Back on the Streets
"You won't have a lot of time once the raid starts, so you'll want to give the Venomians hell," Scythe explained, bringing up a hologram of the shipyard. "I strongly believe in explosives. I think if you planted charges here and here, and used two breaching teams, you'll have security thinking you're a larger force than you actually are."
"I don't want them knowing they're getting attacked by four people," Fox agreed.
"You'll need to find some breaching charges. I don't have any on hand, sadly," Scythe said.
"We'll borrow some from the Army. They won't mind," Krystal whispered, smiling.
"Ha! Of course. When we get in, how will we find the Fox?" Falco asked.
"Well, it can't be that hard to find a ship that size in a shipyard so small. I'm going to try hacking the security feed beforehand. Actually, if you guys keep Sleer busy for awhile, I'll just use his computer," Slippy said, stepping behind Sleer's desk. He started typing furiously.
"You sound like you're waging a war over there," Fox mused.
"Funny," Slippy retorted.
It was a few minutes of near silence before Sleer came back. He saw Scythe, who had not been there before, and his eyes widened a little.
"Who is this?" he asked.
"Relax. He's with us," Fox said quickly.
"Because I need more of you," he snapped. "At least I don't have to call security. Fox, over here a minute." Sleer motioned with his finger for Fox to come. Fox scowled and walked slowly.
"Yes?" Fox asked.
"Who is that thing?" Sleer asked, annoyed.
"His name is Scythe, and he's with us. I'll vouch for him," Fox whispered.
"Of course you will." The brigadier rolled his eyes. "So, Mr. Varez, what is your business here?"
Scythe shifted a little, not entirely sure how to respond. "I think I was just leaving, sir."
"Damn right you were. I dislike little sneaks," Sleer groaned.
"You're a very… cordial… person," Scythe said. "Happy to meet you," he said sarcastically.
"I am not. I've much at stake tonight, and I do not need unauthorized personnel crawling around here." He turned his head away from Scythe and pretended he was not there.
During this time, Slippy had continued his hacking breached the system. "I'm in! Turns out the shipyard security system hasn't been updated since the day it was installed, so I slipped a worm through their firewall. I have live feeds from every camera in the building. I'm sweeping them for the ship."
"Can you hit 'em when we make the raid?" Fox asked.
"No doubt. My worm is sitting, waiting for a command. I can have the entire system down in five minutes. The only thing I'm not sure about is how fast they'll notice. They'll be running blind for at least twenty minutes if their security is average."
"And if they have another hacker?" Falco asked.
"You'll have a safety net of anywhere from five to ten minutes before security measures are reinstated," Slippy warned.
"The shipyard is critical to my attack plan," Sleer growled. "You won't jeopardize that, will you?"
"You want to attack the palace to draw security, then take the shipyard and the comms building. All we're asking is for you to ignore the shipyard," Fox pleaded.
"You think I won't return your ship?" Sleer asked.
"That sums it up," Falco snorted.
"There's not going to be a palace when you start your assault!" Scythe commented.
"What do you mean?" Sleer asked, getting annoyed.
"You'll see when the time comes. Stay away from the palace though. I've got it covered!" Scythe started walking away as he finished his last sentence.
Sleer sighed loudly, pondering his options. "The men have already been briefed on the plan, you see. It's far too late to change it and develop a new one. You'll just have to sit on the sidelines," Sleer ordered.
XXX
The Star Fox Team was put in a room in the back of the temporary base, guarded by two soldiers.
"Are we really going to stay in here?" Krystal asked.
"No. We'll get out of here before then, and steal some explosives," Fox added.
"When?" Peppy, having been quiet for some time. "I want you to leave me in the infirmary. I'm not waiting until Corneria to get treatment. I'm old!"
"All right, guys, I'll get us moving." Fox called for the guards outside the door and asked them to escort Peppy to the infirmary. Instead of doing this, they pulled aside a soldier and made him do it. Fox hadn't expected the guards to leave so easily anyway.
"How's your head, Krystal?" Fox asked, looking at the bandage concealing her cuts and bruise.
"It's fine, I guess. I'm still a little lightheaded if I stand too fast or too long," she said, sitting down and leaning against the wall.
"Pretend it isn't, if you please," Fox said, smiling.
Krystal paused for a moment while Fox and Falco got on either side of the door. Slippy sat down next to Krystal and put his arm around her, to make it look like he was comforting her. Fox nodded his head as Krystal shrieked, "God! My head! What's in this freaking air?"
The guards walked in as she moaned in pain for a moment. Fox put his guard in an immediate headlock and stepped behind his knee, shoving him to the ground. Before he could squeal, he lost consciousness. Falco locked his arm around his guard's neck and punched him twice: once in the stomach and once in the face. The guards fell into an unconscious pile on the ground.
"That was easy," Falco said, smirking.
"It usually is," Slippy added.
XXX
The team had little trouble leaving the base. Everyone knew them, but nobody knew they weren't supposed to leave. When Fox asked a soldier for a breaching charge, he was all too happy to give him one. The Army was appreciative of the team's work.
Once they were on the street, however, things were completely different. It was now the dead of night, and security was high. Venomian soldiers roamed the streets, and dozens of patrol ships flew overhead. The city lights seemed to reach every corner. The team ducked in an alleyway but had no opportunity to move. The city was heavily patrolled.
"We need some kind of a distraction," Slippy whispered.
"We're not splitting up. It's too dangerous. None of us could outrun these patrols anyway. 12 scout ships would have lasers on you in seconds," Fox whispered.
"We're going to be sitting here all night," Krystal whispered, constantly pushing her blue hair back.
"The second the Army crawls out for their attack, they'll be crushed," Falco whispered, fidgeting with his reflector.
"The sad part is, that's distraction we could use," Fox whispered.
Then, with absolutely no warning at all, the palace caught on fire.
