Dear Beloved,
I hope you won't mind me saying that to you from time to time, but you know my feelings toward you. I yearn to hear your voice again, that bass tone of yours that caught my attention to you in the first place all those years ago. I yearn to feel you again, and you better not ruin that spotty fur of yours, or I'll really get mad. That picture of you that I have framed beside my bed is not enough, and I face yet another lonely night once the sun sets here.
The reason why I have decided to write you this letter is because yesterday was a rather important day of the year. Exactly four years ago, I have met you in that House, and I could still hear your singing voice tingling in the air from time to time. Four years... unbelievable, huh? It seems like yesterday when I was almost killed when fighting against StarWolf and the Sapphire Paladins near Devin Station, and that was already almost year before I met you. Strange how time flies by when you're lonely in a remote house, doesn't it? I thought it was supposed to be the other way around, but I guess not.
I still have yet to receive word from my friends, and I still think that they're dead. Call me a pessimistic if you want, Martin, but I think it is the cold, harsh truth. I have been growing my own food fairly well, being so damn far from a grocery store and all that and I have no means of transportation, but eating the same food all the time is boring. When you see me again, could you at least bring me some veghaten beans and lemons? I really miss tasting those. And I could like some more bags of yeast because I'm running out of the supply you gave me when I last saw you four months ago.
Damn it, I want to see you so badly! Let me know when you are coming back, for I'm looking forward to it. Maybe we can sing a few songs by the pond and do some fishing if they are biting. I hope you still have that guitar of yours, since you play it so well. I hope that I don't have to live like this for much longer. I hate being famous and hiding out from the rest of the galaxy like this. When things get too quiet, I just want to cry. Now you know why I want to see you so much.
Anyway, how are you doing so far? Any news concerning that damn bounty on my head? Have Emperor Andross been killed, tortured, sent to Hell, whatever? Have anyone thought about a revolution yet? Or maybe just simply an assassination? I would love to use one of my kitchen knives and just go over to Corneria City and kill that bastard of an ape, you know. My viewer broke down a month ago, so I have been falling behind on the news here. So when you come, expect me to create a storm of questions, because I want to catch up with the rest of society. I hope this letter reaches you soon. You know I will be waiting for you.
I love you.
Yours always,
Katt
"There were times when I thought that when I saw Emperor Andross declare himself as the emperor of the Lylat System, I swore that the stars actually bowed down to him in worship."
-- Fleet Admiral Carl Thurman
To add salt to the wounds, Emperor Andross decided to have the terms of surrender signed in the bridge of the very ship that had destroyed Cornerian hopes. General Pepper, dressed in full uniform including his many medals, faced his arch enemy from across the large table with a somber look on his face. Standing between him were the other top two members of the Cornerian Ruling Council, the trio representing the planets Katina, Corneria, and Fortuna respectively.
Sitting on the throne-like leather chair was the Emperor of the Venom Empire, a gloating smirk on his smug face. For years, he had been looking forward to this event, and now it had become a reality. Standing beside him was his nephew Andrew, and behind them were the rest of the StarWolf team, Fleet Admiral Carl Thurman, and the entire assembly of the Venomian War Council, including Commander General Venus Avalona.
"Well gentlemen, the war has officially come to an end," Emperor Andross spoke. "It's a shame that comes as bad news to you and your people. But don't worry, this war will end in a positive note for all of us."
"That's a whole bunch of crock and you know it," the Katina representative, a red-haired tigress that is slightly smaller than General Pepper, mumbled out in distaste.
"Strong words coming from someone like you," Emperor Andross retaliated, "but you are sadly mistaken, Miss Galetron. One problem that the Cornerian Alliance has was that it was an alliance... a collection of different leaders that have their own ideas and strategies. You may think that you all have acted in one, but that is not true. Because you lack a single leader, even someone of great importance like this pathetic hound standing before me must quarrel with his equals and even those of lesser importance."
General Pepper frowned at his statements and resisted the temptation to close his fists. "I'm very sure that your own War Council have their own arguments from time to time."
"Yes, but at least they are resolved very quickly. Why? Because I'm their highest authority. All decisions from me are final and no more arguments arise afterwards. With just one person controlling all, operations can move smoother and faster. My War Council only exists to give me suggestions on the best course of action. That is the way that the government should rule by. The Venom Empire has been victorious because it was ruled by the right form of government... MY government! When one person makes the decisions, there is no real conflict within the government, and thus the people will prosper from the smoothness."
"The people being oppressed is more like it," Pepper shot back.
Andrew growled and leaned forward over the table. "Shut your mouth in the presence of the Emperor, hound!"
Andross grimaced and grabbed Andrew's arm to hold him back. "Quiet, Andrew... I'm nice enough to give them a chance to speak," he said and then faced the defeated representatives again. "Let's end this ceremony. End the war that had given us both headaches. State your surrender."
The tigress bowed her head slightly and began with a sullen tone of voice. "I, Miss Desiré Galetron of Katina, declare submission to the Venom Empire, and transfer authorization of all military and non-military matters to Emperor Andross the Great. All ruling members of the Katina government are stripped of their powers and be submitted to Emperor Andross the Great and be punished as deemed appropriate. The planet Katina and its people are officially the newest segment of the great Venom Empire, and we submit to the Empire's leader from now to eternity. This, we declare."
The Fortuna representative, a massive polar bear with dull blue eyes and several scars across his face, was next. "I, Admiral Joseph Tearisa of Fortuna, declare submission to the Venom Empire, and transfer authorization of all military and non-military matters to Emperor Andross the Great. All ruling members of the Fortuna government are stripped of their powers and be submitted to Emperor Andross the Great and be punished as deemed appropriate. The planet Fortuna and its people are officially the newest segment of the great Venom Empire, and we submit to the Empire's leader from now to eternity. This, we declare."
Andross' smile shined as his eyes bored onto General Pepper. "And now... you."
Pepper almost snarled in hate amid the depression, and he stared back with dark eyes. "I, General Pepper of Corneria, declare submission to the Venom Empire, and transfer authorization of all military and non-military matters to Emperor Andross the Great. All ruling members of all Cornerian governments are stripped of their powers and be submitted to Emperor Andross the Great and be punished as deemed appropriate. The planet Corneria and its people are officially the newest segment of the great Venom Empire, and we submit to the Empire's leader from now to eternity. This... we declare."
Andross clasped his paws together in triumph. "It is done... the war is officially over, and I arise victorious!" He stood up and glanced at his nephew. "Andrew, would you do the honors of containing our guests? To extend my hospitality, let's show them this proud ship's prison quarters."
Andrew chuckled and snapped his fingers. Three soldiers immediately rushed over and grabbed the three prisoners, and bounded them with pawcuffs. Before they could be taken away however, Andross stood up from his chair and walked around the table to face General Pepper. Due to his size, he stood slightly taller than the hound, and Pepper seemed small in stature and mind in comparison to him.
"Oh don't worry about being too uncomfortable in the prison cells, General," Emperor Andross said smugly. "In two days, you will be executed, and you will be given a ticket out of this reality as you are burned into ashes. In spirit, you will witness the beginning of a new era, and you shall see that the Gods had given me victory in order to bring a better peace and prosperity to their people. Farewell, General Pepper... and I will see you on my crowning moment."
The hound didn't respond except with a slight growl as he and the two others were roughly taken away from the bridge. Andross laughed and faced his assembly in an obviously joyful mood. "Rejoice, my comrades, for we have broken the bodies of our enemies!"
A rousing cry of euphoria arose from his supporters, including StarWolf and the console officers down below on the lower deck. The televison cameras around the bridge, programmed to record every second of the ceremony, sent the motion images all across the Lylat System, and into the eyes of every Lylatian that has been watching. At that moment, half of the Lylat System rose in cheer along with their Emperor, and the other half wailed in grief and defeat.
"How far away is it, Steph?" Salem Mensata asked his sister as their sand buggy roared across the sandy realms of Yes'terantell Flats, somewhere in the southwestern hemisphere of Titania. The greyhound-shaped Sloughi dogs brushed away the sand from their faces as the brother of the pair stood up from his chair to get a better view ahead, hanging on to the frame of the buggy to keep balance.
"We might have two more miles to go," Stephanie answered and shifted gears as they approached a large sand dune. The climbing trail of smoke far ahead of them, spotted by the pair ten minutes ago, was still the only sign of whatever they were looking for.
Salem grumbled and dropped his slim body back onto his chair as they ascended up, and rubbed some more sand off his brown eyes. The tan and brownish furred canines lived in a small village several miles away, and were among one of the more wealthier families in the village, if owning a dune buggy with wheels was considered to be trendy. "Hope we get there on time. You sure that was a jet that flew over our town?"
"Can't be an asteroid, I know for sure," Stephanie responded quickly. "Not to mention that a jet can make smoke trailing up to the sky like that."
"Think the pilot survived?"
"I didn't see any parachutes coming down, so I doubt it, but we better make sure. Hang on!"
The buggy flew over the peak of the sand dune and created a geyser of sand as it collided with the ground, and Stephanie accelerated to the top speed. Several minutes later upon reaching the peak of another large sand dune, Salem spotted the source of the smoke. He stood up again and pointed downwards at it, which was still about a quarter of a mile away.
"Look! It was a jet, after all!"
Flames belched out from the ruined jet, which at this distance away could not be identified as Cornerian or Venomian. Most of the jet was blackened with soot and the right wing was splintered off and gone, but when Salem squinted his eyes to focus more, he spotted some pink along the hull of the jet.
"You know what jet it is, Salem?" His sister yelled out above the roar of the sand buggy.
Salem sat back down and shook his head. "I don't recall any pink on any official Cornerian or Venomian jet."
"Crap, it could be a customized jet. Maybe a mercenary or even a pirate," Stephanie grumbled. "Hope the pilot won't kill us or anything."
Salem grabbed his sister's arm rather slightly. "Hey, the pilot needs us now, pirate or not. Keep going."
Stephanie only nodded and continued on. Within a few hundred yards away from the spot, Salem stood up again (it was a bad habit of his but his sister had gotten used to it a long time ago) and hovered a paw over his eyes to shield them from the glaring sun. He spotted an object that looked strangely like a figure laying on the sand some yards away from the jet, and gasped. "I think I see the pilot! C'mon!"
Even before the buggy fully stopped as it arrived at the crash scene, Salem jumped out and ran toward the pilot quickly, kicking up sand behind his sandals. The white shirt and shorts he had on swayed slightly from his running and upon reaching the pilot, he slid down beside the person and quickly scanned for her condition. The female pilot's clothes was burned and torn in some areas, and sand was cluttered on her white hair. The pink fur she has, which got Salem's immediate attention, had several bloody wounds and burns, and she was laying on her stomach, the head peacefully laid on the sand by the cheek.
Salem pressed his fingers against her neck to check for a pulse and a small grin showed up on his face when he felt that she was still alive. Stephanie walked up and knelt beside him, inspecting the fur.
"Pink... so strange..."
"Tell me about it," Salem responded. "Help me turn her over."
With her help, he grabbed the feline pilot's arm and slowly turned her over till she was facing up, and he brushed away as much sand off of her face as he could. "She must have still be inside the cockpit when she crashed, and got out of it before the jet exploded. Got some burns and bruises," he said as he was checking the limbs and chest area. "I don't feel any broken bones except for maybe a shattered rib. We need to get her back to the village immediately."
"But how? The buggy is big enough only to fit the two of us!"
Salem glanced at the burning jet and though the heat from the fires was bothering him, it was not distracting. "I'll stay here while you take her to the doctor. You know how to drive that thing and I don't."
"Right, right..." Stephanie said and placed her paws under the cat's head to cradle it up. "A pink-furred cat... first Andross won the war and now we find a strange feline. What's next?"
Salem didn't bother to respond to that as they helped carry her up and slowly got her to the passenger seat of the buggy. He retreated from the mobile a few steps and watched his sister hop onto her seat and started up the engine. With no words spoken between them, Stephanie sped off with the pilot in tow, and when Salem was alone, he faced the jet and sighed.
"You'll be okay, pilot..." he softly muttered. "Just hang in there..."
A dab of coldness melting on her forehead finally snapped Katt Monroe back into reality, and her eyes fluttered open slowly. Though her vision was fuzzy at first, when it cleared, she noticed a wet red cloth touching her face delicately and an orange-furred male cat looking down at her. She realized that she was laying on a bed, and was inside some building. The heat reminded her that she was still in Titania, and felt some patches on where her wounds would be. She blinked several times and groaned.
"Where... am I?"
The doctor straightened his back and smiled. "You're in the village hospital, Miss Monroe. My name is Doctor Jason Kim," he answered with a slight accent that Katt couldn't identify. "Stephanie and Salem found you barely alive next to your crashed jet, and thank goodness you're still alive."
Katt groaned again and raised her head, but a pain on her chest forced a yelp out from her, and Dr. Kim placed a paw on her forehead to lay her head back on the pillow. "Be still, Miss Monroe. You have suffered two broken ribs along with a small crack on your right leg according to my portable X-ray scanners, and you have wounds and burns, though all of them are patched up. Just relax, my friend. Just be blessed that you're alive."
"Yeah..." Katt breathed out softly. "How did you know my name?"
"I saw your ID on your wallet. Sorry that I had to take off your clothes in order to patch up all of your wounds."
That last statement made her eyes widen and noticed that she was completely naked except for wet strips of clothing covering the appropriate spots across her groin and chest. She swallowed nervously, but the doctor chuckled at seeing that.
"Don't worry, I was the only one around that did it and I'm happily married," he assured her. "Salem told me that those were the only clothes you have but by the time he told me that, I had already cut open your shirt, and I apologize."
A small smile showed up on her damaged face. "Heh... it was ruined already... my jet..."
"It's a complete ruin, from what I have been told. Salem and Stephanie, the ones that saved you, are now trying to douse the flames to get rid of the smoke, but they couldn't salvage anything from that jet other than you. They should be back here any moment now. You just rest, and I have other patients to handle. Being the only doctor in this village can be a pain sometimes."
Katt slightly chuckled and nodded. "Whatever you say doctor... I need some sleep..." and with that, she doused off into slumber. Dr. Kim grinned and walked out of the hospital room to handle other matters.
Just as soon as the cat stepped out, Salem was waiting for him. "How is she?"
"She just woke up and thankfully she hasn't seem to lose any of her memory. You and your sister have done well in rescuing her."
Salem nodded and looked across the doorway and watched her sleep. "Yeah... she was just lucky. Not many pilots survive a crash while still in the cockpit. You think she'll be well enough to attend the meeting at the Elder House tonight?"
Dr. Kim shook his head. "Postpone that meeting till tomorrow night. She's too weak to get out of bed now."
"Okay then. You mind if I take a chair and spend the night in her room? She might want to see somebody when she wakes up."
The cat shrugged, being impatient and on a hurry to get on to other matters. "Fine, fine. Just don't drink all the mechan milk around here like the last time you were here for that broken leg you got."
Salem laughed and punched him lightly on the shoulder. "Hey, I only had five glasses and it was three years ago. Thanks, Doc."
He rushed inside the room and picked up the lone chair in the room and placed it beside the bed, and slouched down on it, exhausted from the day's experience.
"Oh yes, one more thing," Dr. Kim said from the hallway, getting Salem's attention. "Don't get your teenage hormones hyper around her, okay?"
Salem groaned and waved a dismissal paw at him. "I'll be fine, doctor. Don't worry about me!"
Dr. Kim chuckled and walked away, leaving the dog shaking his head as he gathered his attention back at Katt. Still despite the doctor's warning, he couldn't help but to admire her appearance. The pink fur seemed to shine from the light on the ceiling, and her face had an expression of peace and serenity. With all the sand pulled out from her hair, the whiteness of the hair looked creamy, and Salem absently hovered a paw over her head and flowed his fingers across the hair. Katt kept her eyes closed in response, but she did purred.
Salem smiled and rested his paw slightly on her head. "Told you that you'll be okay," he
whispered. He relaxed and slouched back onto his chair, watching her quietly. After several
moments, he too slowly fell into slumber and slept through the night with her.
The next morning, Stephanie arrived at Katt's room to find them both still asleep. Grinning, she walked up to Salem and grabbed his shoulder. Shaking him, she woke him up with a start and Salem almost jumped up from his chair.
"Huh, what?" He gasped and then regained his senses and looked up at his sister. "Oh... it's you, Steph."
"You got that right, bro," she responded and glanced at Katt. "How is she?"
"Doing just fine, except for a few broken bones, and her burns and wounds are patched up and such. What is Dad going to do about the jet?"
Stephanie shrugged. "It might be salvaged for parts, but I think he'll decide to just leave it there and let the sand cover up most of it," she said and then rubbed her chin. "Doesn't the name Katt Monroe sound familiar to you?"
"No, it doesn't," Salem responded, shaking his head. "Why do you ask?"
"Well... I think I heard the name somewhere, that's all."
Slight groaning suddenly grabbed their attention as they turned their faces toward Katt. The feline stirred slightly and then opened her eyes. Upon seeing the two dogs, she grunted a soft sound and shuffled her body faintly to make herself more comfortable. "Hello..."
Salem reached over and rested his paw on her arm. "Good morning, Miss Monroe. I am Salem Mensata and this is my sister Stephanie."
"Oh yes..." Katt slurred. "The ones that saved my life. I can't... ever thank you enough."
"Hmph, that's all right," Stephanie answered and forcefully pulled Salem's arm away from her as if she didn't want him to touch her like that. "Need something?"
"Well... I do need something to drink. Something cold and with ice to boot. And some pancakes if you have them..."
Stephanie nodded and patted on her brother's shoulder. "You heard her, Salem. Be a good boy and fetch."
Salem snatched a look at her with a scowl. "Hey, you're the one standing. You do it!"
"Oh, I'm the one standing?" She asked and then clenched her fist around his shoulder. Salem yelped as her nails dug into his flesh and he stood up quickly and grabbed her paw to release the grip from him.
"Okay, okay, okay!" He yelled in annoyance. "I'll do it... God, you're a pain."
"Of course," Stephanie retorted, "I just dug my nails onto you, am I right?"
Salem growled, but gave up and stormed out of the room. With that gone, Stephanie chalked up another sibling rivalry victory in her mind and sat down on his chair as Katt was chuckling.
"You always argue with him like that?"
"Yeah, but that's because he's just a teenager and a stubborn one at that. He needed a strong older sister to keep him in line and that's me," Stephanie responded. "So... you think you're refreshed enough to tell a story?"
"Yeah, I guess so... I suppose you're wondering how I got here, right?"
"Exactly."
Katt nodded and faced up at the ceiling. "Well... even though I am a mercenary, I have been fighting on the Androssian War against the Venomian forces. I do have a price on my head according to Emperor Andross, and so that's why I'm fighting them. Anyway, I was heading over to Devin Station along with StarFox and--"
Stephanie suddenly gasped at hearing that. "Wait... StarFox?"
"Yes... I'm best friends with them, actually," Katt answered and then noticed that she had a spooked look on her face. "Something wrong or just surprised?"
"Both..." Stephanie said. "I heard about that Devin battle... and that it was destroyed... but it wasn't enough..."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"Katt... the Kismet is still alive... the Cornerians have lost the war..."
Katt swallowed with a sudden depression and closed her eyes in sorrow. "No... can't be..."
"Corneria and their allies issued their surrender some time ago," the dog explained. "Forest Echo, one of the energy stations, had successfully fended off the Cornerians, and so that's mainly how Andross won."
"Shit...," Katt muttered. "Shit, shit, shit... what about Fox... and Falco...?"
"Don't know," Stephanie answered flatly with hints of sadness. "There was no word about them... and because StarWolf and the other Venomians had to flee due to damages, we don't know if they are still alive or... dead. You're the first one who fought in Devin for the Cornerian side that we have realized to be alive."
"Shit... I could've stayed there long enough to help them... but no... I fled before the battle was even over..."
"So you don't know if they are still alive either?"
A tear already ran down her face as Katt turned her head toward her. "No... I wish I do know..."
"So... your jet suffered so much damage that you were forced to leave?"
"Yes, prematurely, I believe... the Great Fox was destroyed so I had to look elsewhere to stop and repair my jet. I set a course to Titania, and well... here I am."
"Yeah... your jet is completely destroyed though, so you're stuck here for now. The closest starport from here is the Polack Outpost about a day from here, and the sand buggy I have is the only vehicle in this remote place. We live by selling the grogbite roots we grow here in Polack to get the necessary supplies. It's harsh living, but we are still alive."
"Food is here!" Salem burst out as he barged into the room, holding a tray of the food and drink Katt requested. Stephanie stood up and allowed her brother to place the tray on the chair, but his cheery mood ended when he spotted the downcast look on their faces.
"What's wrong?"
Stephanie ignored his question and glanced at Katt. "Look, we'll leave you alone for now. My bro and I gotta go."
Salem frowned slightly. "Gotta go... what do you mean?"
She grabbed him on the arm and headed toward the door, dragging his brother with him whom was struggling to be let free. When they left, Katt shed a few more tears and with her appetite gone, she tried to go back to sleep, mourning in grief.
In the hallway, Stephanie released her brother's arm and sighed. "Monroe is a best friend of StarFox, Salem..."
Salem gasped and walked back a few steps. "Holy shit... no kidding? She survived that Devin thing?"
"Well, we're not looking at a ghost here, so she must have survived," she shot back, almost in distaste at her brother's stupidity. "Damn it, if word of this goes out... Katt has a bounty on her head, and if she gets captured by those damn Venomians, then who knows what will happen to her."
"Steph... if we try to hide her, then we'll be in deep shit. If Andross or whoever finds out that we were hiding someone like her, this town might even be flattened and burned to the ground!"
Stephanie shook her head. "Don't be paranoid, stupid. This is a remote village, not a city, so we can be out of contact with the rest of society for a while. It's quite easy to do that, you know. It'll be easy to hide her."
Her brother remained skeptical. "I don't know... it's risky."
"Hey, what else can we do? Just kick her out at her present state? She won't survive very long in this weather alone, and she's very dependant on this village for now."
"Where will she stay once she is released from the hospital?"
"I don't know... maybe we'll figure out in this meeting at the Elder House. We must not have Katt fall into the wrong paws, Salem. You got that?"
He nodded in return and together they walked toward the exit of the small medical building. "Yeah... I understand."
"Good, good..." she answered and then pressed her paw on his shoulder rather firmly. "I do have one question though... why are you so interested in her to actually spend the whole night in that room with her?"
"Well... I just care about her, that's all..."
Stephanie glared at her firmly. "You didn't... look under her covers... didn't you?"
Salem's mouth opened in shock and his head shook in defiant innocence. "Hey, no, no, of course not! Why would I do something like that, silly?"
"I can imagine plenty of things."
Salem rolled up his eyes. "Give me a break..."
"Are the satellites ready to start the transmission?" Emperor Andross asked one of the camera crew as he faced a large camera inside a large room with a furnace. When the lion cameraman signaled that he was ready, Andross cleared his throat. "One moment before I start though," he said and then glanced to his right.
General Pepper, bound to a metal table that was standing vertically by the arms and legs, stared at his rival with dagger-like eyes. Because his muzzle was tied with wire, he could only mumble and groan, and with the wounds he suffered in recent torture sessions, his appearance was rather pathetic. Andross chuckled and glanced back at the camera and signaled it to start.
"My fellow Lylatians," he spoke in a firm and commanding voice. "Today is the beginning of a new age in our history. The Androssian War, which has devastated the once proud planet of Corneria, is officially over. No more will a soldier die in combat. There will be no more suffering and pain because of that war because it is done. I am now leading you into a period of peace and prosperity, where all Lylatians can enjoy the fruits that I will give you. No one would have to starve under me. Under my protection, we can defy all odds and live a serene and meaningful life. Our enemies have been crushed and rightly so, for they were staining our precious galaxy with the muck of war and suffering, and I have hammered down on them with justice!"
The camera then panned over to show both Andross and General Pepper in the same picture, and Andross resumed. "Here lies our last great threat to our peace. General Pepper, leader of all Cornerian forces and the one who sends money over to the ruthless killers that call themselves StarFox, is now defeated and bounded like the criminal he is. In just a few moments, I shall now give an example for all those that dare to go against me and threaten the peace..."
At his signal, several Venomian soldiers grabbed the table and positioned it horizontally with Pepper laying face up above it. The small door to the furnace opened, and the fires belched out into the room with a thirsty fury. Pepper moaned loudly in terror as the fires stung at his boots, but Andross ignored him.
"General Pepper... into the fiery pits of Hell, you go!" Andross commanded, and the execution was done. Screaming through a closed muzzle, the hound was slid into the furnace with the table, and the fires roared as they engulfed him, quenching their thirst with his blood and fur. Within seconds of being burned alive, the screaming stopped, and the furnace door closed with Pepper still inside. With no remorse whatsoever, Andross turned to face the camera.
"Fox McCloud and his pathetic team are dead. Believe that, my fellow Lylatians, for that is the truth. The Venom Empire is now officially dead... for it has served its glorious purpose. From out of its ashes shall rise... the Lylatian Empire! For the first time in history, the entire galaxy, from Venom to Katina to Corneria, has been reunited into one whole... to be ruled by one single government. In my lead, all of us will work together as one, just as it should be done. I declare myself the Supreme Emperor of Lylat, ruler of all you see!" He boomed loudly and raised his fists in sheer bliss and authority. "Follow me, and you will never be hungry or sad again! This is the new golden age for the entire galaxy, and you owe it all to me!"
The supporters in the room around him burst into cheer and the last thing the people all across the galaxy heard on the transmission before it turned off was the laughter of their new supreme leader.
Long live Andross the Great, Emperor of the Lylatian Empire.