Holy smokes! I took my time with this chapter. I've been thinking things out, such as how this should end and how it will tie in with the future episodes to come. I hope this isn't too long for you. Its action packed, so I have a feeling you'll like it. I really want to make a cartoon show. If there is anyone out there that is good with animation, please leave me some information in your review. Thank you very much, and enjoy this next episode of Starfox: Second War.
Enemy of My Enemy, or My Enemy?
The Great Fox went out of slipspace to normal speed, just before the field of asteroids. The Sargasso hideout was deep within the cluster of space rock, which meant they would have to take it slow. The ship stopped and remained still as the crew discussed the plan in the lounge/briefing room.
"Im telling ya, they're not going to welcome us with a warm greeting, but with turrets." Falco assured Fox.
"We have to find a way. Almost all the illegal weapon systems on Titania were made by Venom military, and those jackals had a lot of it. Whoever is getting this equipment must have information that can help us."
"Based on the layouts that ROB managed to recover, the station's docking hangar is very open and spacious. This would be a serious disadvantage to us if we were to get into a firefight. Fox, I suggest we rely strictly on space superiority to scare the information out of them." Peppy moved his hand left, and the holo-projection zoomed out to where the asteroid cluster that surrounded the station was visible.
"We let them detect our signal, and then they will send out a recon squad. We take them out, and the Station's leaders will send more and more. If we hold out in the asteroid cluster, we can confine them to limited maneuverability, considering most of their ships and fighters are nowhere nearly as good as ours." Peppy moved his hand right and the projector zoomed back in on the station.
"Once we have weakened the defense force, two of us will slip around the enemy's forces through the asteroid cluster, flank the station and attack its defenses. All the enemy ships and fighters engaged with team one will return to defend the station, and then we will catch them in a crossfire." The plan played out on the projection.
Fox stood up and placed his hands on his sides as he looked at the strategy. "If they don't give us the information when we have them out gunned, we'll have no choice but to infiltrate the station…make them give us all the information in the database, rendering that last part of your plan pointless. ROB, is there any other way to get into the station besides the dock."
ROB beeped for 3 second then highlighted a spot at the bottom of the station. "All station structures are made with an emergency escape hatches in the lower levels bunker room. A lift is accessible on that level. Two defense turrets cover the lower sector of the station, which should be disabled prior to boarding attempt. "
"Then we'll make it work. Slippy, Im going to need you with me on this one. Once the Spi-droids disable the lower turrets, we'll move in and get to a terminal so you can hack into the station's controls. When you have the station running blind, I'll make my way to the top floor. Falco and Peppy, you both will continue the fight outside. Nail the fighters and ships first, then take out the remaining turrets. "
"What about the Ligerian?" Slippy gulped. "What if he shows up before we're done?"
Fox remembered what the Ligerian said, but didn't know who the statement was directed to.
"He said 'Pray I don't ever see you again'. I don't know if he meant that towards me or the jackal."
Peppy said "We can't assume anything. If he is looking for someone on the station like you said, we won't have to worry about him blowing up the station at least. Until we know for sure, we should consider him an enemy. He could know some important information himself."
The alert alarms beeped and the status lights went yellow. "Fighter detected." ROB reported. The crew rushed to the bridge and the lock-on camera showed the blur of a cloaked ship as it listed ominously into the asteroid field.
"That's gotta be him." gasped Slippy.
"He had to have seen us?"
Fox thought out everything in his head. The Ligerian wanted to find a woman who had been captured and sent to the Sargasso Station, and he left all the jackals alive. He didn't seem as blood thirsty as the old legends stated.
"We'll ignore him for now. I have a feeling I'll run into him on the station. For now, let's focus on the objective. Slippy and I will put on the space vacuum suits while you guys get everything prepared."
"Alright, we'll get the Arwings equipped and ready." Peppy nodded. They all walked out, with the exception of ROB, who always stayed at the bridge during a mission.
Fox and Slippy walked out of their quarters, both suited up, and walked toward the Great Fox's hangar.
"You okay Slippy? You're looking a little…more green than usual."
"Im just nervous, Fox. You know how I am when I take part in these kinds of missions. I panic a lot."
"Don't worry, buddy. You'll do fine." Fox patted Slippy on the shoulder.
"I hope so." Slippy and Fox walked into the hanger and the four Arwings were set on the launch rails, all ready to go. Falco and Peppy were already inside their Arwings checking their systems. Fox and Slippy climbed into their Arwings and began to do the same. After all systems were confirmed acutely, Fox gave the go.
"All ships, launch."
(Within sight of the Sargasso Station)
The Arwings slowed down as the station came within view. Not shortly after, a message barked from the COMs.
"Your crafts have no records of ever being allowed in this area. State title and intention, or we will beat it outta you!"
Fox responded. "We are Star Fox, and we are interested in buying new weapon upgrades. We'll make it worth your while." Fox hoped the bluff would work.
There was an uneasy silence before a different and gruffer voice responded. "You punks are bad for business. Leave now if you don't want my recon group to take you and your fighters."
"We are looking for information. If you tell us what we want, we can avoid confrontation."
"Not if I have anything to say about it." And the transmission ended there.
"Fox, fighters coming from the station." Peppy alerted.
"Alright, guys. Let's do this!" The Arwings flew back into the asteroid cluster, with 6 Killer Ray fighters not far behind them.
Fox eased down as 2 of them closed in on his six, and just as they fired, he swept right, circling a medium sized asteroid until he was on their tail. He opened fire blasted at the closest one, and the other broke off to try and flank Fox. Falco fired on the second target while evading a Killer Ray on his tail. Fox shot down the first and went for the second.
"Fox, I got the other one in my sights! Take out the guy on my six o clock!" It was a game of dog, cat and mouse.
"Roger that!" Fox got into position and began to fire on Falco's pursuer. They both shot their target down simultaneously and let the fighters go hurtling away.
"How about you guys?"
"We took care of them." Slippy reported satisfyingly.
"Let's see if we get a round two?"
Fox sent a transmission to the station. "We are not going anywhere without the information we need. We can either do this the easy way, or the hard way."
"Ten more fighters and a battleship closing in." ROB alerted.
"Oh, man. Things are going to get hairy." gulped Slippy.
"I say bring it on." Falco laughed with pride.
"Everybody stay alert. "
"Listen, we need to attack and maneuver at the same time. Everyone use the crisscross technique. ROB, have the cannons charged to blast that ship out of commission." Fox ordered.
The fighters swished and spun after the Arwings, firing wildly. Falco passed in front of Fox's trajectory and Fox opened fire on the fighters chasing Falco. Falco did a loop and fired on the fighters on Fox's tail.
Slippy and Peppy did the same tactic, dodging and looping the enemy into each other's sights.
"I can't shake this last one!" Slippy yelped
"Hold on, Slippy, bring them to me. I'll nail em. Fox, take care of the two behind me, will ya?" Falco corkscrewed his way around the asteroids towards Slippy's 12 o clock. Fox switched to his lock-on smart rounds, which acted like old heat seeking missiles. Both guns of the Arwing glowed as they charged. He locked on to the two Killer Rays and fired, each charged round bringing their shields down. Switching back to normal fire, he blasted them to scrap.
Falco flew over Slippy and shot the remaining target head on.
"All clear."
"Thanks, Falco." Slippy said gratefully.
"Fox, the ship is moving in!"Peppy yelled.
"ROB, fire now!"
The Great Fox fired three fully charged shots, completely eradicating the hostile ship.
"Alright, Slippy. Let's go to step two. ROB, initiate the jammer so they don't detect us sneaking up on them. See you there, guys."
"Got it, Im right behind ya. Good luck guys." Fox and Slippy made their way to the right sector of the asteroid cluster.
"You think we can keep this up, Peppy?" Falco asked.
"As long as Fox and Slippy make it quick, this should work."
"15 fighters and 3 ships now approaching." Alerted ROB
Falco laughed hysterically. "Let's hope he's faster than I think!"
(Two minutes later, in the Sargasso Station control room.)
"That's all we have left? How can this be happening?" Delario raged. Delario was an ill tempered bearded dragon who was the main runner of the station, wearing a rough bandit outfit. The Vice-runner of the station, Lorango, crushed a soda can. He was an orangutan who loved funky trends, wearing rings and chains.
"I done told you that dealin' with the Venom Military was a bad move, but you didn't listen, did you? The Star Fox team wants information on it, and if you would have listened to me and told them, we wouldn't be going through this mess!"
"Lorango, you know that would be bad for business. We'd lose all reputation and credibility from our customers."
"Which is worse than losing our ships and fighters? I don't think so!"
"Well, we are already stuck in this. Now the ship is jamming our radar. They are probably about to fall back any moment…" The power flickered for a couple of seconds.
"What was that?" Delario demanded. Lorango turned to his computer and began looking through the system checks.
"Someone is tampering with the dock systems. I can't pin point where the tampering is, but…"
"Find out now! Bring all security drones online!"
(Meanwhile, in the lower bunker level)
"Alright, the dock defenses are offline. Their drone systems are separate though, so be careful."
"Good job, Slippy. How long do we have?"
"I'd give it 5 minutes at most. You better get going."
"I won't take long." Hopefully, Fox thought in his head. He ran through the door, which automatically closed behind him. He went down the corridor with his blaster drawn. If Slippy's tampering kept up, Fox would use the main lift to reach the top level, where the control room was. If it failed, he would have to take the long and risky way up: through the hanger.
He made his way to the middle of the lower level. Fox could see the lift shaft, but no lift…not yet. He clicked his COMs.
"Slippy, I need you to bring down the…" A hum came from above, coming from the lift.
"Whats that Fox?"
"Never mind." Fox hoped inside one of the loading crates and pulled the cover over him. On his hands and knees, he peeked out the crevice of visibility and saw the lift with ten security drones. He lay down and whispered.
"Slippy, lock the door. They sent a lot of security drones. When they pass by, on my word, send the lift to the top level."
"Okay Fox, but hurry when you get up there."
(Meanwhile, in the asteroid cluster)
"Yikes!" Falco was evading 5 fighters, turning wildly in every way he could. He and Peppy took on the fighters as the Great Fox battled the three ships…now down to 2.
"Peppy, talk to me! Where are you at?"
"I've got 2 on my tail. I can't do anything but evade!"
"Fox had better hurry, or we're gonna be toast!" Falco grunted.
Peppy performed a barrel roll. Looping over and around asteroid wasn't cutting it. One of them actually managed to get a lock on him. Peppy grunted with frustration. "I can't shake them."
"Peppy, don't you quit on me now! I'll try to make it over to you!"
Peppy wouldn't make it. The warnings systems beeped in his Arwing. It was no use. All of a sudden the lock-on was lost. Peppy looked back and saw the 2 fighters explode and a gold and black fighter fly through the debris. It pulled off to the station, where Falco was evading the fighters. Peppy adjusted his trajectory in the same direction. The Ligerian fighter fired at the enemies on Falco's 6:00, taking 4 of them out with a clearly illegal modified missile system. The Ligerian fighter then pulled off and proceeded to the Stations bottom.
"Holy smokes! There's only 2 left! Peppy, help me get the rest of these goons."
(Meanwhile, on the station lift)
Fox stood at the corner of the lift as it zoomed to the top level. When it did, he ran down the hallway to the different managing rooms, all labeled with different services: general stolen goods, weapon systems, contracted prisoner trade. Fox got an idea just then. If he let the prisoners free, they might be able to help him.
He peeked around the corner and saw multiple cells which had laser walls keeping them blocked. Only two guards remained at their stations. Fox switched to concussion rounds and tagged them in the chest. He ran to the controls and searched the data file. By the looks of it, there was only one in the first cell. He ran over to inspect the cell. On the floor, a woman lay motionless.
"Hey, are you alright?" she made no response. He could see her breathing, but didn't think much on it. He ran back to the controls and diminished the shields. As soon as he did, a blur flew out of the cell. "Wait! I need you to tell me…" Fox shouted, but she had already made it to the hall…out of sight.
"Welp, so much for help." Sighed Fox, and continued down the hallway towards the station's main control room.
(Back in the bunker level)
Slippy was searching the data banks for any clues. There were records of deals which were empty, as if someone had deleted them. He had begun to ask why when the screen filled up with red letters "We have you now"
The door blasted open and Slippy jumped to cover. The security bots beeped as they scanned the room. They moved in, ready to shoot, and there was no way Slippy could stop them.
As they neared his cover, two energy blades ignited in the shadows. They lunged through the darkness and smoke, slicing one droid after another. Within five seconds all the gunfire stopped. Slippy peeked from cover with surprise. From the haze of the smoke, and apparition formed into a Ligerian warrior who was walking towards Slippy, who gulped motionlessly with fear.
(Back on the top level)
Fox rolled into the control room, blaster set to thermal. He nailed two droids and ducked behind a crate as five more opened fire. When the droids ceased fire, Delario laughed hysterically.
"You've done it now! You made everybody's day a whole lot worse! You leave me with a horrible financial mess, and your entire team is dead!" Fox knew he was lying.
"You have been dealing illegal equipment here…weaponry from the Venom military. How are you getting these weapon systems? Maybe you wouldn't be in this mess if you had just complied!" Foxshouted from cover, agitated that it had come to this.
"Well, at least you'll be swept out of the way, giving me better reputation." Delario snapped his fingers and 20 more droids popped out of the droid dispensers in the walls. Fox grimaced with frustration. This had all gone out of the frying pan into the fire. The droids formed in front of Delario as he laughed. "You will die now. The sooner I kill you, the sooner I can get back to business. Sick him!" He gave the signal and the droids began marching toward Fox's position.
Fox looked around, still behind the metal crate in a panicked manner. No way out…not without getting shot. He noticed a crate about 3 yards away labeled "Explosive" but it must have been really heavy. It wouldn't be close enough to damage the droids.
Suddenly, the gravity cut out with a low hum. The droids floated in the air, and Fox figured this was his only chance. Fox jumped horizontally off the heavy crate he was hiding behind and soared through the air to the explosive crate. The droids fired, but the force of their guns spun them out of accuracy, not meant to fight in zero gravity. Fox hugged the explosives crate, and with his feet, he pushed it at the droids. He quickly aimed his blaster and shot the crate as it slammed into the middle of the droid formation. Debris flew across the deck, one piece almost hitting Fox. As the gravity came back online and everything fell back to the ground. Fox landed on his feet and aimed at where Delario was…no longer there. "Blast it!" Fox growled before clicking his COMs.
"Way to go, Slippy. You saved my tail…Slippy?" There was no response. Fox felt a ping of worry, but there was no time. He had to find Delario before he escaped. Fox ran down the hall, which had a few droids to slow him down. He blasted them quickly and made his way to the lift. As the lift was in sight, Fox could see that it was…inoperable? Someone had cut a hole through it. Fox wondered how anyone could have gotten through when his brain popped. "The gravity shut down!" Someone must have jumped up the lift shaft while the gravity was down. A secret door to the right of the lift was cut open as well. Fox jogged in, cautiously watching his corners. It must have been an escape route.
He came into a hexagon room with 5 other blast doors shut and lights red and flashing to the point of disorientation. On and off, on and off, and between a flash the Ligerian appeared eerily. Fox drew his blaster, not firing. The Ligerian lifted his gauntlets, aimed at Fox. They stood motionless during the standoff. The only thing that interrupted them was when the lights stopped flashing.
The golden figured turned quickly. "A trap! I'll take 3, you take 2!" The doors slammed open, a droid standing in each one.
Fox twisted and shot 2 droids simultaneously at lightning speed. Fox turned back and saw the Ligerian had done the same. Without looking back, the Ligerian ran into the blast door to his left. Fox ran after him, but had already lost sight of the warrior. He was fast…really fast. Fox followed the dark escape route until he ran into a well lit room. He could hear Delario shouting in frustration. "Open that door NOW! I'll have you fired for this, Lorango!" One the droids caught a look at Fox and began to fire. Fox managed to get a quick glance at Delario with a hostage.
"You just don't know when to quit, you pesky fox! Well now you will HAVE to comply!" Fox peeked from cover and saw Delario. He had a hostage subdued by a stasis remote, and twenty more droids surrounding them. It was the same woman from the cell, a slim and fit Cheetah. Her purple eyes were moving, but she was unable to move, for the stasis remote prevented any other action besides breathing and seeing.
"If you do not surrender now, I'll crush her like a toothpick. Now be a hero and give up!" Fox grimaced as he walked out of cover and threw his blaster down. Delario grinned. "Now come closer so I can shoot you up close and personal."
Fox walked through the crowd of droids. He hoped with all his being that the Ligerian would do something before he or the girl would get hurt. Fox thought everything out on the way to his uncertain doom. The Ligerian said he was looking for a woman who had been sold here…could he have planned all this? Fox was sure of it, and was ready to use his hidden fold-out electric staff.
A shot came from the shadows above, incinerating the stasis remote from Delario's hands. The cheetah instinctively hit the back of her head into Delario's face, and spun to hit him with her elbow. Fox rolled, swinging out his fold-out staff, and slammed 2 droids in the head, frying their circuits. The Ligerian leaped from above and sliced through 5 with one gauntlet, and shooting 4 more with the other. While Fox took on 3 more, he marveled at the Ligerian's gauntlets in his head. "The are blades AND blasters?" The cheetah had knocked out Delario and used his gun to shoot the droids, nailing 3 of them dead- accurate in the head. Fox, the cheetah, and the Ligerian destroyed the last 3 droids individually.
It was a long pause before anyone said something. The cheetah eased up and she looked at the Ligerian with a smile. "Rigor…you came for me."
The Ligerian took off his helmet, turning out to be a leopard. He spoke with a deep and powerful voice that sounded like that of a true and disciplined warrior. "Fate would allow me to do nothing else, Princess Kina." Rigor bowed, then turned to Fox. "I can always tell a good warrior when I see one. I knew you would come here, and did not mean to deceive you so profusely. Without your help, the risks would have been too great."
Fox holstered his blaster. "What about my friend Slippy? What did you…"
"I saved him from a squad of death machines. I requested that he shut down the gravity until I reach the top of the lift shaft, since it was inoperable. Your friend is safe."
Just then, a door opened behind Kina, and all of them drew their weapons. It was Lorango holding a detonator. "You see this? I press this button, and this whole station and everyone on it will be incinerated." The 3 of them backed up slowly.
"Now listen to me. None of us want to die, and I never agreed with Delario's methods. I told him that dealing with the Venom Military was a bad call, but that dim-wit never listens! I told him to give you the information, but he didn't listen! I told him that kidnapping someone on behalf of the Venom military was a bad idea, but once again, he didn't listen!"
"So what did they want with her? Why are they coming here?"
"They are looking for someone important to them, that's all I know. The knucklehead got our contracts mixed up with another one. They were the wrong descriptions of the individual they wanted."
"Do you have any data on this individual then?" Fox asked.
Lorango nodded side to side "Delario deleted it all. Look, this day has been frustrating for all of us, but we can all walk away from this. I can report to my superiors that Delario was involving the company in war affairs, and you walk away with information. Since Im second in command, I'll cancel our deals with the Venom military." Lorango turned right and pressed buttons on a terminal. "The security lock down is off. Make contact with your friends and leave the station." Nobody moved for a few seconds. Lorango shook the detonator and smiled. "Sometime today, please."
"If you find out anything more…" Fox looked around to see the damage they had done"…I could help you in the future."
"Maybe, but as of right now, I never want to see you again. Get off of my station." The agitated orangutan turned and walked back into his fortified office.
The cheetah turned to Fox and smiled. "You did a great deed in saving me, even if you did so without knowing. Rigor and I ask that if there is anything we can do to repay you, we will aid you to the best of our ability."
"I need to find out what the Venom military is up to. The longer it takes for me to get a lead on where Andross is and what he is up to, the longer he has time to build his forces and tactics. Now I have nothing." Fox waved his hands in disappointment.
"Then I shall do what I can to aid you when you request it, warrior." Rigor nodded.
"Fox? Fox! Answer me!" croaked Slippy on Fox's COMs.
"Slippy, Im fine. Falco, Peppy, report in."
"We took a few hits, but we got them. Now please tell me this was all worth it!" Falco shouted.
Fox looked back at Kina and Rigor, who both nodded in respect. "More or less."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I'll explain when we are all aboard the Great Fox. ROB, take her into the docks. The person in charge is letting us off."
"Fox, are you sure this isn't a trap?" Peppy asked wearily. Fox turned and noticed that droids were in the doorway on standby mode.
"I think me and him have come to an agreement. Everyone should be back on board within 5 minutes. Fox out."
Rigor and Kina walked up to him and smiled. "You fight with honor, courage and spirit." Rigor said first.
"…and for that, you are worthy to be deemed a friend to the Ligerian order." Kina said. "If you ever run into one of our brethren, show them this medallion and they will see you as friend." Kina took off her medallion and held it out to Fox. Instead of taking it from her, he knelt for her to put it on him. She smiled and did so.
Fox stood and gratefully said "Thank you."
(Later, aboard the Great Fox)
The holo-projection General Pepper rubbed his forehead. "So they are still around."
"Affirmative, sir. All the important data had been deleted before we had a chance to get it. All we know is that the Venom military is looking for someone…some woman, and that they are still in Cornerian space control."
"There can't be that many, otherwise we would have noticed."
"Undercover ops maybe?" Peppy gave his input.
"That seems to be the most reasonable answer. Why they are going after this individual, I have no idea. We are monitoring the boarders constantly. There is no way any ship can get through or leave without us knowing. If you find any Venom ships, you take them down, understood?"
"Yes, General. What do we do now?"
"Right now, we wait. I suggest you travel the systems in search of the next lead. I'm transferring more credits to your account. Good job, Starfox, and good luck. General Pepper, over and out."
The lights brightened as the holo-projection blipped out of existence. Everyone turned to Fox.
"So…" Falco said "…where do we start. We got information, but no leads."
Fox simply smiled and walked onto the bridge, and everyone else followed. Fox looked out into space, and there the Ligerian fighter was still there waiting. He pressed the transmission button.
"Hey, there is actually a way you can help me now."
"How shall I aid you in your quest, warrior?" Rigor asked pleasingly.
"We need clues on the Venom military. Can you give us a lead of any kind?"
"Hmmmmm…" Rigor pondered in thought. "I will see what I can find. You will receive an anonymous message within a day. It will have all the answers I can find."
"Thanks. Good luck."
"May fortune guide you." And the Ligerian fighter made its way out of the asteroid cluster.
Fox turned to face the crew. "Alright, team. Lets take advantage of this time to make repairs. Slippy?"
"We're low on repair parts. Maybe we can make a pit stop by Fichina to restock."
"I heard a new slushy shop opened there." Falco mused.
"A slushy shop on a tundra ridden world. That never made sense with me." Peppy shrugged. Fox nodded side to side, smiling.
"Alright, team. Lets get moving."
The Great Fox listed out of the asteroid cluster and made her jump into slipspace.