Bridge
Grand Fox
Cornaria / Lylat System
0723 Hours
It was time, it was finally time. After months of construction and weeks of preparation, the Grand Fox was ready to launch. The process proved difficult but Fox was confident he had the best crew he could ask for serving on his ship, serving on his home.
Outside the shipyard, a crowd formed a perfect ring around the open bay, mostly news agencies that were broadcasting the liftoff live to the rest of the system. Everyone could feel the anticipation rising, the suspense. It seemed like no one in thier right mind would miss this moment of history in the making.
"Let's get this going," Fox finally stated before opening up the checklist. "All systems final diagnostics, let's count them off: Go or No Go"
"Thrusters"
"Go"
"Life Support"
"Go"
"Navigation"
"Go"
"Air Wing"
"Go"
"Reactor Adam"
"Go"
"Reactor Bravo"
"Go"
"Laser Projectors"
"Go"
"MAC Cannons"
"Go"
The list went on for several minutes, with each individual system given a final diagnostic before the launch. Some crew members were in charge of multiple systems and as such were called upon multiple times. But with every "Go" the excitement multiplied both on the ship and across the Lylat System.
"Final diagnostics complete, the Grand Fox is GO for launch." Fox announced, "Beginning reactor ignition and liftoff in thirty seconds."
"Ignition counting down from 15"
"14"
"13"
"12"
"11"
"10, better hold on to something."
"8"
"7, ignition sequence start"
"5" The mighty warship began to creak and shudder creating a powerful rumble that echoed all throughout the ship.
"4"
"3"
"2"
"1"
"Ignition!"
The twin reactors in the Carrier roared to life, flooding the ship with such unbridled power that the thrusters erupted so violently the entire bay became a fiery geyser. News crews watched in horror as the ship became consumed by the violent explosion, fearing that the carrier and her crew perished instantly.
But then the flames began to change direction, instead of soaring up out of the Shipyard, the fire began to divert into the exhaust shafts.
The bridge shook violently, it's occupants strapped securely into their chairs with gritted teeth. It would take a few chaotic seconds before the G diffusers had built up enough power to cancel out the planet's gravity, and enable the ship to climb.
"Come one Baby, hold together. You're made for this." Kyle encouraged through his gritted teeth just before the shaking began to settle down a little. The support towers that held the Grand Fox aloft in the Shipyard finally broke off, and the McCloud class Carrier began to rise. . .
"We have liftoff!" Fox triumphantly announced as the carrier soared past the crowds above and up into the atmosphere, everyone let out loud cheers of victory as the Grand Fox began to pick up more and more speed. The air roared its protest as the Carrier forced it's way through the clouds, leaving a massive vapor trail in its wake.
And then suddenly, the blue sky turned to black, and all became calm. The Grand Fox had successfully launched, and now Star Fox was back to travel the entire Lylat System.
"And that ladies and gentlemen is how it's done," Kyle announced with a sigh of relief. Only now was his journey with Star Fox truly beginning.
Briefing Room
Grand Fox
En route to Titania
1450 Hours
"We're going to need a strategy if we are going to pull this off. Wolf, Panther, what can you tell us about the base?" Fox asked as everyone sat in a room, overlooking a holographic model of the Venomarian base and it's hidden colony.
"The base is built inside a pyramid shaped shell to keep the worst of the storm outside, Only ways in are through the blast doors that lead directly into the fighter hangars and vehicle bays. The command tower is located in the center of the complex, reaching the top of the pyramid. Elevator to the slave colony is located at the base ot the tower." Wolf began.
"They had about forty pilots, over eighty drone fighters, four tank brigades, three titans, and about a hundred sixty militia when we left, they might have called in reinforcements since then if they are expecting an attack." Panther listed off, "I believe the slave population is a little over eighty but I make no promises."
"An open attack would be pointless, their defences would rip us to shreds if the weather doesn't beat them to it." Bill reminded, "I've no idea how we are going to get inside alive."
"Here, looks like some sort of emergency ventilation shaft, it leads directly into the generator room." Kyle pointed out, "The shaft's cover is thin enough we can cut into it with a plasma torch and we can repel directly into the inner workings of the base."
"What's to say that they won't have the generator going and cook us if we try going in that way?" Falco asked, getting cooked alive by superheated exhaust did not sound like a good way to go.
"I think the base was originally powered by a geothermal reactor that tapped directly into one of the planet's subterranean magma flows, and the shaft was built as a precaution should the reactor become a volcano the base wouldn't choke to death on the sulfur gases." Slippy theorised, "But it looks like they decided to swap out the geothermal reactor one that looks like they salvaged it from a Starship, a big one."
"Sound's like they forgot about the shaft then, I think that's out best way in." Fox agreed, "Once inside we'll fight our way to the central tower and trigger Lockdown, see if we can't divide and isolate the defenders and even the odds some."
"Maybe we could persuade them to mobilize their ground units and fighters to come outside and intercept them with the Arwings?" Falco suggested, "It would really help thin out their numbers inside for the ground team."
"Good call Falco," Fox agreed again, "Once the ground team secures the main base we'll regroup and take the elevator down into the colony to engage any remaining hostiles and free the prisoners. Secondary objective is to access the Laboratory and recover any data we can find, might tell us what's going on."
"Before I forget to mention it, don't expect to hear the Cerinians' telepathy until we actually enter the colony, outer walls are lined with some sort of alloy that blocks it," Wolf added real quick, having just remembered the detail.
"Alright, we got our strategy, and we'll arrive in orbit at about 0620, In the meantime, I want the ground team down at the armory and firing range getting used to the new gear," Fox ordered, "Dismissed. . ."
