Chapter 26
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Fox or any of the characters, they are owned by Nintendo. However, Tex Hempioro and other characters belong to me.
Great Fox bridge, Corneria orbit, 8:12 a.m. Corneria standard time
"This mission is critical to our success of stopping the Imperial threat; I cannot give you authorization for it until every member is accounted for."
"Please, please, please, Pepper, I'm dying here. I need something or else...or else I don't know what I'm gonna do!"
Falco Lombardi threw his hands up into the air as he paced back and forth, the monitor of the Great Fox brought to life as General Pepper held a firm stance in his choice.
"Falco, I'm sorry but we need every member active for this task, all of your skills are needed. Tex should be up and on his feet soon enough, it has been two months I do believe."
"Two months of solid boredom waiting for that guy to finally come out of that fish bowl."
Falco growled and shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants and shut his beak tight. He needed a vacation, a real one that was longer then a week at least and not like that crummy little break they got when on Corneria. He was able to see Kat again at least but damn was it irritating having to take down those robbers that tried to hold the bar up that they walked into. Turning back to the screen, the avian sighed and ran his hands through the feathers on his head that were pushed up into a makeshift Mohawk.
"Can you at least inform me on what we'll be doing when everyone finally gets ready?"
Pepper looked at the bird for a moment before raising his eyebrows slightly.
"You're actually interested?"
He shrugged and crossed his arms.
"I might as well listen since I've got nothing better to do. Lay it on me and I'll fill Fox in on the details."
"You're implying that you've never listened to my briefings before, Mr. Lombardi?"
"And I'm still here standing before you, guess I'm just naturally gifted in doing anything right the first time without anybody even having to tell me what to do."
He curled the edge of his beak in a smirk as he watched Pepper's dumbfounded expression before he cleared his throat and straitened the collar of his red coat adorned with medals of all shapes, colors, and sizes.
"Currently, most of the military powers are scattered across the Imperial space territory, seems they are having trouble controlling the outlying planets of their system. The Emperor is on edge as his forces are being spread so thinly, a good chance to strike at the heart of this beast."
He folded his paws on top of his desk and leaned forward slightly.
"The Emperor has issued extra security around himself, leaving the streets and the city almost completely deserted of guards that police the city where his palace is located. With the Imperial capital planet's enforcers all being sent to other planets or protecting the Emperor himself, it will be a good chance to slip into the streets of Ares City. Once there, you will learn of the situation in the center of it all, you will infiltrate into the fortress of military recruitment and sabotage the soldier creation project."
"Soldier creation project and that would be?"
Pepper quirked a brow but answered the bird's inquire.
"We have learned a lot from Miss McCoy's findings from the memory she uploaded into our database. It seems the fortress of Ares city takes recruits that have become soldiers and modifies them with mental stability programs and minor genetic enhancement, making them more aggressive in combat as well as more pain tolerant."
A mental flashback came to the bird's mind when in the frozen plains of Aldun. Michael Corvine, when low on ammo, resorted to using his bare fists and any blunt object he could find to smash into other Imperial troops. The canine even took a blaster shot and seemed to shrug it off as if it didn't even exist.
"So, they modify their soldiers to be more combat effective, and you want us to stop this?"
"Correct,"
Pepper proclaimed, shifting his weight in his desk chair as he sat up a bit straighter.
"This needs to be stopped, along with the Imperial military transportation systems. There are many loading depots for troops to be shuttled to other planets and systems where the conflict will require the most military power needed. You'll have to use Arwings to destroy the depots that orbit the planet, but be advised that you will most likely meet air resistance. Destroy the transportation systems,"
"And they can't send reinforcements to where they need it most."
Pepper nodded as Falco finished his statement. He lifted a paw and cleared his throat to catch the bird's lingering concentration from all the excitement.
"There is one last thing that must be dealt with. I believe you know what this last assignment is."
Falco brought a finger to his chin in thought. His eyes widened as the thought came to him and he spoke in a questioning tone.
"Take out the Emperor?"
"Correct, Mr. Lombardi, with the Emperor's down fall, the Imperial society will crumble. What military force that we can spare will aid you in cleaning up the Imperial influence of the other planets."
Falco seemed quite high spirited as he heard the prospect of piloting an Arwing again; it had been some time since a promising air battle. Giving a thumbs up to the monitor, Falco grinned and clicked a few buttons on the console close to him.
"Alright, General, I'll tell Fox everything you told me and we'll get right on the job once everyone's prepared."
"Good luck, I will see you off when you are ready to take the warp gate into Imperial space territory."
The line cut and the screen went black as General Pepper raised his paw in a salute. Falco turned around and looked rather proud as he whistled down the hall of the Great Fox, his boots noisily clomping down the metallic hallway as they slapped against the floors.
Imperial carrier Leviathan, Planet Hossin orbit, 9:40 p.m. Imperial standard time
Hossin, one of the many planets giving resistance to Imperial control and influence, the natives were proving rather difficult. Their vast knowledge of the planet and the area made their ambush hit and run tactics quite effective. The animals that populated the lush jungles and rain forests were quite different from the Imperial's standards of normal. From those that they captured, they appeared to have lanky builds that assisted them in running and climbing. Their fur was of a greenish tint that acted as a natural camouflage, and they were quite light and agile.
Kaiser had seen only a few in action since they tend to not come out and engage in open combat, popping out in small groups and quickly disappearing back into the trees and jungles. The language was very difficult to decipher as well, strange whistles and clicks followed by waving paw gestures seemed to make up at least their combative language. They whistled to help blend in with the sounds of the jungle so to communicate while not giving away their positions. It seemed that their entire behavior and appearance was created solely on stealth combat, quite strange, but impressive none the less.
"Commander,"
A voice from behind the coyote caused him to slowly turn around.
"The captain requests to see you, sir."
Kaiser scanned the dog that stood in front of him and saluted with his bionic eye. A digital grid covered the dog's body and read out information for a moment, displaying a small portrait and other information of the dog before Kaiser blinked and switched the visual setting to thermal. He scanned the dog's heat levels and noticed the inner workings of his body giving off a brighter heat signature. All this information was stored into the eye's memory banks as he finished the three second long process.
"Very well,"
He said as he gestured for the soldier to lead him on. The dog nodded and lowered his paw from his chest. Walking down the halls, the digital reticule of his bionic eye moved and zoomed as it marked the main path of his vision. It was on scan mode as it automatically stored data from any object it locked onto, displaying the types of metal that the floors were made from, the elements they were composed of. This all happened quickly and effortlessly as he walked down the hallway with the soldier.
Kaiser smirked as he decided to scan to dog in front of him and learned all the information that was stored in his military profile as well as his civilian data, storing it in the unlimited amount of space of the memory banks built into the eye for future references.
"Here we are, commander. I'll activate the code and you can go meet the captain."
"No need,"
Kaiser stepped towards the digital keypad and typed in the numbers on his own. The dog rubbed the back of his head in puzzlement and then glanced at the door as it began opening.
"How...how did you do that? No one but the captain's squadron knows the codes of this ship."
Kaiser shrugged and grinned.
"Guess I just have this knowledge of things, Private first class Alexander Orrington, blood type O negative, weighs two hundred-ten pounds and graduated two years prior to the Cornerian conflict."
The dog's eyes grew big as Kaiser casually strode into the control station of the ship. The main area of the carrier where all the controls to every part of the ship, be it weapon systems, directional control, or even control of the many automatic sliding doors of the carrier's many floors and rooms. The coyote began scanning everything in sight as he walked over to a malamute wearing a very decorative uniform. The black and white dog glanced at Kaiser with his paws folded behind his back and stood looking as commanding as ever.
"Everything appears to be functioning well, captain."
The dog's bright blue eyes squinted as he looked over his shoulder at the mechanical coyote and slightly frowned.
"That it is, but I'm not the captain. You'll find him just below in the central chamber."
Kaiser was well aware of the dog's facial shift and glared his eyes as his iris shifted a cautious yellow color. He glanced to his left and then tapped on the malamute's shoulder.
"Your fourth cannon's battery is slightly charred from misuse just to let you know."
The malamute furrowed his brows and checked the data on screen as Kaiser smirked and walked away. His ears flicked in satisfaction as the captain's second exclaimed his shock and astonishment loud enough for him to hear. Walking down the small flight of stairs down to the second floor of the command center, Kaiser turned around and made his way down a narrow hallway where two guards were stationed on both sides of a door at the end."
"Halt,"
One of the guards drew up his paw and commanded for Kaiser to stop. The heavily armored soldier slowly looked up and down the coyote's body as he commanded him to spread his arms and feet. Kaiser sighed and did as instructed and the soldier shouldered his rifle and patted down the tan colored canine for any weapons or harmful devices. Slowly pulling out the twin blaster pistols from the holsters on his thighs, the guard handed them to the one standing to his left and he took them, pushing a button on the wall next to him and typing in a set code. A beeped confirmation caused a small section of the wall to slide away, revealing a cylinder shaped object that held an assortment of weapons on its small hook appendages as it spun around.
The guard placed both blasters into one of the hooks and they automatically gripped the pistols and disappeared back into the wall.
"You are permitted to see the captain,"
Said the guard through the speaker system built into his face hiding helmet.
"Your weapons will be returned to you once you leave the central chamber. Be advised, you are now under constant surveillance from this point on. Any hostile actions detected and the automated security systems will-
"Will blast me to kingdom come, I know. May we please continue or do you just like hearing yourself talk?"
Kaiser's interruption caused both guards to turn and look at one another before they opened the door and allowed the Black Ops to enter.
"Finally,"
He sighed as the door slid shut. Though he wasn't able to see the expressions on their faces, the slight temperature increase and faster heart rate was fact enough that he made the two troopers angry. He knew they were on the verge of punching him in the face if he mouthed off again, fortunately they didn't do such a thing for it would most likely be the last thing they would ever do. The coyote scanned the immediate vicinity before his mechanical iris locked onto the only form in the room excluding himself.
"Commander Thomas Kaiser,"
Said a deep voiced tiger. He slowly stepped around a large circular projection system built into the ground of the chamber, a large display of the entire space territory hovered in the air above the projector. Kaiser nodded his head slightly and stepped forward.
"Captain Eros,
The coyote paused to look around the room for a moment before refocusing on the captain.
"You're shorter then I expected."
The tiger gave a slight cough and folded his paws behind his back as he gazed at the projection of the vast space territory. A blinking dot followed by a thin line that was connected to a circle that surrounded the dot caught Kaiser's attention.
"Is this where we are located?"
"Correct, commander,"
The feline reached up and touched the small dot, the digital display zooming in and projecting a close up and detailed view of the Leviathan.
"We are currently in the middle of the outer space territory near planet Hossin. Our current course is Alastar, we believe-
"I wasn't called here for star map conversations, what is it you want?"
The tiger flashed an angry stare with his horizontal feline irises. Cat's eyes were always strange to him. Instead of a round circle for the iris, they had a diamond shaped one that looked much like a door that opened and closed as the entire iris focused and refocused. The captain pushed a button and zoomed out the map, then clicked on a small dot that zoomed in to grow in size as it was identified as planet Alastar.
"You should be honored that I asked for your audience. Normally I don't have your types allowed aboard my ship."
"What do you mean by our types?"
Kaiser raised a brow as he flashed an equally intense glare as his robotic eye seemed to open up and a long red laser trail shot out and landed on the feline. The sight traced up and down the feline's uniform.
"Black Ops, I don't see how such people who stick to the shadows and rarely ever engage in combat are held in such high regards by the Emperor."
"We are more then some snake that slithers around in the tall grass, captain."
Kaiser hissed as he stood in front of the tiger and leered at him, his red iris beginning to irritate Eros' eyes.
"We are like the wind. You cannot see or hear the wind coming, yet it possesses the ability to blow away houses and become an incredible force of nature that not even the most powerful of military force or weapon can stop it. That is what a Black Ops is, captain Eros, a natural force that cannot be seen or heard, yet possesses the strength to lay entire armies to waste and cannot be stopped until they achieve their goal. Just because we hide and don't number in the thousands doesn't mean we don't pose as much threat as a nuclear blast."
Eros stayed stiff as he watched the coyote step away from him and gaze at the image of planet Alastar.
"Now tell me why it is you've asked this lowly Black Ops to speak with you."
The captain cleared his throat and zoomed into the planet that was covered in thick clouds of smog and complex industrial cities. Zooming in farther, they were able to see Imperial troops engaged in fierce combat with the local militia of the planet.
"As you see, our soldiers are in open arm conflict with the local guard of the city. Their knowledge of the city and their options of supplies are much more superior to ours. Seeing as the Emperor sees you and your men in such high respects, I've asked for you and your Black Ops members to drop into the battlefield and decimate this troublesome resistance. Seeing as you possess the abilities of the wind, I'd say this would be simple for you."
"That it would be, captain, however,"
Kaiser lifted a metal finger and held it up to add emphasis to his next statement.
"I wish to have extra compensation for my men and myself."
"Why you insolent little-"
Kaiser quickly lunged forward and ejected his blade to press it against the tiger's neck. A system of alarms blared to life as small cannons seemed to pop out of the walls and ceilings as the laser sights traced around the room until they came upon the threat. The door quickly opened and the two armored guards trained their weapons on the coyote. Kaiser appeared unmoved as he moved to stand behind the captain and lean his face close to the tiger's ear as he hissed his next words.
"Such talk to those far superior then you will be the death of you, captain."
Eros gagged as Kaiser's strong grip around his neck increased slightly, feeling the icy edge of the blade pressed against his throat. He waved his paws and gestured for the guards and the security system to disband and the alarms shut off as the cannons retracted back into the walls.
"Very well, you will receive proper pay for your services."
"My men as well, every last one that sees combat."
"Every one of them, I swear to it."
"You are smart, Eros, you picked the right decision."
He pulled the blade away as it slid back into his wrist and he let the captain go. The guards raised their weapons again as Eros was safe and stood firm. Kaiser grinned and flashed his red iris once more as he spoke.
"I will see to it that Alastar will be wearing the Imperial flags on their poles in a few days. Consider the planet already conquered, captain."
He moved up to the guards and gently pushed the barrels that followed him away. Walking out the door, he opened the panel in the wall and punched in the code. The section of the wall slid away and the weapon's holder rolled out as he plucked his blasters and placed them back into their holsters.
Planet Alastar, battlefield hot zone, 12:20 a.m. local time
The ground was reduced to the rough brown soil from underneath the layers of concrete and gravel that made up the cities roads. Craters as numerous as a planet's moon dotted the entire landscape as some soldiers took cover in the deep holes. Automatic blaster fire chatters and bucks in the air as it paints the sky a neon glow. Another artillery shell explodes, sending masses of Imperial troops flying and screams as pieces of themselves fly off and land on horrified soldiers behind the fences and barricades.
"You,"
Shouts an officer as he points towards another soldier trying desperately to acquire a signal on his radio,
"Where's the air support?!"
The radio specialist glances at him with a look of complete sorrow and loss as he glances up and simply points a clawed finger upwards. The officer looks up and sees a large cruiser ripped apart by anti-aircraft cannons. The flaming hunk of metal and sparks begins to slowly plummet down to the ground as it explodes in a violent torrent of flame and dust miles away from the battlefield. Another soldier runs up and clasps his paw onto the officer's shoulder.
"Sir, they've taken out the second squad! They have landmines across the landscape ten miles up and we can't send in vehicles!"
The officer was about to respond as he opened his mouth, however a blaster shot smacked into the soldier's head and the troop flung forward and laid face down on the ground. The officer took one more look at his post as he pointed towards what few troops remained.
"You four, with me, were taking the front back!"
Checking his clip, he slaps the cartridge into his rifle and flicks back the loader and climbs over the wall, ducking as shots whiz over his head. Two grunts and shouts behind him tell him that he lost a few men that were following him as he peers over the edge of his hole and blind fires over the edge. A sudden thud next to him causes his heart to climb up in his throat and he quickly whips his head to the sound . His eyes widen as he sees an active grenade sitting next to him and he quickly dives away. Jumping out of the hole the officer smacks the stock of his rifle into an Alastarian and pulls the pin out of one of the grenades that the enemy soldier had strapped to him.
The Imperial officer jumps away and hears a series of screams and explosions as he runs through the middle of the fire fight, shots flying in front of him and behind him as he dives for cover, a shot clipping his calf. A sudden scream from above him causes the Imperial to glance up and see black shapes raining down from the sky.
"Black Ops..."
He whispers as he holds his breath and watches as the agents land on their feet from their free fall. They land on their feet and paws as they stare at the ground, staying motionless until they whip their heads up to stare in front of them in their crouched position and they all simultaneously clutch the small sub machine guns strapped the their backs. Their faces hidden in glossy black armored helmets, only two small red dots of their goggle lenses could really be seen in the black bodies as they all stood up and sprinted strait ahead into the torrent of blaster fire. They move with their arms limply trailing behind them as they lean their bodies forward and propel their weight by the tips of their feet and leap over the barbed wire fences and blockades. Some unload bullets into the soldiers while others unsheathe blades and slice them down as quickly as the gleams of their knives appear.
"By the Goddess..."
The officer sighs in disbelief. He counted only twelve of them but they were taking down the entire resistance with not so much as even one stray shot grazing their gleaming black armored plates. Another wraith of black speeds across the battlefield, a long black cloak trailing behind the shaded form as it strafes from left to right. Dodging the shots effortlessly, the cloaked form leaps into the air and sails over the barricade as an armored coyote tears off his cloak and extends a blade from his left wrist and slides a curved knife from its holster. Landing onto the ground, the coyote quickly turns around and lunges for the troops he flew over, tearing them apart with little time for them to even get a shot off.
Flipping around in a torrent of blades and kicks, the coyote spins on one foot as he extends his left leg and slams his foot into the soldiers that began circling him. Each one fell as he crouched onto the ground and halted his spinning, sheathing his blade and pulling out a pair of twin dueling pistols. The elongated barrels of the pistols gleamed as red hot fire shot from their mouths and tore the lives away from more troops. The coyote twirls the guns in his paws for a moment before sliding them back into the holsters on his thighs and tossed a flash grenade into another group of charging Alastarians. Dumbfounded by the blast of blinding light, they gasp and scream until their voices were silenced.
As the shining light wore off, a large group of soldiers lay on the floor in bloody heaps as the coyote remains standing around them. The blade that protruded from his wrist dripped with crimson along with his knife as he raises a gleaming metal paw to the sky and a small barrel extends out of his wrist, replacing the blade. A bright flash and a flare rockets up into the air and explodes in a shower of sparks as the Black Ops all cease their activities. The black faceless monsters all slowly stand up and simultaneously strap their guns to their lower back holsters and sheath their blades as they walk back towards the coyote in a robotic manner. The tan colored animal gives a series of hand gestures and the group nod in unison as they all sprint away and hunt for more enemy troops.
Some simply slither away into the darkness while others leap high into the air and latch onto buildings and climb up the tall structures like spiders. The coyote remains standing in the middle of the deserted battlefield and slowly walks deeper into the city. The sound of screams followed by the popping of machine gun fire could be heard in the distance as the officer crawls out of his hiding spot and slowly walks around the barren field. The sound of the dead was overwhelming as the silence hung in the air. His soft footsteps sounded like mild explosions as they were the only sound in the area as the machine gun chatter and the screams ceased off into the distance.
He looked at the bodies of both his own men and the soldiers that they fought against, seeing their lifeless eyes staring up at him through the eye slits of their face masks. He still had a hard time believing what he had just saw, yet he did see it. An army of ghosts raining down from the sky and ripping their enemies to pieces as they didn't even take one shot from their weapons. The black shades that once stood here were now gone with no trace of their existence; only the bloody swath they carved into the enemy was all that remained of their being here.