This is just an idea I had for a "Rewrite" for the series, this being the beginning. I wish I could make a cartoon show, but the chances are slim. Anyways, this is my idea for what the first chapter/episode which would be involving James McCloud (Fox's father) and his demise: " No Matter The Cost." Please enjoy and I appreciate all who take their time to read this. Thank you.

No Matter The Cost

Surrounding the upper atmosphere of Venom, the battle between the two armadas raged. Thousands of ships fired constantly, one explosion after another. General Pepper could see it, even far out in space, away from the battle. His cluster of ships were the best the Cornerian Fleet had to offer, and he was about to enter the greatest battle in the history of the galaxy.

"Sir, battle systems are 100%. Shields are at 100%. All fighters ready for launch. All ships, state your status." The Second in Command, Zeed, commanded. All the ships Captains responded with. "Affirmative. Awaiting the command to engage." Pepper nodded his head.

"All ships, engage." And all the ships moved toward the fray like giant fists of steel. Pepper pressed the transmission on his collar. "Men, this is a battle which we cannot lose. Whatever Andross is defending, it could mean the end of the war…the end of us and the way we live…all that we LIVE for." The ships were nearing the battle, close to firing distance.

"This is where the fate of Lylat is decided…here, on this very day, and I assure you, we will beat these power thirsty mongrels!" Zeed ordered the lock on to the nearest enemy ship.

"We will stop Andross…no matter the odds, no matter the weapon…and no matter the cost! Now show them what your made of!" All cheered on the COMs, and as they did, Pepper's ship fired the first shot. His fleet smashed through a wave of Venom cruisers, juggernauting their way into the middle of the battle. The fighters sprayed out of the hanger like thousands of angry wasps, keeping all the enemy bombers at bay.

"All new ships, this is Beeger, captain of the "Silver Lance". We are hitting heavy resistance just above the atmosphere. We need support fast!" General Pepper gave Zeed a glance, giving the order without words. Zeed gave the command. "All ships, back up the Silver Lance with everything you got!"

The pulled forth, slamming their way through the enemies' petty excuses for Cruisers…at least in comparison to Peppers ship "Looming Shadow" which she did so to all who she be above. As they dug deeper into the crowd of ships, they saw a huge silver ship below. "There she is, General!"

Just as he reported her position, a beam of light arose from the planet, slamming into the Silver Lance's shields with such tremendous force, its slightly moved the ship. The beam remained consistent, depleting the ships shields rapidly .

"Silver Lance, this is the Looming Shadow. We will cut off the fire for your retreat. When we do, divert all weapon systems energy to your engines and fall back!" Pepper was not too concerned about his move. The Looming Shadow had the second best shielding in the galaxy. If only THAT ship were here…if only THEY were here.

The Looming Shadow zoomed in front of the beam, and the Silver Lance immediately began to pull out. "How long can we take it?" Pepper barked

"Can't say more than a minute, sir!" Zeed replied with surprise. Pepper promised himself that he wouldn't lose a single ship without losing his own first…and it was about to come to that. It was too soon. He took of his hat and looked across the deck. "I am sorry men. We have…" the ceasing of the beam interrupted.

"Why did they…" Zeed asked incompletely.

"Whatever the weapon is, it requires a lot of power to fire it. They must be waiting for it to recharge!" and if the ship were to take another blast, they would be turned into space dust.

"All ships, center all fire on the blockade ahead! If we don't stop that weapon soon, the war is lost!" His entire fleet opened fire on the blockade hexagon stations, barely depleting the shields…not fast enough. One of the Captains barked over the COMs "If this keeps up, we'll all be…"

A voice full of zeal and integrity interrupted the captain. "Got room for one more ship?" Pepper straightened and gazed at the holo-map of the battle sector, and saw a small ship closing in at such speed, there was no doubt it was the ship with the greatest shielding in the galaxy…and aboard her, THEM.

"James!" Pepper scoffed "Late, just as you were in the old days!"

"You know me well, buddy." James McClouded grinned, adjusting his aviator glasses. "Now tell your boys to make a hole and to fire with everything they got. We'll blast our way through. " Peppy, James' second pilot and best friend, spoke in as well. "Once we do, concentrate on the blockade. We will take care of whatever is down there!"

Peppy instantly put on his hat and barked the orders. The tide had turned, and they had a greater chance to pull through this alive.

The Great Fox dodged her way through the great battle and the three Arwings shot out in front of her. "Ready, guys?"

Peppy nodded "Ready as I'll ever be."

Pigma snorted with a laugh "Time to have some fun!"

"Have hailstorm missiles equipped. Rob, on my command…" Rob, the best robot they could get a hold of, was flying the Great Fox, ready to fire her main cannons…two deadly reasons not to take Starfox for pushovers .

"Fire!" James shouted.

The cannons fired 5 shots of doom upon the blockade, as the Arwings released a barrage of scattering missiles. The last shot from the Great Fox devastated the dreadnought's shields, making the Cornerian Fleet's job significantly easier. Within 5 seconds, a gap was made in the enemy's massive defenses. The Great Fox pulled off to join in the battle with the rest of the fleet as James and his team made their way into the high atmosphere of Venom. Pepper saluted "Good luck, Starfox."

No fighters slowed them down, and it made sense considering the battle above. Every couple of second, debris came crashing down, keeping the team on full concentration. They weren't far now. Soon this would all be over, and James was intent on seeing to it that Andross would be extinguished from existence.

(meanwhile, on the weapon sight on Venom) Andross growled "Hurry up and get it to fire again! The power will not cause an atomic reaction unless interrupted by another type of energy!" The ancient technology with power of this magnitude was not impossible to use as the Cornerian scientists thought. Only one Cornerian ship posed as a small threat, and it managed to put itself in the perfect spot for the weapon to hit it.

One of his pawns shook his head radically "Yes, sir…I mean, my lord!" and dashed his fingers across the operation pad.

"Lord Andross, they tore a hole through our defense!" Another shouted from the top of the temple around the weapon. Andross yelled with fury "Defensive Cannons…NOW!" He could sense the three pilots coming in. Two had minds of a typical hero, who are fools in reality…but one had a cloud of darkness within him…a hunger for money and weaponry. It was time to give his new ability a test.

They weren't far now. Within two minutes , the squad of Arwings would blast the base. James gave and order to put 25% shield energy to the hailstorm missiles. As Pigma started to, he heard a voice in his head…a dark, but luring voice. "Pigma, you chose to join him because of the pay and the weaponry. I can assure you it will not last for long." Pigma shook his head. Gold popped in his head…tons of it, as well as weapon installments of the greatest design. "All of it can be yours…and you can sense in my words that I tell the truth. Shoot them…shoot them down, and I will guarantee you will be able to leave the planet unscathed and your fortune full of fame. Choose now…or lose everything." The voice faded, and Pigma was sweating. He could see the gold…he could FEEL the gold. All he had to do was earn it.

"One minute and thirty second until target…we'll be back in time for dinner, boys!"

Pigma chuckled "…at least I will, anyway." James thought it was a joke and began to scoff until Pigma opened fire, and the hailstorm missiles deprived their shields relentlessly. Just as James was about to maneuver, a missile clipped his wing, making control nearly impossible. Pigma then locked onto Peppy quickly, and managed to damage Peppys left engine just before running out of missiles. He quickly pulled up into the sky without a word.

"He betrayed us! We'll get him…" James interrupted Peppy. "Get out of here, Peppy. You have enough control and power to make it back."

Peppy's eye widened. "No, best friends don't leave each other behind. You said this yourself."

"Then I lied! Pull away, Peppy. I'll take out the weapon…I'll end this alone."

"James, Im not going anywhere. I…"

"Peppy!" James shouted. There was a slight pause.

"…I need you to take care of my son. I want you to tell him that I did this for him and his mother…tell him to fly free…and that I will always be flying next to him." Peppy looked out of his cockpit into McClouds, and they looked at one another one last time.

"Will you do that, buddy?" James smiled. Peppy nodded "I will James…I promise." Then Peppy pulled up hearing the last words of his friend."Thank you, friend…now fly on."

James put all the power left to the engines. Keeping control of the Arwing at this speed seemed impossible, even to him, but he had to…he "will".

Andross sensed it. They had failed, and only one option remained. He uploaded the data of the research they had been conducting onto a chip and ran into the temple. He was not as angry as much as he thought he would be, because he knew he would live to reek havoc another day.

James pulled out a picture of his son from his vest pocket. Fox was 5, sitting down playing with a ball half his size. James smiled before a sudden turbulent forced his full attention, dropping the picture. He stabilized, and slowly adjusted his aviator glasses. "Piece of cake, right?"

Going at such a great speed, the defense turrets had no chance to stop him in time. He saw the huge tower of a weapon grow as he aimed his arwing at the power core, bottom of the tower. For a second in his life, he felt truly invincible, and closed his eyes to see his wife waiting for him on the other side.

General Pepper saw an explosion on the surface…a bright green wave spread across the planet. As it did, all the venom ships began to retreat. Many Cornerian voices shouted over the COMs with cheer and joy. Some started chanting "Starfox! Starfox! Starfox!". Pepper couldn't wait to congratulate everyone…most of all, James. He waited to see all three Arwings rise from the planet, but only one appeared. Pepper didn't need to think to know…James was no more. He slowly took of his hat and bowed his head. "Brave warriors of the Cornerian Fleets. We have won the war…" Pepper paused with his disbelief of James being lost. "…and we have lost many in doing so…warriors who had families and friends. We will live on and descend justice upon the remnants of the Venom Fleets. To those living and those who have passed to the other side, we SALUTE!" and all of them did.

Peppy thought out loud, hoping James could hear him. "You did it, buddy. You saved the galaxy." But in the back of his mind popped an uncomfortable two words …'for now'. He ignored it, and thought of his promise…what he would tell James' only son…Fox McCloud.