter how much technology had improved over the years, nobody had ever managed to develop a radio system that didn't have interference on it. Traditionalists thought it comforting during the difficult period that was wartime.

“Greetings. Identify yourself. Over”

“Officer Howler of the Rearguard Beagles, Sir. Sorry Madam. Over. Ruff.”

“I knew it!” exclaimed Captain Scheider throwing his hands up in the air. “The Rearguard Beagles. They were known as one of the bravest and most effective fighter teams in the Universe thousands of years ago. But after the last war they completely disappeared. They weren't happy that Fight Squadron: Sleek Felines were commended for rescuing the Battle of the Backyard. The Rearguard Beagles had been fighting it for years, and had held the Crawklings at bay commendably, but it was the addition of the Sleek Felines that tipped the balance in their favour. They felt that the plaudits had all gone to those that came in at the last minute and consequently refused to co-operate with HEDGEHOG ever again. The rumours that they were still in existence had never stopped circulating though. Let me,” he commanded, taking charge of the microphone.

“Officer Howler. Captain Scheider. We are delighted to have you fighting alongside us. Together we have a much better chance of defeating Crawk. Over.”

“Captain Scheider. A pleasure and agreed. Over. Ruff.”

“May I ask, who is your leader and how can I contact him? Over.”

“The Simeon is away at the moment, so our leader is Captain Cormitz, currently on the ground. Ruff. He will be entering the battle late, once he has had a cup of tea and a bath, which will enable him to gain the element of surprise. Over. Ruff.”

“A smart choice. Over.” Although a strange tactic, the Rearguard Beagles' methods had always worked and Captain Scheider knew better than to question them.

“How many Crawkling ships are there Captain? Over. Ruff.”

“You are outnumbered one to ten, Officer. There are three thousand Crawkling ships in Sector 12. Over.”

“Oh good. So we're favourites then,” Officer Howler surmised confidently. “How many altogether? Over. Ruff.”

“About two million in all, around the Outer Galaxies, and I would assume there are more waiting to come in should our shields fail again. We are mobilising our fleets now, we have around one million ships in total. Over.”

“Excellent. We have some good number then. Anyway, I must go and concentrate, I'm kind of in the middle of a battle. Over. Ruff.”

“Of course. Good luck Officer.” The line went dead.

“There we go,” said Captain Scheider. “The Rearguard Beagles are back. Crawkling ships all over the universe must beware. It's on.”

The glint in Captain Scheider's eye did not go unnoticed by anyone in the control room.