Chapter 5: Dissension Within Star Wolf

Corneria

November 3, 2019

12:14pm

Several weeks after the success of Operation Shadow warrior, not only did both Eagle Eye and Star Fox's reputations continue to grow but now Corneria and Earth military forces began taking out all of Oikinny and Bowman's operations throughout the Lylat system and even on Earth. At the command tower, General Hare was in his office kicked back in his chair with his feet on his desk because he was in an absolute good mood and absolutely nothing was going to ruin it. However, at that moment, the intercom on his desk began to beep.

BEEP…

BEEP…

BEEP…

"What is it, Christina?" Peppy asks answering his intercom.

"General Hare, I have a Wolf O'Donnell who wishes to speak to you." she answers.

Soon enough, Peppy's smile had completely went away because upon hearing that very name, his good mood was completely ruined. He presses the button and replies, "Tell him I'm not available right now."

"One moment, sir." Peppy's assistant replies. "I'm sorry, sir but I'm afraid he's insisting and I believe he means it."

A sigh escapes the poor general and he then says, "Alright, patch him through to my office."

"Yes, general. Patching him through now."

Afterwards, Peppy looks at the computer monitors to his left and Wolf's face appears on one of the screens. "If this is about money, O'Donnell. Forget it. You and you're team are going to have to wait until you're next mission."

"I know that, rabbit but that's not the reason why I called." the lupine clarifies.

"That a fact? Alright, then what do you want, O'Donnell?"

"The pup and his team."

"What about them?"

"They showed up again during our mission in Sector Alpha like they did in Vienna on Earth."

"Is that a problem?"

"As a matter of fact it is because my team and I didn't need help from those armatures like we didn't need their help in Vienna."

"For you're information Wolf, Fox and his team were in Vienna only to save the hostage dignitaries and they handled it with extreme precision while you and you're team were tied up because you failed to follow direct orders which was to stand down and wait."

"I already told you, old man. There wasn't time to wait. We had to act now."

"So you and your team decide to go against my orders and charge into the building guns blazing only to get captured and take hostage along with the dignitaries. That's not doing you're job, that's a stunt! Fox and his team wouldn't have done that!"

"Really? Then maybe you can start by giving my team and I some answers about the pup and his team especially they're so called reassignment."

"I'm not a liberty to discuss that, O'Donnell."

"Why not?"

Because I said so. Now unless there's anything else you need, I believe were done now. Good bye." Peppy concludes and proceeds to end his call with Wolf.

After his stressful call, the general begins to rub his temples trying to relieve his stress. "I really hate that guy." he moans.

Meanwhile at Star Wolf HQ, Wolf was in the dining room with the rest of his team informing them of the outcome of his conversation with General Hare. "And that basically all the good general would tell me, team." Wolf states. "But, I'm not buying it one bit. He's hiding something and I want to know what it is."

"We know, Wolf." Leon replies. "In fact, it's the very thing you've had on you're mind since Vienna."

"What's you're point, Leon?"

"My point is if you want to get some answers from the old rabbit, you're going to need a different approach besides asking directly."

"Like what, Leon?"

"I say we march straight to the tower, walk right into the old rabbit's office and beat it out of him." Panther suggests.

"What!?" Krystal exclaims in complete shock, getting her teammates attention. "Panther, please tell me you would not consider that horrible option."

"Of course not, my rose. You know, I would never do that." Panther assures. "In fact, I was just joking around."

"Didn't sound like a joke to me, Panther." Leon scoffs.

"Well, it was!"

"I don't know, Panther. You do have a tendency to take really dangerous risks."

"I do not!"

"Denial, Panther. Heh, heh."

"Are you going to shut your mouth or do I have to feed an extra large knuckle sandwich?!" threatened Panther.

"Whoa, Panther. If I were you, I'd keep your temper and ego in check."

"I said shut it, Leon or I'm going to do it myself!"

"Alright, that's enough, Leon." Wolf interjects then turns toward Krystal. "Blue, can you take Panther to go cool off?"

"Sure, Wolf." Krystal replies then stands up. "Come on, Panther. Let's go out for some air."

Panther proceeds to get up and he and Krystal proceed to exit the dining room, leaving Wolf and Leon alone. "Leon, one of these days you're going to push Panther too far." Wolf warns.

"Oh come on, Wolf. You know I was just kidding around. You know that, right?"

"Maybe, but still you need to stop messing with Panther because the last thing I need is two of my best pilots killing each other. Got it?"

"Alright, alright, Wolf. From now on, no more messing with Panther. I got it."

"Good. Now, lets hope Blue was able to have any luck calming Panther down."

Outside on the balcony, Krystal did have luck calming Panther down but the feline was still feeling angry from Panther's joke. "My rose, one of these days, I am going to put that lizard six feet under." he growls.

"I know, Panther and I completely understand but don't listen to him. He was just being dumb."

"I know, Krystal. But I can't stand it when Leon gets on my nerve with that crack about my ego and temper. After all my rose, my ego and temper are not huge."

"I understand, Panther but you shouldn't let that rattle you, okay?"

Panther sighs and says, "Okay." He then leans forward on the railing.

"Panther, you're suggestion about forcing Peppy to tell us about his secrets. You didn't mean that, did you?"

"Of course not, my rose. It was only just a suggestion. That's all. I would never consider anything like that."

"You promise?"

"I promise, my rose. No harm will come to the General."

Krystal then breathes a sigh of relief and says, "Thank you, Panther. That really means a lot to me."

"Of course, my rose."

Panther and Krystal share a hug to seal the deal. Several seconds go by and they finally break their hug. The feline begins making his way back inside but notices his rose was still standing on the balcony. He turns toward her and asks, "Aren't you coming in, my rose?" The cerenian turns toward Panther and replies, "Actually Panther, I'm going to stay out here a little longer."

"Very well, my rose." Panther replies and continues back inside, leaving the vixen alone.

She turns around and continued to look up at the stars high up in the night sky. As she stared at the stars, she couldn't help but think about Fox and wonder how he was doing.

"Fox, wherever you are, I want you to know I miss you and love you with all my heart." she whispers as she looked up at the stars.