Power of the Ancients
By FurFur
"Monroe's Flying Aces, a mercenary squadron working for the Cerinian-Kathari Union, have gone missing on the planet Sa-Kathona, a world which possesses a secret that could fundamentally alter the balance of power in the galaxy. Above this formerly peaceful world in the Expanse, fleets belonging to the Cerinian-Kathari Union and the Amanoi Imperium have begun to gather, initiating a tense and deadly standoff as both sides attempt to contact their respective teams on the surface. Having agreed to send down mercenary teams not affiliated officially with either faction, Fox McCloud and Wolf O'Donnell have been hired to find the missing explorers. ..."
Chapter 1
LFSC Lylat's Pride,
Lylatian Cruiser,
Lylat System,
Fox's Arwing cleared the hangar bay atmospheric shield of the Lylatian X-02 cruiser Lylat's Pride, and settled down on the deck space cleared for it. Shutting down the systems one by one, Fox pulled his headset off and popped the canopy. He hopped down onto the cool metal plating of the deck and looked around. Pilots and mechanics were all tending to the ship's complement of AL5 Bottlenose starfighters, the newest iteration of fighter craft being deployed by the Lylat Federation Space Corps and Federation Army. Fox couldn't help but notice an urgency to their actions that went beyond simple maintenance and pilot perfectionism.
Turning his gaze forward he saw an arctic fox in the blue uniform of the Federation Space Corps approaching. Four rank pips just below his right shoulder indicated he held the rank of captain. Fox snapped off a casual half salute and said, "Permission to come aboard, captain Whitefur?"
Captain Boniface "Bonny" Whitefur returned the salute with a bit more snap. "Permission granted, welcome aboard. And lose the sir, you aren't military." Whitefur spoke with a clipped Grantham Isles accent, enunciating each word with the purpose and economy of a man bred of the nobility. Not that Cornerian nobility meant much these days. All they had left were their titles. Titles that bore no political advantage, even if they provided a certain degree of prestige.
"Thanks. You know how much I hate saluting," Fox replied, glancing around the hangar again. "Though you've obviously done well for yourself. Your own ship in six years?"
"Let's call it a meteoric rise and leave it at that," Boniface answered with a grimace. "Besides, my rapid rise is hardly unique. The war left a lot of good officers dead, and a lot of seats vacant."
"Yeah." Fox nodded solemnly. No one had to remind Fox McCloud of the losses suffered in the five years Lylat had been at war with Andross. His father had been killed in the final battle of the war, betrayed by Pigma Dengar, a member of his team. Pigma had died in the same battle, the victim of Peppy Hare's determined vengeance. But the damage had been done, leaving Fox's mother, Vixy, widowed, and Fox to take up the mantle of the Star Fox team. In the four years since the war Fox and his companions had made a name for themselves to rival that of the original team, but there were times Fox still ached to hear his father's voice, and to ask his advice. Breaking himself from his reverie before it turned into melancholy Fox asked, "So, what is this about?"
"Let's head to the bridge, shall we? I'll brief you on the way," Boniface told him. He turned around and started walking, Fox keeping pace next to him. Reaching into the pocket of his uniform the arctic fox pulled out a small datapad and handed it to Fox. "This is where we're heading."
Scrolling through the information Fox's ears perked in recognition of the world. "Sa- Kathona. I've heard about it."
"Pillow talk with Krystal?" Boniface asked, his tone half serious.
"Something like that," Fox replied, remembering back to the animated conversations he'd had with Krystal as she told him about the latest archeological finds. Well, she'd been animated, Fox's eyes had glazed over pretty fast, and he'd spent most of the time nodding and trying not to look down her shirt. "Lots of Krazoa ruins, right?"
"Right," Boniface confirmed. "And that is directly related to what's going on there now. Been watching the newsfeeds the past couple of days?"
"I haven't been stuck in an airport recently," Fox said, his tone joking, "So no."
"Well, for those of us paying attention to the galaxy, Sa-Kathona is turning into one big crisis area."
Boniface hit the button to call the turbolift for the bridge. He watched out of the corner of his eye as Fox scrolled through the information on his pad. There were a collection of headlines, plus various intelligence reports, and images taken over the past two days. The doors to the lift opened and both of them stepped in. Boniface hit the button for the bridge and the lift began moving.
Looking up from the datapad Fox shook his head. "Holy shit. I have been out of it."
"Your whole team has been," Boniface stated, letting a little bit of frustration seep into his voice. Truthfully he and his ship should have been on their way to Sa-Kathona by now, but Fox and his team had caused a delay. "It took us hours to track you down and contact you."
A bit of color came to Fox's ears. To hear even a hint of frustration in his friend's otherwise perfectly controlled countenance was a rare and significant thing. He knew that Boniface likely felt about ten times as stressed out and frustrated as he was letting on. "Sorry about that," Fox said, knowing just how weak his excuse would be. "We were...vacationing. Hard."
Rolling his eyes Boniface said, "A bender of epic proportions? I thought you didn't drink."
Fox blushed a bit more, and his ears folded back against his skull. "I started drinking in social situations. Krystal loosened me up a little."
"I see." Boniface smiled a bit. "Fara thought she would."
Seeing that his friend's frustration with him was clearing up Fox's ears ticked back up to their normal position. "She knows me too well."
"She does indeed." Boniface glanced at the lift controls and a moment later they opened up to reveal the bridge. Boniface strode onto it, projecting an image of calm and confidence for his crew. Each of them sat or stood at their stations, working quietly and efficiently. In the center seat commander Moreau, a Doberman who served as Boniface's first officer, stood and said, "Captain on the bridge."
Everyone stood and turned towards him. Boniface waved them back to their stations. "As you were." Looking over at the helm station Boniface said, "Lieutenant Harrison, set a course for the Sa-Kathona system, maximum warp."
"Aye sir," Harrison replied, deftly executing the already plotted and laid in course. She looked up just in time to see the stars streak and then blend together. "ETA to target planet is nine point one hours, sir."
"Excellent." Boniface looked towards Moreau. "You have the bridge commander, I'll be in my ready room." Turning back to Fox, Boniface hooked a thumb towards the door to the side of the bridge. "Come with me."
Fox followed Boniface into his ready room. The door slid shut behind them and he took in the decor. A painting of the Lylat System occupied the main wall. A fish tank with an exotic Aquan catfish sat near the window, and a small bookshelf contained a selection of soft and hardcover books. "Nice."
"Thank you," Boniface replied, taking a seat on the couch, rather than behind the desk. "Have a seat."
Fox looked between the couch and the desk, then asked, "If you're not using it, can I sit behind the desk?"
"No," Boniface answered flatly.
With a shrug Fox sat down on the couch next to Boniface. "So, the Cerinian-Kathari Union and the Amanoi Imperium are pointing guns at each other. Why?" Fox asked, referring to the information he'd gleaned from the datapad.
"There was a joint expedition to the planet surface. An archeological dig. It seems that, while on the planet surface they found something. A KeyStone. Then they disappeared, and the Union and Imperium warped fleets in. They arrived at the same time and promptly began pointing guns at each other," Boniface informed him.
Fox, looking nonplussed, said, "Oh come on. They've done this before. They're bluffing each other."
Boniface shook his head. "Not this time. The KeyStone being involved changes everything."
"Okay, so what is it?" Fox asked. He remembered vaguely a conversation where Krystal had told him about something like this. But beyond the memory of having had the conversation he couldn't remember very much.
Taking a breath Boniface said, "According to the Cerinians it is a device that could allow them to activate and control all the Krazoa tech that's been sitting dormant on their planet for the past million years. If that turns out to be true and the Cerinians get their hands on it, it would fundamentally alter the balance of power in the galaxy."
Fox thought about it for a moment, then said, "At least it'd be in our favor."
"Possibly."
"What do you mean?" Fox asked. "If the Union gets their hands on all that advanced technology it sounds like it'd be a good thing for our alliance."
"I mean," Boniface said, "That the Amanoi Imperium is making preparations to mobilize for a general war. Our diplomats in their capital on Aurelius have informed us that, should the Cerinian-Kathari Union get their hands on the device, the Imperium will immediately declare war in the name of self preservation."
"Well...crap." Fox slumped against the couch.
"And I don't have to tell you what that would mean for the Federation, and the Androssian Empire," Boniface added, dampening the mood in the room even further.
Nodding, Fox said, "War. Sometimes it seems like strong allies are more trouble than they're worth."
Boniface chuckled. "I have a feeling Andross is thinking much the same thing right now. But there's more bad news."
"That wasn't all the bad news?" Fox looked at Boniface balefully. "The biggest astro-political crisis since the Saurian Insurrection isn't the only bad news?"
"I'm afraid so." Boniface paused for a handful of heartbeats, then said, "Katt and her team are some of the ones missing on Sa-Kathona."
The news hit Fox like a ton of bricks. Fox stared at Boniface, then whispered, "Krystal?"
Leaning forward a bit and trying to appear comforting Boniface told him, "We've had no contact with her, the team, or the joint exploration group they were escorting, for about forty-eight hours."
"I see." Fox did his best to shake himself out of the shock he was feeling. He'd talked to her last week. Everything had been fine. They'd been planning to take a few days together in Corneria City. Spend some time in town, see a play, and spend the nights locked together in bed. "Has anyone bothered sending down a search and rescue party?"
Boniface heaved a sigh. "There's a problem with that."
"Of course there is."
"Both sides are accusing the other of kidnapping and holding the exploration team hostage on the surface."
"Oh for fuck's sake," Fox groaned, rubbing his eyes. He suddenly felt tired. Why couldn't people just get along? "This is the whole Kursed thing? The blood feud? God damn, and I thought the Androssians were paranoid delusional."
"Well, that's the nature of the cultural beast I'm afraid." Boniface shook his head. He could well understand his friend's frustration. He shared it. It seemed that at times, despite all the progress that had been made, conflict still came down to a basic sort of tribalism, divided along cultural or species lines. Whether it was the Cerinians and the Amanoi, the dinosaurs on Sauria, or the ongoing conflict between the Eladardian colonists on Titania against the native sand cats. After a brief pause Boniface continued, "Neither side is willing to let the other land troops, fearing they'd be 'reinforcing' a military expedition on the planet."
"I hate politics," Fox stated. "So, I'm here because?"
"The Federation, along with the Androssian Empire, have managed to broker an agreement by which a single mercenary will be allowed on the surface, representing each side. They'll be paid for by the Federation and the Empire, as a means of showing their impartiality."
"So I'm the Fed's mercenary," Fox guessed. "Because I'm sure as hell not taking any of Andross's money."
"Don't worry, the president will be signing your check at the end of this," Boniface assured him.
"Good ol' Agnus. What happens if I run into trouble down there, all by my lonesome?" Fox asked.
"We'll be monitoring you from orbit," Boniface told him. "Both myself and my Androssian counterpart will have away teams standing by, but, and you'll love this, Sa-Kathona is considered holy ground by both sides, so non-Cerinian/Kathari/Amanoi aren't allowed in any significant numbers."
Fox let out a long, drawn out sigh. "In other words, you can't land a battalion?"
"Afraid not," Boniface replied. "Don't worry. The team should be large enough for a hot extraction if it comes to that." Boniface paused, then went on, "However, if it does come down to that, I think it's fair to say that the shooting will have started in orbit already."
"Great. Who's my partner from the other side of the glass onion?"
This was the part that Boniface, shamefully, had been looking forward to. He didn't wish this on Fox, but he knew his friend's reaction to the name would be priceless. Taking the datapad from Fox he tapped it and brought up the mission personnel profile. "You know him quite well actually." Boniface handed the pad back to Fox.
Fox took it and stared down at the screen. A name, image, and dossier were displayed. The moment he saw it his heart nearly stopped and he sucked in a breath. His tail went stiff and his ears folded back in agitation. "Oh. No. Mother-"
Sargasso Space Hideout,
Sargasso Region,
Lylat System,
Hidden in the depths of the Sargasso sector of the Lylatian asteroid belt, the Sargasso Space Hideout had once been an asteroid mining and refinement plant. It had been abandoned fifty odd years ago when the most profitable asteroids in the region had been tapped out. Afterwards it had lain silent and dormant, its systems on standby in case its owners should wish to return and make use of it again. Not long after its abandonment it had been reactivated and claimed by the criminal class of the Lylat System. Now, rather than mining precious minerals from the rocks that floated around it, it featured a bustling black market economy. Arms, drugs, and other illegal substances and equipment could be requisitioned here for the right price. And, should one wish to relax between smuggling missions the Hideout offered numerous bars and taverns, as well as clubs of ill repute, and a fully functional casino for those who preferred to waste their money on games of chance.
Overseeing it all was Star Wolf, a criminal empire larger than any in Lylat, and possibly the galaxy. Star Wolf had its hand in every trade to be found on Sargasso. And, without the approval of Lord Wolf O'Donnell, son of the legendary Lupus O'Donnell, now a legend in his own right, there would be no way to set up a business on the Hideout. Thus, the one criminal enterprise not to be found on Sargasso was trade in sentient beings. Neither Wolf nor his father had approved of the trade, and thus maintained a tense relationship with the Corvax V Syndicate, a collection of criminal cartels operating on the planet Corvax V in the Expanse. Several of the members of the Syndicate specialised in the sentient beings trade, and saw the O'Donnells as infringing on their ability to conduct free enterprise in the Lylat system. Wolf could care less. His father had told the Syndicate any one of their ships he caught in his territory would be seized and its cargo released, and Wolf maintained that policy.
In the upper levels of the station, in a room lit by dim ceiling lights, Wolf O'Donnell paced in a circle. He wore no shirt, and only short leggings. His hard, rugged body glistened with sweat, and his artificial eye had been set to help enhance his sight in the low lighting. In his hands he held a quarterstaff. "So, what's her name?" he asked the superbly muscled, and impressively graceful, black furred feline across from him.
"Chandra," replied Panther Caroso. "Gorgeous lioness."
"Huh. I prefer vixens and she-wolves myself." Wolf jerked his staff at Panther, probing his opponent's defenses. Panther's feline grace and reflexes lended themselves much more to this more artful style of fighting. In addition to the quarterstaff, he knew Panther was quite skilled with a rapier. And it was for this reason that Wolf enjoyed training with him. Everytime he fought Panther in close quarters he learned something new. Just as Panther's marksmanship had improved radically since he'd begun training regularly with Wolf, so too had Wolf's close combat skills improved since he'd started training with Panther.
Not reacting to Wolf's defensive probes Panther continued circling his boss. Each time his feet made contact with the floor not even the quietest of sounds could be heard. Panther prided himself on his stealthiness. "Vixens are certainly delicious," Panther replied, ignoring the pleasant memories that it brought up in his mind.
Wolf took a swing just as Panther finished talking. "You still after McCloud's girl?"
Blocking the attack with a minimum of effort Panther responded with a coy, "Maybe."
"Taking your own life in your hands going after her," Wolf replied, shaking his head.
Tail lashing behind him Panther grinned and said, "And yet still she seems worth the risk."
Wolf would have rolled his one good eye if he hadn't been so focused on watching for Panther's next move. "Uh huh. Stick with the local tail, that's an order. Last thing I need is McCloud coming over here just to deck you."
Panther nodded and made a mental note to delete the twenty-four pages of love poetry he'd been planning to send her. An order was an order. Then, with his typical catlike speed, Panther attacked. His staff moved in a blur, striking at every weak point he could see. Much to his surprise and pride Wolf parried each attack. He really was learning.
Seeing that he'd taken the brunt of the feline's attack and survived Wolf decided to counterattack. Though not quite as fast as Panther he loaded each strike with every bit of muscle he could. Panther blocked and dodged, jumping over a strike aimed at his shins.
Not for the first time Panther found himself admiring the raw power that Wolf O'Donnell could muster at a moment's notice. Though he lacked a certain degree of precision Wolf was making up for it with brute force. Panther dodged a strike, but miscalculated by a hair the distance he needed to go. Wolf landed a strike on the inside of his thigh, close enough to his groin that Panther actually felt a brief stab of fear. "Oof." Panther hopped back, taking up a defensive stance and circling to the lupine's left. "Careful boss, you know you'd miss it if it were out of commission."
Wolf snorted at Panther's remark. "One fucking night and you never let me live it down." He should have seen that coming. Panther's mind functioned on two things: expensive purchases and sex. So such a remark hardly came as a surprise. The real surprise to Wolf was that it still made his ears burn. He'd never felt particularly ashamed of that one night, even if he'd sworn Panther to secrecy the moment he'd woken up the next day.
Seeing that he was getting under Wolf's fur Panther decided to press the advantage. "You moaned so loud boss," he teased with a smirk.
Snarling Wolf launched into another attack, even more ferocious than his last. "I was drunk. You took advantage of me." Wolf knew that that wasn't completely true, but it was the first response that came to mind.
Parrying and dodging with almost superfeline speed Panther reveled in having gotten to Wolf. Good, his attack was already getting a bit sloppy as he tried to channel his embarrassment into something useful. "Excuses excuses. We were all drunk that night," Panther reminded him.
Grunting Wolf managed to batter his way through Panther's defenses, landing a strike on his shoulder. "You going easy on me?" Wolf asked. It was unusual for him to be doing this well.
"Not since that night," Panther replied, only half-truthfully. The first hit to his thigh had been Wolf's work, but letting him tap his shoulder had just been meant as a confidence booster. Not that Panther would admit that under anything but the most extreme duress.
"Fucking A," Wolf growled. The tease.
"Mmm, and what an A you had that night," Panther replied, purring loudly at the annoyed expression on Wolf's face.
"God damn it Panther!"
Wolf attacked again, a flurry of fast, strong, but graceless blows. The smile Panther had been wearing during the exchange turned predatory as he saw his opening. Sidestepping he
brought his staff low to the ground and swept Wolf's legs out from under him. Wolf fell face first to the ground, and as he rolled onto his back Panther jumped on him and straddled him, keeping him from getting back up. He put his staff to the lupine's neck and said, triumphantly, "I believe the match goes to me. Again."
Looking up at him, his gaze defiant, Wolf said, "Get your ass, off my chest."
Panther cocked an eyebrow. "Yield?"
"Never again," Wolf answered. "But fine, you win this round."
Chuckling Panther got off him and helped Wolf to his feet. "Rematch?"
Wolf opened his muzzle to answer just as the comm panel in the room beeped. He held up a finger and walked over. Wolf tapped the answer button. "O'Donnell."
His voice coming through tinged with static, courtesy of the station's ancient comm system, Leon Powalski said, "Boss, we've got an Androssian attack carrier coming in. They say they want to talk to you."
Grabbing a pair of towels from the bench Panther tossed one in Wolf's direction as he began wiping the sweat from his fur. Wolf grabbed the towel in mid air and started doing the same. "Yeah, okay. I'll be right up." Ending the call he looked over at Panther. "Good match. I had fun."
"Same boss," Panther replied, walking closer and tapping Wolf on the rear. His signal that he'd only been messing with Wolf.
Wolf returned the gesture and said, "Come on, let's go see what the the all mighty Emperor's minions want with us."
Wolf sat in his office, feet propped up on his desk. Panther and Leon stood to either side of him. Privately Wolf wished he could have showered before getting dressed. But since the Androssians were already docking he'd barely had time to get his usual leather vest and pants on.
"I keep telling you to get this place redecorated," Panther said, glancing around at the room's Spartan decor.
"Why I keep making sure not to do it," Wolf replied, his tail twitching. He hated dealing with Androssians. He hated dealing with the Federation too, so holier-than-thou. But something about the Androssians and their whole philosophy of 'enlightened' rule rubbed him the wrong way. He shook his head. Philosophy shouldn't have made a difference to him, all that mattered was the money. But if that's true why did my dad and I make such a point not to do sentient trafficking?
"Honor, boss," Panther said, looking down at Wolf. He could always tell when Wolf was wrestling with his conscience. "Androssians and the Syndicate have one thing in common. No honor."
Wolf nodded. "Right. Thanks Caroso."
"No problem boss," Panther replied.
The doors to the office opened a moment later and a straight backed ape wearing the traditional red command visor of the Androssian Imperial Space Navy walked in. His uniform was crisp and pressed, proudly displaying the red letter A on the left breast. The Androssian walked right up to the desk and said, "I am captain Conrad of the ISN Enlightenment. I assume you are Wolf O'Donnell?"
"Lord O'Donnell, actually," Wolf corrected him. He'd had this conversation before with every Androssian officer he'd dealt with before now. He would have it with every Androssian officer he dealt with in the future. Honor and in many cases courtesy was everything, and at least the Federation types he dealt with were willing to respect the title.
"The Empire does not recognize your claim to a noble title," Conrad replied, his voice dripping with disdain. Clearly he thought dealing with criminals and ostracized nobles beneath him.
"Uh huh. If I recall you don't recognize any noble titles," Wolf commented.
"Yes." Conrad nodded, though he continued to stand stiffly and look down his nose at him. "Such titles are unenlightened."
"And yet Andross is called emperor." Wolf always liked throwing that little bit of irony at them. Even if they always had a ready made answer. His tail wagged in anticipation of the ridiculous statement he knew was coming.
Frowning, Conrad said, "He is the Emperor." He put a special emphasis on the as if galactic history weren't riddled with petty thugs and delusional geniuses that had all claimed that title at one point or another. The Androssians possessed a remarkable lack of awareness when it came to those sorts of things.
Wolf waved off the statement and motioned towards the chair in front of his desk. "Whatever you say. Have a seat."
Conrad didn't even glance at the chair. "I prefer to stand."
"Suit yourself." Wolf tipped his head back to look at Panther, the feline giving him a toothy smile. Panther had bet Wolf twenty credits that that would be the response. Damn you, Wolf thought. Looking back at Conrad Wolf asked, "What can I do for you, then? I assume you didn't fly all the way out here to debate the merits of noble titles."
"The Empire has need of your services," Conrad replied.
"My organization is at your disposal," Wolf answered, his tail twitching in satisfaction. It felt good to be needed, and even better to hear it coming from the mouth of a stiffnecked Imperial like the one standing in front of him. "Assuming, of course, that we can agree on a price."
"The price is of no concern, this is a matter of paramount importance," Conrad said. "And you misunderstand. We have no need for your organization at this time. Rather, we require your services. Personally."
Wolf exchanged glances with both Panther and Leon. Panther shrugged, Leon blinked. "Oh?"
Reaching into his uniform Conrad pulled out a datapad and set it on the desk. "A situation has developed in the Expanse. A world called Sa-Kathona."
Interesting. Wolf looked at Leon. "Uninhabited. Formerly under the dominion of the Krazoa. Substantial ruins. First discovered about sixty years ago, and declared a neutral site as part of the Galactic Heritage Agreement. The Cerinian-Kathari Union and the Amanoi Imperium are currently locked in a standoff in orbit," Leon rattled off. Not for the first time Wolf found himself grateful for Leon's near perfect recall ability.
Taking his legs off the desk Wolf reached for the pad. He scrolled through it, skimming the things that popped out at him. "Mm. So, what do you need me for?"
"A team of Amanoi and Cerinian scientists have gone missing on the surface," Conrad explained. "The Amanoi believe they have been taken hostage by Monroe's Flying Aces, a mercenary team..."
Wolf held up a hand, forestalling the rest of Conrad's explanation. "I know who they are. They're the Union's knockoff of Star Fox."
"Indeed." Conrad nodded. "We have negotiated an agreement along with the Lylat Federation to allow a mercenary individual onto the surface. One from each side to carry out a search and rescue operation."
Two people for a search and rescue op? Wolf didn't like the sound of that. Then again, this was a chance for him to get out and get his hands dirty. He'd been going nuts stuck on the station running a criminal empire that was functioning all too smoothly. A little action would be good for him. And any world in the Expanse could be expected to yield quite a bit of action. There was just one thing he wanted to know before he signed on. "Why me?"
"The Emperor believed you would be the best choice, considering the man the Federation has chosen," Conrad said.
Looking up from datapad Wolf asked, "Who?"
Conrad almost smiled as he said, "Fox McCloud."
LFSC Lylat's Pride,
Sa-Kathona System,
The Expanse,
The bridge was quiet. All hands were looking out the viewscreen at the armada in orbit of Sa-Kathona. The Cerinian-Kathari vessels were each of a design unique to the individual ship, but with elements such as rounded lines and ornately stenciled hulls being shared across all of them. The hulls were each stenciled with marks of patron goddesses, and symbols representing heroes from Cerinian and Kathari mythology. Fox recalled a conversation with Fara where she had noted that Cerinian vessels weren't so much pieces of engineering as they were works of art.
Opposite the Cerinian-Kathari vessels were the ships belonging to the Amanoi. These vessels also possessed the curvatures and ornate designs of their opponents, though the designs were more standardized, and were obviously intended to strike fear in the hearts of their opponents. Long, sloping wings extended from the primary hull of each vessel, and the command section jutted out from the center, giving it the appearance of a beak. This, in combination with the wings, made each vessel look something like a non-sapient bird of prey
Alongside Lylat's Pride Fox could see an Androssian attack carrier hovering just beyond what would be the killzone for the two fleets. The Androssian ship possessed none of the artfulness or aesthetic design of the Cerinian-Kathari, Amanoi, or even the Federation ship. Instead it was blocky, painted red and grey, and utilitarian in design. It was a ship meant to be mass produced in as high a number as possible. And, it was worth noting, the attack carrier design was among the most common in the Androssian fleet, performing a wide range of duties including ship to ship combat, transport, and patrol and escort missions.
"That is a lot of ships," Fox observed.
Sitting in his command chair Boniface nodded. "Two dozen total. All of them top of the line. Like I said, they aren't messing around this time."
"Looks that way," Fox agreed.
The comm officer turned from her station to face Boniface. "Sir? We're getting a signal from the Androssian ship. Captain Conrad would like a word."
"On screen," Boniface instructed.
A second later an image of the simian captain of the Androssian ship appeared, overlaying itself on the view of the two fleets. "Captain Conrad, what can I do for you?" Boniface asked, keeping his voice measured, controlled, and polite, despite his personal distaste for anyone flying under Andross's banner.
Conrad responded in kind, his voice echoing from the ship's speakers with an almost synthetically precise modulation. "Mr. O'Donnell is in his fighter and prepared to launch for the surface."
Fox forced down a smirk at the "Mr." He could well imagine Wolf's frustration at his title not being recognized. He'd have to remember that one.
"I suggest you order your mercenary to do the same so we can get this over with," Conrad continued.
"I'm just 'the mercenary?'" Fox asked, feeling a bit indignant. It was bad enough being called Star Fox as if it were his name, but even that was better than just 'the mercenary'.
"Don't make this difficult," Boniface muttered in his direction, clearly not in the mood for a verbal sparring session.
Ignoring him, Fox said, "I'm Fox McCloud, just so you know. And I'm on my way to the hangar right now." With that he spun on his heels and strode off the bridge, his irritation following him like a black storm cloud.
Boniface shook his head. The universe certainly had a cruel sense of humor. First forcing the Federation and the Androssians to work together to prevent a war, and then forcing Fox to work with Wolf to the same end. He found himself wondering if it was naive of him to hope for the best in this situation. "Good luck Fox," he whispered, then turned back to Conrad. He had his orders. Prevent a war. And he'd do whatever it took to accomplish his mission.
ISN Enlightenment,
Sa-Kathona System,
The Expanse,
Wolf sat in his cockpit, twiddling his thumbs and trying not to be bored out his skull. He'd run through his preflight checklist twice, then he'd done it a third time just to give himself something to do. He'd considered hooking up to Star Wolf's secure network and checking on how things were going back on Sargasso, and seeing if any of the current operations were running into problems, but he'd stopped himself. Leon could handle it, which was why he'd made him his number two years ago. The last thing he needed was the make the anti-social freak think that his boss thought he couldn't handle the operation without him looking over his shoulder. The only other thing he could do was check up on what Panther was up to, but he had a feeling he already knew. And Panther had an annoying habit of answering calls even while right in the middle of...things. Wolf shook his head. Panther did not lack for self-confidence. And he seemed to possess absolutely no sense of shame. At least it made things interesting. "Dammit Fox, taking your sweet time, aren't you?" Wolf grumbled to himself.
Just as the words left his mouth his commline beeped and the voice of the bridge flight controller for the Enlightenment filled the cockpit. "Mr. O'Donnell, you are go for launch. Be safe down there."
"Acknowledged bridge, I'm heading out. And it's Lord O'Donnell, by the way," Wolf corrected. With that he cut the link and flew out as the hangar doors finished opening.
Activating his scanners Wolf looked for Fox's Arwing. "There you are." He spotted it and opened a channel, flying up alongside his new partner. "What's up Star Fox?"
"I told you that's not my name," Fox said, his irritation palpable.
Wolf grinned as he matched Fox's velocity. "I know, but I love how much it pisses you off when people call you that."
"Look, if we're going to work together," Fox replied, "Could you try not to be a total ass?"
That got a chuckle out of Wolf. His tail wagged in the small space behind his cockpit chair. "Only if you promise not to be a little bitch."
Fox's sigh was loud enough to cause a hint of static on the commline. "Yeah. Screw off."
"Awww, McCloud," Wolf responded, his voice dripping with amused sarcasm, "You wound me. Race you to the planet surface."
"You better not start talking like Panther," Fox groused. "Oh and, eat my ionized plasma."
Fox's Arwing boosted ahead, pouring on speed with a rate of acceleration Wolf had never seen with an Arwing. "I didn't say go," Wolf complained.
"I didn't either," Fox shot back. "I guess we both suck at racing."
Wolf would have growled in frustration if he weren't so impressed by the Arwing's continuing acceleration. "You really are going to be a bitch this whole time, aren't you?"
The crooked smile on Fox's face could be heard through the commline. "Like you've always said, fucking foxes."
"Yep," Wolf replied. "Sassy ass bitches."
"I'm glad we understand each other. And, by the way, if that's your idea of speed, you really are getting old," Fox said, continuing the verbal jab fest.
This time Wolf did let out a frustrated growl. He'd show this pitiful little upstart what a Wolfen could do. "Oh you'll regret saying that pup," he replied, accelerating to max thrust, pushing his G-diffusers to the absolute limit.
Ahead of him Fox's Arwing simply put on a bit more acceleration, and Wolf found himself being quickly left behind. "Man, who designed that thing?" Fox asked. "It's like you're flying a tank."
Why the hell did I sign up for this? Wolf wondered to himself.
"See you on the planet surface," Fox continued. "I'll have the tent pitched and the beer chilled when you get there."
That caught Wolf by surprise. "I thought you didn't drink."
"I've learned to make some exceptions," Fox replied.
"Shame," Wolf responded. "You were cuter when you didn't."
"Ohh be still my beating heart, bad boy O'Donnell thinks I'm cute," Fox said with a poorly done southern Corneria twang.
"Sheesh." Wolf rolled his one good eye, silently cursing the fact that he was losing to Fox. The mission had barely even begun. "How does your species get laid?"
"We're kinky," Fox replied, his tone so serious Wolf actually had to stop himself for asking for specifics. "Entering the atmosphere in twenty seconds. We'll lose comms on initial contact, so say goodbye to my melodious voice."
"I'm crying already," Wolf said, letting the derision seep into his gruff voice.
"Try not to short out your artificial eye," Fox told him. "I'm sending you the coordinates for our landing site. I'll reestablish comms on the ground."
"Copy," Wolf said, a mild sense of relief settling on him at the thought of not having to hear Fox for the next few minutes. "See you down there."
Joint Exploration Team Camp Site,
Planet surface,
Sa-Kathona
Activating his Arwing's anti-grav repulsors Fox brought his fighter down with a gentle bump. Shutting down the main systems he popped the canopy and hopped to the ground. He took a look around. The campsite didn't look to be in good shape. Tables were flipped over, tents fallen, and debris strewn about. "What the hell happened here?"
Fox's ears perked up as he heard the sound of a Wolfen touching down. The engines wound down and Wolf O'Donnell jumped to the ground. The lupine looked around, then said, "Man, somebody oughta teach these guys proper campground etiquette."
"What would you know about etiquette?" Fox asked, heading back to his Arwing and opening the cargo compartment. He took out a plasma rifle and particle beam sidearm.
"More than you pup," Wolf said a bit caustically. "More than you."
"Yeah, sure. Mr. O'Donnell." Slinging the rifle over one arm and stowing the sidearm in the holster on his hip Fox took out his backpack. He set it on the ground and began checking to make sure he had everything they'd need.
Pinching the bridge of his nose Wolf said, "Look, Fox. I know we both hate each other, but if we're going to find your friends and complete the mission, you really need to stop sniping at me."
"I'm not the only one sniping," Fox said, looking up at the older lupine. Standing up he slung his backpack on. "But fine, I'll stop if it's too much for you."
Wolf growled in frustration. "Fucking pups. You done?"
"Yeah." Fox looked a bit abashed. He should have been better than this. Just because their fathers had been rivals didn't mean they had to keep it going the way they did. Except he's a crimelord and pirate captain who's sworn he'll take me down one day. And...well, I kinda vowed the same thing. Dammit. "Yeah I'm done. Let's focus on finding something to point us in the right direction."
"If we do find a clue," Wolf said, taking his own supplies from his Wolfen, "How are we gonna get there? Jungle covers everything in all directions for, what? Half the continent? Which means no viable landing sites besides this one."
"I know." Fox started searching the campground. "We'll just have to hoof it."
"Right," Wolf replied, keeping the disappointment from his voice. Hoofing it through the jungle. That'd be fun for sure. Especially with Fox McCloud for his only company.
As if he felt the need to remind him of how bad his torture was going to be, Fox said, "And, by the way, I could have made another joke about your age right there, but I didn't."
"Thanks." Wolf shook his head. "Remind me to buy you a cookie."
"Sugar please," Fox responded absently. He walked over to one of the collapsed tents. He thought he could see something blinking under the canvas.
"Riight," Wolf said with a sigh. "You find anything?"
Peeling back a layer of fallen canvas Fox prized the datapad from the ground and started scrolling through the information on display. "Maybe." He paused when he saw what looked like a map with a route marked on it. "Huh."
"What is it?" Wolf asked, walking over and peering over Fox's shoulder.
"According to this they were headed for a temple somewhere in the jungle. It has a map of their route." The pad beeped, indicating a lower power level. "You got a spare powerpack?"
"Sure," Wolf said, heading back to his Wolfen. "Last thing we need is the map dying on us. How deep into the jungle were they heading?"
Fox took another look at the map. "Pretty deep."
Grabbing the powerpack out of the storage compartment, and grabbing a few spares for his backpack just in case, Wolf looked over at the thick, creeping foliage. "Well, this is gonna be fun."
A/N: Hey all! FurFur is back! I mean, you probably guessed that by the whole chapter you hopefully just read. Real quick I just want to share some minor details about this story.
This story, along with several other stories I've been planning during my absence, is set in my own AU. I basically spent a week tailoring my own version of Lylat to meet my own specifics writing needs. I've mapped out a lot of backstory and details on things ranging from planets and governments, to characters and events. It's eliminated a lot of the randomness I've felt with my world building in the past, and I hope it will come across in the stories as well.
I'll be setting to work on chapter two in the next couple of days, and I'll hopefully be able to maintain at least two updates a month. No promises. Could be more, could be less, it all depends on how life treats me.
I'll keep these notes at the bottom so that when you see an update you can just start right in. I hope you enjoyed, and don't forget to leave a review or drop a follow/fav!
-general whitefur