A/N: Normally I consider reviewer suggestions, but find that they wouldn't fit with the story. However, this time I liked one of the ones I got. So I decided to use it with just a slight modification. Thanks!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bryan had been staring at the ceiling for a little while now, thinking about the challenge that was ahead. He thought about the layout of the ship before he had drifted off into a good sleep at about two o'clock in the morning.

Of course, at around seven he sprang out of bed. He had a thought in his head, and it scared him.

He raced down the stairs, not caring how much noise he made. He made quick work of setting up and turning his laptop on. Going to his work folder he opened it and began to look around it, founding what he wanted.

Then he brought his computer with him to the mini hologram table. Figuring it out quickly he set it up to show a picture of the threats ship.

He let it rotate for a moment before stopping it at a certain angle. Before looking from his laptop to the ship and back. "Holy shit…" He whispered to himself as the full situation dawned on him.

"What is it?" Mei whispered as she walked over to him. "You went pounding down those stairs fast."

"Look at this!" He said, pointing to the part of the ship that he had seen. "What does that look like to you."

Mei nearly dropped her mug of hot liquid in realization.

"How early do you think the good General Pepper is up." Bryan asked, as he began working a link from the hologram to his laptop. When it was finished transferring the files he closed it and headed for his room.

"Hell if I know."

"I'm, going to go get dressed and head for the base, when the other wake up tell them to stay here."

(10 Minutes Later)

Bryan winced a little at the sound of his siren in his ears. It was a little early and not many of the locals were out and about. Most were probably sleeping… or were anyway before they were aroused by the siren's wail.

His tires made a screeching noise on the pavement and as he shut everything down, grabbing his laptop and ID he bound into the building.

"Sir, you can't go in there! The General is in a meeting!" Someone tried to stop him, but he didn't pay attention to her.

He pushed the door open quickly as General Pepper was in the middle of a statement. He stopped and looked up. "Something I can help you with."

"We have a larger problem then what we first thought." Bryan said, shutting the door behind him.

"Can this wait a little longer? This is a very important meeting." Another General spoke up.

"With all due respect, sir. Star Fox, gives this man a high remark. You could do well to listen to what he has to say."

It was only now that Bryan noticed Bill sitting in one of the chairs. He didn't stop to offer a quick smile at all, he just hooked his laptop up to the rooms hologram projector. It showed on his system as a hyper drive.

He accessed it and had the picture of the threat's ship rotating. He stopped it at the angle needed to show of his point.

"Look at this. What does this look like to you?"

"It looks like a normal laser cannon to me." General Pepper said.

"It's not." Bryan pulled up the picture.

"Look here. Four months ago Japan reported the theft of their first attack satellite. It was designed to the ultimate in our technology. Anything it sees as a threat it uses a solar beam to shoot down. But that's not it's only effect." He pulled up another picture.

"This is a class seven nuclear weapon. It's the only one of it's kind."

"And what does all this mean?" Another General asked.

"Gentlemen, this thing has the ability to destroy an entire planet. Including this one!"

An entire hush fell over the room, and Bryan saw the look on Bill's face. Complete and total horror.

"We must stop them now!" The same General yelled out again.

"Quite!" Pepper yelled out, and the hush settled.

"Lt. Bill, how long until the threat is close to our planet."

"At it current pace, we have at least two more days before it enters our area."

"That weapon needs to be able to come in contact with the planet to detonate. However, they could have attached some sort of retro rockets or something to make it move on it's own. Ground forces need to be ready to be able to take it down. The impact will be harsh. Possibly killing anything within a good mile of it, and that's if it's shot down. In the event that it does detonate. If your unlucky, it won't destroy your planet. Instead, it will wipe out a large portion of your population, and that will be followed by years of mutations and everything! Please, tell me you grasp how serious this is."

There was a silence.

"I will need to double check with my men and women, but… Cat Team One volunteers for ground duty. We'll fight to the death." General Pepper nodded.

"I know the news is probably not the best you've ever heard. Finding out the failure means you don't get a second chance. When it is in range, send me an alarm or something, and we'll scrambling our teams to get there and try and blow it. I promise you, my team will not fail." Bryan stated as factly as he could.

(Back At The House)

"Here he comes." Kasey said, she had yet to move from the window.

"So, what was so important that we couldn't leave the house for breakfast?"

"The M-180 is in play. The threat has it."

All of the DCTU Agents how a look of awe on their faces. Star Fox didn't seem to realize the threat itself.

"What the hell does that mean!" Falco yelled out after a moment of no one explaining to him what a M-180 was.

"It is a class seven nuclear weapon. If it comes in contact with this planet, they whole thing will be destroyed if you're lucky." Mei explained.

Silence hit the room. "And if we're unlucky?" Fox asked for a moment.

"Thousands of years of mutation." Jason stated, not daring to look up from his cup.

"Though we do have a chance right? I mean, it is earth technology, what if they don't know how to use it?" Katt asked, a hopeful gleam in her eyes.

"It was stolen four months ago. Chances of them not knowing how to use it by now are slim to none." Ivan answered.

Another hush fell over this room.

"As of right now we are on high alert. We don't go anywhere without our weapons. We don't do anything without our PDA or alert devices, and most of all, we are ready at any and all times." Peppy said, taking immediate control of the situation.

"Agreed. Tommy, Slippy, those device things ready yet?"

"Yes, sir. Put them in before going to bed last night. Everything is gassed up. We worked extra hard to cut our time down. Was easier than we thought."

"Good. Alright. Lets go back up our weapons and equipment. And then we'll go for breakfast."

The whole time Krystal had been silent.

"Something wrong?" Fox asked her.

"Its just… the reality that I might lose another planet. Its unbearable."

"You won't lose Corneria. It'll always be here for you."

They sat on the couch hugging until someone cleared their throat.

"Bryan's waiting for you guys, says he got something to show you."

(In The Garage)

"Check this out you guys. Didn't think we would be able to get to pull it out. But might as well show it off since we may need it." Bryan said.

He pulled a steel piece out of a tube attached to a stand.

"This my friends is what we at DCTU like to call the grabber. Basically it's a large metal spike attached to a optical cable. The cable itself is unbreakable and unbelievably strong. But it comes with a stabilizer too." Bryan said, putting the main spike back into it's tube before pulling another one of the other side. "This one goes into the nearest wall and uses the same wire as the first. You only get about a mile worth of cord so if you use it, make sure you don't have too much distance. Also, the cable is fire resistant up to well over a million degrees."

Bryan placed the spike back in and pointed to a button on the top.

"Point and shoot. Just make sure everyone is clear of the spikes cause the will go right through you."

(One Day Later)

"Think they will call soon?" Kasey asked as she finished cleaning her weapon and put it back in it's holster.

"Probably. General Pepper said that they were about a two days out. We should get called within the next twenty four hours." Bryan said, as the elevator doors shut behind him.

"And where have you been?"

"Me, Tommy, and Slippy went to go rig a Cornerian Transport ship with the microwave disruptors and loaded it onto the Great Fox. We're going to use it to get on the ship."

"What if they have an electrical gate or something."

"Won't matter. We blow up when we can, or disable it. We can always have Tom hack it too. We'll get this done, don't worry to much."

"It's just… if we fail, an entire planet dies. This isn't just two or three people. It thousands!" Kasey cried out at him.

"We can do it." It wasn't an opinion, not really much of an option. It was a fact.

"Bryan, all the cars are loaded. Star Fox is ready to go at a moments notice. And Fox here remembers how to use an Arwing. All that's left is for him to remember everything else. And we should be fine."

"He seems fine as he is now. All the fun without the cocky attitude. I kind of like him this way." Krystal said, giving Fox a peck on the cheek as he walked by.

Fox just had a confused look on his face.

"Alright, so now that we are ready to go, all we need is our call to duty."

"And I've got it right here." Pepper's voice came from the hologram a little ways away. Kasey jumped since she was closest to it with her back to it.

"They are within our area now. And will be within attack distance within the next two hours. That gives you and Star Fox enough time to get out there and get your plans going. All of Corneria is counting and watching you."

"Don't tell Falco that."

"I'm right here."

If it was any other day, Bryan would of chuckled at their banter.

"Alright. Lets get moving."

"Hay, Bryan. We have an audience." Mei said, looking out one of the windows.

A crowd had formed outside the house and along the streets.

"What do you want to bet that that goes all the way to the docking bay." Krystal said, staring out the windows.

"Don't let them distract you from our mission. Lets go." Fox said, pulling slightly on her shoulders.

Bryan watched the small path that was made from them as they went at a moderate speed down the street. Cheers and such were heard from the crowd.

"Remember our promise guys. We all come back alive. Got it?" Kasey reminded them over the radios. Everyone agreed with here.

They pulled into the bay as the Great Fox lowered its docking bay for them. They pulled up into it and a couple of minutes later the Great Fox blasted off towards space.

Bryan and his team sat in the docking bay, readying weapons.

"Need a couple clips over here. Nines."

"Right here!"

"Where's the fifty?"

"I've got it.

"Pass a few over here."

"Anyone know where my lucky M4 went?"

"Kasey's got it."

"I do not!"

Bryan was the only one doing his in silence. Just a feeling of doom over him.

"I don't like this. But we have people to protect." He reasoned for himself, it worked for the most part.

"We're almost in range. Everything ready?" Krystal asked.

"Yah, just finished loading it up into the transport. Everyone ready to go?"

"You know Katt is going for Peppy since he can't handle a mission like this anymore."

"That's fine. She looks good at combat."

"You know I am."

"Alright, so we know our plans right? Team One is on control. Stir up a hornet's nest. Keep them busy and cover each other. Team Two will blow the place with a few Platinum charges on fuel cells and anything that seems blow-able. We have seven charges, so lets make them count. Team Two is to use silenced weapons only."

"Sounds good boss, lets get going."

As they loaded onto their transport Bryan could feel the sudden rush of adrenalin in him. "Can't say I've done this in space before." He muttered to himself.

"Fox, Krystal, here. Takes these." He said, handing over two silenced pistols and a few clips of ammo. You learned how to shoot these back at the DCTU base. You should be fine."

"Guys, we'll be docking in six minutes. You know your battle plans?" Falco called back.

"Yup. We're ready to go."

"Hay, can we pull up a picture of our loading area?" Kasey asked.

"Uh, yah… right here." Slippy stated, just as a map appeared.

"Is that an electronic lock door?"

"Yah, we'll pull an air lock seal on it, board that way." Falco stated.

"Alright, how we getting off this thing."

"If it's still there, same way. If not, we'll take a few of the enemy's ships. We can hold a maximum of eleven extra prisoners."

"Sounds good to me."

"Well that's good, it's too late to back out now."

"Hay guys, good luck. Husky team will cover any fighters in the air. Looks like we have a name for our threat." Bills voice came over the transport ship's speaker.

"How's that?" Falco responded.

"It's got Darkness painted on the side of it."

"Alright." Dean said, slamming a clip into his own weapon and cocking it.

"Lets shoot us some baddies."

They docked agaisned the door and everyone watched patiently as Tommy and Slippy hacked the door locks. Making sure that it didn't read on the ship's computer.

"Keep your radio's attached. Remember, they stimulate the ear so only you can hear it. Press you neck to talk." Peppy's voice over the radio reminded them. "I'll be monitoring your vital signs from here. Good luck."

"This is where the fun starts boys and girls." Bryan said, slinging the pack of PCs onto his back.

"Alright, from here on out we count on our team. Lets go."

They broke into their groups. Each heading in their own direction. Bryan and his team were sneaking down the hallway. They made it into the second corridor before several alarms went off.

"Alert! Alert! Several enemies have breached the ship! They're close to the bridge! Report!"

Krystal closed her eyes as she pulled back into a dark corner of the ship.

"It really is creepy when she does that."

"Four, coming this way. Another ten or so ahead. I count four in the engine room." She whispered after moment. It wasn't more than ten seconds later that four guards came rushing by the hidden agents. They had ducked into a darkened corner of the hallway. None of the guards noticed them, nor the tint of green from Foxes eyes being reflected off the hallway light.

"Is that is all that's coming?" Fox whispered.

"Yah."

"Good, lets move."

"Keep stirring up the nest you guys." Bryan said over the radio.

(With Team One)

"I'm dry!" Dean yelled out, ducking around to reload as Kasey covered him.

"Flash bang!" Ivan yelled out as a canister rolled towards them, he grabbed it and tossed it back. The light exploded in his enemy's faces, blinding them.

"Clear!" Kasey yelled as a the line of agents approached the enemy who was shaking their heads to clear the sound and light from them. Rifles at ready.

"Lay your weapons down now! We will shoot!" Mei yelled, blood of a fallen enemy that had gotten into knife distance after trying to flank her.

Smartly, they laid their weapons down on the ground.

"That's four." Mei said.

They tied them up with handcuffs and electronic locks before moving onto the next room where that fire fight began.

They had gotten through a total of four rooms and had taken a grand total of five prisoners.

"Bryan, how much longer to the charges are placed."

(With Team Two)

"…placed."

"Give it three minutes, Kasey. We're placing the last charge and will be heading to meet up with you."

"Copy."

Bryan removed his hand from his neck and finished setting the charge. "Alright, we're set. We set off the remote and the timer counts down. It'll give us enough time to finish loaded and get away from the ship. This is going to be one hell of a bang."

"Good. Lets meet up with team one." Fox said, keeping himself turned towards the door, making sure that no one came through. His shirt was soaked with blood to after he had taken an enemy down in hand to hand combat.

Krystal was running her scan watching for anyone headed their way, finding no one she sighed. "They all headed for Team One."

(With Team One)

Kasey ducked behind a pillar as a laser few into her previous fill spot. No one had taken a hit on her side yet while they had taken down a grand total of about one hundred enemies.

"Hay guys, where do you think their boss is? No doubt they have one, they seem well organized."

"My bet is that he'll be on the main deck. According to the layout, that should be the next room."

All the gunfire in the room ceased as the final enemy dropped, just as team two entered.

"Looks like you guys tied up some prisoners. They seem to have passed out."

"I knocked them out. Made sure they'll be out long enough for them to get into the holding cells on the Great Fox." Ivan said, reloading his weapon and checking his ammo supply.

"We have enough so long as we make every shot count."

"Good. I've got about four clips for my M4 since we used hand to hand on our end." Bryan said, removing the silencer.

"Good." Tommy stated as he set the blast charge on the door they would go through. Everyone covered the door as he set it off and the filed in, immediately taking position in areas that they could duck behind.

"So you've made it this far." A voice boomed towards them.

"Yah well, you men suck at shooting." Kasey challenged him, steadying her rifle in her hands. Aiming directly at a guard to his left.

"Yes well. This is my elite squad. I would like to see you take them down."

"I'm giving you one chance. Surrender and drop your weapons. That's my only offer." Bryan yelled out.

"Why would I give myself up to you? You are a human, the lowest of the low. I have dead wives that are worth more than you."

"Everybody's a comedian." Mei mumbled.

"Bryan, the Missile room is directly to our right. If we can get in there and stick our grabber on it, it won't get anywhere, it'll get caught in the blast." Tommy said.

"Kasey, you got it?" Bryan asked, looking from one guard to another.

"Oh yah. Want to go for it?"

"You bet it."

"What are you waiting for? Get them!" The boss yelled at his troops who began fighting.

Laser fire was every where. Kasey and Bryan tried to duck out and go into the next room without being noticed. While one went to the next area, the other provided cover fire.

The next room looked empty, except for the stolen weapon in front of them.

"Damn this thing is huge." Kasey stated, slinging the strap over her shoulder as she removed the grabber from its position in a black bag that was strapped to her back. She set it up while Bryan covered the door. The sound of the gas compression system shooting the spikes into the wall and weapon were enough to tell him the job was done.

They both headed for the main room again where the gunfire had died down to a dull roar.

"Clear!" They heard Mei yell as the entered the room. All of the bosses elite people were dead or had surrendered. The nameless boss himself was dead. An apparent gunshot to the head had done him in. The blue blood oozed down his forehead.

After tying up the only survivor they headed back out the door. A rustling sound made Kasey turn around to see what it was.

Bryan watched in horror as Kasey flew backwards until she hit the wall behind her. A burst of gunfire was heard as four of the agents fired upon the so called 'dead' boss.

He just didn't seem to go down. Bryan loaded Kasey up onto his back and headed for their docking point. Luckily the ship was still there and they got on it. Making sure their prisoners were locked down, Bryan tended to Kasey.

"Shit…" He muttered, noticing the blood oozing from her chest.

Mei kneeling down next to him. "It's very serious." She said as she began to dress the wound. Kasey groaned as she came back to the world of the alert.

"Sorry boss. Don't know what happened."

"Don't worry about it. You'll be fine." Bryan tried to reassure her. But when he met the look in Mei's eyes he didn't feel so sure anymore.

When they were safely away they watched the 'Darkness' explode in a giant flash of bright light. But no air meant no sound. It was only light. "It's over." Falco sighed. "Corneria is safe."

Kasey turned her head to the side to look at Bryan. "Hay, we did it."

"I told you we would. Now hold still so Mei can dress your wounds."

"Don't screw with me. It's fatal. I can feel it. I can feel my life slipping away from me."

"Kasey don't talk like that. You're going to be fine. It's a simple wound."

"Stop lying to me! I know when my death is coming. Listen to me. Back on earth, I have a brother. He lives two miles east of the base. One-Thirty-Seven Guarding drive. Tell him I'm sorry I can't make it for his daughter's birthday. Got it?"

"Kasey you'll be there."

"I said stop lying."

"Bryan." Mei whispered. He looked up. He had seen that look only once before. He never liked it.

Krystal walked over to them and kneeled down.

"You poor soul." She whispered. Krystal's eyes were rimmed with tears. "You gave your life for people you've never met… for an entire planet!"

Kasey chuckled, not regretting it as pain shot through her side.

"And I would do it all over again."

Then to Bryan. "Sorry chief. Looks like I can't keep my promise."

"It's alright Kasey. I forgive you." He whispered. Kasey slowly closed her eyes.

"Sorry guys. Looks like I won't be returning with you." She whispered, as the ship docked with the Great Fox. "Hay guys, burry me on Corneria, will yah? Oh, and one final thing." As Fox looked on Kasey said a few things in Japanese to Bryan and Mei. Both nodded.

And slowly, she took her final breath.

"Yah Kasey… anything for you."