Star Fox Alliance: Chapter 4

A week had passed, and team Star Fox was ready for action. Fox was sat at the new bridge. It had been remodelled to accommodate all the 9 members. Fox sat in the pilot's seat, and Krystal and Falco sat in two seats directly behind him. Behind Krystal, there was a console which had Peppy and Beltino sat at it. Behind Falco, there was a similar console which had ROB and Slippy sat at it. Behind them there was another console which had Panther and Leon sat at it. Behind Peppy and Beltino was a single console where Wolf sat.

"General Pepper, we're ready for action." Fox said.

"That's great Fox…" He replied. "But there isn't any."

"Ah. Anything in the system at all?" Fox asked.

"Unless you want to chase a Mr. E.V.Schlipp for outstanding parking fines?"

"Not really." Fox sighed.

"Well…" Pepper began. "I could get you a job outside the system…"

"Go on." Fox said, expecting a 'but'.

"It's pretty big. There's a civil war going on on one of the Katinan moons, a small band of criminals have tried to take over the moon, but when I say small I mean small compared to an army. It's a 1000 strong band of thugs. The reward is 500,000 Cornerian credits."

"Its ours!" Fox smiled.

A thug chewed some gum. This was no ordinary gum, it was laced with galactoprenethyline, a class A drug. It had no side affects. It was actually good for health. It increased brain power dramatically, allowing for quick decisions in combat situations. But no quick decisions would save him now. A dust storm had brewed, and through his protective visor he could see four outlines on the horizon. Four big outlines. In the sky, he could see three more outlines, flying towards the base. A red laser flew towards him.

"Target down." Falco said. He had used his main Landmaster cannon to take down the single sentry at the entrance. Fox's voice came over the comm.

"Good work Falco. All Landmasters, charge your cannons."

Krystal, Slippy and Falco obliged. Fox charged his too.

"3,2,1, Fire!"

The charged shots flew out of the cannons, blasting the east wall of the complex to rubble.

"Star Wolf, pick off any stragglers. Star Fox, proceed to the wall you just destroyed and start blasting. Do your best team." Beltino said over the airwaves.

The Landmasters proceeded, firing normal shots as they went.

"This is too easy pup." Wolf said over the comm, "I get the feeling something is waiting for us."

"We'll just have to meet it when it does." Fox replied. They had reached the wall and were picking off individual thugs.

"Fox, retreat from there." Peppy said. "We'll take out the whole building with the main cannons."

All the Landmasters retreated. A huge orange burst of laser emerged from the sky and completely totalled the building.

"Hideout's crispy!" Falco joked. "Come and get some!"

"Um… What's that?" Slippy enquired. A colossal figure was approaching slowly from over the horizon.

"Wolf, go check it out!" Peppy ordered.

"Already ahead of you, old hare!" Wolf said. "It's some sort of mechanical spider. I'm sending diagnostics to Beltino."

"I've got it Wolf." Beltino said. "It won't be too difficult. The joints on the legs are a severe structural weakness. Around 3 charge blasts will be required for each joint."

"How many joints Beltino?" Fox asked.

"Eight, and it appears to have illegal weaponry on board."

"Nuclear?" Falco enquired.

"No, biological." Beltino replied. "It appears to be the same virus that causes Anthrax."

"Nasty." Leon said.

"Peppy, get a lock on the landmasters and teleport us to the landing bay, we'll take Arwings from there. Wolf, stay put. Do not open fire until we arrive and that is a direct order. If it approaches you get out of there." Fox ordered.

"'Porting you now Fox."

"Wolf, we're here." Fox said as he pulled up beside Wolf.

"Good, lets start this thing." Leon said.

"Proceed with caution guys." Peppy instructed.

"Remember Wolf," Beltino warned, "you're not infallible."

Wolf paused. "I'll try to keep that in mind Beltino."

The machine marched over the sand. It's huge, flat feet caused a mini sandstorm just by moving.

"All systems go. Team, attack the joints only. If our sensors pick up the traces of anthrax in the immediate vicinity, boost the hell out of there." Fox instructed.

"Roger." Slippy said.

"Lets get on it." Falco said.

Fox flew forwards, charging a shot. He locked onto a joint and fired.

"Direct hit Fox." Falco complimented while firing a shot of his own.

"We can make this thing topple if we all concentrate fire on one joint at a time." Panther said. He fired a shot at the hinge both Fox and Falco had fired at and it crumpled. That leg was now inoperative. The machine jettisoned it so it would not be slowed down.

"Seven legs left team." Beltino said. "Well thought out Panther."

"Wolf, Leon and Panther; fire at the rear left leg. Falco, Slippy and Krystal fire at the left right leg. Charge your shots as you proceed there." Peppy ordered.

"What do I do Peppy?" Fox asked, charging a shot.

"Fire at the head of the spider," Fox then noticed for the first time that it looked very similar to an arachnid, "distract the pilot."

Fox fired the charge shot at the head of the arachnid, while listening to the background chatter.

"Five of eight legs left, superb work guys!" Falco said.

"Proceed to the next two legs!" Slippy shouted.

The arachnid started firing normal machine guns at Fox. Fox rolled and avoided them easily.

"Three left boys!" Krystal shouted.

The arachnid was bringing out the big guns. Plasma cannons. Not good. Fox fired at the cannons but it had no effect. They fired volleys of plasma fire at him. Fox boosted past the head, and joined the assault at the back. Two more legs went. The one leg moved to the dead center of the arachnid, and it balanced there. The head and body could now swivel, and it proceeded to fire at the team. The thing looked like a giant tower supported on the one leg.

"Damn!" Falco shouted as his wing was blasted. "Someone get this thing off me." As he spoke, Fox, Krystal, Wolf, Panther, Leon and Slippy had fired charge shots at the remaining leg. It crumpled, and the body of the arachnid fell a considerable height to the ground, but, as it did, clouds of anthrax were fired into the air.

"Get the hell out of there!" Peppy yelled, and all of them obliged.

"Peppy! Lock onto the body and destroy it!" Wolf yelled back.

A laser roared down through the sky and the body and head exploded with tremendous force.

"Report in!" Fox said over the comm..

"Falco here."

"Krystal too."

"Slippy in."

"Wolf here."

"Panther at your service."

There was a pause. Fox looked at the radar. All seven ships present.

"Leon?" Fox called. No response. He pulled back and looked through the cockpit of the Wolfen. Leon was passed out.

"Leon's been infected!" Peppy get a lock on him and transport him immediately. Only ROB is to handle him!"

There was a moment of silence, then a voice came over the comm.

"If my wingmate's dead pup," Wolf growled, "so are you."

Haha! Cliffie! Is Leon dead? Is Fox gonna get beaten up? Is my tea ready yet? Um, anyway... 4 or 5 reviews will get you the next chapter which is already written. Sorry about the gap between this and the last chapter. R&R- cerberus