Chapter 4 ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

"Ah, yes, Leonard Darrent, we were about to assume you were dead and send someone else." Said General Pepper, as I walked casually into his decorated office, he had old medals and pictures hanging everywhere. "Umm, yeah, thanks for the vote of confidence. When do I get paid?" "Wait just a minute, Mr. Darrent, we might still have need of your services, however I'll have a look at the data you collected, if you please." I handed over the data cube containing the vital information which he inserted into the reader, and pulled up on his desk monitor. I aparrently dozed off, because the next thing I knew he was just finishing checking over the files.about five hours later. Pepper spoke up, "From what I can tell, we shouldn't have much trouble adapting this technology to our own craft, they obviously didn't.. But, I can't issue an invoice for mass production of such ships without a tested prototype." "I see, but what does all this have to do with me?" "It actually doesn't have so much to do with you, as much as it involves your fighter craft." The general pulled up another document on his monitor. "The.LZ-15 Arwing X is it? According to the scans that took place when you passed through our security grid, she seems to be a quite verstile and combat capable craft." "Well, that's what I designed her to be, as much so as the LZ-14 used by Star Fox and more." Although I was a bit annoyed at his waste of time, I couldn't help feel a bit of pride as I described my personal, one-of -a-kind ship. "Yes, I'm sure you did. So, would you agree to test the alien technology on the Arwing X?" "Sure, as long as there aren't any major "cosmetic" changes." "I'm not sure that I can promise it, but I'll take that as a yes." "How long is it going to take then?" "The, necessary modifications will should be complete in about a week, but it's up to you how long your next mission for us will take." "Um, Next.Mission?" "Of course, did you forget the whole purpose of this operation? You are going to professionally test and record the results of your ships new combat abilities. Once the modifications are complete, you will rendezvous with Star Fox for a strike on a small squadron of enemy craft detected near Macbeth, and I ask that you make haste, this is a war after all. It should be a good test of your skills. Leonard Darrent, I hereby charge you with this mission." "Yes, but I." I started to protest. "Good luck and good day to you Mr. Darrent." I was surprised to be immediately escorted out of the office by two large armed guards, and quite roughly at that. That was clearly all the info I was going to get for now, so as I walked down the dull, drab hall, I set the Fox Comet on a remote flight course for the nearest hangar via wrist control. I was wondering what exactly those modifications would be.
Chapter 5 ____________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________
Hi. Lilandra Miran here, some call me Lilly or Lil, most times they get slapped when they call me that, so don't try it. Anyway, the first time I met Leonard Darrent was really quite awkward to say the least. One cause for this was that he showed up at 0:500, buzzing the hailing signal repeatedly. I generally don't like being woke up that early. So I walked up the hall and over both flights of steps to the communications room, I wouldn't have had to walk all the way there while still asleep If I had fixed the speakerphone in my quarters the week before. Oh, wait, before I go any further I should probably mention that at the time I was aboard the Great Fox. Why? you might ask. Because I had joined Star Fox a month earlier, I was the only girl there besides Krystal and frankly she got on my nerves a lot, but so did the long, boring hours working, so what the hell. Ok, back to the subject. I got to the Com Room and flipped on the monitor. A somewhat tired looking Silverfox appeared on screen, I'm sure you can guess who it was. (also, most Silverfoxes are entirely black as obsidian except for a small bit of gray.) Len Immediately blurted out. "I have to speak to-...wait a minute, who are you?" "I'm a new recruit here, and very pissed about you calling this early. By the way, who are you supposed to be, the image of death incarnate?" "No." he said in an annoyed voice. "Leonard Darrent, known as Lenny sometimes even Len, I'm a bounty hunter/mercenary for hire. And, sorry for the inconvenience I actually need to speak to Fox McCloud." "Something tells me your not talking about everyone getting around a campfire toasting marshmallows." "No, official business, a combat mission to be exact.." "I'll get him but I doubt that he'll appreciate being up any more than me." "I'll bet." Lenny replied. I paged Fox, after a few tries, he finally woke up. A groggy voice answered. "What is it Lilandra?" "A, Leonard Darrent says he needs to talk to you about official business." "Oh great, the physical embodiment of negativity again. Is it really that important?" "I hope so, for his sake. Fox, you know this guy?" "Yeah, he was in a few dogfights with us. I'm not sure if he was more of a harm than help." Lenny apparently was hearing this and he rolled his eyes. I said to him. "You're not exactly the model of popularity around here are you?" He didn't reply. Fox said "I guess I'll be right down." And then closed the comlink.
Chapter 6 ____________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________
I stared with some resentment at the vidscreen aboard the Fox Comet. I must admit I did feel really awkward calling that early, but I had to the Venomian squadron that I had orders to destroy would be moving out of range on their patroll in about twenty-four hours. Lilandra sighed and said as fox walked in half dressed , "Well, if no one else cares, I think I'll see if I can salvage the rest of the night." She walk out of the room slowly swishing her tail back and forth and Fox, looking as annoyed and disdainful as possible took her seat at the monitor. "Ok, Len, what could you possibly want now?" I replied," I might want to be payed more, I might want a better home ship, or I might want to notify you that under orders from Corneria, I am to aid you on a combat mission." "Ok, so why you, and why now?" He didn't seem to believe me. "Why me? Because my ship has been outfitted with prototype adaptations of alien technologies. Why now? Because the squadron I have to test them on will be moving out of range soon. That's why." "No offense, but that ship of yours doesn't look like it could defend itself against a fly, with or without advanced tech upgrades." "Not this ship, the one in it's cargo bay!" "Fine, I'll look at your mission invoice and then decide, you have permission to dock. I guess that you'll need a place to stay as well?" "Negative, I'm fine with what I have." I switched off the comlink and headed for the waiting docking bay on the Great Fox.