Chapter One
"The Kral Commodore of Uno approaches!"
From within the great gathering room came a most fervent round of applause. Thousands of delegates from across the galaxy rose from their seats in anticipation of the final proponent of a notion no one had witnessed in a long time: peace. Peace for the entire galaxy, not just the regions of the Lovelevo System so familiar to her people, the Unonians, the main opponents in the "war" for "tranquility."
"Do you foresee any other option, m'lady?"
Flanked by two vulpine guards as they continued to walk down a long hallway, the kral commodore shook her head defiantly at the fox on her left. Her armored red, white, and black dress was a sharp contrast to her blue fur and long, dark blue hair. She blinked her large eyes. "We all know there are two groups gathering an alliance within our galaxy: those who have sided with us, and those who have pledged their support to the Venomanian cause."
"But the Venomanians," a Yang-Tzusian remarked, his small muzzle effortlessly forming syllables, "they seem so… terrifying. Ape-like. The lesser of the homo sapiens we've come to familiarize with." He paused as his large triangular ears moved backward. "Their gene structure is imbalanced. It's as if the Almighty lost the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, then sketched in the rest."
"God doesn't play games," the vixen snapped.
"Of course, m'lady," the Yang-Tzusian replied. "Forgive me. I'm just concerned. Remember, our race is only getting used to these emotions… so unpredictable they are."
"Let me put it this way," she began as she rested her blue-furred arm on the shoulder of the furless, white-skinned creature, "I'm nearly eighty three years old. Yet I appear as if I'm a vixen of twenty. I've buried two husbands, traveled from one edge of this galaxy to the other, and fought nearly every creature ever known – from the enormous and the ungodly to the microscopic." She paused. "Your race is superior in intelligence. But for once, have faith in something!"
"I concur," the Yang-Tzusian muttered.
As the party walked on, the sounds of applause grew louder and louder. The vixen's strides increased in anticipation, though her face managed to mask any sign of excitement. When she reached the great gathering room, she nearly gasped. The circular space grew as her gaze lifted, forming the seats of the most important delegates from across the galaxy, with the ones situated closer to the center the most important. Remembering her skirmishes with the Careinians, she smiled once she spotted their place high above the others, far in the background. Vassal States to the Unonians ought to have their desks moved outside of the confines, she thought with a slight laugh.
The masses erupted into cheers and shouts once she stepped up to the main platform, situated directly in the center of the great gathering room. Perhaps from the Careinian's perspective the galaxy trickles down directly to us.
"Selvala McEvo, the Kral Commodore of Uno and Grand Marshallese of the Union of Free States! Accompanying m'lady is the Ler Commodore of Uno, Vevano McElso and the Chief Intelligence Operative of Yang-Tzu, Isos-5432!"
Roars of appreciation poured from the expansive chamber like water filling the small basin where she stood. The Grand Master, the person who would replace her if ever she was killed, stood and joined the congregation as well. Finally, she gave a quick smile as she gently moved her metal hand in appreciation.
"Thank you, thank you," the thin vixen bubbled. "I've fought longer than most of your lives for a moment such as this. When I was a little girl, I wanted to free my people. When I was betrayed by a horrible man, I realized my goals should extend to those who suffer everywhere, not just Unonians." She paused. "I changed that day. Changed to the point where I believe I truly morphed from a hotheaded vixen to a tried and true leader. A vixen capable of stifling hatred and annihilating oppression. Long battles and fierce resistance ensured, but through all the terror and hardships have emerged this day – a day where our enemies shall finally sit at our table and eat the scraps they deserve instead of the meals they've stolen."
Isos stepped forward. "A bio-weapon, approved by the Unonian king, is also underway in case they fall back on their word."
Although alarmed at the report, the kral commodore decided not to question the ulterior counter. "Twenty years I lived imprisoned by my own will. But my true freedom shall come when this entire galaxy is wrapped in love and enveloped in utter concern for each other. We shall refer to everyone as brother and sister. That's not to say justice will be withheld where it is deemed necessary, however."
"Ah, excellent speech, McEvo."
Everyone turned to view a massive specimen entering from the main hallway. His plated armor was crude yet effective – it covered his muscular frame, though his cape further padded his body. A thick, white beard extended from his puffy lips, which grinned comically.
"Emperor Andross," Selvala addressed without a hint of alarm as Venomanian soldiers followed behind their leader. "I take it you wish to sign this peace accord personally? And in front of the delegation? Such a bold effort, my contemporary. Bold effort indeed."
"Enough talk!" the ape barked. "I will restore peace! Your people can't win! Not against my might!"
With a smirk, Selvala sashayed over to the burly ape despite the protests of the two men on her left and right. "You don't scare me. I've fought better men before you were even at your mother's tit! Just ask our oldest vassal state – Pryok! People still whisper about our last battle with those Careinians like it is something brought about by the Almighty himself! We obliterated evil! And you dare encroach on me? Right now? With the size of the amount of forces I control? Perhaps you are as twisted as you advertise."
"You were a bitch then, you're even more of a bitch now."
Suddenly, Selvala drew a gun from a holster against her dress. As it cocked, it was greeted by the sights of at least one hundred other guns readying for fire. "If I have to be killed to ensure peace, then so be it. You don't scare me."
Emperor Andross chuckled as the delegation began to flee from the room. "Poor little girl. You think one little shot is going to kill me? Fox McCloud was as good of a fighter as you – and even he couldn't kill me!"
Selvala dropped her jaw. "Fox? Fox McCloud?"
"Your supposed Unonian hero. Some hero! And who is this Bronson McRasko I've heard of, the man who is supposedly the vilest creature to walk in this galaxy? Do you think I measure up to him?"
"If it's a war you want, you won't find it in me. I am the voice of the people I promised to protect. Say what you want, but you won't touch them so long as I am alive!"
"Is that so?" the emperor muttered, stroking his beard. "Then what other choice do you leave me?" He grinned. "Goodbye, Selvala."
As he was about to fire off his gun, Selvala drilled five shots into his chest. To her amazement, they seemed to bounce off him like rubber. When she moved her arms closer to her body, her ears bent back as she glanced up at the Careinian sitting high in the background of the great gathering room. His head seemed to be nodding.
"I… will never allow my people to bow to you, Andross."
He chuckled. "Down girl!" As a shot rang out in the large room, the thin vixen collapsed to the ground.