Anguirus111 Note: I realized that I made a plothole in this story. I originally said that the fleet was headed for Corneria to be refitted and now they're attacking enemy forces there. Let's assume that the refitting occurred above Venom instead and their new orders were to mop up the remaining forces on Corneria. For those who've forgotten the story and don't want to reread it, Fox has been sent to the area on Corneria with the heaviest concentration of enemies because Andross is mad that Slippy committed electronic suicide. Andross is not mad at Fox because of his pursuit of The Dreamers because Andross feels that whatever Fox finds out, Andross can then use to his advantage by letting it give him supreme control of the Lylat System. There are quite a few references to other movies/books/etc. in this story, see if you can spot them all.
Corneria: A massive hunk of wreckage was blown sky high as a pair of Garudas led the armada through the rubbish that littered Corneria's landscape with Solar setting behind them. For the past two weeks, Fox's armada had been blasting its way through the junk and battling various battles against random VRF units. The armada hadn't lost a few units and now consisted of seven Landmasters, two Garudas, a Granga, an Attack Carrier flying above and behind them, sixteen desert rovers, and a Mechbeth tethered to the Granga. Occasionally laser blasts flew overhead, but mostly it was silent save for the noise that the armada made. Fox was in the Granga sitting behind the pilot in the dark and cramped cockpit as it trundled through the waste. He was keeping track of various intel. reports, armada status, and the time clock with a flashlight in his mouth, a pen in his hand, and a map with the data on it in his lap. He then clicked on the radio hanging next to him on the wall.
"Okay, we've got a couple miles to go before we call it quits and camp for the night. There appears to be a large clear area ahead of us, but it might be an enemy trap with landmines. We'll unload a couple of minesniffers before we even think about setting up camp. It'll be normal set up routines, we all crowd in and then we plant the poles, activate the shield, and get some sleep. You all should know your shifts by now and I want to see them fulfilled. Over and out," said Fox. He clicked off the radio and rubbed his weary eyes with his hands.
"You all right sir?" asked the pilot. Fox sighed.
"I'm fine, just fine," he said. Fox clicked off the light and sat in silence except for the lights blinking on the various consoles. The pilot stood in silence as he watched the outside via a 3-D imaging helmet. Fox leaned back and decided to close his eyes and get a couple minutes of sleep.
Time passed… When Fox finally opened his eyes, he was looking up at the stars above him.
"What the?" he thought. Fox looked around him to see the Attack Carrier looming on the ground behind him and the various other units clustered inside the shield grid that occasionally crackled above him. Various troops lay all over the ground in their sleeping bags as they tried to get what sleep they could. Fox groaned as he realized that he'd dozed off again. The deck officer noticed Fox having woken up and walked over to him with his flashlight grinning.
"Bought time you woke up! What was that you said about making sure the shifts were fulfilled?" asked the officer. Fox groaned.
"Ah shutup," said Fox laughing. The deck officer laughed to and motioned him to accompany him to a nearby campfire where some officers and troops were sitting around having some marshmallows. Fox picked up a stick and joined them.
"Welcome to the land of the living commander," said one of the troops and they all burst out laughing. Fox cooked his marshmallow in silence as he waited for the laughter to subside.
"You're all demoted all of you!" said Fox chuckling. The rest laughed as well.
"While you were out cold, we did what you asked. Everything's in proper order and there are several troops patrolling the perimeter inside the shield. There's nothing else to report," said the deck officer. Fox nodded.
"That's all fine and good, but what about what you haven't told us," said Fox nonchalantly.
"That being?" asked the deck officer. Fox looked at the group through the crackling fire.
"Ghost stories. I know you all have some to tell," said Fox. The group laughed again and someone picked up a tale to tell and some listened and others chatted among themselves. As Fox watched them, he considered what 'the dreamers' had said about another universe existing, which was better than this one. Fox then looked at those around him enjoying each other in this current situation and Fox wondered if anything was truly wrong with this one. He continued pondering this even after several shift changes and the fire went out. He was still pondering it when he went back to sleep and even dreamed about it as well.
"StarFox, I would be honored to have you as part of the Cornerian Ar… Oh no sir, we prefer doing things our own way," said Fox softly as he slept while next to him, the cube started glowing.
Sector X: Andross' shuttle docked once again with the base and he entered into the large room full of dreamers.
"Welcome back sir," said the lead scientist. Andross groaned as he remembered how this idiot had made a fuss about Fox visiting Slippy and then Slippy had circumvented Andross' control and went offline and then… Andross shook his head to clear that line of thought and concentrated at the matter at hand.
"No matter how bad things might turn out between me and Fox, I'll still hate this idiot more," thought Andross with a smile.
"Anything new?" asked the monkey. The scientist nodded.
"I've taken a topography of where we've found all the dreamers and I think you'll find it interesting," he said. He clicked on an electronic map and it showed the Lylat System.
"I know that, where's the info?" asked Andross.
"Oops! Here it is," said the scientist sheepishly. He activated a button and several dots went up all over the map. Andross looked at the chart and then saw what it was that had interested the scientist.
"You certain of this?" asked Andross. The scientist nodded.
"I am," he said definitely. Andross leaned back and held his chin in his left hand and pondered this. The screen showed that a mass of the dots of 'the dreamers' collected had come from around Titania. It formed massive circle around the planet with only a few outside of it and Andross reasoned that they had been moved by the VRF before being located like the group at Meteo.
"Then there's only one thing to do. 'The dreamers' must have something to do with Titania. Organize a search party. I'll lead it personally. We're going to find out what Titania has to do with them and then I'll destroy it once and for all and nothing and I mean nothing will stop my rule as the Emperor of Lylat," said Andross laughing as he walked off. The scientist nodded as his emperor left. Then he turned around and scowled.
"One day Emperor, mark my words, you will be licking the dirt off my boots," thought the scientist walking off to create the search party.
Corneria, two days later: Fox's armada slowly encroached on the partially buried base and its ragtag armada forming a wall between them and it.
"This is it ladies and gents, this is where the main enemy stronghold is supposed to be located at. This battle won't be easy, but we will win and we'll be heroes. Let's go!" said Fox as cheers erupted from the various other units. The entire fleet moved forward and into a thick of laser fire.
"Attack Carrier, we need some suppressing fire down here!" yelled Fox.
"You got it!" yelled the carrier pilot. The right side of the carrier opened and began reigning missiles down on the various VRF units.
"Landmasters six and seven, go around the wave and let 'im have it from the rear," said Fox.
"You got it!" came the affirmative reply. The two landmasters took off with a jolt and zoomed off using their boosts. Then the remaining landmasters hovered into the air and used either their lasers or bombs to briefly fire over the Granga and Garudas before settling down again. Then they repeated the process. But the resistant from the VRF was severe. Dozens of laser blasts erupted from the various units towards the UVCAF. One of the Landmaster lifted up into the air and was immediately blown from the sky by a missile. The Granga was being pounded on as well, but thankfully its armor dealt with most of the damage. Fox dropped the map and yanked an LCD device off of the wall.
"That's it. I'm powering up the Mechbeth," he said. Fox pressed a couple buttons on the device and a periscope dropped down from the ceiling. Fox selected the proper weapon on the device and peered through the periscope he targeted some enemies and pressed the fire button.
"Eat solarbeam!" he yelled. The pilot put his hands up to his ears.
"Sir, please don't yell, it's distracting," he said. Fox quickly covered his mouth.
"Sorry lt.," said Fox. Outside, the Mechbeth drew in solar energy and fired its blue energy beam at the VRF units, damaging them.
"We have to capitalize on this! Garudas, rapid fire now!" yelled Fox. The Grangas immediately began spewing laser fire from their arms at the enemies, blowing them up one by one. Inside the base, Katt watched in anger at the UVCAF routing their forces.
"First Meteo and now this! I don't think so. Deploy Project X!" shouted Katt. Caddyshack pressed a button and some mobile laser cannons popped out of the ground and fired on the UVCAF forces, but still they continued fighting despite the odds.
"You know that the Butcher of the VRF can never be defeated. Fox will kill us all!" shouted someone.
"Be quiet!" shouted Katt. She yanked out a blaster and shot the person who said it.
"We'll win! Or at the very least, we'll kill Fox McCloud first," she swore solemnly. Outside, the UVCAF forces continued battling weapon X and the remainder of the VRF forces.
"We might appear to have the advantage, but we're losing more forces than they are," said the pilot. Fox looked at the display again.
"I think you're right," he said finally. Then landmasters seven and eight finally got behind the VRF units and finally Fox had a little pincer movement in effect.
"That'll give us at least a little leeway," he said. Fox didn't voice the part about that leeway being very little.
"All units open fire!" yelled Fox. More fire erupted from all over the place One massive blast flew out from one of the ground cannons and blasted the bottom right missile launcher off of the attack carrier while another blast flung the top missile launcher of the Granga.
"Keep firing and advancing. If the VRF isn't stopped soon, we're all dead," said Fox. Again more blasts erupted from both sides as they hammered each other with laser blasts. Inside the VRF base, Katt watched furiously as despite the VRF's superior numbers in this situation, the UVCAF's experience in fighting was clearly showing on a holographic table. Located on the holographic ground were several orange disks.
"Prepare to activate the mines," said Katt. Caddyshack as well as others looked at her in shock.
"We can't do that until we've evacuated the forces. Those mines would destroy them and the UVCAF forces," Caddyshack said. Katt pointed to the map of the UVCAF forces surrounding there's. On the screen, one of the Landmasters exploded, but on the other hand several VRF forces exploded.
"We've lost this round. We must destroy the UVCAF now while we still have time. We'll then have to evacuate this base, but it won't matter, the butcherer will be dead," she said. Caddyshack crossed his arms at her.
"I won't do it," he said. Katt stared coldly at him.
"Fine then! I will!" she shouted. She hit a button and on the holoscreen, the mines went up into miniature explosions before the screen shorted out while at the same time, the ground rumbled around them throwing dust everywhere.
"Now all we do is wait for the dust to clear and watch our victorious efforts," she said to the rest of the people in the room. A strange eerie silence filled the room for several minutes when a rhythmic pounding was heard. A peculiar look came across everyone's faces as they crowded around a slit to see the outside. Then to their horror, the dust parted and a battle scarred Granga emerged spewing missiles to the left and the right in a display of superiority to the VRF. Everyone in the room stood in shock.
"We will not survive this," said Caddyshack. Then everyone went into hysterics and ran all over the place as they attempted to leave the room. Fox laughed as he saw some ground units in front of the base pull out and run off.
"What do you think they're afraid of?" asked Fox. The pilot chuckled.
"Not a clue, I guess they're just relinquishing the house to us sir," said the pilot. Fox nodded.
"Yeah. Now as to redecorating…pilot, lets make ourselves a new door before we send in the construction crews," said Fox. The pilot toggled the left missile launcher before returning to his console.
"You got it. One door, extra large," said the pilot. A missile streaked out of the bay and slammed into the wall blowing a massive hole in the wall.
"Saddle up people, let's lock, load, and redecorate," said Fox pulling out his blasters and slamming new laser cartridges into them. The Granga bent down on one knee and Fox journeyed to the lower deck and hopped down to the ground before the Granga stood up again. He then joined up with his troop commanders as they prepared to plan their attack.
"I need statistics now," said Fox. A commander rushed at him and laid down a chart.
"Okay, we've got five desert rovers, three landmasters, the Granga, a malfunctioning Mechbeth, and the Attack Carrier plus its complement of fighters and troops. Okay, I say we roll a couple of those desert rovers in the entrance we've made and just start blasting. Since they're controlled by remote, they're expendable. Then, we send in the soldiers and mop up any remaining resistance," said Fox. The commander looked at each other and nodded their heads in agreement. Fox then flicked on his comm. unit.
"Yo Jimmy! Get that thing down here! We need your troops!" shouted Fox up at the Attack Carrier hovering above. Inside the cockpit of the carrier, Jimmy the salamander was doing everything in his power to keep the carrier flying because the last attack had shorted out many of the Carrier's power systems so wires were emerging from every console and plugged into various others all from multiple jury rigs.
"You got it Fox, but it's difficult flying up here when the ship is off kilter," said Jimmy. Fox looked at the carrier as it drunkingly listed to one side.
"I don't care, just get that thing down here now," said Fox. Jimmy shrugged.
"You got it," he said. The Carrier slowly but surely descended to the ground on overtaxed boosters, and just when it was fifteen feet above the ground, a main thruster failed and the whole unit dropped to the ground like a stone. The impact flung everyone off their feet and caused more dust to rise from all around them.
"Jimmy!" shouted Fox angrily. Inside the cockpit, Jimmy gave a nervous laugh.
"Whoops! Heh heh, shutting down now," he said. Jimmy pressed a few buttons on his various consoles and the whole unit shutdown. Jimmy then eased his aching body out of the cockpit and stumbled into the corridor along with the other soldiers as they marched out of the carrier. He then joined up with Fox and his commanders.
"Okay, move out," said Fox when Jimmy was within hearing range. Fox then turned to face Jimmy as the commanders moved out. Fox sighed and crossed his arms.
"Jimmy, you've got to be more careful with that Attack Carrier, it's not a toy. We need every resource when can use and a damaged carrier is not going to help us at all. Just be more careful next time," said Fox. Jimmy sighed.
"Yes Fox," he said hanging his head in shame. Fox patted him on the shoulder.
"It's okay. Now if you'll excuse me, I must get going," said Fox. He started to leave when Jimmy chased after him.
"Hey wait up!" he shouted. Fox stopped and turned to look at him.
"Why?" he asked. Jimmy pulled out a notepad and a pencil before answering Fox.
"I'm got a secondary job working for the Daily Venom, your number one source of propaganda in the Lylat System. Behold Jimmy Olsen, field reporter and Attack Carrier pilot extraordinaire," said Jimmy smiling with glee. Fox held his head in his hands.
"Oy vey. Why did I deserve this?" asked Fox of the heavens. Jimmy just kept smiling. Fox then turned to face him.
"Fine, you can tag along and catalogue our exploits and write whatever you want, because either way, it'll be edited," said Fox walking off with Jimmy tagging along writing down notes. Fox watched in approval as the desert rovers rolled through the hole and opened fire on everyone and everything in sight. Then when their sensors picked up no more life readings in the immediate vicinity, they pulled out. Fox walked in front of the rows of troops who were prepared to enter the base and greeted them with the UVCAF salute, which they returned.
"As of this moment, we're all dead. What we do here will redeem our lives. We work only for Andross, we only obey Andross, we would rather die than disobey him. Our Emperor is our only family, and like all family he must be protected. These VRF scum are trying to hurt him and that cannot go unpunished. We will stop this insurrection and restore our people's faith in the Emperor. Now wait for my signal and then unleash hell because it's time we caught the proverbial bull by the horns and the VRF must die. All hail our Emperor Andross! Now charge!" yelled Fox. The soldiers all yelled and ran straight for the hole. Fox leapt in first and moved his rifle left and right searching for the enemy, but none came. The troops entered also and got into their lines.
"Split up, all squads take different paths. Destroy any and all resistance and watch out for any of 'the dreamers'," said Fox. Fox lead his squad and Jimmy down one of the many corridors that lead down into the bowels of Corneria.
"This is some of the oddest construction I've ever seen," admitted Jimmy. Fox held his hand to keep him quiet.
"Don't betray our position or we'll leave you," he said. Jimmy winced at his carelessness.
"Sorry," he said very quietly. Fox just nodded then quietly proceeded forward. Still, after several minutes of searching, they hadn't encountered a single creature at all.
"Something's not right here," thought Fox. They checked one more room, which was empty as well, before Fox holstered his blaster.
"Something's definitely not right here. We should've found something by now, but we haven't. I think there's more going on than meets the eye," said Fox to his team. His team nodded as well as they slung their weapons. Fox then activated his comm. system.
"Attention all other commanders, I think we've got a problem. Remember that last stand back on Fortuna about twelve years ago? I think it's about to happen again here and now," said Fox. While Fox had been too young to be a member of the UVCAF forces then, he'd heard the stories about a VRF unit that had holed itself in an abandoned building and managed to eliminate a major part of their UVCAF pursuers before Andross had gotten disgusted with both of them and dropped a thermonuclear warhead on both of them and had put Fortuna into a nuclear winter for that had only recently gone away, leaving the planet a snowball. While efforts to terraform it were underway, the damage was so severe that it would take at least fifty years before the planet could return to the way it had been so many years before.
"I think you're right," said one of the commanders. Fox sighed as he considered his options.
"Okay, I want scouts sent to try and locate where this last stand is. Until then, we're pulling out," said Fox. The troops then marched out of the building and joined up with the others who had exited also. Nearby, a couple scientists were preparing two robotic scouts (one identical to the Mars Lander and the other identical to a bomb defusing robot used by the U.S. military) units to venture into the base. Although they possessed no offensive weaponry, they did have extensive armor plating and a self-destruct device should anything go wrong. Fox walked over to them.
"They're ready," said one of the scientists. Fox nodded.
"Alright send them and have them hone in on any massive heat readings," said Fox. The scientists nodded, made the adjustments, and sent the scouts on their way. Fox then walked over to find the comm. officer. He found him (a snake that stands up on part of its tail and uses it as a hand, he also has an eyepatch over his left eye) working on one of the various radar antennas that linked the group together.
"Plissken," said Fox getting his attention. The officer set down the drill it was using and faced Fox.
"The namesss Ssssnake," said Plissken flicking his tongue out at him. Fox held his hands warding off the issue.
"Whatever. I need you to send a communiqué to main command apprising them of our situation," said Fox. Plissken regarded him closely then shrugged.
"Very well. Sssshould it bypassss the ressst of the fleet here or ssshould I ssssend it directly to Hammer to be transssfered?" asked Plissken. Fox thought about if a moment before giving his answer.
"Send one brief message informing the fleet of our success and a second to main HQ. Send our mission logs as well and ask that Andross give his command as to how we should proceed. Also, ask him if we can begin the looting," said Fox. Plissken narrowed his eyes at him and then nodded.
"Assss you wisssh," he said before setting off.
"Thanks Snake," said Fox. Plissken stopped in his tracks and twisted to face him.
"The name'ssss Plisssken," he said before trundling off. Fox just hung his head in despair before setting off to talk to his commanders.
15 minutes later, Military Installation, Sector X: Andross was tapping a pencil against a table in a fit of boredom as he waited for the incompetent lead scientists to make travel arrangements to Titania. He was about to do something he rarely did, doze off, when one of his bodyguards approached him. Andross looked up at him desperate for something intellectually stimulating.
"It's a current status report from Fox McCloud's expedition. He wants your advice as to how to proceed," explained the bodyguard handing him a datapad. Andross gratefully took it from him and began reviewing it with such vigor, as a starving creature would be to a four-course meal. He read everything and crossed analyzed it and reread it before contemplating what to do. He then summoned one of his bodyguards.
"I need an immediate channel to Fox McCloud," he said. The bodyguard nodded and walked off as Andross leaned back in his chair and put his feet on the table.
Corneria: Fox was just finalizing some plans in case Andross didn't report back when one of his aides came up and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Channel for you sir, it's a hologram," the aide said. Fox nodded and walked to the Attack Carrier. He entered it and walked to the comm. room. He sealed himself in and activated the holographic generator. Thegenerator flickered for a moment and then Andross appeared.
"Hello Emperor, I hope you won't mind if I don't grovel," said Fox. Andross chuckled.
"I wouldn't expect any less from you Fox. Provided you don't inform anyone, I won't have you killed," said Andross chuckling. Fox sighed.
"As opposed to now?" he asked. Andross stopped chuckling and sighed as well. Fox leaned forward in his chair.
"It's not easy trying to survive in a universe where the Emperor hates you. Am I no longer in your favor?" asked Fox. Andross looked him straight in the eye.
"Fox, you never left my favor. I'm sorry that I vented my frustration on you for Slippy Toad's 'suicide'. I know it was my fault that he evaded my protocols, but still, you're onto something important and I hope that you'll tell me the truth before you get in over your head. Have I lost your favor?" asked Andross. Fox slowly shook his head.
"Never sir. We've known each other too long to let a petty event drive a wedge between us…besides, Slippy was a security risk I believe I told you that," said Fox laughing. Andross started laughing as well.
"That he was, that he was. Anyway, let's discuss your current situation. If you're right about the VRF setting themselves up for a last stand, and I think that you are, then there's no use going in full force, it just isn't worth it. However, I do have a solution. I currently have a brainwashed sleeper agent bomb inside the base. If he's with the rest of them, then all you have to do is say 'adios gopher' and he'll explode taking everyone out in the immediate vicinity. It should be easy, and then after he's exploded and everyone's dead, then you can begin the looting. I want all major pieces of computer technology and weapons to be brought to UVCAF facilities, but the personal quarters are up for grabs," said Andross. Fox nodded in agreement.
"What if there are 'the dreamers' in the room as well with the bomb?" he asked. Andross shrugged.
"I've gotten all the information I need, they're expendable. Oh by the way, I'm taking a leave to Titania for a prolonged period. I trust you can keep things in order with the military?" asked Andross. Fox nodded.
"Yeah, but I was thinking about taking a vacation myself after this whole fiasco is over. If that's okay with the Emperor?" asked Fox. Andross flicked out his hand.
"Whatever. But if whatever you're doing brings you to Titania as well, I trust you won't get in my way," said Andross. Fox shook his head.
"Of course not. See you around Emperor," said Fox giving a weak salute. Andross merely cocked his head at an angle and the hologram shutoff.
"So he's find out something important regarding Titania. I have a feeling that should I encounter the square, it took will lead me to Titania. If Andross and I clash, well then, we'll just have to see how things turn out," thought Fox. He then exited the comm. room and headed back outside. He then headed for the temporary command center (identical to the one Yoda visited in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones). He sat down in a chair as some of the soldiers were working various consoles.
"Have you found them yet?" he asked. One of the soldiers turned to face him.
"We thought we had them earlier, but the heat source just turned out to be a reactor, now we've located another source and are pursuing it," the soldier said. Fox leaned back in his chair.
"Excellent. Now all we have to do is sit and wait to find out," he said. Now Fox was bored and began drumming a pencil against the console in front of him like Andross had.
Sector X: Andross had finally boarded the Zeram class cruiser X-10 and it was now on its way towards Titania.
"Has the local military unit been informed of my arrival?" the Emperor asked. The comm. officer nodded.
"They have. However they are confused as to what it is that you're looking for since even you don't know," said the officer. Andross sighed.
"Yeah well, once we get there we'll take detailed scans and hopefully something out of the ordinary will show up, I hope," said Andross. The cruiser continued into warp.
Corneria, ½ hr. later: "Whoa! Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen, we found 'em," said one of the officers, another snake named Hudson. A viewscreen showed a massive heat reading, but on a closer inspection, it was revealed to be several creatures.
"Okay now try to fit a camera in there so we can get a look around," said Fox. The robot stood in front of a door that separated it from the creatures inside. The robot cut a small hole in the door and inserted a camera. It panned around and glanced at the various creatures.
"Head count now," said Fox. The robot quickly scanned everyone in the room.
"Fifty," said Hudson. Fox winced as he heard that number.
"That ain't so good. We've only got twenty-five soldiers," said Fox. One of the soldiers pulled out a rifle and loaded a clip into it.
"Looks like a last stand, this is gonna be one of hell of a fight," he said. Fox nodded.
"Looks that way. Is it possible to get an audio channel in there so I can talk to them?" asked Fox. Hudson laughed.
"You don't seriously expect them to surrender do you?" he asked. Fox shook his head.
"That's not the idea. But you'll see. Can it be done?" he asked. A technician routed through several technical manuals.
"Yeah it can," said the technician. He pressed a few buttons and handed Fox a microphone.
"Now watch and learn. First, drive that thing through the door," said Fox. Hudson clearly didn't see where this was going and complied. The robot smashed through the door and faced the VRF who all aimed their weapons at the robot.
"Calm down VRF scum, I'm here to offer you an ultimatum. Surrender now and we'll kill you quickly, don't and you die slowly. It's up to you, but it must be a group decision," said Fox. Katt Monroe stood in front of the camera.
"We'll never surrender to you. This will be a repeat of Fortuna only we'll win this time," said Katt with a smile on her face. Fox smiled back even though she couldn't see him.
"That's too bad, but all I have to do is say this, adios gopher!" he yelled into the mike. A silence filled the air as everyone wondered why Fox had said those words. Fox groaned.
"Way to go Andross, you've humiliated me," said Fox. He put his head on the table in defeat. Inside the base, everyone was having a laugh at what Fox said.
"He's lost it. We'll definitely win this one," said Katt. Meanwhile, Caddyshack was racked with pain and kneeled over.
"You okay?" someone asked. Caddyshack roared out in pain as he began to glow.
"Oh no! A creature bomb!" shouted Katt. A massive explosion went off inside Caddyshack's body as it exploded, killing everyone in the room. The ground rumbled briefly and then was silent. Fox then took a microphone that was hooked up to intercoms all over the fleet and spoke into it.
"Begin the looting!" he shouted. Everyone cheered as they ran into the base to take whatever they could carry. Fox walked in at a normal pace and watched as everything was torn up and what was valuable was taken before the base was rigged with explosive to be blown up. Fox just walked down the various corridors when the pyramid glowed brighter than ever. Fox held it up and looked at it.
"The cube must be near," he thought. Fox quickly examine both the walls, but since they were made of junk, it was hard to find it. Just when he had given up hope, the cube leapt from the wall and attached to the pyramid. Fox watched in amazement out of the bottom of the cube, a holographic display shot out at the nearby wall with a major X over Titania, more specifically the northern desert. Fox understood that that was where the second cube was located. Then the unit stopped glowing and the map vanished. Fox then walked off with the pyramid and the cube attached to his neck via a rope. He then walked off and outside as the rest of the troops had concluded their looting and had piled into the various vehicles still around. An aide handed him a remote and Fox pressed it as the base behind him exploded flinging debris everywhere.
"I love the smell of napalm in the morning," he said. Fox then decided to skip the Granga and ride in the Attack Carrier. It took off and was headed for the rest of the fleet when it suddenly appeared hovering over them.
"What up Hammer?" asked Fox over the radio.
"Andross decided that our efforts were sufficient enough to counteract any further resistance the VRF could provide. We've all been given leave time. So, if you'll just haul your fleet aboard, we'll leave this junkpile behind forever," said Hammer. Fox nodded.
"I roger that. Jimmy take us up," said Fox. Jimmy piloted the Attack Carrier into one of the various cruisers as the others either hovered up to the various cruisers or to the one that had landed to pick up the Granga and Mechbeth. After everything was accounted for, the fleet departed Corneria once and for all. Fox then radioed Hammer on the command ship.
"What's up? Where are we headed for our leave?" he asked. Fox smiled.
"How does Titania sound?" Fox asked.