The Eclipse have come, and among them Harbinger. But the key is still lost, and Star Fox's mission is not yet complete. Leave a review if you'd like, and as always; enjoy the chapter!

Corneria: Day 11

~News of the victory in the battle of Fortuna spread like wild fire within the Cornerian military. Morale quickly rallied the military together giving them more confidence since the start of the war. To add onto their joy, they learned of the Eclipse fleets joining them in the fight against the C.O.R., and hope had been truly restored in the hearts of the soldiers in the Cornerian military. The soldiers rallied behind not only Star Fox, but the Ark. To them, the Ark had become a symbol of the strength of the opposition to the C.O.R.

At the moment, the Eclipse fleet flooded into Cornerian orbit and formed a defensive blockade to stay close to the planet. The remnants of Toran's 2nd Excelsior fleet surrounded the Ark as his ships escorted the Ark around Corneria orbit. Within the Ark, Blue team and Axios stood within a hanger larger than they have ever set foot in. Harbinger instructed them to wait for a transport to pick them up from the hanger to bring them to the bridge. "This place…" Marcus softly said in his amazement. "Is massive."

"Seems even bigger on the inside." Axios commented as he looked about the spacious hanger.

"Hey guys, I think our ride is here." Sierra said.

The team turned to face an approaching hover car. The car pulled up to the docking platforms where their fighters rested and a red furred anthropomorphic wolf stepped out of the driver's seat. "Greetings to you, Star Fox." The driver said with a tribal accent. "I am known as Kar. Ace asked me to bring you to the bridge."

"And how far is that exactly?" Marcus asked as he looked deeper into the hanger tunnel.

"The drive will not be long. Come, he is waiting"

Kar gestured Blue team and Axios towards the doors and he opened them. Blue team and Axios entered the car and sat within the limo style seating. Kar reentered the hover car after his passengers were loaded, and he drove away from the docking pads. As he drove, Blue team took their down time to observe the inside of the Ark. They became amazed at the sight of the small city that the Ark housed, and they noticed many people walking about its streets. "These can't be soldiers…" Marcus said as he looked through the window. "Are these people civilians?"

"They are survivors of the Liberation." Kar said form the driver's seat. "These people were rescued by Ace and his fighters, and the more people he rescued; the more ships he collected."

"What do you mean rescued?" Fox asked. "Who did Harbinger, I mean Ace, rescue these people from?"

"The All Father."

The team sat in silence for a brief moment as Kar's response induced slight nervousness within their minds. "Rescued from the All Father?" Sierra asked. "Is there a story behind this?"

"Yes, but it is quite the tale, and Ace would rather tell you himself." Kar responded. "We will be at the bridge junction soon. He will tell you everything."

"Hey Kar, one last question." Axios nervously said. "Does Harbinger treat all of his visitors with this kind of courtesy?"

"Ace has placed his trust into you. If you return the same trust to him, he will treat you as family."

"Good to know."

"Axios, why do you ask?" Marcus asked as he sensed a disturbance in Axios's thoughts.

"Just want to make sure we're not in for any major surprises."

"Fair enough." Fox said.

After a few more minutes of driving, the team arrived at the center bridge junction of the Ark. They stopped at the base of a set of white marble stairs that lead into a large white hall. As the team dismounted the hover car, the artificial sunlight and calm environment quickly put their minds and bodies at ease. They felt comfort being inside the Ark, almost as if they were on Corneria. "These guys surely did a good job creating an artificial environment." Marcus said as he looked about his surroundings.

"I wonder how many people live inside this ship…" Krystal softly asked.

"I share this home with nearly two hundred thousand others." Kar interjected from the front of the hover car. "The Ark, is the only safe place for our people."

"Two hundred thousand civilians?" Axios asked with concern. "No disrespect to Harbinger, but a ship with that many civilians should never be poking around a fleet battle."

"Perhaps, you can suggest that to him. But I warn you, Ace can be stubborn, and very hard in the head. But he is a good man, I promise my life on that."

"Thanks Kar, we'll keep that in mind." Marcus responded. "Thanks for the lift."

"It was my pleasure, Star fox."

The team ascended the stairs towards the large white hall as Kar drove away. As they reached the entrance to the hall, they noticed a pair of Eclipse soldiers posted at the entrance. The Eclipse soldiers were dressed in white combat armor with green decals running up and down along the side. They were armed with spears as their primary weapon, and plasma shields for their defense. "A bit primitive, don't you think?" Marcus telepathically said to his mother as he approached the guards.

"These people come from a completely different culture Marcus." Krystal telepathically responded. "Be sure to be respectful. They're clearly following a warriors code of honor."

The guards stepped off to the side and allowed Blue team and Axios to walk into the hall. Upon arriving in the entry way, they noticed an entire welcome ceremony waiting for them upon their arrival. They saw dozens upon dozens of Eclipse soldiers on both sides of a black granite walk way lined up perfectly in attention facing the center of the entry hall. The front line soldiers pointed their spears diagonally into the air creating an arc for Blue team to walk through. "Now that's quite the welcome." Fox softly said.

"No kidding." Axios softly responded.

After a brief moment, Blue team noticed a white furred wolf approaching them. The wolf was dressed in green combat armor with yellow decals running along the sides, identical to Harbinger's hologram on Fortuna. The wolf approached Axios and Blue team and greeted them with a mild bow. "Star Fox." The wolf said as he stood straight again. "My name is Tyrell, I am Ace's second in command. On the behalf of the people, and soldiers of the Eclipse, it is an honor to welcome you all into our home."

"The honor is ours, Tyrell." Marcus humbly responded. "I am Marcus. The two on my right are my parents, Fox and Krystal McCloud. The two on my left are Sierra Spectra, and Axios Faxton. We are the Blue team of Star Fox."

"I am honored to meet you all. Ace has been waiting for you with great interest. Please, follow me."

Blue team followed Tyrell through the entrance and they quickly entered a large, long hallway. As they walked, they noticed more Eclipse soldiers stood in attention on either side of a black granite pathway. After a few minutes of walking, the team walked through a door on the far side of the hall way and they entered the largest bridge they had ever seen.

The bridge of the Ark was four stories tall, and extended several hundred feet farther out from the entrance. Small elevator platforms carried the hundreds of crewman up and down the levels quickly during routine days on the bridge, and the main combat and command center was located on the fourth floor. The center of the diamond shaped bridge was a large, lobby like opening where individuals on the ground floor could see up towards the upper floors. The base of the floor however had a large circular pit with rings of terminals and equipment that made three smaller levels accessible by stairs.

At the center of the large pit was a large holoprojector that could project holograms as large enough to be seen by personnel on all four floors. That is where Tyrell lead Blue team, and they stopped at the edge of the pit stair case. "Ace will see you shortly." Tyrell said as he walked into the pit.

"How soon?" Marcus asked.

In response to his question, all of the bridge lights quickly turned off, and the large holoprojector quickly activated. All of the crewman quickly stopped their actions and gathered around the large opening. Blue team could see people watching from all four floors as they appeared to be excited. "Oh this should be good." Axios softly said.

After a brief moment, the team saw the massive hologram of Harbinger appear over the holoprojector, "Welcome, Blue team of Star Fox, to the bridge of the Ark." Harbinger humbly said. "Are you fascinated by what you see?"

Seeing that everyone within the bridge were closely examining Blue team, Marcus took a moment to chose his words carefully. "This has to be the most magnificent design I've ever seen in a star ship." Marcus responded. "I had never thought that I'd step into the bridge of a dreadnought class war ship. I don't even think I can describe the brilliance of this ship."

After his response, Blue team heard a small applause. "You honor me." Harbinger said through his hologram. "Let me share my gratitude in person." The lights within the bridge quickly turned on once more and Harbinger's hologram disappeared. Blue team noticed the holoprojector platform quickly open to reveal an elevator coming from below. After a brief moment, Blue team and Axios saw Harbinger rise from the pit to greet them. "I have awaited the honor of your visit for some time."

Harbinger waved his hand in the air and the many crewman within the bridge went back to their work. "For some time?" Marcus asked. "We've just met."

"Ah, but you are not the first ones to fight under the name of Star Fox." Harbinger responded as he approached Blue team. "Word spreads through the systems about the deeds of Star Fox, and your Cornerian data banks tell a great tale of your many accomplishments. I am most fascinated with the destruction of the monsters you called the Apparoids."

"That was a war that nearly killed off Star Fox." Fox responded as he crossed his arms. "It cost us our home ship."

"Indeed." Harbinger walked past Blue team and gestured them to follow. "Come, I have a private place where we can converse."

Blue team followed Harbinger to an elevator platform and boarded it. The elevator quickly carried the team to the fourth floor of the bridge. Upon dismounting the elevator, they approached the entrance to the front of the bridge. At the very front of the fourth floor was the combat and command center. The team walked through a large arch and saw the command platform for Harbinger. Underneath the command platform is another small pit filled with terminals and crewman going about their duties. At the very tip of the bridge is a large windshield HUD with information on critical systems and Shroud targeting.

Harbinger led Blue team to a side room within the command center and the team walked into a private conference room. The room is a large circular room with no table in the center, but a ring of chairs outlining the edge of the room. At the far end was a larger chair designated for Harbinger, and a smaller holoprojector in the center. "Please, take a seat where ever you please." Harbinger said as he gestured Blue team into the room.

Blue team took a moment to sit down around the holoprojector and they turned their seats to face Harbinger. "Now, we have much to discuss." Harbinger said as he relaxed himself on his seat. "You have questions for me, of this I have no doubt."

"Well we'll start with the basics." Marcus said as he leaned back in his seat. "I'd like to know your history with the All Father."

Harbinger took a deep breath and relaxed himself in his seat. He pressed a button on his arm rest and a hologram of a lush green planet appeared before the team. "Before I can tell you how I know the All Father, I need to tell you another tale." Harbinger said. "I need to share with you the truth about my origin."

"What planet are we looking at?" Marcus asked. "Is this in the Bikar system?"

"Yes. This is my home world, Lithon."

"Looks beautiful." Krystal commented. "It reminds a bit of Fortuna."

"They share similar characteristics. Lithon is a planet that was ruled by an iron fist. The ruling family was known as Kharnos, and they ruled the planet for generations."

"Born into a planet of tyranny?" Sierra asked. "That's a bummer."

"My birth was a source for the problems that would soon follow. My father was the youngest son of the planet's ruler. My father's name was Asvaldyr, and his father was known as Aedelric." Harbinger pressed a button his arm rest and the team saw a holographic rendering of Asvaldyr and Aedelric. The team noticed that they were both white furred, anthropomorphic saber tooths much like Harbinger. "This is them, my father and grandfather."

"What about your mother?" Krystal asked. "Who was she?"

"My mother, Mithra, was a servant to the Kharnos family. She was not royalty, but my father loved her regardless. It was forbidden love that bonded them, but there was a problem."

"Your father was supposed to be with someone else wasn't he…?" Fox softly asked. "You weren't supposed to be born."

"When I was five years past my birth, my grandfather discovered my existence. He personally lead a raid at my father's villa on the planet. And…" Harbinger took a deep breath to calm his nerves. "And he made me watch as he took both of their heads from their shoulders."

Blue team quickly sat in attention as the story took a grim turn. "No child should have to endure that sight." Krystal softly said. "That had to be torturous."

"My torture, only had just begun." Harbinger said. "Aedelric enslaved me that night, and the next ten years of my life was perhaps the most brutal I've ever endured. Slavery broke my body, and nearly broke my spirit and resolve. That was until, he, came."

"Who's he?" Marcus asked. "The All Father?"

Harbinger nodded his head and changed the hologram. Blue team looked upon the entirety of the C.O.R. fleet invading Lithon in full force. "The All Father came to Lithon, and swarmed the planetary defenses like water on rock." Harbinger said. "By the end of the first night of the invasion, almost all of the of the initial defenses were gone. In the second day, the All Father himself landed in the capital city to lead the final charge against the Kharnos family palace."

"Where were you when all this happened?" Axios asked.

"I was in the slave chambers, with chains around my neck and legs and nothing but a loincloth to cover myself. We heard the attack when the All Father blasted the main gates down. The All Father and his C.O.R. soldiers swarmed the courtyard and massacred the royal guards. They say that the All Father flew that day, and possessed the power of a god. I didn't believe it myself, until he came to the slave chambers."

"He set you free?" Sierra asked.

"He set us all free." Harbinger pressed another button on his armrest and the team saw a young, grey furred wolf wielding a Cerinian staff. He was dressed in black and red combat armor with the C.O.R. crest imprinted on the front chest plate. At the moment, the All Father was leaning to the side in a fighter's stance while pointing in a direction leading his troops. "This is him, in his early years." Harbinger said. "And his staff was-"

"That's a Cerinian staff!" Krystal exclaimed as she noticed the features. "Where did he get that?!"

"Allow me more time, and I'll tell you that." Harbinger changed the hologram once more and the team gazed upon a pyramid like palace as tall as Cornerian towers. "The All Father caused some form of a massive strike upon the slave chamber gates, and decimated them from their hinges. He set us free, and his soldiers unbound us from our chains."

"He was a liberator." Marcus said.

"We called him our savior. The soldiers rounded up nearly a thousand slaves throughout the capital city, and brought them into the main palace courtyard. There, I saw something I'd never thought I'd live to see. The All Father and a pair of his best soldiers dragged a dozen Kharnos family members out into the courtyard in front of all of the slaves. What was more interesting is that all of their wrists were bounded by chains."

"Three guys took down the inner palace guards and bounded the entire Kharnos family?" Fox asked. "That's impressive."

"The pair of soldiers that accompanied him also had, what did you call it, Cerinian staffs? With their combined power, they easily fought their way past the guards. They brought the entirety of the Kharnos family to their knees in front of all the slaves, and the All Father stood over them. He said that we were free, and we had two options. We either go our own way, or we join him and the C.O.R. in liberating all of the other slave systems in Bikar."

"So he thought of himself as a hero, a liberator." Axios commented. "Seems noble, what happened next?"

"He chose twelve slaves to execute the twelve remaining Kharnos family members. He looked at me within the crowd, and he chose me to kill my grandfather. He reached behind his armor and gave me my grandfather's ceremonial sword that he stole. I never gripped a weapon so tightly in my life, and only memories of pain took my mind when I looked my grandfather in the eye."

"You executed him…" Marcus softly said. "Your grandfather, you executed him in front of the C.O.R. and all of the other slaves."

"It was the symbol that we were finally free. It was then I joined the C.O.R."

Blue team sat back in their chairs and took a deep breath. Knowing Harbinger's origin gave them more of an insight towards the behavior of the All Father and the C.O.R. "So, that's the story of your origin." Marcus said. "Tell us about your life with the C.O.R."

"The first year after I was liberated, and after I was nursed back to my full strength, I was selected by the All Father's officers to join a mass training regimen. I trained aboard the Titan, the sister ship of the Ark and his main base of operations. The All Father took notice of my quick progress, and a squad of C.O.R. soldiers brought me to his palace, and that was where I first truly met him. He told me I had potential, that I had a drive he never seen before in a slave. At sixteen years old, I began my training in combat, piloting, and strategy. I was apprenticed by the All Father himself, and I trained along with his two best soldiers."

"Who were they?" Axios asked.

"Keesal, and Scylor. They both had a Cerinian staff and were well trained with them. However, I never possessed such a staff, and I trained with a pair short blades. In the end, I was able to best them both by the time I was twenty two. When the all Father knew I was his strongest pupil, he named me his second in command."

"You were second in command of the C.O.R. at the age of twenty two?!" Sierra hastily asked. "Second in command of the largest known military force to date?!"

"It was quite an honor, to be the number two. Throughout the duration of my training, the C.O.R. went from planet to planet in the Bikar system liberating them from tyrannical rulers and establishing peace in war zone decimated planets. The more planets we liberated, the more ships were added to the fleet. It wasn't too long until the All Father had established his rule over all of Bikar, and the number of ships we've obtained became beyond our counting."

"But he didn't stop there, did he…?" Fox asked. "Bikar wasn't enough, so he wanted more."

"He had planned to expand his rule beyond the Bikar system. He told us of two new systems, Lylat and Philat, that were filled with opportunity. He said that a gate was in construction to take the C.O.R. to these two systems. However, the technology and energy research to even begin the construction was well beyond our life time. Faster-than-light speed travel was considered to be folly, but the All Father was persistent. He decided to send two detachments of the fleet to explore both systems. It was then the Black Suns and Crimson Organization was born. One to send for Lylat, and the other Philat."

"Wait a minute, that was over two hundred years ago." Axios interjected. "The Crimson Star told me that even at light speed travel, it took both factions anywhere between a hundred and fifty to two hundred years to complete the trip. That means you would be-"

"Over two hundred years old?"

Harbinger switched the hologram. After a brief moment, the team looked upon a holographic rendering of Harbinger. Harbinger highlighted his internal systems and the team noticed that his internal structure is completely cybernetic. They saw that his skeleton is mechanically reinforced and held together with mechanical joints, and his spinal cord has a mechanical exterior protecting his nerves. His organs are all nearly replaced with artificial organs, and his heart and brain is preserved with medical nanites.

"You're a cyborg?" Marcus asked as his surprise took him.

"Yes." Harbinger responded. "The cells within my flesh, heart, and brain have been kept alive all this time through the machines within me. Though my old body has long been dead, this new one allows me to continue to fight and protect my people. Needless to say, I had to undergo a very long series of medical maintenance to preserve my new body."

"So you used machines to essentially make yourself immortal." Krystal commented. "Why did you do this to yourself? Why live two lifetimes more to see all of your friends grow old and die?"

"It was not an easy choice for me, but I did so because I had to continue the fight against the All Father. After he sent the Black Suns and the Crimson Organization to Lylat and Philat, his lust for power consumed him. He told his Blood Children that he wanted to rule the three systems with an iron fist, but I was the only one who saw his goal as tyranny. It was at that moment, I decided to turn on the C.O.R. and flee."

"Must have been hard." Fox said. "You were alone, weren't you?"

"In truth, I wasn't alone. I spent some time aboard the Titan searching for individuals who would strike back against the All Father. I went from ship to ship in the civilian fleet, quietly recruiting more and more to my cause. After two years of espionage, I managed to recruit six fleets worth of fighters to turn against the All Father." Harbinger pressed a button on his chair and the team looked upon a holographic rendering of Harbinger's forces. "We called our selves Eclipse, to block out the false light that the All Father would promise, and to give the people peace and freedom from tyranny."

"Sounds noble." Marcus commented. "Now, tell us about when you finally turned against the All Father."

"My people call that day the Red Eclipse." Harbinger changed the hologram and the team looked upon the two factions within a skirmish. "I boarded the sister dreadnought, the Ark, and coordinated the attack from there. In the span of a few hours, we destroyed several dozen of C.O.R. ships in the surprise attack. Once the All Father learned of my betrayal, he summoned the entirety of the C.O.R. to eliminate my people. I then decided to make the fleet jump to Philat after our initial attack was complete. The All Father was too slow to destroy the Ark, but I lost nearly two dozen ships when we attempted to flee. Within hyperspace, my people knew that cryostasis was the only means of survival. But they wanted me to make sure my memories were preserved."

"So what did they do?" Axios asked.

"When my people entered their stasis pods, I learned that I would not be able to do the same. My body had a natural rejection towards cryo preservation, and I learned that if I went to sleep within that pod, I would die. From that moment, it was decided that I would not enter stasis."

"So how did you survive the trip?" Marcus asked.

"It was then my body underwent its transformation. My organs and skeleton were replaced and altered with cybernetics, and after the procedure was finished; I awoke realizing that I would have to endure the entirety of the trip alone." Harbinger changed the hologram once more and the team saw him sitting in meditation alone within a cybernetics lab. "For a two hundred years, I meditated alone within the Ark awaiting the day when the Eclipse fleets arrived in Philat. Every day, my body was treated to survive the next, and every day I pondered my plans towards eliminating the C.O.R."

"What happened when you arrived in Philat?" Krystal asked.

"I revitalized the memories of my people, and they accepted me once more as their leader. Shortly afterwards, we found the Crimson Organization and allied ourselves with them. I told them the truth of the C.O.R., and I was surprised as I learned they had several members who retained their memories of them. Convincing them to turn on the C.O.R. was not as difficult as I assumed, and soon we began construction of the Philat mega gate."

"I think we know the rest of the story." Axios interjected. "My father filled me in and provided records of the Crimson Organization working with you guys. After completing the gate, you guys eventually found the Black Suns in Lylat and formed your trinity alliance, right?"

"Indeed. But, the Black Suns and the Crimson Organization quickly turned on each other, and so Eclipse vanished from the two systems. However, years would pass, and soon the C.O.R. had come to Philat searching for us. They caught us off guard as their arrival was unanticipated, and we suffered several losses. Learning that they had completed their construction of their mega gate, we played a game of cat and mouse. We fled from system to system seeking shelter from them, but whenever they would find us; they would destroy a portion of my forces and the planet we hid on."

"But the All Father lead the attacks?" Axios asked. "How did he survive two hundred years to find you again?"

"The All Father, and his two Blood Children, Keesal and Scylor, all underwent the same procedure as I. He vowed to see my demise, and he transformed himself into a long lasting cyborg to uphold his vow."

"I have a question…" Krystal softly said. "How could ships destroy an entire planet?"

"While the Ark has twin Shroud canons as its primary weapon, the Titan has a weapon known as the Devastator. It's a vast, drill like canon that targets a planet's core and destroys it from the inside. The weapon itself requires the full power of the Titan to fire it, meaning that the entire ship becomes vulnerable as it charges the energy needed. Once, we tried to destroy the Titan as it attempted to destroy one of our sheltering worlds, but the C.O.R. numbered too many for my forces to handle."

Harbinger noticed Krystal lower her head and he sensed that she felt uneasy. "Does this trouble you?" he asked.

"Do you remember a planet known as Cerinia?" Krystal asked.

"I do, why do you-" Harbinger quickly made the connection as he noticed Krystal's eyes water. "By the gods… You're a Cerinian."

"The last one now…" Krystal took a moment to brush the tears from her eyes and she regained her composure before Harbinger. " And some day, I'll-"

"You're not the last surviving member of Cerinia." Harbinger interrupted.

Everyone within the room quickly became alert to Harbinger's words and Krystal felt a rush within her. "What?!" she hastily asked. "There are other survivors?"

"There are three others."

"Who, who are they? Where are they?"

Harbinger took a deep breath and changed the hologram once more. The team looked upon Keesal, and Scylor standing next to each other with their Cerinian staffs in their hands. "Keesal, and Scylor are both native Cerinians." He said. "And the All Father is Cerinian as well. However, only the All Father possesses the telepathic abilities of the Cerinians, and he is the strongest telepath I've ever encountered."

"The All Father is Cerinian?!" Marcus asked. "And to destroy you guys, he went as far as to destroy his home planet?"

"The guy is a monster…" Fox softly said. "Who does that? Who annihilates an entire world of people?"

"The All Father has destroyed sixteen planets to eliminate Eclipse." Harbinger said. "I wish we could have saved those worlds, but there was nothing we could have done. As for Cerinian survivors, you are the only four left."

"So, there is nobody else then…" Krystal softly said. "I see."

"The most I can offer is my sympathy, but I'm afraid your people are nearly all but extinct."

The team sat back in their seats and took a few moments to gather Harbinger's personal story, and everything he shared with them. They did not know exactly what to do knowing the truth between Harbinger and the All Father, and they became more disturbed knowing the All Father is a Cerinian. Before they could continue their mental thoughts however, Axios's suit flashed red lights on the light streams and the team heard a small series of beeping sounds. "Damn, I need treatment." Axios said as he looked at the light streams on his arms.

"Treatment?" Harbinger asked.

"Yea. In truth, you're looking at a dead man. I was killed by the Crimson Organization and brought back to life with Cornerian science. However, my body is rejecting the medicine that's keeping me alive, so I need to undergo treatment to sustain my physical well being."

"If that is the case, then I give you all leave to exit the Ark." The team stood from their seats and Harbinger smiled at them. "We will be in touch, and I will devote my efforts to locate the firing key for the Purifier. In the mean time, you and your military have a war to fight. I suggest you get back to fighting."

"Thanks for all of the information." Marcus said. "We'll relay this data to the Cornerian military. You've done us a huge favor by telling us the history of the C.O.R."

"We'll be seeing you soon Harbinger." Fox said.

As Blue team left the room, Axios walked at a slower pace and watched as his friends approached the exit to the bridge. Sensing his distress, Harbinger gave Axios a suspicious look. "You care for them." Harbinger said to Axios. "It is solely that you value their well being that I did not tell them the entire truth."

"The less they know about what I did…" Axios softly responded. "The better."

"Axios… You should have never accepted the offer."

"I know… but it's too late now."