Disclaimer: forgot first chapter so here it is now! I don't own MechWarrior or any other references to other games.

Chapter TWO

Geoffrey was writing his daily report in almost complete darkness. (Bad thing about being able to see in the dark is I don't have the excuse 'the lights were off')

In the back of his mind he acknowledged the fact that someone was walking down the corridor. When they stopped he consciously acknowledged them by looking at the door. When it opened he relaxed, as the person on the other side was Captain Roberts.

"Good… whatever it is, Captain." He said as he stood and saluted.

"As you were." She said in a casual tone that made Geoffrey think she had expected him to do that. He relaxed and went back to his report. What she said next shocked him. "I know your vulpine name." He merely stopped typing and looked at her. "Your vulpine name is 'Prince Fox McCloud', heir to the McCloud Empire."

He sighed. "I knew somebody would find out sooner or later… how did you…?"

She handed him a vid disk and said "We got an HPG transmission from the current emperor to a 'Fox McCloud'. You're the only vulpine on this ship whose vulpine name I don't know. Simple deduction." She turned towards the door and stopped. "I suggest you lock this door when I leave… the Comm. techs might want to listen." Then she left and closed the door.

Geoff took her advice and locked the door. Then he minimized his report and activated the vid mode. What he saw next surprised him

-Yes, I did get the idea for this message from Vengeance-

His father's face appeared on the screen and started the message. "My son, I have often regretted sending you away with Clan Wolf. Many times I have wished the war over and you home. But now there is no chance of these wishes coming true. Because I stood against the Clans when they betrayed their promise of peace to the vulpine… our world is to be made an example to the rest of the empire. Clan Wolf is seizing Vulparia. They have already entered the atmosphere and are beginning their march towards the Palace. By the time you receive this message, I'm sure that we'll all be dead… your mother, sisters, and me. You are now the emperor. I have sent the Royal Navy's flagship, the VSS-Vulpine Star Ship- Great Fox. She will arrive at Terra in a few weeks. Fox… we are of peaceful nature, but this atrocity must be met with equal force. I have followed your deeds in your past ops, and you have made me very, very proud to be your father… goodbye." Only static followed.

Geoffrey shut off the computer, cutting off all light to the room. He sat there for what seemed like hours, thinking of what this meant. But one thought kept coming back. (They're gone…)

He went over to his bed and lay down. Soon he started to cry. Outside he may have seemed strong, but inside, the death of his family had broken his resolve. He cried himself to sleep that night.

He awoke like he normally did, but this time, he had a fire in his eyes. A fire seen only in a person with a mission in life, and his mission was to fulfill his father's last wish, and he would fight to the death to complete it.

The rest of the day went on as usual. Fix this, fix that, spar.-yes spar- Until lunch.

Geoffrey sat at the first empty table he came to, and ate his lunch quietly. That is, until Sam came over and sat down. Geoff looked at him out of the corner of his eye, but then went back to his lunch.

After a while Sam finally spoke. "Ok, that's it! What is wrong with you! You haven't said anything all day!"

"I just don't feel up to talking right now."

"Ok. Why not?"

Even though he wasn't vulpine, Sam still heard a slight growl when Geoff responded. "I got a message from my father, I'm sure you'll hear about it sooner or later."

"What?" Then the speakers came on.

"Attention all personnel. We have a royal on board we've had him since the start of this war…" Geoffrey sighed. "… his human name is Geoffrey Freedman, a.k.a. Prince Fox McCloud of the McCloud Empire."

"Told ya." Was all he said, as everyone there looked at him. Then he turned around and said "Yup, it's true. My vulpine name is Fox McCloud."-From now on I will be calling him Fox-

Out of the corner of his eye he noticed some of the other vulpine start to kneel. "Please, don't kneel. I may be the prince but I don't like the formality."

The ones kneeling stood up. The rest of lunch went on as usual. The two talked about technical stuff, until.

"So, what is this 'Operation Last Stand'?"

Fox just shrugged and swallowed. "I don't know. All I know is what it's called."

"Well you're the genius, take a guess."

Again Fox swallowed and said "Well, if I had to guess, I'd say it means all remaining forces are gathering on Terra for a final defense against the Clans."

"Well gee, I could have told you that."

This new voice startled the two friends, but they relaxed when they saw it was only Alexis. "You two mind if I joined you?" She said, even as she sat down next to them.

It was Sam who reacted first. "Not at all." The three sat their eating and talking until lunch was over.

"Well, that was horrible."

"Sam, you say that every single time you eat."

"True, but at least I didn't have my tail stepped on."

"Will you shut up?"

Just as Sam was about to say something else the speakers came to life. "Attention all personnel. Attention all personnel. Report to the crew briefing room immediately."

"Well, maybe we're about to find out if you're right."

"Hopefully Sam, hopefully."

Ten minutes later everyone had shown up at the briefing room.

About a minute later the Captain walked up to the head of the table and cleared her throat. "All right everybody, listen up!" Then she activated the hologram projector, showing the planet of Terra. She set it to change with what she said. "Aright, this is Operation: Last Stand. Here's the basic Op. All the forces loyal to the Republic have gathered on Terra, in particular the Capital, for a final defense of the planet. The dropships have been stationed around the Palace for an 'absolute' final defense of the Emperor. All warships are stationed above the Capital to prevent bombardment and having dropships dropped on our heads. Now, most vehicles will be sent to harass the Clanners at their drop zones. All transports will remain with the dropships. All infantry will also remain with the dropships to prevent them from being boarded. Mechs will remain close to the dropships to rely on their power in case of trouble. Repair units will stay behind the line of dropships, so head their way if you need some repairs. Also, if you're critical then don't be afraid to retreat to the Kitsune."

"If multiple dropships get blown, we have been assigned the honor of evacuating the royal family off planet, so get the Hell back here ASAP. That's all I've got to say, so any questions?"

One MechWarrior raised his hand. The Captain acknowledged him and he stood, revealing him to be Corporal Collins. "What about air support and arty?"

The Captain smiled at the question and took a second to respond. "Well, that's a problem. No one really has any arty at the moment… but we've got plenty of air support in the form of Vtols, spherical fighters, and aerospace fighters."

That got everyone's attention. Then another hand raised and was acknowledged. "What kind of Warships have we got in orbit?"

Now her smile widened. "We got plenty of those too. Let's see here… we have a dozen Corvettes, six Destroyers, six Cruisers, two pairs of Carriers, and two full blown Battleships.

Several people whistled in appreciation.

Then she continued. "Now, do you have any more questions?"

No one else raised their hand. "Good, now get ready for planet fall."

Even as she said this, people got up and made their way towards the door.

When he was halfway to the door, Fox heard his name being called. When he turned around, he saw that it had been Captain Roberts who had called him.

He quickly walked over to her and saluted.

"Cut the formality Sergeant." When she saw his face, she smiled.

"But Captain, I'm just a Tech Officer." He said with a very confused look.

"No, your not and you never were. Do I need to remind you of your name?" When he shook his head she continued. "And as such, you are a MechWarrior. So I had to give you a rank. We reconfigured that Griffin you salvaged into a ballistic based Mech. It's got a Clan Gauss Rifle and a Clan LRM 10 so watch your ammo. We took the extra weight into some of those new Double heat sinks and added some more armor. And guess what… you get to be a Lance Commander."

This revelation startled the fox but he didn't show it. "I get to be a Lance Commander?"

She smiled before responding. "Aye, that you do. And here's who you have for Lance mates: Corporal Culwell in a salvaged Royoken, Corporal Lee or Nekonin in a salvaged Gyrfalcon, and Corporal Herald in a LAN.

Now Geoffrey smiled, and said. "Thank you very much, Captain."

-One it's very rare that he smiles, two when he does people get scared (must be the sharp teeth) -

"Don't thank me, its just protocol for royals; also if you prove yourself, then they might promote you to master sergeant."

"Well, thank you anyway. So when do I get to meet my new lance?"

"As soon as we land, and get that Awesome out of Mech bay three. One thing you need to know about Corporal Herald though. Word on the street is that he is some sort of super human."

"Why is that?" Geoffrey asked completely perplexed.

The Captain sort-of whispered, "Well he stands at 6'2'' kinda tall for a human and he's a master pilot of a transformable mech. Also he's 27 but he looks like he's 17 or 18 and people have seen him fall 7 feet and come away completely unharmed."

Geoffrey had no time to speak because after she had finished the speakers came on. "Attention, prepare to enter the atmosphere."

As the computer finished that announcement, the two occupants in the briefing room took seats and strapped in for the trip planet side.

End Chapter Two

Okay, why hasn't anybody reviewed! Just click the little button down there! And here's the quotes for the first two chapters.

"Life is like a field of fallen snow, be careful were you tread, for every step will show" that's the first chapy. Quoted by my 10th grade English teacher! YAY miss Stidger!

"True greatness, is not what you do while others are watching, but what you do when they are not, and no reward is given." Quoted in a Star Fox FF. I can't find again.