Ch13 The Lines Are Drawn
The war rages on and the attacks were devastating. Both sides were taking heavy losses. The Republic was unable to launch any wide scale counter offensive, due to lack of opperational ships and lack of knowledge of their enemies where abouts. In the days after the main assault the Empire shifted their focus on other major Republic worlds. In the sountern portion of the galaxy DeGuales forces launch an offesive on Chandrilla and Balmora and do excessive damage. In the Northeastern regions Pellaeon's forces harass Republic strong holds on Ord Mantell and bomb the Jedi Academy on Yavin IV. Over a hundred jedi knights were killed in the bombing. During these attacks the Empire secretly invaded the Republic asteroid colony of Hanoon, and rebuilt the abandoned CIS base on Thule and its moon. The defection of Kuat and Corulage took the Republic compeltely off guard. This greatly hurt their production capabilities.
On Saleucami the Empire continued their siege, but with little gain. Over a thousand Imperial troops were killed and hundreds of vehicels were destroyed. Many Republic soilders had to scavenge weapons from the dead to keep from running out of ammo. With the bulk of the Republic fleet crippled and the Imperial raids increasing, there was little hope for any relief for Saleucami.
Tim and his wing, now know as the Shadow Serpents, have gotten quite the reputation. Along with Rouge Squadron they served as the tip of the spear on three major engagements. The first was during the second raid on Rendili. The Serpents destroyed the assault forces flagship the ISD Sacrifice and two squadrons TIE Hunters. During the third attack on Coruscant the Serpents prevent a wing of Scimitar Bombers from reeking havoc on the Republic HQ. Finally useing a Disguised Republic Stardestroyer the Serpents launch a hit and run attack on Kuat, the raiders destroyed eight ships under construction and several fuel storage tanks. The raid slightly reduced the consistancy of the following Imperial attacks. For their exploits Tim, Mark, and Ellan were offered slots in Rouge Squadron but declined, they were far too close to their fellow pilots to just leave them.
The Maw Instalation 19.8 ABY two weeks after the start of the war.
Admiral DeGuale was very impressed with how things were moving, even though they had taken quite the punishment. He knew it was time to move to the next phase, Lylat..
Inside the Maw waroom DeGuale and his staff plan the Lylat invasion.
"Jadex I beleive it's time to take the next step up."
"Your talking about Lylat aren't you sir?"
"Yes Jadex. With the Republic under wraps there's little they could do to help them. This is job for your skills. I want you to take a fleet of at least sixty ships to Lylat. Take their outlying territories of Kew and Papetoon first. They will fall with in a matter of hours. Then work your way into the heart of the system. Invade Macbeth before taking any other major worlds. Macbeth is the core of their industry. With out Macbeth they will only be able to rely on Corneria for production. Macbeth also has the second highest amount of military presence so be careful. Corneria and Katina are the only other worlds that have troop levels that rival Macbeth. For research purposes I want your troops to occupy Sauria, but not at the expence of Macbeth. While was out in the Unknown regions I did extensive study on Krazoa culture for almost four years, I learned alot about their technology and how to harness their energy. Their ancient power could prove very useful to us."
"Is there anything in Lylat that will could hinder my progress sir?"
"Yes Jadex, the mercenary outfit known as StarFox. They are Corneria's finest commando fighter pilots. Do not underestimate them. Kill them on sight. Have your forces ready by morning. Any questions?"
"No sir." Jadex quietly leaves the room and heads to the hanger.
Cornerian Valkyrie class Assault Frigate Shogun, on a routine patrol outside of Kew thirty six hours later.
"Ensign how are we doing?"
"Just fine Captian, quiet as a tomb sir."
"I figured so, just think we were suppossed to be on shore leave, now we recalled and now were out in the middle nowhere cause of this so called threat."
Thirty minutes pass, and the crew of the Shogun continue their patrol. The Shoguns radar operater then notices a large unidentified signature.
"Captian I have something, you might want to take a look at this sir."
The captain doesn't know what to think when he sees the image.
"Corporal what the hell is that?"
"It looks like a really large fleet of ships sir, but I don't know sir?"
The captain runs up to the window and looks outside. He couldn't believe his eyes.
"GENERAL QUARTERS."
Cornerian High Command two days later.
In the hall ways of Cornerian Military HQ, Colonel Madison sprints to General Hares Office.
"Sir I'm sorry to barge in but you need to this."
Peppy looks down at the reports with faint stair and sets the papers down on his desk.
"How long ago Colonel?"
"Two days ago sir."
"Why did this take so long to get here."
"Sir, because they didn't have the chance to send a distress call. The survivors of the attack were barley able to make it back. Only three ships out of the twenty ship taskforce made it back. What are your orders sir?"
"Go to the public affairs office and inform them as of now all civillian traffic beyond Venom is closed for security purposes. Bring this report to my secretary and have her fax this to the Federation concil, they will need to know about this, and have her tell them to declare a state of emergency. I'll get in contact with StarFox."
"I'm on it sir." Madison salutes Peppy and leaves his office.
Peppy just sat his desk for a few minutes and thought to himself,"I just hope were too late."
Meanwhile on board the GreatFox
Fox and Katt walk down halls towards the hanger going over maintinance progress and issues.
"Ok Katt what do ya got for me?"
"Well Fox for starts we have still have at least dozen short circuts in hanger two. The warhead launchers magazine is still not feeding properly. The nava computer needs to be integrated and updated. The Cloud Runner will not stop leaking, I think the whole engine needs to be overhauled on it. On the plus side, the deflector shields are online and are full power, and the new engines have been installed. The GreatFox is space and hyperspace worthy, but far from combat capable. All of the fighters are operation except the Cloud Runner of course. How are we doing as far as our budget goes?"
"I managed to get a good deal on the engines, so with the money that was left I sent Krystal to down to Corneria city to get us a couple months of supplies. Unfortunatly we don't have any money left for weapons."
As Fox and Katt continue towards the hanger ROBs voice comes on the PA.
"Fox I have recieved a transmission from Cornerian High Command, There are requesting that the team reports to them in two hours."
"Roger that, contact Krystal and have her meet us there."
"Affirmative Fox."
Cornerian High Command two hours later.
Fox hasn't seen Peppy since the end of the Aparoid conflict. He was very happy to see his old friend. When the team got to the conference room, Fox was a bit surprised to see so many military officals there, during most of his past assignments they just dealt with the general himself. This made him suspicious. As soon as the team sat down Peppy didn't waist any more time and started his breif."
"Fox I'm sure your wondering why your so I'll get right to the point. Two days ago an unkown force with considerable numbers has invaded Kew and Paptoon."
"Big Deal just send us out their to fry them. I can't imagine these guys being more powerful the Venomain army. Plus it not like either of those worlds had many troops there. How hard could this be?" Falco blurted out.
"You sould look into the situation more closley before shooting your mouth off Falco." Krystal commented.
Peppy gave Falco his usual look of frustration.
"She's right, you may think otherwise when I show you the battle footage that that was taken."
Just as Peppy was about to play the tape a grey lupine wearing a green army dress uniform with many awards and ribbons on it and a black beret on his head walks into the room.
"Your late Major." Peppy tells him.
"You should know by know I don't really care about time schedules."
Fox then looks over to the new arrival and was a bit shocked.
"Wolf what the hell are you doing here?"
"What does it look like Fox I'm here for the breifing." Wolf sarcastically answered.
"Fox don't worry, Wolf volunteered to fight with the our commando brigade under Colonel Madison." Peppy said as he started up the projectors.
"We were lucky to get this much footage. As you can see were dealing with a force unlike anything we have ever faced before."
Irony gave Falco quiet the bite in the ass. He and the rest of the team couldn't beleive what they were seeing.
"We estimate the enemy has nearly seventy ships, none in which are less than seven hundred meters long. Some of their ship measure a mile in length. Their smallest ships are almost as size as our largest ships. Their fleet tore through the Kew vanguard in less than a hour."
Peppy then footage turned over to the ground battle. The endless swarms of the faceless, souless white armoured soilders was a distburing sight. But the most horrifing sight was of the massive quadrupedal steel mammoths that walked right through Cornerian defense lines.
"What the hell are those things, their huge." Katt says when she sees the massive walkers.
Fox stayed quiet during the entire presentation. He closley analyzed his new enemy. He was impressed with how well trained and organized they were. They were truely a unique warmachine. But he couldn't help but notice that this new enemy reminded him of his apocalyptic dreams. But were they connected or just coinsidence, he didn't know.
Once the tapes were finished Peppy turned the lights back on and faced everyone. No one said anything the room was dead quiet. Fox was the first to say anything.
"So General what exactly do you want us do about this. The GreatFox is not combat ready. In its current state it would be blown away within minutes by one of those cruisers. You don't honestly expect the five of us stop them, do you?"
"Of course not, You should know better than that. I want you and your team will be working first hand with our troops, acting as combat advisors, first line leaders, inflitrators and espionage agents, and Fox."
"Yes sir?" Fox asks.
The Federation coucil and myself have agreed to deligate you with the authority of four-star rank military officer. Your great leader Fox and a brilliant tactitian. Each member of your team will be given senior officer ranks as well. I know you'll lead us to victory Fox."
"Thankyou sir, I'll do my best."
"I know you will Fox."
"So besides these tapes sir, do we have any other useful info on our enemies" Fox asked
"Wolf has faced this enemy first hand. Wolf tell us what you know."
Everyone turns their attention over towards Wolf.
"Well I don't know much, but when my team and I were heading back to Kew from a job on Venom our radar picked up a massive signature. We thought it was the Cornerian Navy chasing us, but when we got close enough we knew it wasn't them. Their fighters swarmed us like hornets. Their fighters are fast and very manuverable, but thin skinned. The three of us didn't stand a chance. Those bastards managed to kill Leon, Panther disappeared. All I can say is that were in for one Hell of a fight." Wolf then sits back down and Fox takes the stand.
"So whats the militaries current state then general?" Fox asked
"So far we have moved a third of the fleet to the other side of the system to support Macbeth and Zoness. They should be able to hold them until we can get some extra troops. Then we can attempt a counter attack. In order to make it alittle easier for your team I'll send a platoon of mechanics to help repair your ship, but thats all I can afford to spare."
"I understand, that will help out alot. As far as a plan of action goes I suggest we wait them out, I mean we alomst have to, we really know nothing about them or how great their capabilites are. The only way were going to learn about them is face them. If we start digging in now and let them come to us instead of going after them, then mabey that can bye us some additional time to come up with a more solid plan."
"I like the way you think Fox, We all have alot of work to do. Dismissed."
As everyone exits the room Fox stops Wolf on the way out.
"What Fox?"
"I see your old uniform still fits. Its been what ten years since you were a commando. Before you turned your back on society you were one of the finest commandos Corneria had. Why did you all the sudden come back?"
"I lost everything Fox, my team, my home on Kew. Because of the invasion the Army offered me a full pardon and new life if I serve with them, so thats what I'm going to do. And besides chasing your ass around the system was getting a bit old."
Fox laughed at Wolfs little joke.
"Well I have work to get done so good luck Wolf." Fox then catches up to his teamates and heads back to their ship.
Authors notes: The Lylat invasion has begun. Excited yet? The next few chapters are going to be mostly rounded around the Lylat campaign. Things are going to get alot more intersting coming the next few chapters. Including a couple of big twists. Thanks for reading and reviewing.