New York City, in the middle of summer. Hot by anyone's standards, sweltering by a penguin's. Needless to say, the four penguins now standing on the artificial ice floe, to their habitat, were not pleased. Of course, they would not have been willing to put up with such heat, but after the FURNACE incident, they were not willing to take any chances with turning up the a/c.

Kowalski glared up at the sun, behind one shielding flipper. The sun did not suit him, and he was sure he did not look well in it. The others they were used to it, but long hours, shut away in his lab, had left him unaccustomed to the sun's rays of heat and light, that were now beating down on him. Normally, on hot days like this, when there were little people around, Skipper would allow Kowalski leave, and he would be inside, opting to take the night training later, when it wasn't so hot. Kowalski was a bit like a vampire in that way, and almost as testy in the light of day. He looked to Skipper.

"Is this really necessary Skipper." He hissed, but careful not to let Skipper catch the clear disapproval in his tone. "I mean, could we not just wait inside until the deliveries are done? This is... well it's ridiculous." He said, scowling.

Skipper crossed his flippers. He knew Kowalski was no good on hot days, but today, the heat was making even him on edge. "Kowalski, we will be prepared at all times. You're staying out here with the rest of us today, and I don't want to hear any arguments about it, especially with that tone of voice. You're lucky I don't give you a week's matinence duty."

Kowalski sighed. "Yes SIR." He muttered.

A passing zoo inhabitant might have been surprised to hear the taller, more intellectual penguin refer to the other as 'sir' seeing as this was the twenty-first century after all, but as we all know, these were no ordinary penguins.

Kowalski stood in his place, testily watching the pathways as the occasional tourist walked by, or Alice drove past in her zoo cart.

Alice was behind schedule, and the pathetic patch of shade, cast by the building behind their habitat was doing little to improve his mood. But of course, this was normal. Behind all the pessimism, there was a spark of excitement. What was with such a large shipment? Where had all of these animals come from? Perhaps, just maybe, he might be able to meet someone as intellectual and interested in science as he was. Perhaps this could be a big change for the better. It was too much to hope for.

The penguins started when they heard someone clear their voice behind them, and the four whipped around in defensive pose. A relatively average looking penguin stood in front of them.

"Er, hello? Hi, I'm new here." He said. Skipper took a step closer to examine and greet the new penguin, but was stopped by Private's snickering. The four other penguins looked back at him.

"What?" the new penguin asked.

"Well, it's just-" Private turned his attention to the sky and rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, you aren't new here." He said, words flowing over with his trademark British accent.

Kowalski raised an eyebrow. "What on Earth makes you say that, Private?" He asked.

Private pointed. "Well, haven't you noticed? Look at his feathers. They're nice and well kept; surely he hasn't spent a nice long trip in a crate. They'd be all messed up wouldn't they?" He turned to Skipper. "And didn't you say you were expecting a contact today. He probably just came in and said he was new, to check for weapons and such."

Kowalski looked to the other penguin, who stood there nervously, and back at Private. "By Galileo, you right!" He exclaimed.

Skipper chuckled, patting Private on the back, while Private just grinned sheepishly. He thought the others would have easily noticed. Then again, it was his specialty. Rico was medic and weapons expert, ironically, Skipper was leader, and skilled at hand-to-hand combat, Kowalski was the intellectual one. He handled chemicals, and was their technical producer. He also handled strategics, but that was only temporary.

See, each penguin had two specialties. And Right now, Private's specialty was to look innocent, something that was in fact, useful, as it often took the enemy unawares. Notice he only had one, and Kowalski had three. Private was currently in training to be an observation and stratigics master, something Kowalski handled until Private was ready. Currently, he was far from ready.

"Well, Lt. Martin," Skipper said, addressing the penguin, "Let me fill you in on the weapons status. I myself am unarmed, but our friend, Rico here, is another story. Currently he's got Flame thrower, chainsaw, several pounds of explosives, a derringer two-shot, three stun grenades, a few smoke bombs, and a pocket knife, on him now." Rico nodded enthusiastically, a devious grin on his face.

Lt. Martin swallowed, and Skipper waved a flipper.

"Of course none of these will be used on you." He said smirking. "No, the four of us could easily take you down a hundred different ways without the use of weaponry." Martin was by now thoroughly spooked. Skipper laughed.

"I'm just kidding; you know we'd never attack a fellow penguin." He said. "Now, what news have you got for us, from base?" He inquired. Feeling less tense, Lt. Martin took a step forward.

"Nothing you don't already know, I'm sure." He said, rolling his eyes. "It's the higher ups, they're... concerned." He said.

"About the new arrivals?" Kowalski asked. Martin nodded.

"Yes, they feel word has gotten out about your team. If it has, you guys would be the number one target of all criminal activity." He said, glancing at them.

It was true. Martin had heard of these guys before- what penguin hadn't? They were the only team that had chosen to make base at a zoo, and still end up with the same daily perils as those in the wild. They were a challenge, and a great way to prove your worth if you actually managed to beat them. It's why they had been kept on the down low.

"Pft, is that all? And we thought it would be something important." Skipper said. Martin shrugged.

"Don't blame the messenger. Oh, I better get out of here, looks like the keeper's about done." Martin saluted, the four returning the salute, before he dove in and out of the water, sliding away.

"Well boys," Skipper said turning back to them. "what do you think? Are these new arrivals a threat to our operation?"

"Definitely not, each crate delivered is under classic penguin predatory standards, and most are only barely larger than us." Kowalski said, rolling his eyes.

"Uh uh!" Rico grunted in agreement. Private only shrugged.

"I dunno Skippah; there are an awful lot of them." Skipper waved Private's comment away.

"Nonsense, Private, whoever they are, enemy or not, we can handle them." Skipper said. The case was clearly closed on the subject, and Kowalski looked over at Skipper.

"Um, Skipper-"

"No, you cannot go inside."