Narrator: On the furthest reaches of space near the edges, lay a few desolate planets said to be uninhabitable. People tend to stay away from these for many reasons, for those who drift towards these worlds disappear. For nearly three decades one planet was avoided, Until now.

All was quiet in the Lylat system as space drifted onward. Peace reigned through the galaxy as a large vessel passed by the nearby planet of Aquas. The large vessel was a grey color with four wings on either side and three large engines in behind. As a nearby sun poked out from behind a neighboring moon shined a light revealing a logo depicting a fox with a wing on it, which sat near the tail fin of the ship. Near the front of the ship a large door opened as a small fighter exited outward. As the two passed by the neighboring planet the smaller craft reminiscent of a single maned fighter. The pilot appeared to be a red fox wearing a grey jacket. He flew silently for a few minutes when a small beeping noise emanated from the plane. the pilot moved a hand towards his com control as an image of a dog appeared he was wearing a formal military suit with medals across the right side of his chest.

He stared for a few seconds and said "General Pepper what seems to be the trouble?" The General looked at the pilot making sure he was talking to him alone and said "Fox I have an urgent matter, I need you and the team of the great fox to escort a research ship home."

Fox seemed rather interested and asked "Are they under attack?" The General took a second and said "No no, but they have requested some additional help with the protection of their ship as they make this trek home." Fox grew concerned as he laid back in his chair, The General added "I assure you that this is a simple escort mission." Fox scratched his chin and after a few seconds He said "We will take the mission, send Rob the info and we will begin to head out." the General nodded and with an uplifted tone said "I will have everything forwarded to you." the transmission was then ended as fox was left alone in the silence of space he waited a few minutes as he began to punch a few buttons. He began to hear a metallic voice over the comms on his ship "Fox we have received the intel from General Pepper." Fox began to turn his ship around and began heading back to the great fox as he said "Rob, have everyone meet me in the Briefing room." the com went silent as Fox sped to the hangar bay doors.

Fox landed in the hanger bay as a rotund looking rabbit with grey hare walked in. He stood at the top of the steps leading out of the hanger with a somewhat concerned look upon his face. Fox hoped out of his ship and hurried up the steps, as he headed up the hare said aloud "Fox…..What's the mission." Fox placed a hand on his friend's shoulder as he reached the landing at the top of the stairs he looked him in the eye and said "Peppy I will explain once we get to the briefing room." The two began to head down a long well lit hall until they found a set of large doors with the name briefing room above. As they neared the doors Peppy reached out and grabbed Fox's arm turning him around. Fox seemed rather confused as he looked at Peppy who seemed rather worried. Peppy raised a hand to scratch the patch of hair on his chin, Fox looked at his friend and asked "What is the matter Peppy?" Peppy looked up slightly at Fox and replied "I'm not too sure about this mission." Fox looked at Peppy and said "We haven't even heard the details yet If it's too dangerous we can always pass it off to the General, But he did say it was a simple escort mission." Peppy took a deep breath of assurance and said "OK let's not keep everyone waiting." The two then turned and headed inside.

The briefing room was a large room with a table in the middle of a set of small stairs leading down slightly. In the middle of the table was a large cylindrical disc that worked as a display node. Near the head of the table stood a droid with the letters R.O.B printed on its chest. Fox quickly scanned the room to find a large toad and a blue falcon both wearing the similar uniforms sitting at the table. Fox moved in more to find a blue fox who sat near the head of the table. Peppy moved in to sit between the bird and the toad as Fox moved to sit at the front. Rob waited till everyone sat down, as he moved his hand the lights dimmed and the node began to light up. As the lights spinned an image of a planet began to take shape. The falcon took one look at the planet and in a somewhat frightened tone he uttered

"Is that A6 454" Rob turned slightly and replied "Falco that is correct, Our mission is to escort the science cruiser Distant Horizon."

Falco's unease was evident as he shifted in his toad began to energetically jump in his seat while exclaiming "Fox is this the mission!" Peppy turned sharply looking at the toad with an air of authority "Calm down Slippy." Fox raised his hand and said "the mission is to escort the Horizon back to the lylat system, they are under orders not to go onto the plant nor have they reported that they have. Fox turned to the vixen to met her gaze to see that she was in deep thought, he placed a hand on the her shoulder. The vixen looked up and suggested

"Lets go and survey the situation, If things are too risky we abort." Fox nodded and said "I agree Krystal."

Fox turned to the crew and said "Anyone have any objections to the mission." Slippy sharply flung his hand up and said "Can we stay on the ship?" Peppy turned to Slippy and said "Its an escort mission we don't have to go onboard." Fox rose from his seat and in a commanding tone said "Ok Rob set the course for A6 454 Everyone else get to your stations, Dismissed."

Rob watched as the team began to funnel out of the room. One by one as the left he noticed that Falco was uncharacteristically unsettled by the news, and Slippy was sweating uncontrollably for at the mention of the planet terrified him. Rob moved to the door as Fox and Krystal stayed behind. Fox waited for everyone to leave as he stood at the head of the table. He placed both his hand on the table to support his weight as he stared down at the mission briefing on the table. Krystal rose from her chair, brushing her hair to one side she moved closer to Fox placing a hand on his shoulder. She closed her eyes to briefly see into his mind as the two stood silent for a moment alone in the briefing room. Krystal opened her eyes and said "Fox are you unsure about this mission?" Fox stood up straight turning to look her in the eyes, he knew that he could not fool her as he said "Something feels off about this mission." He turned his head to the side oly to be met by the warmth of krystal's hand. As she brushed his check he turned his attention back to her, as she said "We have been in tougher situations, this is no different." Fox closed his eyes and said "Your right."

Falco continued to wander the halls of the great fox as he made his way to the bridge. The bridge had 5 chairs all facing a large glass window at the front. Each chair was stationed at a computer terminal for specific tasks on board. He quickly noticed Rob at the main console in the middle of the room. He fixed his jacket and turned to leave when Rob quickly said "I detect that you are unnerved by this mission." Falco turned his attention back to rob to see that he was gesturing him to enter. Falgo walked in slowly still thinking about the mission as if it had been a weight placed on him. Falco reached out grabbing the nearest chair as he pulled it closer to Rob and proceeded to sit down. Rob kept his eye on the console and reiterated

"This mission seems to have you unnerved…...why?" Falco brushed his beak with his hand and said "Rob it's not the mission…. its the planet." Rob stopped typing at the controls for a moment and tilted his head to look at Falco. He noticed that falco knew something about the planet but seemed rather unsure. Rob quickly pressed a button which slammed the door shut as he asked "Falco are you experiencing fear, or is this simply gitters."

Falco looked at Rob and with a a quick breath of relief and said "I've only heard the rumors about this planet, where people vanish without a trace." Falco stood up and began to vent "This place we are going to is considered to be worse than Andross." Rob kept his eye on Falco as he paced the room, raising a hand as if trying to calm him down. Falco stood still and shivered as if a cold chill ran down his spine, Rob rose up from his seat and said "The mission Is to only escort the ship not land and survey." Falco turned to Rob and replied "I know the mission im just not, i'm just cautious about where it is." Rob nodded and said "agreed but they are within violation rights, but that is for the General to decide." Falco headed for the door, as he raised a hand to the console he froze turning to Rob and said "Thank you for hearing me out, But lets keep this from the others." Rob replied with "Agreed" Falco let out a smile and headed out with the doors closing behind him. Rob sat on the bridge and punched in the coordinates into the computer while running system maintenance. He suddenly stopped typing and looked at the planet displayed on the screen and thought.

Why this planet?