"Oh my God that's-" began Chris before she and the others were flung off their feet by a quick blast of air as Super Saruzin Class Destroyer The Monkey's Paw burst through the sandstorm and landed nearby. It reversed its' repulsorlifts and the sandstorm abruptly died, dropping sand everywhere. When Fox finally picked himself up he found Andross standing over him.
"Lying around on the job? Fox I'm afraid you're going to have to be punished!" said the Emperor laughing.
"You should be punished for reckless endangerment of UVCAF personnel," said Fox picking himself up.
"Ha! You chose to stay our here it's your fault," responded Andross.
"What would you do if you found an eleven mile long object heading for you in the middle of a sandstorm. I think you'd want to find out what it was as well," said Fox dusting himself off.
"I guess I can understand that," said Andross nodding while looking at his new ship.
"I thought you weren't going to build another Super Saruzin after The Lusankya was captured by Pepper and The Executor was damaged beyond repair. Both of those ships bit the dust in the battle above Katina and considering it took five years to build both of them and you said it wasn't worth the effort to build another," said Fox. Andross shrugged.
"This baby was partially built right before the war and I stashed it in Sector Y for the duration of the war. Then when the war ended I forgot about it until three years ago and then I took it out of 'storage' and placed it in one of my secret shipyards and had it finished," said Andross.
"Hammer's not going to like having his ship one upped again. I think he liked having his ship be the largest in the fleet," said Fox looking at the massive ship resting on the ground.
"Yeah but I kept taking control of it all the time because it was the largest ship in the fleet. I'm pretty sure he'll enjoy having his ship back fulltime like before the war," said Andross. Fox nodded.
"Well that is true," he said. Chris and Jerry finally picked themselves up and walked over to Andross along with the commandos who had flooded out of the HQ.
"Emperor," they said and saluted. Andross nodded and saluted back.
"Colonel Jerry Mingham, Commander Chris Kyle, Desert Commandos," said Andross looking up at the still smoking Fremen HQ. "Been redeeming our lives have we?"
The commandos all nodded with smiles on their faces. Andross nodded.
"I've never really had the opportunity to meet with all of you before so I think I'll use this opportunity to it's fullest. I just wanted to thank you for all that you've done for the UVCAF forces. Working in the desert is no easy task, I did some desert assaults back when I was in the URVAC and it was extremely tough. Doing what you do shows real commitment and I thank you all for that," said Andross sincerely. "I've decided that I'll cut your mission short. We'll return to ThornTail Hollow and you can take a transport back home. In the meantime, please use our facilities to do whatever you need to. Medical bays, repair facilities, quarters, entertainment faculties, use them all you've deserved it. Thank you for all of your hard work."
The commandos nodded and went about bringing in their Landmasters to the massive ship.
"You can take what you need as far as supplies go Colonel," said Andross to Jerry who nodded and left as well with Chris.
"So Fox," Andross said sighing. "Did you find out what you needed to?"
"Yes," said Fox walking to the cruiser. "He's still alive and based on information we recovered from the Cerinian, he's definitely a Krazoa Spirit. So what about on your end? Did you find a way to kill a Spirit?"
"Yeah I did. It's a simple matter we just need to find him. Hammer tells me that they did find the Warpstone so it's only a matter of going there and forcing the thing to tell us where he is and go from there," said Andross as they entered into the ship.
"Good, the sooner this Calhoun debacle is over and behind us the better," said Fox. Andross nodded and they entered into the ship. Andross walked over to a comm. system and pressed the button it.
"We're aboard, let's take off for ThornTail Hollow," he said. The ramp retracted back up between the forward mandibles and the ship took off for ThornTail Hollow.
"So how'd you get that sandstorm to work out?" asked Andrew. Andross shrugged.
"Simple low-atla maneuver. But we did it so fast and so close to the surface that sand came flying up and thanks to the repulsorlifts it became a movable sandstorm," said Andross. Fox just shook his head.
"Unbelievable. So I guess that roar was just the engines then," he said. Andross stopped in his tracks.
"What roar? These engines are new stealth models that make no noise," he said confused. Fox stopped at stared at him.
"Uh oh," he said before he noticed Andross trying to suppress a laugh. "Damnit Emperor!"
"Sorry I couldn't help it. Don't tell me Jerry gave that whole 'giant worm' speech, it was never conclusively proven that giant worms exist on any world, desert or not," said Andross continuing to walk deeper into the ship as Fox continued to voice his dislike for that joke.
ThornTail Hollow, Morning: Hammer was going over the final numbers to send back to Venom since the planet had fallen under UVCAF control and was about to send them when an aide came up to him.
"Sir you have to see this!" said the aide taking off. Hammer followed the aide onto the upper deck of the ship as a massive shadow fell over The Mantia 01 from The Monkey's Paw. Its newer and larger brother had just eclipsed the current largest ship in the UVCAF forces. Then the massive ship just barely managed to squeeze into ThornTail Hollow next to The Mantia 01. Hammer sighed and left. He exited the bottom of the ship and walked over to Andross and the Star Fox Team who were sitting at a foldout table with an umbrella on plastic chairs eating hamburgers with lemonade.
"Ah Hammer, nice of you to join us!" said Andross with a smile as he lay back in his chair with a pair of sunglasses on. Hammer took the only empty seat and began sipping his lemonade.
"Wonderful day isn't it?"
"Andross I thought I told you building another Super Saruzin would be a mistake," said Hammer facing the massive ship.
"I disagree," he said. "They've proven themselves in the past."
"Yeah by beating the living hell out of my ship! The Lusankya was responsible for most of the devastation in that war and Katina still has a small ring of debris around it after The Lusankya and The Executor slugged it out over that planet turning both of them to scrap. The Mantia 01 was heavily damaged by that ship through various bouts and it took eighteen months to get fully repaired!" shouted Hammer. Andross just shook his head.
"I've learned my lesson since then. The ship has a built in safety protocol that disallows it to fire on other UVCAF vessels. Only with my direct voice command could it do so otherwise," said Andross. Hammer just shook his head.
"Don't forget that I told back when you were planning on building The Lusankya and The Executor I told you it would a mistake as well. But you were like 'no they won't be, they'll be the most powerful ships ever and they'll cement my rule as Emperor'. Yeah right. Let me run it down for you. That ship is eleven miles long, The Mantia 01 is seven miles long, and typical Saruzins are only five miles long. That's why we had such a problem when Pepper stole The Lusankya," said Hammer.
"Big deal! Dorisbys are longer than The Monkey's Paw!" said Andross.
"Yeah but Dorisbys can only open fire from the front, are very slow, and can't maneuver well. Them being fifteen miles long doesn't amount to much considering they're all engine, launch bay, and two forward apertures for weapons and fighters to emerge from. They're just around for overwhelming enemies nothing more. On their own they're virtually useless except for planetary assault," said Hammer.
"I resent that, I designed them!" said Andross with a look of dismay on his face. Hammer just shook his head.
"Oh please! The basic designs for those ships have been around for over two hundred years," said Hammer. Andross shrugged.
"Well it was worth a shot," he said sipping his drink.
"You just promise me one thing. When that ship goes rogue and we have to take it out, you swear never to build another one ever again," said Hammer.
"Fine! But nothing's going to go wrong," said Andross.
"Well see, Emperor, we'll see," said Hammer finishing his meal.
"Anyway, today's the big day," said Andross. "Today we reclaim our lives once and for all and finally ensure the safety of the Lylat System."
"Yeah. So when are we going to do it? Soon would be preferred. I want this planet conquered and done with so we can move on to Beta Reticuli and take it from Tauros," said Hammer.
"Sorry, Hammer. Tauros conquered it three hours ago," said Fox.
"Damn," said Hammer.
"Don't worry, there'll be others. We've already got another star system in the rumor list that we're going to investigate in the next week, take that one," said Andross. Hammer just rolled his eyes.
"Fine, whatever," he said.
"Where's Bill and Sanders?" asked Fox finally.
"I sent them off to Moon Mountain Pass this morning to relieve Shabunga and Jeff. They clearly don't know what's really going on so I figured they probably shouldn't be around when we finally confront the Warpstone," said Hammer. Andross nodded and removed the napkin from his lap and folded it up and set it on the table.
"Let's go then," he said standing up.
"Now?" asked Fox. Andross nodded.
"I'm the Emperor, when I say it's time to go it's time to go," he said. "You know that."
"Alright. But how are we going to get there?" asked Fox. A shadow fell over the five of them and they looked up at the Sarzuin Class vessel The Hammer.
"What is this, a Saruzin Convention?" asked Leon incredulously. Hammer just smiled and shook his head.
"That's my original ship that Andross impounded over thirty years ago. It was the first Saruzin class vessel ever constructed and was built and designed by my grandparents who were rich vessel contractors before Calhoun became Emperor and seized their assets before killing them. My grandparents hid a small fleet, which was maintained over the years by loyal workers to my family. When Calhoun killed my parents I quit the URVAC Academy, took the small fleet and attacked Calhoun at every opportunity I could. Then I came into contact with Andross and together I provided a distraction using that ship to allow him the opportunity to kill the bastard. When I attacked again seven years later, Andross captured it and impounded it," said Hammer. "I haven't seen it since. Well until today that is."
"It seemed appropriate the Calhoun dies the way he died before. Let's go," said Andross. They followed him into The Monkey's Paw and a moment later Andross' personal ship blasted off towards The Hammer. It entered into the bay and the ship moved off towards Moon Mountain Pass while in the background The Monkey's Paw rose up and took off into orbit. The ship roared over the smoking remains of the LightFoot Village while in the passageway a transport roared down the passage towards ThornTail Hollow.
"There goes the Emperor to take care of business," said Shabunga watching the ship coast by overhead.
"Yeah," said Jeff. "So what's going to happen to me now?"
"Well," said Shabunga. "Our job here is finished so why don't you come back with my to Zoness? I'll show you around, introduce you to the dinosaurs living there and if Andross needs you, he'll know where to find you."
"That sounds like fun. At least, more fun than sticking around here any longer," said Jeff.
"I hear ya. But don't worry, once the terraforming crews get in here, all of the damaged areas will look good as new and this area might very well become a bustling metropolis. Although in all likelihood it'll be a small trading outpost/UVCAF base because it really isn't on any trade routes," said Shabunga.
"Maybe I'll come back here sometime when it's settled. It still hold some charm to me," said Jeff watching the scenery move by.
"You choice," said Shabunga as the craft burst into ThornTail Hollow.
Moon Mountain Pass: "I never noticed this before, but that thing is ugly," said Sanders looking through the binoculars at the Warpstone.
"It's a rock, what do you expect?" laughed Bill. Sanders shrugged.
"I don't know. Remember those Melodies on Melodia? Now that was a species," said Sanders laughing. Bill chuckled too.
"Yeah it was," he said before the ground started shaking. "Uh-oh."
Then The Hammer cleared a hill and became visible to them. Bill and Sanders both grabbed their blasters and stood up.
"It's game time kid," said Bill. The massive ship somehow managed to squeeze in a few feet away and Andross, Hammer, and the Star Fox Team appeared a few moments later. Andross didn't even bother to salute he just slid down the crest and stopped right in front of the stream in front of the Warpstone. All around the rim of the crater it was in, troops took up flanking positions and aimed their weapons at the giant rock.
"What is the meaning of this?" asked the Warpstone in his heavy Scottish accent.
"I've come here for information that you possess," said Andross.
"Like what?" asked the rock.
"You can't tell him now, the troops will find out," said Fox. Andross waved him off.
"Before I left I told the citizens of Lylat the truth about Calhoun. They took it well considering I admitted that even I had been caught off guard and I was very sorry but I swore that Calhoun would be dead by the end of today and it would be caught on film and his remains would be proudly displayed in public for all to see and disgrace," The Emperor said.
"Go ahead then," said Fox.
"I'll say this as simply as possible. WHERE IS CALHOUN?" Andross demanded.
"I don't know what you're talking about," said the Warpstone crossing his arms and partially twisting away from him.
"Gee that's too bad," said Andross. He held up his arm and made a gigantic chop with it. As soon as his arm fell, laser blasts lit up the sky The Warpstone roared in agony as large chunks of it were blasted off and it began bleeding mud. Andross held up his hand again and the laser fire stopped.
"Don't make me do that again," said the Emperor. The Warpstone continued to hold its sides as it winced and cried in agony.
"I'll…never…tell…you," said the Warpstone. "You'll have to kill me first."
"Gee that's too bad," said Andross. He motioned forward with his hand and a soldier came up holding a portable kennel. Andross reached inside of it and pulled out Tricky by his bony frill.
"My prince," said the Warpstone with fear.
"If you don't answer my question, the prince gets it," said Andross as Tricky tried desperately to kick at the Emperor, but his legs were too short to reach him.
"I can't," said the Warpstone with sympathy. "But you'll kill him anyways so what's the point?"
"I might not kill him. He's young, he might still be able to be converted into a model member of the UVCAF," said Andross shrugging.
"I don't believe that," said the Warpstone. "You'll just kill him."
"Maybe I will, maybe I won't," said Andross. "But do you really want to take that chance?"
"I, I," began the Warpstone stuttering.
"ENOUGH!" shouted a voice. Everyone twisted to see a floating Krazoa Statue looming over him or her.
"The hell did that thing come from?" asked Fox pointing his blaster at it.
"I don't know," said Andross confused.
"You've come for me Andross! Well here I am! WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?" demanded Calhoun.
"Hello Calhoun," said Andross.
"That's Emperor Calhoun to you!"
"When you killed your first innocent individual you lost your rights to that title," said Andross.
"And you killed me! What's your point?"
"You're still alive, that's what's my point," said Andross. "Open fire!"
The troops began firing at the Krazoa Statue and managed to blast it away before revealing the blue Krazoa Spirit underneath, but this time the lasers flew right through it.
"Now what are you going to do?" Calhoun laughed. "You can't kill me with your petty weapons!"
"No we can't," Andross admitted. "But this can! Open fire!"
The energy disruptor had been set up during the time the soldiers were firing on the statue and now it was ready to go. It fired a blast that Calhoun barely avoided, but it did manage to blast a small chunk out of him.
"You'll pay for that!" shouted Calhoun. "Warpstone go!"
The Warpstone flung out its hand and made a warp appear in the sky. Calhoun flew through the warp and it quickly closed behind him.
"Where'd he go?" asked Andrew. Andross held up a portable scanner and moved it up and down a couple times where the warp had been.
"I know. Now let's go," he said turning to leave.
"That's it?" asked Fox.
"For now it is," said Andross continuing to walk.
"What about the Warpstone?" Hammer asked.
"He'll get what's coming to him," said Andross. As they all left the crater, a massive energy blast came from the sky and vaporized the rock along with all of his plants and the stream.
"What the hell was that?" Fox demanded covering his eyes from the glare.
"A blast from The Monkey's Paw in orbit," said Andross simply as they reached The Hammer.
"But where the hell is Calhoun?" asked Hammer.
"Not here," said Andross walking up the ramp into the bay. "In fact not anywhere you can reach by foot or by warp."
"So he's really gone then; there's no way we can possibly stop him now. And even though he might not be able to return I still feel nervous," said Leon in shock.
"Who said anything about not being able to stop him?" asked Andross stopping in front of a tarp-covered object.
"But you just said," began Andrew.
"I said he couldn't be reached by foot or by warp. I didn't say he couldn't be reached by other means," said Andross. He threw off the tarp to reveal a modified Scorpion Class Attack Craft (This vehicle is identical in look to the one from Star Trek: Nemesis).
"Okay," said Fox confused. Andross pressed a button and the canopy opened; he hopped inside and began powering up the craft.
"Let's go Fox," said Andross. Fox got up into the gunners seat above and behind Andross.
"Where is Calhoun?" asked Hammer.
"He's in 'the dreamers' reality," said Andross simply, still powering up the craft. Fox's eyes went wide-open at that statement.
"How do you know?" asked Leon. Andross tossed him the scanner.
"Take a look. The readings are identical to scans taken from 'the dreamers' and that temple on Titania," said Andross.
"But how does that help us? We can't go there!" said Fox incredulously.
"Oh yes we can," said Andross going through a checklist.
"How?"
"With this thing!" said Andross. "It can breach the dimensional barriers."
"Who invented it?" asked Leon.
"Albatross Einstein. There's a couple things I haven't told you regarding 'the dreamers'," said Andross.
"Like what Uncle?" Andrew asked naively.
"Like the fact that there was an energy link between them and the reality that they were dreaming of. That it might be possible to use that link to force our way into that reality," said Andross as if this was all old news.
"And have you?" asked Fox. Andross nodded.
"Yes. Six months after the war Alby developed a dimensional gateway into the reality. I've been placing spies there all throughout their timeline. In fact some of our recent inventions have been from that universe," said Andross.
"Unbelievable," said Fox shaking his head. "And now we're going to go there? Back to Venom and through the gateway?"
"No," said Andross. "Recent advances have allowed it to be installed on fighter craft and other vessels to allow them to cross the barrier as well. That's what this thing is capable of and that's what we're going to do," said Andross.
"You knew he was going to do something like this," said Fox suspiciously.
"Calhoun was the one who discovered 'the dreamers' in the first place. He's the only one who would know as much if not more than me about that reality," said Andross.
"Can we come?" asked Andrew.
"No!" said Andross. "This is a personal matter for Fox and myself. Besides, there isn't another craft here anyway. And whatever you do don't follow us. Hammer you're in charge until I return," said Andross. He pressed a button and closed the canopy. The fighter then lifted off and flew out the bay door.
"What are we going to encounter over there?" asked Fox as the craft cleared the atmosphere and roared out into open space. Andross shook his head.
"I don't know; at least shattered versions of ourselves at any rate. We'll encounter something that could have been but ultimately didn't. I personally have never been there, I've only read the reports from that universe as well as what 'the dreamers' have dreamed about. We'll pretty much be on our own over there, no UVCAF, no Mantia, no Monkey's Paw, nothing. I haven't been scared in a long time, but this place scares me," said Andross.
"So why go?" asked Fox as the ship blasted off into warp.
"Because Calhoun scares me even more," he said simply. Andross pressed a button and the weapons array popped up on the top of the craft. It fired a silvery plasma beam straight in front of the craft and made a large blemish in space. The craft entered into it and they were gone.