He waited for the President to take it all in and replied to him;
"Yes Mr. President, but the situation with the officers is even becoming dangerous, with a lot of the army, navy and fleet agreeing with them. If this information were to become public knowledge, then the officers could see the ensuing chaos as an opportunity to take power."
There was another pause.
"Yes, it is that bad and a very serious threat to Lylat's security. I don't care what the press will do; I want to remove those officers as soon as possible. It's likely, with all the requests you and I have been vetoing recently, that they would take measures to ensure Lylat's safety from outside threats."
"I mean, sir, that they would increase the size of the military, but more money into it, make Lylat a military controlled state as opposed to a democratic one. Hell, one of the most recent requests asked for conscription. I think it was some kind of joke. No, they're completely incorrect; even if the changes they now want had come about earlier, the last two wars could not have been avoided or easily won. … Yes sir. I'll see you as soon as I can."
(------------------------)
That night, all the flood lights around the crashed pyramid ship turned on all at once and were accompanied by a loud siren. There were shouts and sounds of blaster fire from inside the ship and out, and a passer by, getting footage of the ship, was actually able to zoom in from outside the perimeter fence and could see members of the CDF's Cornerian Army and police force being fired at and returning fire. The intruders all moved in professional, military poses, weapons pointed downwards unless being fired. They were clad completely in black, with red emanating from the visors. Even their tails were partially covered in lighter fabric.
A larger group came out from inside the ship, guarding a trolley filled with crates marked recently with Cornerian bio-hazard warnings. They were loading the crates onto a large cargo vessel, obviously capable of space travel due to the burn marks from many atmosphere re-entries.
At this point, the CDF pros arrived, in their hovering, metal, slightly jagged transports, covered in urban camouflage. The strike team members pouring out from the back of the three transports were dressed in matching urban camouflage, mostly with the same blasters, but some with specialised weapons like sniper rifles, shotguns and riot shields. They moved, fired and signalled to each other in exactly the same way that the enemies were. It was a good attempt, but it was too late. By the time they got past the defenders, the ship was already away.
(------------------------)
"What happened to the Fleet base north of the City!" Fox demanded.
"They scrambled fighters, but someone crashed on take off, halting the pursuit." The General explained.
April sighed; "What'd they get?"
"An alien virus the et's had in some kind of lab." The General explained further.
"I don't Suppose you know who did it?" Fox asked.
"Nope." This time April answered; "When killed, their suits released some kind of a corrosive gas, destroying any evidence."
"Still Fox, it was a very professional action. They could almost have been Cornerian trained soldiers." The General didn't like what he had just said, but it was the truth. Especially with his soon-to-be removed senior officers acting up left, right and centre. "I want Starfox to track down that virus, Fox. It'll be an official dispatch, so you'll get paid."
He turned to April; "Captain Tyler, I hope you understand the situation a little better now, after our talk."
"Yes sir, I don't care what those high rankers say, you've got the Kite behind you, if that means anything to you."
The General laughed. "It may only be one ship, but it's certainly something. I'd like the Kite to remain in orbit for a while, just in case things go wrong."
"Yes sir."
"Carry on Captain."
(------------------------)
"Ok Fox, I'll have a hamburger with cheese and a soft drink or something. How about you?"
"Falco, we're not stopping to eat."
"Well where we going then?"
"The CDF's treasury department Falco."
They drove down the ramp of the landed Great Fox, which gleamed in the afternoon sun. They got on a highway, where Fox's suv really showed what it could do, and headed for one of the central sections of Corneria City.
"Why are we going there Fox? I thought we're looking for a virus."
"Well yeah, but that team that took it all looked like Cornerian Special Forces to me, and I've seen them around for a long time."
"oh, you think the rogue senior officers paid for the attack?"
"Well, if they did pay for it, I doubt they paid for it with their own money."
"Heh, I wouldn't have."
They pulled up and parked around the corner from the building, and as they came around the corner, they saw two officers, one two star Army general and one two star Fleet General being mobbed by reporters, who for the most part were being ignored by the officers who headed straight for their convoy of three cars.
Falco took a photo with his wrist mounted computer and sent it to ROB on the ship; "Hey ROB, y'think you can tell me who this is?"
"Researching…"ROB replied.
Peppy's voice came on saying: "Falco, I'm watching these guys on the news channel, or, all the news channels because they're all showing the same thing. They're not named yet, but they're being asked about involvement with unauthorised test of the war scale weapon test a little while ago."
ROB came back on: "The Fleet General is Two Star General Anderson and the Army General is Two Star General Ford. They are believed to have been the original dissidents in the Joint Military Council of the Three Forces."
"woah they've gotta be connected." Falco remarked.
"I agree. Let's skip talking to the Generals for now."
They headed inside.
(------------------------)
Fara walked into Arspace and received a warm welcome from the staff there, mainly because she had worked as a test pilot there before she had met up with Fox and joined Starfox. She knew that in his time off from being the Director of Research, Beltino Toad came and worked at Arspace for a small sum, as a hobby.
She walked through some double doors and entered a huge room, in which new ships were created. Two sides of the room were made up of panes of glass; one was a giant door, the other of Computer screens and desks.
Beltino was hard at work, leaning over a desk, looking closely at a design, making notes and Fara sat down. She waited a minute before saying:
"Beltino? Beltino!"
He suddenly looked up, unaware that someone had sat down in front of him.
"What? err…oh! Hello um, err, what's that again… Fara Pheonix! Wonderful to see you again after… I don't even know how long! T-tell me, how can I help you?"
"Well… I know it's not your field, but I was wondering what you could tell me about that weapons test they did recently? Over the sea?"
"Oh yes, yes, quite terrible, they shouldn't have done it. That's what I can tell you. I don't know much about the mechanics of it- but I could possibly find out for you."
"Ah, that's great, but I was really wondering who was in control of it. Even Pepper doesn't know exactly who it is. We were just specifically worried that the weapon may fall into the hands of some people in the military who think- a little differently to the rest of us."
"Well, I'll see what I can find out for you, but it could be some time."
(------------------------)
"Hey Fox?"
"Yes Falco?" Fox replied wearily, leaning over a computer terminal.
"Look here, it's probably nothing, but the CDF recently received an anonymous donation a few days ago, and the Joint Military Council allocated the extra funds to the Special ground Forces." This Fox found strange;
"err… Wouldn't anyone giving a donation want to make a big deal, y'know, so everyone knows how great they are for doing it? And so the CDF knows they've got the Donor's support?"
"Yeah I guess."
"Wait; let me see the monetary exchange logs." He clicked away at his terminal and typed searches before the correct, most recent logs came up.
"Ok, they received a donation and then allocated the money to Special Forces. Hmm… two days later, after the attack on the ship's virus cargo, the CDF paid a smaller, still sizeable amount to Kirzon Pharmaceuticals. Now, I know the CDF contracts a lot of work out to the private sector, but Kirzon, according to their website, specialises in medical treatments and producing vaccines."
Fox and Falco looked at each other, standing at the same time.
"Let's go," they said simultaneously.
(------------------------)
Peppy came into the rec room in the Great Fox and gave another newspaper to Slippy. It had only been a week since Peppy had stormed in, angry about the weapons test.
Peppy paced across the large room whilst Slippy took in all the information being presented to him.
"Slippy, I want you to keep the ship ready to go at any time. If things go wrong and those officers go off the deep end, we could have to get out of here in a hurry."
"Good idea. Let's go and talk with ROB about this."
They walked down a corridor to the Command Bridge and left the paper on the table in front of the two couches. The headline read 'Corneria City: The Military Training Ground'. There were pictures of six wheeled Cornerian military vehicles driving around the suburbs, and troops moving through the streets on Orientation Exercises. 'Apparently, in a recent Press Conference, General Pepper, second commander-in-chief of the Cornerian Defence Force under the President, reported that he would stop the military exercises so close to the city and that they had been approved, again, by 'Clerical Errors' in paperwork. He said that he was still in complete control and authority over the three forces.'
(------------------------)
Fox and Falco were walking out of Kirzon Pharmaceutical's city centre sky scraper.
"Waste of time. Waste," Fox said with a frustrated tone of voice. They had been kept waiting for several hours and had seen the Chairman of the company for only half an hour. Falco turned around and stopped.
"What?" Fox asked.
"Look at this."
He was referring to a large map on the wall of the entrance lobby and pointed to a building marked for Research and Development. They were in general administration.
"Let's go."
"Where?"
"Exploring." Falco replied.
(------------------------)
They looked down upon a large complex of buildings in a large clearing in the middle of forests far west of Corneria city.
"Wait a second." Fox said, reaching into his suv, which he'd had repaired since it had been smashed when the alien ship crashed down in the city.
He took out two bags and a sliver case. From the bags he retrieved two Starfox vests, each with two pouches on the front and a belt on the bottom, with more pouches for equipment. From the case he took two blasters. They put those on their leg holsters. Then he took out two P-90's and spare ammo. Then he took out two blocks of plastic explosive.
"Let's go," said Falco, "but real stealthily."
"Alrighty," replied Fox, who was busy looking through some binoculars. "We'll enter through the east fence as there are buildings to hide behind right there.
They snuck past scientists, security guards and staff who might recognise the fact they didn't work there, especially since they were carrying sub-machine guns and they got in an elevator. "Hey look Fox, one of the floors is locked. You need a key card."
"err… well we're going there first." They went to the closest floor they could and went up two flights of stairs. There was a door, a space and then another door. "Ok Fox, I can get past this but-" Fox interrupted him; "wait here a minute." He took out the two blocks of plastic explosive and detonators. Then there was a large explosion. They ran into the immaculately clean corridors, weapons aimed down and flicking up when entering a new room, checking what was inside.
Falco signalled Fox to come over to him; "Look, a clean room."
"There are lots of clean rooms," he responded quietly.
"Yeah, but this one has an alien crate in it. Look."
It was true; there was a gold plated box with Cornerian bio-hazard warnings plastered on it.
"We found it."
A stun grenade was tossed around the corner and they ran. It exploded and the corridor filled with Cornerian Anti-Terrorist Police, all pointing weapons at where Fox and Falco had previously stood. A security guard had called them upon hearing the explosion. Some were looking through the window of the room, knowing all too well where the crate had come from.
(------------------------)
Fox and Falco ran, this time as fast as they could, and that was fast.
N.B. Much faster than the average human's top speed and they can also jump higher than your average human
Their speed, however, was never going to outstrip that of the Vertical Take-off and Landing gunship that had been dispatched out after them. They ran mainly in a straight line to avoid trees and such and their pursuers on the ground were falling behind.
"The Police can't have mobilised that thing so fast!" shouted Falco.
"It's not them! Look underneath!" Fox shouted back.
There was a large 'K' on the side and another on the under side of the craft, presumably to indicate 'Kirzon Pharmaceuticals'.
They both knew that their pursuers wouldn't hesitate to kill them, especially considering what they now knew about their new secret alien virus project.
Ahead of them, the forest got much, much thicker. They had to resort to jumping from tree branch to tree branch to stay ahead.
At one point, Fox jumped and spun in mid-air, firing off a burst at their pursuers on the ground and was rewarded with a scream from someone he'd managed to hit.
Faster and faster they jumped and ran, depending on how thick the foliage was, but it wasn't fast enough to outrun the gunship. They had to put all their concentration on finding a route through the forest, let alone trying to avoid being shot at. They were helped a little by the fact that some of the forest was on a slight downward slope.
They ran over half way through a clearing and were nearly to the other side, when what could only be a Space Dynamics Missile Launcher fired upon the gunship, destroying one of the short, stubby, silvery grey wings along with the engines on that wing. With too much thrust on one side, it keeled sideways and crashed into the forest. Their pursuers on the ground were about a quarter of the way through the clearing when a line of the ground exploded. The men were sent flying into the air, and Fara and Bill Grey emerged from forest on the other side of the clearing, motioning Fox and Falco into the cover of the trees.
(------------------------)
"Fox! It's been a while."
"We can catch up later Bill. We've got puzzle to solve. By the way, thanks for your rescue."
Fox and Falco continued to explain the situation to Bill and Fara as they went back to their vehicles.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, but Why would the CDF do this? Send the virus to Kirzon like this?" asked Fara.
"Well… they could want a new Bio-weapon." Falco said very carefully.
"But everyone knows that without an effective delivery system, those are virtually useless in battle."
(------------------------)
Fox and Falco returned to the Great Fox to find an angry Peppy waiting for them.
"What were you thinking?"
"Peppy, we found the virus. Pepper's men have it now."
"You still shouldn't hav- You found it? In a pharmaceutical company? Why would it be there?
They walked towards the elevator and Falco spoke up: "I think they're trying to make an alien bio-weapon."
Fox gave a small chuckle: "We've been over this Falco. Without an effective delivery system, the virus is useless over a large area."
"And why would they want one? There aren't any wars happening," Bill interjected.
Peppy stopped walking. "The rogue senior officers, Fox. That Anderson and Ford, they developed the war scale weapon with a large dispersal area. Then, suppose it was them who ordered the bio-weapon created. It would be an awesome advantage in any coup, with the perfect method of dispersion."
"Peppy, what does the virus actually do?" Falco asked.
"Let's just say… it's not a pretty sight."
"That's good enough for me."
The lights in the Great Fox were accompanied by a red light scheme, and an alert sounded through the ship.
"Ah, what now?" Fox demanded as they continued at a brisk pace to the lift.
"I'm getting' too old for this kind of thing, I swear," sighed Peppy.
(------------------------)
"What've you got ROB?" Fox asked as he sat in his Command chair. Fara entered the Bridge, pulling on a new jacket with Bill.
"Observe," ROB replied.
On the big screen in front of them, tanks and light armoured vehicles started towards the Centre of Corneria City, the capital.
"Oh man it looks like that General Ford's finally gone and done it," Falco said.
"Ah crap, ROB, get me General Pepper fast!"
"Affirmative. Please wait."
"Fox? Make this quick." Pepper had appeared before them on the screen, still in his office.
"General, you've got to get out of there fast, the dissidents in the government have the bio-weapon and the war scale weapon and they're in coup mode."
"They've got- the virus? Well, at least Fleet General Anderson hasn't started anything yet. Without his support, Ford could fail. I'm rallying everything I can get. That includes you Starfox." The signal faded, and died.
"Communications are heavily disrupted," ROB reported, "Television and Radio also."
"Slippy, get to the new main broadcasting centre and get the TV back up."
"I'm on it Fox."
"Fox, we have to get to Pepper before it's too late," Fara said urgently.
"I know, I know." He considered briefly before continuing:
"Alright, Falco, you run air support for the Great Fox. Peppy, you're gonna stay here and co-ordinate with everyone and ROB. In fact, take off and stay in orbit with the Kite. Fara, Bill and I will go to get the General to safety.
"Everyone get all that?" Fox asked.
"Yeah, and I thought I was going on holiday to Corneria," Bill remarked.
(------------------------)
The Kite veered sharply to one side as a vessel that was once a battleship flew past, mostly on fire and exploding. General Anderson had sent out new orders, which most of the fleet had followed. However, a small portion had remained loyal to General Pepper. The Kite was one of them.
The Kite did a 180 degree turn and appeared to run. Two more ships came after her, and were promptly destroyed by crashing into the former battleship, which had been moved into their path with a tractor beam from the Kite.
"Lucky, month girl, lucky," said Richie as his hands flew over controls.
"There's a time and place Richie, now is not it, but thanks anyway. Put me through to the Great Fox." April ordered. The Great Fox then flew across her screen, right in front of the Kite.
"Peppy, where's everyone else?"
"Oh, don't worry, they're still down on the planet," he responded.
"What, you mean the one on the verge of a civil war!"
"Yep, that's the one."
"Why?"
"To secure General Pepper, the President, the virus and new war scale weapons and to convince the Army to stop following General Ford's orders. How about you?"
"We, the Kite and a battleship, were just attacked by two Cornerian Fleet Cruisers, apparently on General Anderson's orders. It's going to be quiet for a few minutes, so I'll send a team to secure the virus and new weapons. I myself will join Fox's team."
"It's greatly appreciated April. Falco, are you listening?"
"Yeah gramps."
He flew his Arwing in between the two ships and did Barrel Roll.
"Help the Kite as well as the Great Fox. They may be Cornerian, or Katinan, but they are trying to kill us. They've got orders."
"Roger that."
(------------------------)
Fox, Bill and Fara were just thinking about the fact that it may possibly have been a bad idea coming to rescue General Pepper. They hadn't even gotten into the CDF head quarters' main buildings yet. They were still in the courtyard area used for parades and vehicle storage, being shot at by dissident troops. They were behind cover, but it wouldn't last for long.
"Just like it used to be, isn't it?" Bill asked.
"I don't know I wasn't there," said Fara.
"Why yes it is Bill- Frag out!" Fox replied.
He threw a grenade over the car he had ducked behind and heard a lot of shouting and screams from that general direction. Their weaponry, different to average blaster technology, had surprised the dissident troops who were after General Pepper as their bullets ripped through their laser absorbent protective clothing. However, at this rate it wasn't going to be enough.
Suddenly six drop pods smashed into the ground, along with two sentry guns that unfolded and allowed the new comers to run from their drop pods to cover.
All the soldiers who had landed were dressed in urban camouflage and helmets with green visors had small badges of kites on their arms Fox was immediately relieved to see them.
"Fox, we're about to get our asses-"
"No, look! They're from the Kite!" Fox shouted back.
With that, all three leaned out from behind the car and fired, picking their targets carefully, bursting their weapons (Bill had chosen to stick with his Blaster rifle instead of a P-90) and dropping numerous enemies. A drop soldier from the Kite got hit and his friends were in no position to help.
Fox made various hand movements which Bill nodded to and Fara got the idea about. They moved out firing continuously, one at a time. While two reloaded, the other fired. They moved to behind the drop pods imbedded in the ground, and dragged the wounded man back.
Fara turned to Fox; "He's already dead!"
From a few meters away, April could see Fox, in his grey Starfox vest, black jumper and green trousers, fire and fire again. He must really like the General to go to all this effort. Then again, he had gotten the Cornerian people through two interplanetary wars, and he had known Pepper since his childhood because his father had worked for him in the original Starfox team.
She took off her helmet and ran over, firing as she went, taking down the last sentry. With the last enemy killed, everyone from the Starfox team assumed more normal casual poses, but the people from the Kite kept their ready, military poses. That was the difference biggest between the CDF and Starfox.
"Colonel, set up a defensive perimeter as you see fit and move towards the General's office." There were various 'yes ma'am's!' shouted at her, and she turned to Fox; "Hey, thanks for trying."
"Yeah, well, it's how we do things, right? Listen, even if General Pepper's still here, the President's not safe."
"I know. I sent a team to secure him as well."
"Great work month girl. Now, the President needs to get on TV and tell the people what Anderson, Ford and the rest of that group have been up to."
"'Month girl'? Oh man, not you too. What, have you been talking to my pilot or something?"
(------------------------)
"Are you ready Mr. President?"
He nodded.
"Ok, you're on in 5, 4, 3…-" The drop trooper from the Kite signalled two and one with his fingers.
The President looked into the camera in front of him:
"Peoples of the Lylatian Alliance of Seven Planets…"
(------------------------)
Fox and Bill lifted the plastic safety covers and pressed the buttons on two stun grenades and threw them through set of double doors down a corridor lined with dissident soldiers.
(------------------------)
The President's face appeared on every screen in the Lylat System.
People in the Commercial sector of Corneria sector stopped walking to face the giant screen on the main broadcasting centre.
"I'm talking to you today about a matter of the greatest urgency."
(------------------------)
The team of three with April walked slowly down the corridor, followed by the drop soldiers from the Kite.
They turned a corner and were confronted by a line of troops which immediately opened fire. Starfox and April stayed around the corner, and the other five drop soldiers went back.
A door behind the enemies opened to reveal the drop soldiers and, using the distraction, Starfox again turned the corner, but this time returning fire with their alien projectile weapons.
(------------------------)
"As many of you may know, unhappy officers in the Joint Military Council of the three Forces have recently been complaining about the lack of military force available in the last two wars to strike our Solar System, and have focused much of the blame on General Pepper, Second Commander-in-Chief of the Cornerian Armed Forces."
(------------------------)
They all ran down the well-lit white, silver and grey corridors and came to the General's office.
The Great Fox, still in space with the Kite, but now also with two destroyers on their side, swung around the Kite and opened fire with it's two massive cannons, crippling yet not destroying the Cornerian ship. Peppy decided that the people on board had probably been told they were trying to overthrow the government or were traitors to Venom or something, and therefore didn't know about what was happening on the surface.
(------------------------)
"Let me assure you that had any General been in charge, the wars outcomes would not have changed. He has done the most that any of us can ask of him and more. I urge you to reject these rebel officers and if any of the armed forces are listening, emerge from your positions and shake hands with the fellow Lylatians you were just shooting at, because they are your allies, not your enemies."
(------------------------)
"Fox! Bill Grey?" General Pepper was surprised to see him, considering he was usually stationed at the military base in Katina.
"Good afternoon General! We need to get you away from here now, or else-"
"Wait a minute commander Grey. Let's see what the President has to say first. Fox, you didn't do all this with just Commander Grey and Miss. Phoenix, did you?"
"No General, he sure didn't," April said, walking in to the expansive office, her blaster about the size of a sub-machine gun hanging around her neck, her soldiers following her in."
"Captain, you sure know how to get a promotion in this business."
(------------------------)
"And, people of Lylat, to be quite frank and colloquial, I want Generals Anderson and Ford to get their butts down to my office right now!"
"Soldiers of the Cornerian Army, stand down."
(------------------------)
"General?"
"Yes Fox?" Fox looked uncertain and then looked up:
"We get paid for this, right?"