Hello, my name is Anguirus111. You probably don't know who I am. Simply put, I used to write StarFox stories a very, very long time ago, two years ago in fact. That was back before Dinosaur Planet and back in the days of the N64 and there were only two to three pages of StarFox stories. I stopped writing StarFox stories almost half a year ago. All I'm doing is writing this one final story. In order to understand this story, it's in your best interest to read my earlier stories, read my StarFox timeline in my bio, and especially read The Dreamers. This genre is now yours. Take care of it. See you around. The beginning of this story is just tying up a few loose ends left by The Dreamers story.
Lylat System: Aquas, 2½ years after Pepper claimed Emperorship on the Lylat System: A large UVCAF fleet faced a smaller VRF fleet that was surrounding the watery world. On board the UVCAF Saruzin Cruiser, The Mantia, Andross watched with mild interest at Pepper's last attempt to hold onto a final foothold in The Lylat System. Andross leaned forward in the command chair located in the center of the bridge as he watched the VRF fleet on a viewscreen.
"Pepper, why don't you make this easy on yourself and surrender? It's quicker, simpler, and more efficient. You're bid to become the next Emperor has failed, why go on?" asked Andross with an evil smile on his face.
VRF Lead Cruiser, The Red Wolf: Pepper sat in his heavily damaged bridge as he rubbed his weary eyes while listening to Andross's attempts to get him to surrender. His bid to become the next Emperor of Lylat had gone without a hitch, he'd secured Venom and was poised to crush Andross at Sector X. Then Andross had somehow escaped and when he returned it had been with resources that Pepper hadn't even thought he'd had. Andross had been preparing for years that someone would try and become Emperor after him, and had been stockpiling troops and weapons for that inevitable day. Pepper had been beaten back at every turn and had spent the past two years running from Andross and trying vainly to hold onto some position in the Lylat System, but to no avail.
"It's all that infernal Starfox team's fault, they'd rallied support and brought back moral in leaps and bounds with their unstoppable attacks on my various supply depots. They above all else turned the tide of this war," thought Pepper angrily. Even being one member short after Falco Lombardi was executed, the remaining Starfox team, Fox McCloud, Leon Powalski, and Andrew Oikonny, were a force to be reckoned with. Even now their Arwings sat at the front of the UVCAF fleet ready to tear in to the VRF fighters like vicious dogs of war waiting to be unleashed.
"Prepare to attack," said Pepper sighing heavily.
"But sir, we can't possibly win!" said a technician. Pepper looked up at the technician before pulling out a gun and shakily aiming it at him before dropping it.
"We don't have a choice, Andross cannot be allowed to rule! He will only cause our system to be destroyed. If this is our final fight, then I intend to make it a good one! Launch all ships!" he shouted at the crew. The crew looked at each other in desperation, but they had no choice but to obey their commanding officer and set to work fulfilling their duties. Dozens of fighters began launching from the assorted motley of battlecruisers as the moved to engage the UVCAF.
The Mantia: "You've made your final mistake old friend, move to engage!" shouted Andross. The fighters from both sides zoomed straight at each other and the opposing sides joined in a titanic battle for dominance.
Dinosaur Planet: At the top of Krazoa Palace, a slow procession of dinosaurs led a bound and gagged captive with a sack over his head, to a spacepod that was resting next a large Krazoa Statue. The weather was positively miserable as lightning streaked overhead and gallons of rain poured from the clouds above. The procession stopped and the captive was forced to his knees by stunrods held by a pair of lightfoots. Then the bag was removed revealing General Scales who blinked a few times as he peered angrily at the dinosaurs surrounding him. In front of Scales stood the King Earthwalker, Queen Cloudrunner, and Garunda Te. Garunda read from a scroll in front of him.
"General Scales, it is by the decision of this tribunal that you have been found guilty of war crimes against the people of Dinosaur Planet. As you well know, we don't execute prisoners but instead banish them to the outer reaches of space for all eternity If you have any last words, now would be the time to say them," said Garunda Te. The gag was removed and General Scales growled in anger.
"You think by banishing me to space I'll never return? You're wrong, dead wrong. This isn't a punishment at all, in fact I'm going willingly because I know that out there I'll find the support I couldn't find here to conquer Dinosaur Planet. All of your days are numbered because once I return you'll all be the first to go. I will come back, there's no doubt about it. You're letting me go is the last mistake you'll ever make," said Scales angrily as a massive lightning bolt flew overhead followed by a ground trembling thundeclap. The dinosaurs all shook their heads in sorrow.
"This was a mistake, even now he couldn't repent for his actions. Load him into the pod and let's get this over with," said The King Earthwalker. Scales was forced into the pod and a course was put in. The forward hatch closed and the pod reared back and blasted off into the sky, zooming into the abyss of space.
"Goodbye General, may you find the peace in death that you failed to achieve in life," said Garunda Te as the processing headed inside. In space the pod zoomed upward before blasting off at lightspeed.
Aquas: The Red Wolf, trailing fire, smashed into the ocean's surface with a loud crash and began sinking quickly.
"Abandon ship!" shouted Pepper. A dozen escape hatches on the ship and Pepper slowly crawled out to the outside as he faced the clear sunny day. Above, explosions were seen as the two fleets kept battling each other. As the ship continued to sink, many lost the will to hang on and died, floating away never to be seen again except for Pepper who stubbornly continued to cling to the ship as it sank for hours until finally a shuttle finally appeared from above and hovered above the water near the ship.
"Finally, salvation," said Pepper with a smile. This smile immediately turned to horror as Andross emerged from the shuttle and stepped onto a small piece of metal above the water's surface as Pepper clung to an incline with half his body in the water.
"Hello old friend, it's good to see you face to face after so many years," said Andross with a feral grin. Pepper glared at him with what little strength he had left.
"You know, I'd like to thank you for what you did. You recruited practically everyone who opposed me and put them together in one place for me to dispose of. I am truly grateful," said Andross with mock appreciation. Pepper slowly drooped his hand down until he clasped onto a blaster he wore on his belt. He tiredly brought it up and aimed it at Andross who continued smiling.
"Why thank you old friend, a gift for old time's sake," said Andross. He reached down and plucked the gun from Pepper's numb and bloodied fingers as he desperately tried to summon up enough strength to pull the trigger. Andross checked the charge on the gun and aimed it at Pepper for a few moments before placing it on his own belt.
"I guess shooting you wouldn't properly show my gratitude. I'll let you live, but you'll live here, for as long as the ship and you stay afloat. Eventually you'll drown, but at least it's a nice day. Farwell little rodent because the Lylat System is once again under my control!" said Andross laughing heavily at Pepper who merely watched in desperation as Andross boarded his shuttle and blasted off leaving him alone.
"This can't be the end. Andross you haven't won yet, mark my words I will return!" said Pepper before he passed out and the wreckage sank below the surface of Aquas.
6 months later: A mysterious object zoomed into the Lylat System. It flew past Corneria and Katina and was passing by Solar when Solar's gravity managed to grab hold of it enough to fling it on a collision course with Venom.
Emperor's Mansion, Venomia City, Venom: Andross was sitting on his recliner sipping some lemonade as he watched the beautiful sunny day on his terra-formed planet, when he was interrupted by an aide. Andross scowled, but didn't bother to face him.
"I gave orders not to be interrupted under any circumstances!" he shouted. The aide cowered briefly before standing straight again.
"Yes sir, but at 0900 hours we detected a foreign object entering into the Lylat System. It proceeded to fly by Corneria and Katina before slinging around Solar. The movement caused it to slow down and at that moment we detected what can only be described as a message being broadcast from the ship as a possible reaction to it slowing down," said the aide. Andross immediately sat up, his interest piqued.
"A message?" he asked. The aide nodded.
"Of extraterrestrial origin and one that we can't readily translate. But that's not the bizarre part," said the aide. Andross sat up and faced him.
"What?" demanded Andross. The aide fidgeted for a few seconds before facing the Emperor.
"It's one of ours," he said finally.
"Explain,"
"Based on the sensor readings, the size, configuration, and composition of the pod indicate that it came from a D-7-12 cruiser," said the aide. Andross eyes went wide open.
"After all these years could it be possible…" he thought.
"Sir, should we destroy them as per Article 7-A?" asked the aide.
"No, no!" said Andross quickly holding up his hands. "This clearly is more complicated than it would ordinarily seem. Track the pod's course and inform me as to where it's going to crash on Venom. Now!"
The aide rushed off back into the mansion as Andross looked to the skies above. He then looked to his open gloved hand before closing into a fist.
"At long last the final threat to my power is finally within my grasp!" he thought with glee before laughing aloud.
Space: The heavily burned and scarred pod soared past Macbeth and it's large spaceyards pumping out large spacecruisers and all types of armaments. Ahead of the pod lay the massive planet Venom.
Venom: The aide ran back to Andross who was sitting at his massive desk who was pouring over various supply manifests while surrounded by several well armed guards. He was also designating personnel to be executed for incompetence and not being able to keep up with demand. Andross waved his hand for the aide to give his report as he kept working.
"Sir, we've determined the impact spot of the pod," said the aide as Andross kept working. "It's going to crash here."
Andross dropped his pencil onto the table and it rolled off and clattered to the floor.
"Here?" he asked pointing to his desk.
"Actually, over there," said the aide pointing out the massive bay window to an artificial pond built leading to the front doors.
"Is it going to bounce off the ground and smash into my mansion?" asked Andross.
"Sir, that isn't important! This pod is clearly a trap of some kind designed to take you out. We've located this threat early enough to evacuate you, sir you must leave!" shouted the aide. Andross breathed in and out very deeply and began trembling. He closed his eyes for a moment and then they shot open with rage.
"Don't you ever, ever tell me what is and is not important! Do you forget who I am! I am the Emperor of the Lylat System and so help me if you ever tell me what the right thing to do is I will have you executed! I understand your concern but it is none of your concern at all. This is a military matter now and does not concern you anymore. I'm giving you some time off so take a very long vacation. Is that understood?" asked Andross. The aide began trembling.
"Y-yes sir," the aide still shaking.
"Good no get out of here. This is a military matter that does not concern you," said Andross. The aide quickly ran from the room as fast as his legs could take him. Andross watched him go, sighed, and pressed a button on a nearby phone.
"Get me Hammer," he said simply.
Nighttime: A dozen APC's and various other troop transports were either on the ground or hovering above the ground with their lights on. Also, huge floodlights had been erected around the courtyard in front of Andross's palace that illuminated the whole area. On the ground were over a hundred troops doing various maneuvers and routines while the prepared for the pod to arrive while on the roof and balconies of Andross's mansion stood several snipers. Andross and Warlord Hammer were on the terrace consulting the security arrangements.
"Well that's that," said Andross when they were done. Hammer looked like he was going to say something but didn't.
"Go ahead, you may talk," said Andross waving his hand.
"Sir, I don't wish to go over old ground, but are you positive you're safe?" asked Hammer. Andross sighed.
"Yes I am. I had less security than this during the brief war with Pepper. Now don't bring it up again. I already blew up at my aide and I don't wish to do it again," said Andross. Hammer shrugged.
"It's your call," said Hammer unconvinced.
"If he had been anyone else I would've killed him," said Andross, but even he was no fool. Hammer had gathered most of the remaining military forces loyal to Andross and had performed countless attacks that won him the war.
"If Hammer hadn't helped me I would've lost, that's why I'm indebted to him. And even so, a little insolence from an old friend just shows that he cares for his Emperor," thought Andross and concluded that line of thought.
"Where's the Starfox team?" asked Hammer looking up at the nighttime sky.
"They're currently on patrol around Corneria while we try and clean up parts of that planet. I don't want to have to deal with any more resistance groups putting their bases on that planet and with more civilians there, they'll be less likely to. Besides, it would give me an excuse to erect a military base there along with a Copperhead Missile Site. That part of the Lylat System is too under defended in my opinion. Sure we've got a large military base on that planet but still…," said Andross. Hammer nodded in agreement.
"Yes I've also been disturbed by the lack of military presence in that portion of the system," said Hammer before an air raid siren went off. "Here it comes!"
Space: The pod blazed past the silent Umbra orbital defense platforms and collided with the atmosphere leaving a fiery streak behind it. It then smashed it's way through the clouds and emerged above Venomia City with it's lights twinkling and dozens of air carts moving past them and into the luscious green hilltops surrounding the city and towards a large mansion with lights surrounding it.
Mansion: The pod smashed into the pond flinging debris everywhere.
"Get down!" shouted Hammer as he tackled the Emperor along with several security guards as debris flew right over their heads. The pod then bounced off the ground and collided with the steps leading to Andross's mansion before coming to a smoking halt.
"Fire suppression crews go!" shouted Hammer. Several crews ran to the still smoking pod and doused it with water while Hammer and the agents helped Andross to his feet.
"Thank you gentlemen. Come Hammer," said Andross. They both walked to the pod and stood next to it as the smoke slowly died down.
"Careful sir it might still be dangerous," said a guard. As Andross prepared to approach the pod, a hissing sound was heard and the front part of the pod flew forward clattering against the door and coming to a rest. As the group peered inside a massive roar was heard and a large withered creature slowly staggered out of the pod and faced them. With a surprise burst of speed it grabbed Andross by his collar and hoisted him into the air until they were face to face. Dozens of guns zipped up to aim at the creature when Andross jerked out his hand.
"Stop!" he ordered. The soldiers held their guns but still remained nervous.
"Annnndrrrroooosssss?" it asked with a weak tone. Andross nodded surprised and the creature seemed to breath a sigh of relief before collapsing to its knees. Andross quickly freed himself and stood by the creature as it stood on the ground drinking in the air around it.
"Why have you come here? How do you know who I am?" asked Andross. The creature fell over on its side.
"I need you help," it said as if each word was painful to say. The creature had clearly not eaten in some time.
"To do what? Who are you?" demanded Andross hoisting the creature partially up.
"I am General Scales and I need your help to conquer Dinosaur Planet!" it said with some dignity before passing out. Andross looked to Hammer who just shrugged. Andross then turned to his guards.
"Take him inside, it seems fate has dealt us quite a strange hand," said Andross as he walked inside the mansion followed by the guards carrying General Scales.
Dinosaur Planet, 9 years later: Krystal flew on the back of Kyte as they bravely battled the storm that was all around them as they tried to locate the source of a distress signal she had picked up from space that originated from somewhere near here.
"According to the message I picked up, it said that General Scales had returned to Dinosaur Planet," said Krystal as she held on tightly to Kyte. The Cloudrunner laughed.
"That's not possible, we condemned him to space years ago, there's no way he could've returned, you heard wrong!" it shouted over the storm.
"Maybe. How far to Krazoa Palace?" Krystal asked.
"It's not far," said Kyte when a strange sound was heard above the roar of the storm. "What's that?" asked Krystal frightened.
"I don't know I've never heard it before," said Kyte nervous as well. Suddenly they were both buffeted by a blast of wind as an object zoomed right above their heads and disappeared into the clouds. Suddenly a second and a third object zoomed by as well causing massive wakes so much that Krystal nearly fell off Kyte. She stubbornly clung on for dear life as the sound immediately died.
"What was that? I don't know of any Cloudrunners that could do that!" exclaimed Kyte. Krystal immediately took out here staff and extended it.
"Be careful, we might need to get out of here in a hurry," said Krystal.
"I don't think I'd have much of a chance against those things…oh no!" shouted Kyte as the loud noise was heard. But this time it came from all around them and had no actual source.
"We're going to die!" shouted Kyte. Then from below them three metal objects took up flanking positions around them, one on each side and the third behind. Krystal observed their weaponry and cockpits with sudden realization.
"They're demons!" shouted Kyte.
"No they're starfighters. But where did they come from they're not from around here," she said confused. Then she saw a symbol on them that caused her to panic.
"That's on UVCAF symbol. What're they doing here? I wouldn't have thought they'd have advanced out this far!" she thought with fear.
"Attention unidentified creatures you are in restricted airspace! By order of the UVCAF forces you are to land immediately and be taken into custody. Failure to comply will result in immediate termination is that understood!" boomed a loud voice at them.
"We will never kneel to you!" shouted Krystal.
Starfox team: Leon, Andrew, and Fox all watched the dinosaur and female with bemusement on their faces.
"Wonder what she's yelling about," said Leon.
"Who cares?" asked Andrew. Fox sighed.
"Why do the cute ones always have to be so evil?" asked Fox laughing.
"It's a cruel twist of fate my friend. Remember, no affection on duty, or anywhere else for that matter," said Leon. Fox laughed.
"I hear ya. Broadcast the message again," said Fox sighing.
"Here goes. Attention unidentified creatures, by order of the UVCAF forces land now! This is your final warning!" said Leon.
Krystal heard the warning and instead of bothering to answer she aimed her staff with her right drenched trembling hand and fired at the fighter on her right. The energy blast hit the ship but merely bounced off of the ship's shield.
"Tell me she didn't just fire at me. Tell me that did not just happen!" said Fox with mock anger. A second blast flew out towards the left Arwing.
"Sorry buddy, but she just shot at me too," said Andrew. The cloudrunner and three Arwings continued blazing forward through the stormy sky as lightning bolts flew all around them. Another blast flew off at Leon's Arwing in the back.
"Now it's personal! Leon show this bitch how we do things back home!" said Fox with glee.
"She's all mine!" shouted Leon as he moved his right hand toward the trigger.
"Kyte, evasive maneuvers!" shouted Krystal. Kyte began making twists and turns and dives as laser blasts erupted all around it from the rear ship and lit up the sky around them. Krystal put up a shield around them with her staff, but the laser blasts were beginning to overwhelm it.
"Get us below the cloud cover!" she shouted. Kyte immediately soared down and into the clouds.
"I'll say one thing, she is resilient," said Fox watching the Cloudrunner vanish beneath the clouds.
"Yeah, but altogether not too bright. I've still got a lock on her," said Leon as the three Arwings continued flying above the clouds.
"Is she at least taking evasive maneuvers?" asked Fox bemused.
"No, she's still flying in a direct path to wherever she's going," said Leon. Fox snorted.
"Amateur," he said.
"Should I fire a bomb at her?" asked Leon. Fox was about to answer him when a large shadow crossed over them and their comm's crackled to life.
"Negative, I will deal with her myself," said a voice. Fox took his comm. receiver and held it up.
"General are you sure that's wise? She's clearly a rebellious creature and they need to be put down now while they still can," said Fox. Behind the Arwings a massive flying boat with a Lizard's head on the front soared in formation.
"She is of no concern. She'll come aboard my ship and then I'll kill her," said Scales.
"It's your call. Starfox Team pull out!" shouted Fox. The three Arwings spun up and away from the ship as it accelerated forward.
Krystal heard the whine go away and patted Kyte to go upward. The Cloudrunner burst above the clouds and soared through the night sky with the flying galleon directly ahead of them.
"What is that? How does it soar above the clouds like that?" asked Kyte.
"I don't know. Quick, go in for a closer look," Krystal said. The cloudrunner blazed on and was soon directly next to the flying boat. Looking over the deck, she saw nothing on board but large crates.
"I'm going aboard," she said after a few more moment's observation.
"Be careful," said Kyte. Krystal stood up and leapt off the Cloudrunner onto the deck. She swung her staff around expecting enemies to pour out of the ship but none came. Krystal slowly crept from box to box but still no one appeared. Finally Krystal decided to pry open a crate and see what was in it. To her shock, inside the crates were advanced laser guns, incendiaries, heavy cannons, and plenty of other military technology, some of which she didn't recognize. But the one thing that made her angriest, and somewhat afraid, was the fact that each device proudly bore the United Venomian Cornerian Attack Force seal. Krystal slammed her fist against the weaponry in anger.
"Come now," said a voice from behind her. "I paid a good price for that weaponry and I don't want them damaged."
Krystal whipped around to find herself facing the largest creature she had ever seen. Lightning struck overhead and illuminated the creature's evil face. Krystal held her staff in a defensive position.
"Welcome to my humble abode. Do you like it? It was a gift from my old friend King K. Rool and when fitted with a state of the art UVCAF antigravity device it floats like a dream. But where are my manners? My name is General Scales," said Scales with a smile. Krystal took a step back and swung her staff in a defensive manner.
"I've heard of you. The dinosaurs say you led over 2,000 of them to their deaths when you tried to usurp the thrown," said Krystal still wary of the general. Scales sighed and leaned against the railing of the ship looking out at the storm.
"Is that what they say? Well they're wrong. Did 2,000 die? Ultimately yes. But they died of their own free will because I showed them the truth!" said Scales.
"What truth?" asked Krystal with a snort. Scales turned to face her.
"The truth that the leading dinosaurs have mined this planet to the point of exhaustion. This planet is going to die unless I take over and the people must know. I'm not evil, I'm just misunderstood," said Scales sympathetically. Krystal could almost have believed the general, but his powers of persuasion were no match for her magical abilities. If Scales was allied with the UVCAF then there was no chance he was ever out to do good. She swung her staff around once more.
"I'm sorry general, but you'll have to do better than that. You're allied with the UVCAF and they're not good at all nor will ever be," said Krystal. Scales crossed his arms and sat against the railing, facing her.
"Why do you hate the UVCAF?" he asked simply. Krystal's eyes turned to anger.
"Not that it's any of your business, but they secretly incited rebellion on my home planet of Cerinia and then their fleets showed up later only to blast it into oblivion because they deemed it 'unmanageable'. They murdered everyone I've ever known and I vow to have revenge on them all," she said, her fists trembling with anger. Scales nodded.
"I'm sorry," he said simply. Krystal stared at him with anger and confusion.
"I don't need your pity," she said simply. Scales uncrossed his arms and stood up to full height and laughed briefly.
"No, I'm not sorry for that, I'm just sorry that I'm going to have to kill you!" said Scales. He immediately flung his left hand forward and picked up Krystal by her throat as she helpless banged her staff against Scales who didn't fell the blows at all. Scales stepped over to the railing and dangled her over the side.
"Say hello to your family for me in the pits of hell," said Scales. He then flung her over the side and wiped his hands to be rid of her. Then to his surprise Krystal appeared again, riding the Cloudrunner.
"I don't think I'll be telling them anything for a long time to come!" she shouted. Krystal was about to tell Kyte to fly off when she screamed in pain and terror as laser blasts flew out of nowhere and sliced through Kyte killing him and they both plummeted to the ground far below. Out of nowhere and Arwing burst by and titled on vertically and slipped between the sails and met up with two other Arwings and they flew off in tandem into the night sky. Scales watched them go before looking over the side at the clump of bodies plummeting towards the surface.
"Actually, I think you will be telling them after all," he said.
"Nice shooting Leon," said Fox as the Arwings soared off into the night sky. Leon shrugged in his ship.
"What can I say, I'm the best," he said with a smile. The Arwings then zipped off out of the planet and entered orbit.
"It's a nice planet, I think we'll take it," said Fox looking down at it.
"And so we shall boys, and so we shall. Soon now, very soon now," said Andross as a massive Saruzin cruiser appeared above them. The three fighters entered into it and it blasted off into warp back towards the Lylat System.