Star Fox 4
CH.4: Disturbance on Rah 2
The planet Rah was a planet known through the Lylat star system to have the 2nd best Arwing facility. However during the Lylat Wars it was doomed by the growing lizard threat. So; all resources and technology were taken to the neighboring planet Rah 2. Rah was destroyed by the lizard ship Crusher and if not for the relocation, hundreds of years of work would've been lost. General Pepper had called during a water volleyball match; with the score 7-2 Fox and Krystal won by a landslide, the message sent everyone to their towels and the communication table across from the bar. "General Pepper, what have you got?"
"Dry news I'm afraid Fox," General Pepper's image said, "it appears Rah 2 has been attacked." His head wore a frown as he was listening to a report from and aide and when he returned his attention to the Star Fox team he became sadder. "This new threat is not lizard, so it could possibly be something your team hasn't encountered before. Your new mission is to assist the planet Rah 2 and buy time for them to retreat. By the way, I received a message from Peppy saying you got a new member on your team. Congratulations are in order to you Fox, and if he survives this he may have-." Krystal stepped forward and the General grinned. "I'm sorry; she may have a permanent spot on your team, that is if she isn't, if so then maybe a medal, Pepper out." Fox poured himself a drink and the team followed his lead, how could this happen? Rah 2 had a good defense, which meant whoever attacked must of have had a deadly fleet. Their new mission seemed impossible, but they had beaten the odds before, this couldn't be that hard-.
"Team meet me in the ready room in 5 minutes, we got out selves a ringer of a mission here, dismissed." Krystal stayed behind and stared at Fox who was only in his mid twenties, and had the full responsibility of a Captain in the Cornerian fleet. Fox lifted his head and Krystal gave him a smile. "Krystal it looks like your first test is coming up, you'll be my wingman out there, don't let me down ok?"
"I won't let you get shot down Fox, not as long as I have your wing," Krystal said determinedly. Fox patted her hand and got up and ran to the ready room. He quickly took off his towel and swim trunks and put on his Cornerian pants and jacket and was barely at the podium before the doors swung open to revealing a tired toad, falcon, and vixen. As they took their seats Fox nodded his head to the robot in the corner that in return projected a hologram of a planet. The planet was dull orange color and around it were battle cruisers, as Fox pinched his ear Rob 64 enhanced the image to the logo on the ship, everyone was shocked.
"The White Wolf? I thought they were destroyed a long time ago," Falco said in disbelief. It was true; the White Wolf fleet had met its end during the final years of the Lylat Wars, but if they were here some evil must have played its part. The fleet was strong and as Fox watched the video he could tell by close ups of the burning city of Rah 2. "I'm up for a tough battle Fox, but not against the White Wolf."
"Their weapons would shed through our Arwing armor," Slippy added, "not to mention stun us long enough for their ramming. During the Lylat Wars they could chew through a Cornerian heavy battle cruiser in matter of seconds!" Fox had opinions from his ace pilot and mechanic, now he looked to the team telepath to see if what they faced was in fact the real White Wolf fleet.
"I'm reading no real emotional activity aboard their ship, if that's the case they must have their own telepath," Krystal said in defeat. Fox slammed his fist on the podium and considered their chances in defending a city against a full fleet, but not just any fleet, the fleet that almost beat Corneria. In fact his nemesis Wolf had come from that fleet, his whole family was part of that fleet, that had met its end during that long lasting war. It was now his call. Fox stared confidently at his crew and in a rising voice said to them:
"Alright team, Rah 2 has been attacked and is in need of assistance, so I say…lets go!" Racing down the hallway he made it to the newly fixed Arwings and jumped into the cockpit. Fox put on his comm. head gear and flipped the warm up sequence before he flipped the ignition. The latch that held the Arwing came off and Fox hit the boost sending his Arwing down the tunnel. The stairs welcomed him and a brilliant display of deadly enemy fire. "Falco take Slippy to the surface and see if you can get the evacuation started, Krystal and I will try to keep them busy up here."
"You're the boss," Falco said and brought his Arwing into a nosedive past lacing fire and laser batteries. Slippy was behind him barrel rolling past tracker bombs and drill shots, both attacks were doing mean damage to the Arwing's hull. As they passed through the cloudy interference they witnessed the horror that had unfolded while they were away. Buildings were burning, fields were now dead, and in the street were dead bodies. "This is…awful."
"I hope Fox and Krystal are giving them a fight," Slippy said. The nearest landing field was near the hangar bay and from the looks of dug up dirt it could already be told it was captured. Slippy landed his Arwing behind Falco and once the engines were off grabbed a blaster and hopped down the steps. "Now what do we do?"
"Check the hangar bay and search for survivors," Falco said as he ran. He had his back against the door and as he poked his head in he saw 6 armored figures holding bulky blaster rifles, type A-7, very old Cornerian type. The survivors here were mainly pilots, a small percentage were mechanics. "The only way we could penetrate such armor is by sniper rifle. Did you bring one Slippy?"
"No, then again when do we ever? Falco we never played commando, we were always the pilot never worrying about ground based missions. Now here we are carrying around blasters fighting the White Wolf fleet, not your typical Team Star Fox mission now," Slippy said with a sarcastic grin. The 6 armored figures picked out a prisoner and Slippy recognized him as… "Falco that isn't, it mustn't-."
"Your father," Falco said stunned himself. Beltino Toad was a struggling scientist and his projects usually ended with a few burns. During the Lylat Wars however he proved quite instrumental in breaking through the White Wolf fleet. Now the stakes were high and they couldn't reach Fox or Great Fox. The leader of the team removed his mask and Beltino Toad was hit with dead realization. "It seems he knows who-."
"Quiet Falco," Slippy said urgently. The 5 others grabbed a struggling Beltino Toad and the other prisoners had no way to stop them. Quietly as they could they snuck up to the walkway and followed above. The room where Beltino Toad was set in was the equipment room and all around were tools used to fix ships, from Falco and Slippy's perspective it was for pain.
"The battle was fairly fought Beltino, up till your moment, your only moment in history to be seen as you scrambled our code and nearly got us killed! Today however I managed to track you to this dust ball of a planet, and now your very existence on this world is at an end, kill him," the wolf ordered. Falco somersaulted off the walkway and as he landed he shot 2 of the wolves down and as another approached menacingly Slippy shot him in the head. Two were left standing; the leader had no intention of letting them have the advantage and brought out his own blaster. "Team Star Fox I presume," the wolf said speaking the name in distaste. "How very brave…to come with no backup."
"Shut your trap wolf or we'll not let you live," Falco warned him. Slippy helped his father up and Falco kept his blaster aimed on the wolf, something is so familiar about him, he thought as they were out the door. The other prisoners had already begun their evacuation by the time they arrived and it seemed to be going well. "So Beltino was that someone who held a grudge too long?"
"Yes I suppose you can say that," Beltino said rubbing his sticky head. "You see I was a brilliant technician back in the war and I was so smart that I was given a computer that could read a star ship's plate and before it come out of warp. The White Wolf fleet managed to outthink the computer and hit us from the back. I think you'll understand it if I tell you the whole story:
I began my day by eating a nice warm meal of flies and took a nice cold shower. I graduated the top of my class and during my 5th year of college the Cornerian army drafted me. I was in my mid twenties when I first met Peppy Hare and James McCloud. James was young and Peppy a joker, anyway I got my assignment and was posted in the Cornerian defense. "Alright Beltino," a very young Pepper told me, "your job is to alarm us if any trouble starts, then leave it to my pilots. Are you nervous?"
"Just a little sir," I said with a little tap dance, "sir do you remember the beginning part of the war?" You see Pepper had no idea how it went, but what he told me may have more significance to you youths now. Anyhow, sorry to interrupt my own story-.
"The Cornerian records explain it was mainly threats, back then the lizards were building a battalion, the same for our side. It was said that both sides had exchanged little fire; neither side had no intention of backing down. When it got heavy rumors went around about a coalition between the lizards of Venom and the White Wolf. That's all I remember."
"How did it all start?" My mind was working overtime and that's when they struck. I rushed to the machine and put on my headgear, no voices or commands were uttered. The radar picked up a battalion entering the South side and both Pepper and I became alarmed. Pepper told me to wait until a calmer time to ask again and ordered the Cornerian force out. The White Wolf fleet launched their own strike and blue and green laser fire pierced the silent starry night. The whole White Wolf fleet was protected by a heavily clad shield and I felt helpless, until my mind took in the machine and I set to work. The wiring was the easy part; all it involved was taking the red wire and inserting into the main access panel, then rewiring the yellow wire so that it could line up vertically with the blue. In a manner of minutes the White Wolf fleet was attacked by the remaining fleet of Cornerian Arwings. We came close to extinction that day…
"We were fooled that day in believing we had seen the last of the White Wolf fleet. Before you arrived they told us how they had set up nukes in their ships and had spare ships, hidden from our advanced technology, so they could depart in case they were near being beaten. They fooled our technology again and took us and the whole planet by surprise. Son why do you still serve in a job where everyday you're certain to die? Don't you even think of your father's mind?"
"Dad I know I'm not the best pilot in our team, but I feel needed there. Great Fox is always malfunctioning and without my help Fox and the team would never know when a boss is beaten. I know the risks of being a pilot, after all I did get cocky in the space yard and if not for Fox I'd be a lot thinner. The point is I'm not a mess up kid anymore, I'm part of Star Fox, so don't you fret about your genius son." Beltino wiped a tear away and hugged his son. The reunion was cut short however when the wolf came back.
"Slippy get your father and the prisoners to safety, leave the wolf to me." The wolf threw off his cape and Falco took off his shades and the two circled one another. "Time to clean your ears wolfy, because I'll only say this once more, leave or die where you stand," Falco said. The wolf had the opening shot and Falco rolled under it and kicked the wolf's shin. The wolf was shaken a little, but his eyes burned with prowl like intensity.
"Watch your tongue falcon, it'll be the first thing I tear from your body," the wolf said. Falco activated his secret weapon and created an illusionary Lombardi that sent the wolf flat on his face. The wolf back sprang at him and hit Falco's gut sending him to the hangar floor. The wolf stared down at him and with the heel of his boot kicked Falco again. Then a figure dropped in-
Fox pulled the yoke up just in time as the missile that had locked onto him soared by and exploded. This battle was suicide indeed as he and Krystal took potshots at the strong White Wolf fleet. Fox barrel rolled as multiple targets locked onto him and while in mid barrel roll he hit the boost just as the shield klaxon rang. "Krystal I got a bogey on my tail, if you can get him off…that'd be great."
"I'm on it," Krystal said. While Krystal fought her way through heavy enemy fire he had to dance with death. His shields were in the critical area and whoever the piloted the ship had him locked in tightly. Just then two green lasers pierced the enemy's shield causing him to spin and eventually explode. "I got him to explode Fox!"
"Yeah, you sure did Krystal," Fox said relieved. Zooming into the thicker part of the battle Fox picked the two lead ships. The designs he sent to Rob 64 on the Great Fox, while he analyzed those to see if this was the White Wolf, he and Krystal were responsible for delivering enough damage to pull the survivors out.
"Fox does that symbol look familiar?" Fox flew next to Krystal and pushed the magnification lense on his Arwing, the symbol magnified was of a white wolf, but the likeness of it reminded him of a past foe. The snowy surface of a planet, a bomb, and an annoying pain in the…no it couldn't be-
"The last time I saw that symbol was on Fortuna when my team faced off against Star Wolf! But I shot him down on that planet, how can they share a symbol with Star Wolf…unless it's quite possible their related," Fox said rubbing his chin. Looking down at his radar he saw Krystal had 3 fresh bogeys on her tail. "Hang on Krystal I'll be right there!" Pushing all his reserve power on boost he sped past mines and charged shots to make it to Krystal's rescue. These ships shared things in common with Wolf helm (the ship Star Wolf and team flew on Fortuna) that would only mean they'd be difficult to shoot down. The ship in back performed a somersault and landed behind him shooting away at his back. "Krystal try and draw the fire of the bigger ships at you, it's an old trick but it'll work."
"Ok Fox," Krystal said. She barrel rolled to the left and her enemies followed. The large command ship was looming up ahead and swung its wide body around to reveal 6 canons. Krystal reached out to the ship and felt happiness, frowning at that she pushed the boost hard. The command ship opened fire sending red beams out, each sailed past Krystal. "Such happiness doesn't last when the surprise is turned," Krystal said with a grin. Flipping the firing button it was revealed she had a nova bomb in store. It would seem unlikely she would destroy the ship, but her only intention was to cripple it. Pushing the button she watched as a round red shape sailed from under her Arwing and with a brilliant flash hit the shields…and lowered them. "Fox its time to attack!"
"Hey what the-?" After somersaulting two times he managed to clip off his opponent's wings and managed to destroy Krystal's tagalongs. One nova bomb later the command ship was vulnerable and they had the advantage. "Well done Krystal, let's take it down before it raises those shields," Fox said. Switching to dual lasers he flew beside Krystal and shot away at the sides of the ship. Explosions occurred within and Fox never let go of the firing stud, not until the ship was down. "Where did you get that nova bomb?"
"Slippy, before we left he gave us one nova bomb, he said that no suicide mission wasn't complete without a nova bomb. I'm surprised you haven't used yours Fox," Krystal said teasing him. Fox kept firing, so Krystal continued until the ship was at the mercy of the flames. "Fox the ship is ready to explode we must-."
"Too late!" The ship had activated the self destruct and for the two Arwings a heat radius that big would destroy them. A trail of debris from the ship shot into the surface, along with two Arwings. "Krystal speed your descent, it may shake off those flames," Fox suggested. Rah 2 had much rocky terrain; the safest place to have a crash landing would be near the old weapon facility West of Rah 2's capital. "Krystal you ok?"
"Fine Fox, just a little hot," Krystal said. Her engine was overheated and her vision was blurry still, but she had to live, for Fox and the team. Over the past 2 months her telepathy had strengthened and in that even in her blind state she still took down a command ship and managed to do the impossible. The ground met her Arwing and her head smashed into the console and she lost consciousness. Fox followed her next, but since he was used to those landings he popped the hatch and rolled to the ground just as his Arwing tumbled into the ravine. He then rushed over to Krystal's upside down Arwing and with all his strength pushed it over. The hatch opened and Fox slid Krystal from her seat belt and slung her over his shoulder. The walk to Rah 2's capital took 20 minutes, Fox was limping there and by the time he reached the hangar bay several wounds opened up. Setting Krystal beside the door he rushed in to see an enormous wolf about to smash his friend Falco's head in. Fox then chose the time to intervene.
"Can't you see he's had enough?" Fox pulled out his blaster and aimed at the wolf's foot, then shot him. The wolf roared at him and as he fell threw a dagger into Fox's shoulder. Rushing forward the wolf tackled him to the ground only to be thrown into the ground himself. "Oh I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself; the name is Fox McCloud team leader of Star Fox, and you are?"
"Mack Wolf; team leader of the White Wolf fleet. Did you go to school with my son?" Fox bit his tongue as he pulled the dagger out and heaved a painful sigh. "My son lost his eye once and told me it was a McCloud, you are that McCloud?" Fox back flipped over the charging wolf and stared after him. How could he tell this raving wolf his son was killed, in his sights? The wolf charged again and Fox rolled out of the way. How long could this go on?
"About your son Mack…he's dead," Fox said with his head hung low. The wolf seemed to stop all breathing and his body stiffened, not a good sign. "Your son was leader of the team Star Wolf, a group hired by Andross to eliminate good. I happened to fight your son on Fortuna, he fought well Mack," Fox said resignedly. The wolf kicked Fox high into the air and smack into a crate. "Mack please-."
"You McClouds are all alike, its time I prove that by ending what Andross started!" Fox got up on his knees as Mack charged at him again. As Mack neared him; Fox lashed out with a flip kick that sent Mack back a pace. Then as Mack advanced Fox grabbed Mack's outstretched hand and kicked him in the stomach. Fox then round housed kicked Mack and saw the blood squirt from his now broken jaw. Fox turned away and felt the breath of Mack on his back, then as quick as a fox he did the splits and with a twist kick cracked the nuts of the wolf and as he rolled away he picked up his blaster.
"Your command ship is down Mack, give up already and you'll only have to deal with Cornerian justice." Mack roared and threw his knife, but before it reached Fox he squeezed the trigger. Mack fell down dead and Fox held the weapon responsible. "Falco are you ok?" Fox asked his friend as he got up.
"Yeah, just not in the mood to go planet side again," Falco said. Slippy and his father came out of hiding and reported that there was no need to evacuate; the White Wolf fleet was already gone. "Gee Fox you killed the lead wolf, I guess that'll be the last time we see them in Cornerian space huh?" Fox didn't say a word because just then he collapsed. All the injuries he sustained in the battle had exploded and like that he too was lost. "Fox are you ok?"
"Falco go get Krystal and follow us to the hospital, I'll explain your next mission while we wait for them to recover." Beltino and Slippy put Fox on the hover taxi and like that they sped off along the rocky terrain of Rah 2. "Slippy it has just now occurred to me where the White Wolf fleet will strike next. The planet is on a jungle terrain and holds a Cornerian secret. The secret that holds the answer to Corneria itself; and the way to destroy it."