Episode 2: Ship Raid
Everyone settle in the Great Fox as they managed to collect 5 million credits from their last job; Fox is in the firing range along with Krystal and Miyu tagging along. "That job was fruitful. We can get repairs the Great Fox needs and enough to spare for everyone else," Fox said.
"I am concerned about that weird disc you found in the space station," Krystal said.
"Well Peppy send it to one of his contacts in the Culture Institute. They will be scanning the weird language and see what they can come up with," Miyu said.
"I hope they find something interesting about it and this Ark business," Krystal said. Fox sets up the hologram targets on the range moving in all sorts of directions. Fox and Miyu are training Krystal on how to use ranged weapons better.
"Well Blue, time to better your aiming," Miyu said as Krystal looks at the targets blazing across the range.
"I can use my staff to pick off targets," Krystal said as Fox hands her a Blaster Pistol.
"Nothing wrong with having a backup," Fox said as Krystal nods her head.
"Makes sense, teach me how to shoot more precisely," Krystal said as Fox playfully pats her on the shoulder.
"That's my girl," Fox said as Krystal draws out her blaster pistol. She aims for both Miyu and Fox noticed her shooting stance was off.
"You need some work," Miyu said as Fox holds onto her slender waist trying to fix her stance. Fox and Miyu are seeing Rachel taking shots as he is giving her pointers to adjust her stance while still holding her waist and moving her thighs.
"Okay, just like this," Fox said as he checks out her sexy blue bodysuit fitting her tall curvaceous figure.
Krystal can feel his strong hands holding her waist and her thighs for she adores his firm touches as well as his light caresses which made her skin and fur shiver in delight.
"Oh dearly," she whispered as she finishes her session with her pistol.
"Good, now try out some weapons and see how you do," Fox said as Miyu drags out a crate of weapons from their armory. Miyu pulls out a couple of Blaster Carbines to pull back the adjustable stock and focus on her rifle's combat scope.
"These are standard issues for any army. It combines speed, accuracy, and range in a compact package," Miyu said as she aims with her carbine to put rapid shots into the moving targets with ease. Krystal takes her weapon to begin putting rounds into the targets didn't do as well as Miyu did.
"You will get better, just need practice," Fox said as Krystal nods to try to improve her score on the firing range. Within a few tries, she manages to do 15% better than last time.
"Good work Blue," Miyu said as she switches to a new weapon Sniper Rifle. She aims to fire a focused energy beam to tear through the holographic target.
"You need to steady your aim with these very delicate weapon systems," Fox couches Krystal as she set up the rifle onto her shoulder to fire a beam to miss the shot. Krystal adjusts to fire again but she misses again.
"Shoot," Krystal said.
"Not everyone can become a sharpshooter," Miyu said as they stop the training program.
"Thanks for the tips, I want to be better on foot. Using both my staff and blasters at once would make me more flexible," she said.
"No problem Blue," Miyu said
Krystal is in the lounge room with her reading a book as Slippy is setting up a tabletop RPG game on the table. "Oh, what are you doing Slippy?" she asked.
"Oh, I am setting up a game session. Me, Miyu, Fox, and Falco are going to play it," Slippy said.
"Seems nice, let me get into it next time," Krystal said as they see the big screen in the room is on to see the news on it. Fox and Falco arrive first to wait for Miyu to come by.
"Gee, that guy again," Falco said as the three men were angry to see the face of a brown dog dressed in a military uniform. This is an interview with the state-owned Lylat Times with the general.
"So General Baker, it's been a whole year since we managed to destroy the threat of the Aparoids. How are your plans to reshape the military structure?" the reporter asked the new General Baker who replaced General Pepper after his death of an illness over 11 months ago due to being infected by the Aparoids.
"Well, I managed to reinforce the navy and army. Using new orbital platforms to defend our key worlds in the system and cleaning up Venom to become our biggest military complex. No threat would be able to overpower us like last time," Baker said.
"How about your comments about Star Fox and their role in the war with the Aparoids?" the reporter asked.
"They didn't win the war, the combined might of the army managed to defend and defeat those buggy bastards," Baker said as Falco and Fox felt quite heated by this.
"That's not what I heard sir," the reporter said.
"Well; you heard wrong, there is no place for dirty merc for hires like them in the army. It's below us to be connected to these types. There is a reason why the army is declining commissions from Star Fox and other groups like this since there is no need due to our new improved army," Baker said.
"As if," Falco said to turn the channel to not hear Baker's bullshit anymore.
"That guy running his mouth again," Miyu said to come into the room.
"Indeed, so ungrateful. We put our lives on the line and the military toss us into dark space. What a joke," Falco said.
"I know, Baker is just another military brass man with too many connections. One of the reasons why I left the military, Pepper is the exception to idiots like him in charge," Fox said having distrust for him.
"I know right if I recall they were getting their asses spanked without us bailing them out three times over. No respect I tell yeah," Falco said as both Fox and Falco has a deep distaste with general Baker tasting Star Fox like dirt
"Man, this is making me hungry. I need to get some snacks from the kitchen," Falco said as everyone else sits at the table with Slippy behind all his stuff.
"I am ready to go Slip," Miyu said to join them at the table with Fox and Slippy.
"Well, I will be the dungeon master for this session," Slippy said as Fox has a bad feeling about this.
"Oh boy, this is going to be rough," Fox said as Miyu looks excited.
"Oh, I want to be a Sorceress of Light Annabella," Miyu said.
"Okay, let us begin," Slippy said as he clears up the situation they are about to get into. "Annabella, you have entered the door to the north. You are now by yourself, standing in a dark room. The pungent smell of mildew emanates from the wet dungeon walls," he said setting up the atmosphere with Miyu looking down at her character sheet with an eager glint in her pale blue eyes.
"Where are the chips?" Falco asked to ruin the mood.
"They're right next to you!" Slippy shouted as Miyu made her move.
"I cast a spell!" she said as Slippy gets distracted by Falco again.
"Where's the soda?" he asked as Slippy shakes his in disbelief.
"In the fridge, duh!" he raised his voice.
"I want to cast a spell!" Miyu repeated herself.
"Can I have a soda?" Falco asked.
"Yes! You can have a soda, just go get it!" Slippy said.
"I can cast any of these, right? On the list?" Miyu asked in confusion for Slippy to look annoyed by her rookie behavior.
"Yes, any of the first level ones," Slippy said
"I'm going to get a soda, anyone wants one? Hey Slippy, I'm not in the room, right?" Falco asked about the game session.
"What room?" he asked
"I want to cast Magic Missile…'" Miyu asked as Falco butts in.
"The room where she's casting all these spells from," Falco said.
"She hasn't cast anything yet!" Slippy said with a raised voice.
"I am though if you'd listen. I'm casting Magic Missile!'" Miyu raises her voice to get the dungeon master's attention.
"Why are you using Magic Missile? There's nothing to attack here," Slippy said looking confused by this.
"I… I'm attacking The Darkness!" Miyu said in a silly way for everyone is laughing at Miyu's silly joke.
"Fine! Fine! You attack 'The Darkness'. There's an elf in front of you," Slippy said.
"Woah!" Miyu's eyes widen to look at her boyfriend.
"That's me, right?" Fox asked.
"Yes, it is, big bro. He's wearing a brown tunic and he has grey hair and blue eyes. Okay, you guys can talk to each other now if you want," he said.
"Hello," Miyu said awkwardly
"Hello," Fox looking awkward as well.
"I am Annabelle, Sorceress of Light," Miyu trying to act into her role.
"Then how come you had to cast 'magic missile'?" Fox let out a joke for this had the room rolling in laughing fits.
"You guys are being attacked," Slippy said to change it back to the game at hand.
"Do I see this happening?" Falco asked.
"No! You're outside by the tavern!" Slippy shouted.
"Cool! I get drunk!" Falco said with glee as Slippy deeply sighs at this
"7 ogres are surrounding you," Slippy said.
"How did that happen to us? I had Morin's Magical Watchdog cast," Miyu said.
"No, you didn't!" Slippy said being bothered by this.
"I'm getting drunk! Are there any girls there?" Falco asked but Miyu talks over him.
"I did! You asked me if I wanted any equipment before this adventure and I said no but I need material components for all my spells so I cast Morin's Faithful Watchdog," Miyu said as Slippy noticed she said the same spell differently.
"But you never actually cast it," Slippy said.
"Roll the dice to see if I'm getting drunk!" Falco asked.
Slippy sighs and rolls the dice on the table not bothering to look at the number. "Yeah! You are!" he said.
"Are there any girls there?" he asked.
"Yeah!" Slippy raises her voice to be very annoyed by both Falco and Miyu they are not taking the game seriously at all.
"I did though! I completely said when you asked me," Miyu getting angry with Slippy tossing it back at her.
"No, you didn't! You didn't say that you were casting the spells so now there are ogres, okay?!" Slippy sounded more annoyed.
"Ogres?! Man, I got an ogre-slaying knife! It's got a +9 against ogres!" Falco said as Fox shakes his head at this.
"You're not there! You're getting drunk!" Slippy said as Krystal looks on in disbelief to see a dumpster fire taking place in front of him.
"Miyu, you are not supposed to pick a fight with the dungeon master," Krystal said as Miyu lets out a sigh.
"Oh fine," Miyu said as Peppy called on the loudspeakers.
"Everyone, get to the bridge. We got a new job coming in, I will give you the details," Peppy said to cut off the line.
"Well; that was fun, we should continue after we get back Slippy," Miyu said.
"I will pass, Krystal you are a better player," Slippy said as Miyu's long slender ears droop from this.
"I can be a better player I promise," Miyu said as they head off to the command center.
All six Star Fox pilots meet with Peppy with him sitting in his chair looking over details on the holographic screen.
"We are being tasked with protecting a merchant fleet by Baltan Corp. They have been harassed by the Crimson Horde for too long and they are paying quite a pretty penny for our services," Peppy said.
"How much?" Fox asked.
"About 2,000,000 credits to our name to make sure they get to their location without being raided by pirates," Peppy said.
"Excellent, guys suit up and meet me at the hanger in 30 minutes," Fox said as everyone parts ways back to their rooms. Krystal is within her room to strip out of her casual outfit and underwear. She slips onto a black sports bra and black panties complimenting her blue and white fur nicely. She gets into her blue form-fitting flight suit as she begins to get to the hanger bay.
All six members are going into their Arwings as the Great Fox light speeds towards their location. Fay fixes up her light blue jumpsuit to check her Light Arwing's systems. "All is green here. You still feeling okay Krystal?" she asked on the comlink.
"Oh yes I am, don't worry about me," Krystal said as she checks on her Cloudrunner's shielding.
"Alright, after this. We would go together just the two of us. Getting ice cream and doing some shopping back in Cornelia," Fay said as Krystal smiles at this.
"Yeah, that would be fun," Krystal said as the Great Fox warp jumps to their chosen location.
Elsewhere the Crimson Horde pirates are heading for the location of the merchant ships. The leader is talking with Amy on the hologram. "Milady, we are heading for the destination to collect the materials you need for the Ark," the commander said to the blue fox.
"I expect you to do better now. The Ark's completion is almost done, needing more materials wouldn't hurt," Amy said.
"So boss, want do you get out of this?" the commander asked as Amy has a sorrowful look on her face.
"Revenge for the ones who destroyed my world and I will destroy this order they help build and replace it with a new one," Amy said as the commander looks at her funny. "Within this new order I make, you all will benefit from it. In the chaos you would be able to take advantage and get all the rewards," Amy said as the pirates see credit signs in their eyes.
"Oh, that is too sweet to miss out on," the commander said.
"Indeed, go onto your mission," Amy cuts the hologram off as the pirates prepare to strike at the merchant fleet.
Back with Great Fox as they manage to meet with a group of transport ships holding in various supplies. "Thank goodness you are here Star Fox. We are transporting supplies to Venom," the fleet captain said on the radio. All six of the Star Fox members exit the hanger to go into space to begin guarding the fleet.
"We will be guarding you until we reach our destination," Fox said on the comlink.
"Detecting energy vessels coming out of warp space," Rob said as he finds a few ships warping nearby from its sensors.
"Yeah, looks like a few destroyers and a fleet carrier," Peppy said on the radio.
"I am wondering how do these pirates get their hands on equipment like that," Fay said as they observe the ships look pretty brand new compared to what normally pirates use which is worn out and makeshift designs for their ships.
"Yeah, that's a bit odd," Slippy said as they go on to engage the targets.
"Less talking, more blasting. We can worry about the details later," Falco said as she fires upon a pirate fighter to take it down.
"He is right, we can worry about those details later," Fox said as they all pick their targets.
"Right," Miyu said to fire twin lasers to cut down a few fighters as a couple of fighters are behind her. "Oh crap, they are on my tail," she said as Krystal came in from the side. She fires her laser cannons to take down the chasing enemies to free up Miyu. "Thanks, Blue," Miyu said.
"No problem, Miyu," Krystal said as they protect the ships with Slippy and Falco going for the fleet carrier.
"Don't let them near the bridge," the commander said on the radio. Slippy is priming his smart bombs to aim at the bridge. The turrets are aiming for the Bullfrog for the ships a few hits but his shields still hold up.
Falco flies in with his Skyclaw to focus fire onto the turrets to clear the way for Slippy. Falco is avoiding lasers and missiles while taking out the remaining turrets. Slippy fires a few smart bombs to smash into the bridge to cripple the ship leaving three destroyers left.
"Alright, time to bust up more ships," Slippy said as Falco is following after them.
"Don't rush Slippy, don't want you getting shot down again," Falco said to blast a fighter that was going to shoot Slippy.
"Come on Falco, it was one time," Slippy said as Fox, Miyu, Fay, and Krystal are focusing on protecting the ships from pirate bombers.
Fox cuts through the shields of a bomber and reduces it to space dust. Miyu speeds her Light Arwing to blast several bombers with speedy charged shots. Fay fires onto fighters and bombers to protect Krystal from a pursuing fighter.
"Thanks, Fay," Krystal said.
"No problem Blue," Fay said as the four are swiftly taking care of the remaining fighters and bombers. Slippy and Falco took down the first destroyer and headed for the second one. Falco uses his Sky Claw's multi-lock to home in on several turrets. He fires a barrage of homing lasers to destroy them all at once clearing a path for Slippy with him unloading his smart bomb payload onto the bridge.
The second destroyer is dead in space as they go for the last one. "Time to clean this up and get paid," Slippy said.
"Yeah, I can smell that nice sushi dinner right now," Falco said wanting to treat himself to a nice meal.
"Who are you going to share it with Katt," Slippy teased him as Falco is not amused by this.
"We are not a thing period," Falco said flatly as Slippy doesn't believe it.
"Whatever you say, Falco," Slippy said as he is blasting the last tower of the ship with bombs to destroy it. "Perfect, all ships are nonfunctional," Slippy said.
"Good work, a bit surprised to be honest," Falco joked.
"Yeah, yeah, You know I am improving recently," Slippy said.
"Yeah I guess," Falco said as they managed to clear out the area leaving a clear path for the merchant fleet.
"Thank you, Star Fox, we can take it from here. My boss will transfer the credits into your joint account," the captain said.
"No problem, good luck," Fox said as the fleet warps away for everyone heads back into the Great Fox. "Gee, kind of hard to believe those pirates have that type of equipment," Fay said.
"They must have secret space yards to make their ships and vehicles but not something of that quality," Slippy said as Krystal is pondering on this.
"Gee, this is getting weird," Krystal said as she goes off with her team for the Great Fox head for Corneria for some R&R.
Elsewhere General Baker is within his office for he got a message on the holonet about something he didn't expect. He manage to grab a leaked comm message between Crimson Horde pirate captains. They were talking about their new client and a piece of technology called the Ark. baker looks in shocked to hear this name again.
"The Ark, why would a bunch of dirty pirates know about the Ark," Baker said as he begins to laugh at this. "So, the Ark has resurfaced again and my pet project is still out there somewhere," Baker said. "I would need it to gain full control of this system. I will bring order to this system no matter the cost even if a few planets get destroyed in the process," Baker said as he sits within his chair to make plans for his new vision of the Cornerian Federation.