*Copyright notice*

following is a work of fiction. References to any other individuals, entities or situations real or fictional are unintentional. No deliberate infringement of any copyright is intended or wanted. Story and characters are (C) 2000 Jordan (no redistribution without permission)

The Price of Failure

Chapter 1

[Capital City, Golin province]

Capital City is, you guessed it, the capital of the Republic. The Republic is, as far as they are concerned, the official government on the planet Lioli. Some of the makeshift governments in the fringe provinces may have other ideas, but that's little of the Republic's concern. The Republic is best known for bureacracy, corruption, crime, and bad food. Capital City was the natural choice to be the center of the Republic since it embodied these qualities. Anyone with... less than sterling morals could always count on a job in Capital City. I guess this is where our hero comes in.

"Please come in."

Jordan walked into the hotel room for his job interview showing no emotion whatsoever. The brown stallion wore dark grey covered with a black trenchcoat and instantly surveyed his surroundings.

Hmmm... No visible weapons in the room... So far, so good.

"Have a seat."

Jordan's potential employer, a very well kept grey wolf, already had the best seat in the room, positioned to take in all of his surroundings, with his back against a wall. There was no way to take another seat without being at least partially exposed. After countless number of these interviews, Jordan already knew that many important parts of the interview are done without saying anything. Does the horse value showing trust towards an employer, or that he wasn't some amateur? Dumb question.

Jordan picked up the only other chair in the room and positioned it in what he considered to be the next best spot, still facing the wolf with his back to the wall and only not able to see the bathroom to his left, which he would hear if opened. Jordan also noticed the silent approval of the wolf, a good sign.

"Let's get down to business, shall we?" The wolf didn't wait for an answer. "I've been keeping an eye on you for some time now. What impresses me is that a horse of your... accomplishments... has not achieved more notoriety over the years."

"By choice, of course. I don't have any problems finding work."

"Of course. This particular job will find you occupied for about one month. Will that fit your time frame?"

"One month, with the possibility of extension upon completion is my standard offer."

"It is easy work - you will be paid 50,000 Credits up front and the same again when the job is finished."

Jordan frowned. Perhaps this wolf was not as bright as he seemed.

"You should already know that my price is NOT negotiable. 100,000C up front and 100,000 more upon completion, regardless of difficulty. If you wanted someone cheaper, I could recommend- "

"That will not be necessary, thank you." The wolf did not seem fazed by Jordan's comment. "In fact, you may want to reconsider. I have something you might be interested in." Jordan lifted an eyebrow as the wolf carefully set an electronic black box on the table.

Jordan grumbled, "Not worth 100,000..."

"But not available on the black market now, is it?"

This guy was GOOD. Too bad the stallion couldn't ask how he got his hands on one of these without sounding overeager. "I'll take the hardware up front, and 100,000 upon completion."

"You can have 100,000 up front, and the hardware upon completion."

Jordan almost let the hint of a smile slip through his guard. "Agreed. Care to meet the team?"

"You can send them in to hear the briefing."

This implied that the wolf already knew everything he needed to know about the team, but wanted to take a look at them anyway. This is the kind of guy Jordan probably wouldn't mind working for on a regular basis... "They're already on their-" Knock* This was a good way to impress an employer.

Jordan got up to let in a large white tiger, and a muddy colored mouse. He smiled as he turned around to notice the black box was now missing off the table. He resumed his seat, and his two companions were forced to stand at his side.

"Shepard." The wolf looked at the tiger, "Specialties include combat, demolitions, and heavy weaponry. Gill." The wolf turned his attention towards the skinny mouse. "Stealth, infiltration, theiving. Both of you are well experienced, and have excellent references. Your job will be quite simple. A certain panther that goes by the name of 'Jet', as in 'Jet Black'-" The wolf slid a picture across the table "-will be transfered between two prisons in Shanpa Province. Your only objective is to make sure Jet does not live through the transfer. As an addeed bonus anything or anyone in the transport are all yours."

"If you don't mind my asking," growled Shepard, "why do you need a team of this caliber for a job this simple? You could get someone to do it for a fraction of the price!"

"Isn't it obvious?" piped in Gill. "He doesn't want to be associated with this job. And we DO have a reputation for anonymity."

The wolf slid a black briefcase across the table. "The details have already been worked out. Meet me back here upon completion for the second half, and it goes without saying that if you make any mistakes do not come back at all."

Jordan picked up the briefcase and motioned for Shepard and Gill to leave. "Of course. It also goes without saying that we don't make mistakes. I'll be back within a month."

On the way outside, Jordan heard a soft voice speak, "So what was worth changing your mind on negotiating?" This was the team's ace in the hole - Kate, an electronics and surveilance expert, a bunny with a cool head. No one except the team knew about her, and no one else needed to. She had outfitted the four of them with implants that allowed them to speak to each other without being visibly wired, which was how Gill and Shepard knew when to walk in on the interview.

"A personal cloaking device. Don't see those on the streets."

"I still think you got ripped off." the voice continued.

"Think of it as an investment."

They spotted their white van down the road. It got bad gas mileage, but blended in well, and with the flick of a switch, a hidden fusion engine kicks in and the rpm's go through the roof.

"That's just fucking great Jordan!" the tiger growled. "You know I'm not going to question you in front of an employer, but how am I going to get paid once we get done? You can't exactly split up that gadget four ways..."

Jordan raised an eyebrow. Shepard was great at what he did, but could get a little annoying at times. "Don't worry, I'm taking care of it. We'll split the original 100 as we always do, and when we get done I'll take the cloak and split up another 100 out of my personal funds."

This got nothing more than a grumble out of Shepard. "Don't be such a hard ass, Shepard!" Gill squeaked in. "We've always gotten paid on time before, regardless of the circumstances, so don't start worrying now. Besides, we have alot more to worry about now than money."

"All clear, hop in."

This was the signal from Kate that no one was following them.

Shepard got in the van first, followed by Gill, while Jordan got in the driver's seat. Kate was in the back with a myriad of computer and surveilance gear. "Still clear."

"Great, we won't have to switch vans." squeaked Gill, "Where to now, Hoss?"

"Shanpa Province. Time to get down to business."

[Tabor, Shanpa Province]

Tabor was more of Jordan's kind of town. Being farther away from Capital City, he could get a decent bite to eat and didn't have to pay off every Republic official he saw just to get things done. That's not to say that "tips" weren't appreciated, but that they weren't always required. Another high point of Tabor they don't always put in tourist brochures is that a certain van transporting a certain prisoner named Jet who would most certainly be dead soon would be passing through. That last one was the selling point for Jordan.

"Let's get set up, folks." Jordan and Kate already had the plan ready, it just had to be explained and executed. "Surprise, Kate's going to be doing surveilance again. Everything you see, hear, or say is linked to her computers. If you get into any trouble, run it by her. Gill, you're going to make sure the van stops where we want it to. Easy enough, just take one of our vans and create an 'accident'. While that's taking place, I'll be on the 23rd floor of the old Star building taking out one of their tires with a laser sniper rifle. I'll make it look like it was a natural blowout. Shepard, as always, you get the fun stuff." The tiger bared his fangs in what appeared to be a grin. "You're going to take out the guards in the front of the van. Make sure it's messy, like you're holding a grudge. No weapons. Take one of their pistols and grab Jet out of the back. Shoot him so that he dies within about 5 minutes, but not right away. Let him run. We throw anything or anyone else in the back of Gill's van, and take off. The authorities will think the security van blew a tire, and caused an accident. The prisoners escaped during the accident, and Jet got shot while the prisoners were overtaking the guards. They won't suspect us, and they definately won't suspect our employer. That's the plan, and we've still got a day before showtime. How about a beer?"

"About fuckin' time!" Shepard roared. "I've been sittin' on my ass for weeks while you've been scopin' out this city! Tigers got needs, too! Tigers gotta get drunk! Tigers gotta get laid!"

This drew a laugh from everyone. "You're not going to get in any fights this time, are you Shepard?" Kate giggled as she grabbed the tiger's shoulder.

"It's never my fault! Geez, you guys always give me crap for that! See if I look out for you guys again..."

Kate laughed out loud and patted Shepard's shoulder. "I don't think any of us need any protecting, thanks."

"Alright, let's go." Jordan motioned to the van.

[Club Diablo's, Tabor]

You could hear the bass from two blocks away. Jordan slipped the muscled Bull bouncer 20C and the crew skipped the line leading out of Club Diablo's. The club was packed, and the crew split up. Jordan and Shepard worked their way towards the bar, and Gill and Kate hit the dance floor.

"A porter." Jordan said to the bartender, a Dragon who looked like he could double as a bouncer in a heartbeat, and probably has.

"WHAT?!?" The Dragon had to shout to be heard over the raging Techno permeating the club.

"A PORTER!"

"OK. AND YOU?" the bartender nodded to Shepard.

"A BOTTLE OF TEQUILA!"

The bartender had no problems hearing the tiger, as did just about everyone in the bar. He plopped down a pint of porter and a fifth of Tequila. "ON THE HOUSE. JUST DON'T CAUSE NO PROBLEMS, ALRIGHT?"

"WHO, ME?!?" Shepard tried to look innocent. Jordan slipped the dragon a 20 spot anyways. They each turned around and surveyed the scene. Gill had wiggled his way on the dance floor into the arms of a very sexy looking female mouse. As usual, Kate was nowhere to be seen, probably because she was surrounded by guys.

"SEE ANYTHING YOU LIKE?" Shepard shouted, after taking a big gulp from his bottle.

"THEY'RE ALL YOURS!" Jordan replied.

"I KINDA LIKE THE VIXEN OVER THERE... I'M GETTIN' ALL HARD JUST LOOKIN' AT HER!"

She might have gotten an ear of him, because immediately afterward she turned her head and gave him a wink. Not one to need a second invitation, Shepard slammed the rest of his bottle, and worked his way over to the vixen, now leaning against the wall. "So what's your name, sexy?"

She might have misheard him over the music, but probably not. "I'm going to get laid."

"Really? Thash my name too! Why are we waishting our time in thish place when we could go someplaish... quieter to get to know each other?"

"Probably because I'm going with my boyfriend, jerk."

"Wha? He can't be that speshal if you was winkin' at me!"

"Actually, I was winking at him."

"That would mean-"

"I'm right behind you!" bellowed a huge minotaur who put his hand on Shepard's shoulder. Before Jordan could even finish his beer, he looked up to find Shepard spinning around and planting his fist right in some Minotaur's neck.

The girl Gill was dancing with had her lips working their way up his neck when he noticed Shepard ram his knee into some Minotaur's crotch.

Kate was too busy grinding with no less than five other guys to notice a certain Minotaur in the fetal position on the floor getting his ribs kicked in.

"OH SHIT!" Gill shouted, gently removing himself from the cute mousie he was just getting some attention from. He not so gently shoved himself inside the mass of guys surrounding Kate and pulled her by the arm, garnering different reactions from the males. The larger species- a Lion, a Boar, even a Rhino- just laughed at the balls of this small mouse to butt in like this. An Otter with an attitude, however, was more than a little pissed (and drunk) that someone was taking his gyrating bunny away from him.

Jordan casually made his way to the exit so he could start the van.

Shepard looked up from a seriously bleeding Minotaur to notice Gill tossing an Otter over his shoulder. "You don't need my help, Moushy! You got that Kung-Fu shit!"

Now it was Kate's turn to drag Gill away before the Otter got back up. It took both of them to get a heavily cursing and screaming Shepard out the door. Thankfully, the van was already started.