"Attention, this is the Cornerian Commonwealth Vessel Acclamator. We have suffered major damage and have lost power to our engines. We are unable to move or defend ourselves, and request immediate assistance from any nearby Commonwealth forces. Attention, this is the Cornerian Commonwealth…"
The beacon continued on endlessly. It was starting to annoy Fox, but one part in particular had intrigued him. "Cornerian Commonwealth". Nobody had referred to Corneria as a Commonwealth in well over two and a half centuries. The Cornerian People's Revolution had turned it into the Federation that he, and all Cornerians, knew and loved. So the fact that someone was referring to it as a "Commonwealth" seemed very strange to him.
"Who's doing this?" he wondered. "Either they're very brave or very stupid." Almost as soon as he'd finished the sentence, his lieutenant, Falco Lombardi walked in.
"Hey, Foxie! Whatcha doing?" Falco asked.
"Nothing," Fox replied. "ROB picked up a distress signal and it doesn't make sense."
"What do you mean?" He replied. "What doesn't make sense about it?"
"They refer to Corneria as "The Commonwealth". That's what doesn't make sense. No one's done that in centuries."
"That is weird. What do we do?"
"I don't know. Maybe tell General Pepper?"
"Probably a good idea. I'll tell the others."
Fox told ROB to alert the general, and continued to monitor the signal, waiting for his response.
It didn't take long. About ten minutes later, General Pepper was demanding Fox speak to him.
"Fox, I just got your message. Is this true?" He asked.
"Yes, sir. I wanted to tell you as soon as I knew. What do you think this is?" Fox replied.
"Did you find the source of the signal?"
"Yes, sir. A wrecked cruiser named Acclamator. I've never heard of it before."
"I have. Now it makes sense. The Acclamator was commissioned and built by the Cornerian Commonwealth. The only problem is that was over 200 years ago."
"200 years? That's impossible. How would the signal still be transmitting?"
"The Commonwealth was in possession of technology that we still do not fully comprehend. It isn't too hard to imagine that a signal from a Commonwealth ship would still be transmitting. I want you to board that ship and see if you can find anything of note."
"Yes, sir!" Fox said immediately. He shut off the communicator and headed out to find his comrades.