Chapter 1: Where it all began
The darkness of space had both a chilling and comforting scene as millions of stars filled up nearly every corner of the never-ending universe. As the awe-striking scene continues unabated, a massive fleet cruises through space with the Cerinia military livery painted on the exterior of the ships. The lead ship, a high-speed cruiser, was leading the fleet as countless Arwing-class fighters flew in divisions, all in the V formation. Flanking left were dreadnought ships armed with TXN-21 Plasma cannons and three anti-aircraft guns, two on the rear and one on the front. On the right flank were heavy cruisers armed with proto-plasma batteries and aircraft carriers with capacities averaging 20 fighters and shuttles and armed with anti-aircraft guns positioned at the front and rear.
On the bridge of the lead ship, named Cerinia, two flight officers were in control of the ship's mobility and defense controls. A vulpine with reddish-brown fur was wearing the standard black military uniform designated for generals and high ranking commanders, the shoulders of his uniform had three gold bars, the insignia for commanders.
On his right side stood a blue-furred vulpine wearing a special designed sleeveless T-shirt, a pair of military pants with black kneecaps, a light-metal cuff covering half of his left fore-arm and a staff at his back, complete with black military trekking shoes. The two were standing behind the flight officers as they checked for reports from a scout fighters sent in to check the situation at the Omega-2 space station, their destination.
"We've got the report" one of the officers said "The private military of the Carusos have made a defensive wall. Station's well defended with multiple anti-aircraft guns and a heavy battery"
The blue vulpine released a sigh as he looked at Fox "Do you think we can handle it?"
The brown vulpine looked down. "I hope so. She waited for rescue for four long years..."
4 year ago
"What the..."
"Oh... my... goodness..."
"No..."
"But how..."
"Aparoid City sure. But this..."
The scene could not be described by words alone. Corneria City, the once dominant capital of Lylat System, had been reduced to a wasteland. Buildings collapsed to the ground while others were burning or had taken heavy damage from the invasion of the Aparoid. The streets were littered with corpses of infected soldiers, civilians and military personnel while tanks and vehicles burned from being hit by missiles or gunfire hitting the gas tanks. The icon of Corneria, its prized Tower of Unity, lay in ruins as it slowly burned to the brink of collapse due to extensive damage while the once busy Corneria Space port at the heart of the city has become an outdoor morgue, bodies covered in cloth lay in state as military soldiers placed more corpses in the now cramped space.
The team was in a state of total shock. The remaining Aparoid had further attacked the planet after they have left for the orbital gate, leaving the Corneria Military and Corneria Defense Force to fend off the enemy. The surprise attack had decimated both military forces; 90% of all their men and vehicles lost, civilian losses rose sharply by the millions, and the further loss of the capital. More than 80% of Corneria's population was wiped out while the capital suffered civilian losses above 95%, paring to genocide.
The dark clouds and heavy rain had only made the desolate scene like something only seen in post-war movie scenes; Millions of Cornerians killed, losses reaching billions of credits, the economy left in a desolate state and many more survivors remained homeless or dying in the streets, wounded from the attack. Overwhelming the already weakened military, and, by a miracle, the two largest hospitals of the city stand largely intact, receiving minor damage due to the focused defense.
"This can't be Corneria. Last time we left it was still in better shape" Fox commented as he looked at the side of his cockpit window
As they flew above the destroyed capital, a grim sight that will haunt them for the rest of their lives. The tower had finally buckled after fires finally weakened the reinforced steel supporting columns, collapsing almost vertically as a fountain-like debris cloud followed immediately after the start of the collapse.
Krystal started to sense the shouts of fear on the streets as people frantically ran away from the collapsing building as the tower buckled floor after floor. In seconds, she had lost the senses as the tower finally rested in heaps of rubble. The dust cloud had spread to a good number of city blocks as they all looked down onto their feet, guilt and pain soon overwhelming their emotions. The capital has now been brought to its knees. And all sense of hope seem bleak in this very dark moment for the system.
Nothing could compensate for the destruction that brought the mighty city down. Nearly all city blocks were leveled or ruins of buildings remained, smoke rising from all parts of the city.
But their situation had taken its worst toll yet. As they flew towards the heart of the Corneria government, their hearts sank almost immediately to the sight. The Military base had been reduced to ruins, leaving a part of the base virtually intact. The presidential residence had also been reduced to rubble, no area of the residence was standing.
"It's... it's hopeless!" Fox finally said "There's nothing left in Corneria than ruins and two surviving hospitals. The base is also in ruins and probably no hope in reaching high command"
"I couldn't get anything from the ruins. No senses. Nothing" Krystal added "I fear that general Pepper may not have escaped the invasion. There's no sign of his ship or any generals around"
Fox started to rub his temple. "Um... I'll take a closer look. Hopefully someone survived this. Krystal, you're with me. The rest, try to help any survivors you see"
He gently pushed the stick down as his fighter descended to the ground. His altimeter was telling him he's above 50 feet as he pulled down the throttles and decreasing speed, just enough to activate his diffusers and further slow down. Looking out, he could see a clearing to land just a few meters away from the base. Banking right, he started descending before lowering his landing skids. At around 10 feet, he powered down his engines and made a smooth landing as he heard the distinct shock absorbers taking the weight. On his left, he saw Krystal's Arwing land smoothly on charred rubble not too far from his position...
The mangled ruins of the once might military headquarters lay in state as the heavy rain slowly extinguished the flames. You couldn't imagine what monster would do such a thing; bodies lay on the ground, most were soldiers killed by defending the building, recognizable by their armor and service rifle, while others were civilians taking refuge from the surprise attack, thinking it was a safe haven. Wreckage of trucks carrying soldiers and civilians scatter the lot, most had burned to the point that their chassis was the last surviving piece while debris scatter over a wide area. Blood from the corpses had left trails on the pavement, all leading to puddles of mixed rain and blood.
Splashing sounds were a bit audible as Fox stepped onto a blood puddle, tainting his black and red boots blood red. The vulpine was now soaked, his flight suit offering the only protection against the rain, keeping his body dry but his head wet. His ears drooped as he saw the corpses and destroyed trucks in front, the sight instantly demoralizing him. Krystal was close to his side, having the same reaction as to Fox. Both were looking at each other, seeing the guilt and sorrow through their eyes.
He started to walk slowly as the heavy rain intensified further, as if those souls started to cry on the vulpine. Everywhere around him were corpses of soldiers and civilians young and old, blood trails ended up under the bodies. He was clenching his fists while gritting his teeth in agony and guilt, he failed to defend his own homeplanet, his own people, his own city. Seeing his face, it was clear that he was fighting tears as he walked past all those corpses laying on the cold, hard pavement.
Reaching the entrance, or whats left of it anyway, he heard something faint, almost whimpering, in the midst of the rubble. He immediately headed for the source as Krystal followed behind, hoping for some good news. As they entered the lobby, the only thing that they saw was the opposite of what they'd hope for
General Pepper was leaning on a column, blood flowing out from wounds. He was having trouble breathing as he clenched his hand on the grip of his assault pistol, pain overwhelming his senses.
"General! General Pepper!" Fox said as he ran towards the side of the severely wounded canine "General, can you hear me?"
"Fox..." He muttered before coughing up blood "They were... too strong..."
"General, stay with me." He turned around and looked at Krystal "Call Peppy. We need to bring him out of here"
With a bloodied hand, Pepper grabbed his vest and pulled him close. "No Fox. I won't make it..."
"General Pepper, you can't... you can't go yet!"
"It's alright Fox." He placed both of his hands to his shoulders "You made me proud... very proud Fox"
"General..."
"I have one more request Fox" He softly said as his voice faded further. "When Corneria recovers from this, tell Peppy that he will be my successor. Promise me that you'll tell him"
"I... I promise general"
He could feel his grip loosen as the canine leaned back onto the column before his hands fell to the ground, lifeless.
He immediately started shaking him. Calling out his name several times, trying to wake him up. But his effort ended in vain as he looked down on the floor.
He sighed as a stray tear fell from his eye. "Damn it... damn it..."
I would like to thank my friend Luke Takamen on his help on this and my other chapters.
Along with SkullFox for his letting me use his OC's Amelia and Voss.
And General Whitefur for the inspiration to write the fic.
