Chapter 1: Cornerian Capital City:

Corneria was the crown jewel of Lylat. The planet was the most developed of all the worlds in the Lylat System and the most populated. Corneria is the second smallest world above Papetoon, with a diameter of 13,400 kilometers, and a population of 6.5 billion. Though the world prides itself at being a safe place where its people prosper, it had seen its fair share of hardships. The most notable was the Lylat Civil War. The war began when a mad scientist named Andross was exiled to the planet Venom after a failed experiment destroyed half of Corneria's Capital City. A few years later, strange activity was observed on Venom, so the Cornerian Government sent the mercenary team Star Fox, led by James McCloud, to investigate.

Shortly after their arrival, Star Fox member Pigma Dengar betrayed the team, leading to the death of James. The surviving member Peppy Hare, managed to escape and report back to Corneria. This event kicked off the war, which lasted ten years and killed millions across Lylat. The war come to end when General Pepper, leader of the Corneria Defense Force, authorized the reforming of Star Fox using James' son Fox McCloud.

Through their actions, they rallied the Cornerian Military and launched a massive counterattack on Venom, leading to the death of Andross and the Venomian defeat. After the war, Corneria enjoyed four years of piece, then came the Aparoids. They were a race of cybernetic insects bent on assimilating the entire galaxy. Though the CDF hadn't fully recovered from the Lylat war, they manage to repel the Apariods, Star Fox, with the help of the former Venomian Mercenary team Star Wolf, destroyed their home world. The war cost an untold number of lives, and nearly the destruction of Corneria. Through the determination of the Cornerian people, they managed to rebuild their society in record time.

Today was the second anniversary of the Aparoid war, and the city was alive with celebration. Families all over the city were preparing for the annual fireworks show, but some were also preparing for the retirement of General Pepper. Pepper had been injured in the Aparoid attack and never fully recovered, his body ravaged by the Aparoid assimilation. Today would be his official retirement, and former Star Fox team member Peppy Hare, would take his place as head of the CDF. The ceremony is being held at the Darnell Lake Wharf, a large resort and a popular tourist destination. Usually bustling with activity, the wharf was closed off while the CDF set up the equipment and security check points, as the Prime Minister of Corneria would also be attending.

As the preparations at the wharf were under way, the members of Star Fox were getting ready for their part in the ceremony in their hilltop villa just outside of the city. The team's leader, twenty-six-year-old Fox McCloud, stood in front of a full wall mirror, making minor adjustments to his suit. Since he was a mercenary, he didn't have to worry about military regulations. He brushed down his orange fur, trying to flatten some bits of that were sticking up. He leaned down and brushed off his silver boots. They were his favorite pair of boots, only because they made him look a little taller. He wasn't short by any means, standing at 5 foot 7, but a little extra height never hurt. After he finished, he left his room to check on the others. Peppy had left earlier, and Fox's girlfriend Fara was still at work, that left Falco, Slippy, Krystal, Fay, and Miyu.

Fox stopped at Falco's door and knocked loudly. "Falco! Are you ready yet?!", Fox shouted as he banged on the door.

"Stop it!", Falco shouted from inside his room, "I'll be ready when I'm ready!" Fox sighed and shook his head. While Falco was his best friend, he could be a real pain in the ass sometimes.

Fox heard a door open down the hall. He turned and saw Slippy walking toward him, brushing off his suit.

"Hey Fox," Slippy said.

"Hey," Fox replied, "Are the girls ready yet?"

Slippy shrugged, "I'm not sure. I haven't heard anything from them yet."

Fox nodded, "Alright. I check on them."

Slippy nodded and went to wait in the living room while Fox went down the hall to the girls' rooms. He stopped first at Fay's door and lightly tapped on it. Fay opened the door, tying a large red bow on the top of her head. Fay was a pure white cocker spaniel, a little shorter than Fox at 5 foot 3, and she was Slippy's assist, the both of them provided the technical expertise to keep the Great Fox and the teams Arwings operational.

"Hey Fox," she greeted him.

"Hi Fay," Fox said, "I was stopping by to see if you were ready."

"Yeah, I'm ready," Fay said, stepping out of her room, closing the door behind her. At the same time, Miyu left her room and headed toward them, the brown lynx waving when she saw them.

"Am I late?" she asked.

Fox shook his head, "Nope. You're right on time," he said, "Have you heard from Krystal?"

"Not yet," She said, "Want me to get her?"

"No. I'll get her," Fox said, and slowly began his trek to Krystal's room.

He had met Krystal on the planet Sauria, two years before the Aparoid War. Krystal had taken a liking to Fox during their time on the planet, unfortunately, Fox was already in a relationship with Fara Pheonix, his flame from the Flight Academy, thus he had to turn down Krystal's affections. Though she was hurt by this, they both agreed to still be friends and not let her feelings get in the way. Fox stood outside Krystal's door, somewhat hesitant to knock. Even though had they patched things up, he still felt tense around her.

Krystal sat on her bed, reading her favorite book. She was invested in story and forgot about the time. She heard Fox approach and stop outside her door. He was a little awkward around her since her turned her down, and as such had trouble talking to her. Deciding not to torment Fox any longer, Krystal got up from her bed and opened the door a crack.

"Yes Fox?" Krystal asked in her accented voice. Fox looked up to her face, Krystal being half a foot taller.

"I was coming to see if you were dressed and ready," he said.

She gave a small smile and said "Almost. I'll be out in a bit."

Fox smiled, "Ok. Me and the others will be waiting in the living room." Krystal gave a small nod and closed her door. Fox let out a breath and walked to the living room, seeing Falco among the others.

"Well, look who decided to join us," Fox said with a grin. Falco scoffed, rolling his eyes. A few moments later, Krystal entered, clearing her throat to announce her presence.

"Alright," Fox said, "Looks like we're all here. Let's get going." Everyone walked outside to the limo Peppy had arranged for them. After they got in, the chauffer began the drive to the lake.

"Can you believe Peppy taking over the CDF?" Falco asked Fox.

He sighed and replied, "It's hard to believe, but his is the best choice."

While Fox was happy for Peppy, he was saddened by his departure from the team. After his father's death, Peppy had become a second father to Fox. He had seen Fox through the Cornerian Flight Acadamy, and his reforming of Star Fox. Though Peppy promised to remain in touch, the job of CDF General would keep him busy. Fox let out a sigh and turned his gaze to the Cornerian countryside as they passed by.

An hour later, the limo pulled into the wharf's front gate. The scene that greeted them was quite chaotic. Soldiers were running all over the place, scrambling to set up the stage and seating areas. A limo was pulling in a short distance away, carrying several high-ranking CDF officers, and the Prime Minister was set to arrive in 10 minutes.

"Come on guys!" a loud voice shouted over the noise, "The ceremony begins in 90 minutes!" Fox looked around for the voice as he and his team exited the limo. About thirty feet away, Fox spotted a familiar bulldog.

"Bill!" Fox called over to him, waving his arm. Bill turned, finding Fox very quickly.

"Holy shit! What's up Fox?" Bill said, walking over to him.

Fox wrapped Bill in a hug, "What's up Bill? Are you in charge of this?"

"Just the seating," Bill said as Fox released him.

Fox chuckled, "Sounds like fun."

Bill sighed, "No. Some of these guys act like it's their first time setting up chairs."

"Well, how can we help?" Fox asked.

"Um...I think you guys can help with the stage area," Bill replied.

"Alrighty Bill. Come on guys," Fox said, then he and the others headed for the stage, across the wharf, the Prime Minister had just arrived.

As the time passed, more and more people began showing up. Both Pepper and Peppy had arrived a short time before, clad in their red dress uniforms, and Fara came a few minutes after, still dressed in her business suit. Fox ran up and gave her a hug when he saw her. Fara leaned in and they shared a kiss. Krystal saw them and couldn't help but feel a momentary flash of jealousy. She quickly buried it, not wanting to ruin their friendship.

The parking lot was soon almost filled completely, Fox and his team, with some help from Fara, helped the guests to their seats. Bill and the others were doing last minute checks sound equipment and the stage lighting. Finally, after the chaotic prep work was completed, the ceremony began in earnest; Bill took the stage, having volunteered to be the narrator.

"Good evening, everyone!" Bill began, "Today we mark an important day of the Cornerian Defense Force!" The audience cheered at Bill's words.

"Thank you! Now, for those who don't know me, I am Staff Sargeant Bill Grey, and I will be your narrator for today's ceremony!" Another cheer arose from the audience. "Please rise for the arrival of the official party and the playing of the Cornerian National Anthem!"

All members of the audience stood as Generals Pepper, Peppy, Major General Stanely, a large, gray wolf and Pepper's second in command, and Prime Minister Lena, a lioness, walked onto the stage. Taking their positions at the front on the stage, they turned to face the audience. At the command from Bill, the military band began to play. The soldiers in the crowd saluted the Cornerian Flag on the top of the stage.

After the anthem, Bill retook the mic and said, "Everyone, please be seated."

Bill cleared his throat and began his script, "Today, we honor the thirty-year career of General Bradley Pepper." The crowd erupted in cheers, Pepper smiled and raised a hand, the other resting on a cane. Pepper was only fifty-two, but the Aparoid attack did a number on his body.

"Bradley Pepper began his career as a bright-eyed recruit...," Bill began, telling the story of Pepper's career.

Fox listened to Bill's narration, glancing between both Pepper and Peppy. 'You have quite the role to fill Peppy,' Fox thought, but he knew Peppy was more than capable of doing it.

"And now", Bill said, finishing Pepper's story, "The retiring Officer, General Bradley Pepper!" The audience once again erupted with cheers, giving him a standing ovation.

General Pepper slowly took the podium, Bill stepping in to help.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," Pepper began, his voice somewhat weak from his condition, "It is an honor-"

Before he could continue, a blinding green light illuminated the entire wharf, followed by a strong gust of wind and swirling clouds. Panic spread through the crowd as security began to evacuate them. Bill moved Pepper below the podium, drawing his concealed blaster. Peppy drew his own blaster, PM Lena's aids move her away, Stanley covering them. Star Fox sprang into action, helping evacuate the wharf.

"What the hell is this?!" Falco shouted over the wind.

"I don't know!" Fox shouted back. The green light started to dull as large chunks of rock, pieces of metal and what looked like a shuttle emerged from the clouds.

"Where did that come from!?" Miyu yelled, pointing at the debris as it fell on docks, halfway across the lake.

"What do we do!?" Slippy asked. Fox looked for Peppy, finding him jogging toward them. "Peppy!" Fox called out.

"Star Fox, You guys come with me!" he said, being followed by a dozen CDF soldiers.

"Fox!" Fara shouted from nearby, "Can I come with you?"

Fox looked conflicted for a moment, then came to a decision, "Stay and help with the evacuation," he replied, "I don't know what we're gonna find there."

"Ok," she said and ran back to the crowd. Star fox joined the Peppy and the soldiers, both parties hopping in nearby APCs and heading for the docks.

Isaac slowly opened his eyes, finding himself in what looked like an abandoned warehouse. He looked to his left and found his plasma cutter. He rolled on to his stomach and crawled to it. Picking it up, he slowly rose to his feet. Looking out a massive hole in the wall, he noticed he was by a lake surrounded by trees.

"What the fuck?" he asked himself. "Carver!" Isaac shouted, looking around the warehouse. Seeing nothing but chunks of rock, he walked to the hole and stepped outside. It was late evening, and he didn't recognize his surroundings. Isaac spotted a Unitologist shuttle lodged in a building nearby. Isaac went to it, spotting a body of one of Danik's men. He walked to the body, checking it over for weapons. He found a stasis grenade and two flashbangs. Taking them, he looked around for Carver.

"Where the hell are you?" he said. A crash from a nearby alley startled him, raising his plasma cutter at the sound.

"Carver?" he asked aloud. Getting no response, he slowly made his way to the alley.

Reaching the entrance, he hugged the wall of the building and took a small peek around the corner. He spotted a garbage truck parked in the alley. A person was digging in a nearby dumpster and pulled out Carver's helmet. A sudden flash of anger surged through him, and he quickly approached the unidentified person.

"Hey!" Isaac shouted, the person jumping at the sound of his voice. Isaac saw the person's face was covered by a bandanna and large hat with symbol vaguely resembling a Marker on it. Though it wasn't clear, the sight still fueled Isaac's rage.

"You! Where the hell is Carver!?" Isaac demanded.

"I-I don't know who that is," the person said, their voice revealing them to be male. Isaac grabbed the man's collar, raising his plasma cutter to the man's face.

"Don't fuckin' play games with me!" Isaac said with a snarl, "Where. Is. He?"

The man shook uncontrollably, "I swear, I don't know."

Isaac shook the man violently, "You were with Danik, weren't you! You were hunting us!"

"I've never heard the name Dank! Please!" the man begged. The sound of boots running towards them made Isaac let go of the man as he turned to the sound. The man used the opportunity to scurry away. Several people who looked like soldiers were quickly moving in. Isaac didn't know what faction they belonged to, but he wasn't taking chances. He primed the stasis grenade.

"Drop your weapon!" one of the soldiers shouted. Isaac hurled the grenade at them. The grenade exploded upon impact with the ground, covering half of the soldiers in stasis. Isaac fled into the building, narrowly missed by a red ball of fire that struck the doorway, starting a fire.

Fox and his team had been following the CDF when shouting alerted them to a nearby area. Upon arrival, they noticed an unidentified vessel lodged in the side. "That's not a Venomian ship," a CDF member said.

Peppy pointed at two CDF members, "There's a body over there," he said directing their attention at a boat ramp, "You two secure it, Falco, Miyu, go with them. The rest of you, move into the alley." They ran towards the alley, spotting a tall figure pointing a large blaster at garbageman.

"Drop your weapon!" one CDF member shouted. The figure released the man and hurled a grenade at them. The grenade exploded on impact surrounding several CDF in blue, making them move in slow motion.

Krystal raised her staff and fired at the figure as it fled into the building, the red blast of fire impacting the doorway. "Damn!" she cursed. The blue field begun to dissipate, and the CDF started moving normal again.

"Fox!" Peppy shouted, "You and Krystal head in, we'll go around the other side! Harrold, call for backup and the research team, and Prime Minister Lena! This could be a first contact scenario!" Fox and Krystal moved towards a window to avoid the flames around the door. He used his blaster to shatter the glass, and both climbed inside as a CDF soldier extinguished the fire.

Isaac stumbled through the building, using his cutter's flashlight. The shuttle had knocked out the building's power, plunging it in darkness. Isaac hadn't experienced any hallucinations or seen any signs of nercomorphs, so he could assume the machine worked. But where had it sent him? This couldn't be Tau Volantis; he didn't think the machine could terraform the planet that quickly. The sound of glass shattering pulled him from his thoughts. He headed further into the building to find a place to hide, until he heard the voice. It was quiet, but it was feminine, with an English accent; it was a voice he was sure he recognized. 'Ellie?' he thought, cautiously moving toward the voice.

Fox moved into a nearby hallway, seeing in branch into separate areas. "You go that way," Fox whispered to Krystal, pointing to the hall on his left.

"Ok, Fox," Krystal replied and quietly crept through the hall, ears moving about to pick up any sound. Though the fire at the door had been extinguished, the smoke flowed in, limiting their visibility.

Isaac heard the sound of footsteps approaching, and a figure rounded the corner of the hallway he was in. Though they were obscured by darkness, Isaac was sure he recognized the form "Ellie?" he said, taking a step forward.

"Stop right there!" the figure commanded.

"Ellie? It's me I..." Isaac froze when the figure stepped forward, illuminated from a nearby window. 'Ellie' was actually a tall, blue vixen, holding a staff in her left hand.

As Isaac stared at her, she stared back. Krystal cocked her head curiously. The man, she assumed based on body shape and voice, resembled a large simian of some kind, the graying in the fur on its head and face suggesting it was rather old.

"Who are you?" she demanded. At the same time, Fox arrived behind her, surprised by the man.

"What the hell?" he muttered, before noticing the large blaster in his hand. "Hey! Drop your weapon, now!" Fox said, raising his blaster to his chest.

Isaac couldn't believe what he was seeing. Ever since the Ishimura, nothing seemed to make sense anymore, but these talking animals broke whatever sanity he had left. Taking a step back, he began to tremble and breathe heavily.

"No," he whispered, backing away. The orange fox took a small step forward. "NO!" Isaac suddenly shouted, causing it to jump. Grabbing a flashbang off his suit, Isaac hurled it at both of them and ran down the hall.

"Flashbang!" Fox shouted, taking cover around the corner, Krystal dropping her staff to plug her ears. The flashbang went off, the deafening boom shaking the walls. She fell on her rear from the shock wave, Fox helping her up.

"Where did-?" he stopped at the sound of a slamming door. "This way! Let's go!" he said, running down the hall, Krystal on his heels.

Isaac came to a door as the flashbang detonated and he forced his way outside, partially blinded by the setting sun. "Hey! Stop!" a voice commanded. Isaac turned as his eyes adjusted, revealing a large blue bird and some type of feline, along with a half dozen canine soldiers. A large rabbit wearing an officer's uniform stood nearby. Isaac looked around, noticing more soldiers, all pointing their weapons at him. What looked like scientist were near the Unitologist's body and more were standing by the shuttle.

The door he came from burst open, the two foxes from before rushing out. Isaac can hear them yelling at him, but it was all muffled. He remembered the words he said to Ellie before she left, telling her he wasn't afraid, that he wouldn't give up again. But with her gone and Carver who knows where, now this place filled with talking animals, he decided that he had enough. Isaac slowly brought his plasma cutter up and placed the muzzle under his chin.

Fox stared at the man as Peppy ordered him to drop his weapon and place his hands up. Krystal tried to read his mind, but something was preventing her from doing so.

"Just put the God damn gun down, now!" Fox yelled. His stomach dropped as the man brought the gun to his chin.

"NO!" he shouted and rushed forward. The man pulled the trigger, and an empty click echoed across the docks.

Isaac lowered his cutter, a red zero on the ammo counter display glaring back at him. He fell to his knees as exhaustion and sadness claimed him. Tears stung his eyes as he tossed the cutter aside and slowly raised his hands. Two CDF soldiers moved slowly toward him, Peppy, Fox, and Falco moving along side for support. Krystal hung back a bit, watching as the CDF cuffed him and then escorted him to a waiting APC.

"Let me through! Where is the alien?" voice yelled out. The culprit revealed itself to be Beltino Toad, Slippy's father and head researcher for Corneria's Institiute of Science.

"Sir, you can't come through here", a CDF soldier said, putting his arm up to stop him.

"Dad!" Slippy called out, taking his hand, "Let's slow down a little."

Beltino sighed, "I'm sorry. I always wanted to meet an alien." He looked into the APC, the 'alien' was looking his way, the commotion catching his attention.

Isaac glanced at the toad with a tired expression, ignoring the soldiers taking their seats next to him. At this point, all he wanted was some rest. The two foxes, bird, and feline all sat across from him. The rabbit from earlier banged on the hatch to the driver, and the ramp slowly closed. The APC lurched forward; the engine roared as they drove away. Fox looked at him, questions flowing through his mind: What was he? Where did he come from? He glanced at the man's face. He could see the exhaustion and sadness written all over it, he just hoped he would be cooperative in the interrogation.

Thirty minutes later, they came to a stop. The APC ramp lowered, revealing the front of the CDF Head Quarters. Fox, his team and the CDF escorted the man in the building, trying to avoid the swarm of reporters that had surrounded HQ. Peppy stepped in front of them to answer their questions as everyone else entered and took the man to the basement where the interrogation rooms were held.


Aurthur's Note: Finally! Here is chapter 1. Since this is only the second story I've done, there was a lot of editing/rewriting I had to do but think I'm happy with how it turned out. Chapter 2 is fully typed and is in editing, but I'm holding off on that so I can work on chapter 3. In the meantime, please enjoy 1! Constructive Criticism welcome.