6:00 pm The Great Fox
Five weeks, five long weeks had passed and the Star Fox team still had not found Hawk. They were on wits end and they were tiring out. The Wolf team was holding on to the little hope of finding him. The team itself had lost a good man only a few weeks back. They were feeling the loss of manpower more than ever. Panther and Wolf picked up most of the slack from the missing teammate but they were still learning the system.
Five weeks before
James made breakfast that morning and looked up seeing Krystal and Fox walk in to the kitchen. He smiled and put the food on the table and joined them in sitting. He served out the food and took a deep breath. Krystal's ears perked up as she felt the anxiety in him. Fox turned his head seeing Krystal move next to him. He looked up to James and sat back in the chair.
"What's wrong dad?" Fox asked him before they started to eat.
"I was thinking last night. I am going to stay here on the ground. I got so used to living down here after many years the few weeks up on the ship were very disorienting." James spoke quietly feeling bad that he was going to leave his son once more. "But I do want to stay up there with all of you."
"Don't worry about it dad. You're retired and you do not need to be dragged around with us as we do our jobs." Fox sighed out knowing if James stayed they would not see him again, at least not for a long time.
"I am sorry my boy, If I ever get the heart for space again I will call you and let you know" James smiled a bit before looking to his food and taking a small bite. "Eat up; you're not leaving till your plates are empty."
They all ate in silence it was almost painful for all of them. Krystal kept her eyes down not wanting to start a conflict or a conversation that would make things worse. James finished and put his plate in the sink and started to gather some cleaning supplies to clean up the home. Fox finished shortly after as well as Krystal. They both got up and said their farewells before leaving to go back to the ship so their hunt for Hawk could continue.
Present time
The alarm went off on the ship that signified an incoming call. Fox waved his hand lazily feeling a little lethargic just like the rest of the group. General Pepper's face came on to the screen looking very upset. He saluted like he normally would before clearing out his throat.
"This is urgent Fox. The Benerian military are stationed outside the atmosphere of Corneria. General Birch is declaring war, and demanding surrender." Pepper spoke out quickly. "We need your help Fox."
"What? Whoa, Pepper what do you mean, they are declaring war. I thought they were in a peace treaty with Corneria?" Fox looked to Pepper very concerned.
"Yes we are Fox; here is the transmission he sent us. Please we want you to negotiate with him while we prepare to defend ourselves when necessary." Pepper sighed softly. "It's a sad day when our greatest ally turns its back on us and attacks."
"Yes sir. We will do our best sir." Fox Saluted and cut the transmission. "Set coordinates for Corneria we need to get there yesterday."
Krystal nodded lightly and typed in to her panel before the ship turned and started off in another direction. She closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. She stood up and left the room quickly her mind whirling with emotions and thoughts. All the emotions around her seemed to be amplified and what made it worse is that she could not focus on one to ease her mind.
Fox watched her leave and took a deep breath knowing something was bothering her. He stood and nodded to Peppy then left to follow her. He jogged down the hall and once he was beside her he slowed and walked next to her.
"What's wrong Krys?" He looked down to her. "And don't give me nothing is wrong."
"I haven't been able to focus lately Fox. I think the stress is starting to build up and get to me. "Krystal shook her head. "I am going to lay down for a while. Maybe a nap will clear my mind."
Fox walked her to her room and smiled before kissing her cheek gently before he headed back down to the bridge. He understood her pain he knew what it was like to be stressed to the point of breaking. He smiled and figured a nice long vacation was in order after they settled the matters at hand. He walked down the hall before looking to the room his father was in. Shaking his head he got back to the bridge and took his seat once more.
Fox sat looking out into the space in front of the ship he was very concerned. His father left, Falco was not fit to fly, and Krystal was not well. He lost half of his team for one reason or another. He had Wolf and Panther with him but he wasn't sure that would be enough to help the mess they were going to be flying in to. His worries were cut off when another message came in and peppy opening when he got a quick glance from fox.
"HEY FOX" a very large triceratops chimed out loudly.
"Hi Tricky, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Fox took a deep breath. He liked the young dinosaur however he was a bit loud.
"Just calling to say Hi, after your friends put up the communications computer in we have been able to check things out and get the news. I just saw that your home is going in to war. Do you need help Fox?" Tricky piped up more than happy to want to help him.
"Thanks Tricky but we got it all under control I don't want your planet to get pulled into a war that it won't be able to stand up in." Fox smiled "Thank you again we will lose signal soon because we are going to hit hyper space."
"Ok, but I was curious if I should tell the two that landed her a few weeks back." Tricky hummed and started to look out.
"Two that landed there, what do you mean others have landed there? There was a strict law forbidding those not authorized to land there." Fox jumped up and narrowed his eyes. "This could be bad Tricky do you know who they are?
"Yea a bird and a cat they called themselves…" Tricky was cut off as a familiar green beam flew in to the side of Tricky's side knocking him over away from the camera.
"Tsk Tsk, you talk too much dino." A female's voice chimed up. She walked pass the camera before back in to view looking to the screen. "Oh so you're Fox and the famous Star Fox team, oh and with the Star Wolf team as well. Hawk look who we got on screen."
Lynx stepped out of the way as Hawk walked in to view and looked to the team with a rather Cheshire smile on his face. He leaned on to the console of the video screen. He reached up and grabbed the camera pulling it of its mount and turning it a bit to face the feline and dinosaur.
"You know I always hated those who put their noses in a little too far and speak too much. Don't you my pet?" Hawk chirped out.
"I do my love that I do." Lynx smiles as she knelt down at Tricky's head her hand reaching in to her boot pulling out a large dagger. "Hmm wonder how much I can get for this horn here."
"Don't you touch him! Hawk, make her stop, now!" Fox growled as he was on his feet. "If you don't when I get my hands on you, so help me I will pluck every feather from your flesh"
"Do not worry Fox, I will not let her so long as you do as I say. " Hawk smiled and moved to sit on Tricky. "Now all I demand is that pretty blue vixen you have on your ship, and do be quick the longer you wait the fewer horns he will have."
Fox growled and stormed off his fur on end as he left the bridge. He was torn between helping a friend and keeping a friend safe. He let out a roar of anger and punched the wall as hard as he could before standing there a moment. He was soon joined by Wolf who patted his shoulder.
"He wants Krystal in trade for the life of your friend. Why not give him what he wants." Wolf spoke calmly till he saw Fox spin and swing a rage filled fist at him.
"I will not give Krystal up to him. I know where he is and I cannot leave Tricky there helpless nor can I abandon the Cornerian military." Fox was ready to kill
"I never said let him keep her. Fox, Panther and I will escort Krystal there we both want our revenge for what he did to us. We will escort her there. Take him out then we all go to meet up with you. It's a bit of a flight but it's not impossible." Wolf barked back quickly before calming his voice down as he explained his idea.
"That could work but I don't like putting people in danger and at that Krystal won't leave unless Tricky is well. Leave her there it would be safer for her there we can pick her up later. Just have to make sure it's ok with her." Fox brought his hand up to massage his temples.
"Make sure I am ok with what?" Krystal had walked back down the hall to go back on to the bridge. She held a small box in her hand.
"Krystal what are you doing down here, I thought you were going to rest?" Fox jumped as Wolf glanced over then left back to the bridge to let Fox talk to her. "Well… gee thanks Wolf…"
"Well what's going on I felt a massive spike of anger. Did something bad happen?" Krystal was very worried about what was going to be said.
"Krys, we found hawk and he has really hurt our friend Tricky. To keep his friend from harming Tricky farther he demanded you go to him and to be quickly. We will pass Sauria on the way to Corneria you can depart then if you want to go. I will not force you but Wolf and Panther will join you to keep you safe." Fox spoke softly a little angry because he had no other option or someone would die." If you do go you will stay there with Tricky till we can come back to get you. If we can that is."
"I will go. He harmed a friend of ours we need to deal with him. I will get ready to leave. "She left to go back to her room to change and get ready to go.
"Hey Krystal, what is in the small box?" Fox looked to her hand as she turned to leave.
"Nothing just a small something that can wait till I come back" She smiled and headed off once more till she was out of Fox's sight. "A little something you shouldn't worry about right now."
About two hours later Krystal, Wolf, and Panther were flying out of the Great Fox Hangar and on their way to the planet Sauria. The flight wasn't long and as they got close Panther and Wolf back off letting her enter alone before following suit starting at the opposite side of the planet to do a stealth entry. They didn't want Hawk knowing others followed Krystal. The trick this time was to get him, save Tricky and get out too help Fox.
Krystal Landed quickly and stayed in her cockpit till she saw Hawk and the feline approach. She opened the cockpit and stood up before looking down to them. She then jumped down from the Arwing and narrowed her eyes at them not liking the pain she could feel from the unseen Tricky.
"I am here, what did you want from me?" Krystal spoke quickly her hand on her gun ready to pull and fire.
"My dear, I would like you to meet Lynx. Lynx this is Krystal. We are all going to be great friends aren't we?" Hawk smiled as he walked over to Krystal. "I wanted to thank you for escorting me to my drop off point last time we met. If it wasn't for you I would have never been able to pass all the information and notes I stole from the Cornerian lab to the Labs of Beneria."
"What?" Krystal stepped back and spun to look at him backing away. "You were working with…"
11:30 pm Great Fox
"General Birch what are you thinking." Fox hummed out before yawning loudly
"Fox go to bed we should arrive at Corneria around 9:00 AM. It will not do any good if you're tired." Peppy spoke up as he tried to coax Fox out of the bridge and to his room.
"I know Peppy; I am just worried about Krystal and Tricky." Fox mumbled out.
"Don't be she has two of the best Arwing Pilots and fighters with her now go to bed." Peppy snapped out a bit making Fox get up and leave. "I will check in about an hour if you are not there I will force you to sleep."
With much stubbornness and force Fox made it to his room and laid down to get some shut eye before he would have to confront General Birch and figure out how to make him pull back. Last thing Fox wants is another war and have to kill more innocent lives.
Planet Sauria
"Yea all this time and you never knew. For being a mind reader you're sure do not do your job very well. "Hawk smiled his hands on her shoulders as he whispered to her. "So tell me how is Falco doing? Is he even still alive?"
Krystal stepped and turned grabbing his arm and flipping him over her hip as fast as she could. She growled and pulled her gun pointing it down at him. She looked up to Lynx pulling a second smaller gun and pointing it at her as well.
"Drop it or I will fire. This man is wanted dead or alive." Krystal barked out. "I am not afraid to either"
Lynx lazily bent over placing her gun on the ground before she pulled another from her boot and twisting it up with a quick pull of the trigger. The blast flew through the air and in to Krystal's hip knocking her off her feet and on to her back. Krystal let out a loud scream and grabbed her wound as she rolled over to hold it.
"Now that wasn't nice. " Hawk growled flipping back to his feet. He turned and smiled at Lynx "Not nice at all. Lynx you should apologize."
"I am sorry" Lynx smiled wickedly as she walked over and brought her foot back before bringing it to the side of Krystal's face. "Oh sorry again my foot slipped"
Hawk smiled and looked up seeing a black Arwing flying at them and the dive bomb them. The turret gun started to spin and fire at them causing dirt to fly and then to take cover. When the Arwing passed by Hawk got back up and growled running back to his own ship as Lynx jumped over Krystal and climbed in to her Arwing taking off. A second black one took off after Krystal's Arwing going in to a major dog fight in the sky before Hawk's ship left the atmosphere and disappeared.
"Panther cover me I am going after him. Take care of whoever is in that Arwing and drop the supplies for Krystal." Wolf Barked out before getting around and flying out after Hawk.
"Got it covered Wolf go!" Panther chased Krystal's Arwing around a bit before it flipped over him and took off out of the planet and out of site. "Damnit"
"GRRAAAAA PANTHER I need HELP! Drop the box and get up here NOW" Wolf called over the Radio before he went silent. He didn't know nor did panther know that she was shot or that she was in no position to move.
"Roger" Panther flew by and dropped the box before taking off quickly "Krystal can you hear me? The box was dropped good luck."
"Thank you… Panther…. It will help a lot." Krystal panted out she was in quite a bit of pain and was trying her best to get herself back up to her feet so she could find Tricky. "I will contact…. You later."
She stumbled over to the box and grabbed the side pulling it open quickly seeing a bike and a large box on the back. She pulled herself onto the bike and kicked in on before taking off quickly. The pain she was in was going to knock her out, especially with the stress of riding the bike. With much determination she got to the com center that was set up for Tricky and his planet. She found him on the ground still breathing but still very hurt.
"Oh Tricky," Krystal limped over and patted him. "I am here… to help" Krystal smiled and fell forward on to Tricky then slide to the ground her eyes closed as she had passed out.
8:00 a.m. Great Fox
Fox was up and showered and dressed as he walked back to the bridge. In about one hour they would arrive in Corneria space and be fact to face with the Benerian Military. Fox walked in and looked out the window and growled as he could see some of the military ships flying around them. Fox quickly walked to his seat and sat down rapping his fingers on his arm rest. He looked down and pushed a few keys on his keypad.
"Peppy send General Birch a communications request. We must talk to him and see if we can't stop this war." Fox called out as Peppy pushed his chair from one side of the control panel to another. "Slippy prepare to activate shields. We don't know how friendly he will be to us."
"Yes Fox." Peppy chirped out
"Ok Fox "Slippy spoke up "Ready"
"General Birch has received request." Peppy turned back to Fox, "He is accepting I will bring him up to full screen."
The main screen flickered slightly and a large image of General Birch appeared on the screen. He looked ready for war in his full uniform. He sat in his chair with a very unpleasant look on his face as he looked to his own screen seeing Fox and his group looking back to him.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of the Great Star Fox team request to talk?" Birch's voice was very sour.
"We are here in behalf of Corneria. We request you back down and go home. Corneria wishes not to fight you but If you insist on it, we will have to use drastic measures to stop you from attacking." Fox stood tall and unwavering as he spoke. "We want to know what you want in order to stop this pointless war."
"What I want? What I want is for Corneria to surrender to Beneria fully. I want Corneria to disappear because it is Corneria that is killing Beneria and is causing Beneria to break down and become nothing more than a planet of nothingness. "General Birch growled. "Beneria creates something Corneria makes it better and cheaper. If I destroy Corneria then they cannot get in the way of our growth."
"This war you are trying to start is because of your own selfish Pride. Your war is pointless and will kill many innocent lives for nothing." Fox barked back at him. "If you are having a problem with such things, you should speak to Pepper. It is no one's fault that in the race for technology that your planet cannot keep up."
"Our planet can keep up just fine. Your planet is the problem. Now Star Fox, you have two choices leave now or die with the rest of your planet." Birch growled out before cutting the communications.
Fox growled and quickly jumped back to his seat and called out to Pepper to tell him that he needs to evacuate the planet of all civilians and get his military ready for battle. Fox and his team may have taken down a planet on their own but he had a team of seven then not just him and Slippy. He got up and ran out of the bridge quickly as he was going to get ready to fight.
"Peppy tell Pepper everything and get The Great Fox down to the planet to help them evacuate. Slippy lets go, we have a war to stop."
"Alright Fox, Just like old times" Slippy cheered out as he ran after Fox down the Hangar.
Within minutes Fox and Slipper were out of the hangar and buzzing through the other ships looking for the main ship where General Birch would be hiding. Peppy was taking the ship with Rob in to Corneria to help with whatever they could. Peppy had Rob do a few things while he himself sent a message out to those who he requested help from. Only hoping they could come and help them.
Rogue Galaxy
Katt entered her small apartments in the Rogue Galaxy just outside of the Lylat system. She put her bags down and looked to her messages on her video phone nodding and waving her hand at the people who were talking as she didn't really care as to what they were saying. She erased then one by one till she heard the voice of a familiar Rabbit along with a face.
"This is an urgent request from the Star Fox team. A war is going to break out between Corneria and Beneria. We need all the help we can get because of the lack of manpower we have at this moment. We need as much help as we can. Katt you are one of the best fighters we have seen we need your help. If you can make it come prepared to fight for many lives as well as your own." Peppy's voice rang through her ears
Katt got up and ran to her room and changed quickly. She was out of her house and running to the Hangar that her Arwing sat in. She was ready to go and keep her friend's home safe. That and Falco was still on that planet unable to fight himself. She was going to fight for him. Once in her Arwing she started the engines, closed the cockpit and took off through space to get to her friends in need.
Beneria
James watched the news at home seeing what was going on. He was not happy about what Birch was doing. He walked through his house growling till he heard that his son was in the way of Birch and his target. Quickly James left the living room and was in his bed room grabbing a duffle bag and stuffing it full of clothes and the picture of his wife and baby boy. He stopped when he heard a message buzz in and he quickly hit the button on his phone to listen.
"This is an Urgent request from the Star Fox Team. A war is going to break out between Corneria and Beneria. We need all the help we can get because of the lack of manpower we have at this moment. We need as much help as we can get. James old friend, we need you to come out of retirement and help us. We need your ability of strategy and your ability to fly to help us stop this war and the loss of all the innocent lives of Corneria. Please help us" Peppy's voice sounded out making James smile.
"One step ahead of you old friend, besides I think I might like living on Corneria better then here anyways" James smiled as he finished packing his clothes and personal belonging. He even pulled a large bag from his closet and left his home stopping by his Landlord and letting him know he was not coming back.
James got into his car and sped down the road quickly to a private hangar that he kept his old Arwing in. The old bird had a lot of work done on her to put her back in to flying shape. Now was going to be the first time in a long time she was going to be going in to battle. He only hoped she was fast enough to keep up. Storing everything he had in the undercarriage, he jumped in, shut his cockpit, and took off. He was going to help his son, and his friends. Birch was going to regret ever starting a war.
Planet Sauria
Krystal was lying on the ground her consciousness drifting in and out as she tried to stay awake. She felt a pair of warm arms wrap around her and lift her up before gently laying her down again. She felt whoever it was remove her jump suit and quickly and unfortunately for her painfully clean out the blaster shot on her hip then bandage it . She opened her eyes and saw a pair of warn green eyes staring back at her before her mind knocked her back out.
