After a solid victory of the Cornerians at Karifi, Fox and his entourage pushes on as Emperor Splero continued his drastic acts to quell them off from his colonies.

After Fox occupied Karifi as the new Cornerian colony, Telero and his other cohorts arrived at Taraki. Marezo, Telero's brother and Minister of Taraki, were awaiting the entourage's arrival at the docks of Taraki. The Minister was shocked to see them.

"Telero, what happened?!" - Marezo asked with surprise -

"Karifi has fallen, Marezo. We failed to quell them off." - Telero answered -

"The royalists and conscripts tried there best but the Cornerians were quite too powerful to be hold up that long." - Johivo added -

"Did you reported to the Emperor about it?" - Marezo asked -

"I already done the report and to be honest, Emperor Splero was so concerned." - Korifo answered -

"I'm sure his concerns will never going to be worsened soon." - Marezo reassured -

"And how could you say that, Marezo?" - Johivo asked -

"While you guys were busy in defending Karifi, Emperor Splero already prepared the defenses of Taraki." - Marezo replied -

"Really?" - Telero realized -

"Of course. In fact, we also kept hearing the sound of artillery echoing from Karifi. After we realized that, we prepared our fortifications and our forces at once." - Marezo remarked -

"I see." - Johivo said -

He then saw a group of Splerai'ians marching in the streets with their bamboo spears and a few Hanyang 88s. A small group of royal officers then prepared a MG nest constructed near to the main roads that leads to the center of the city by carrying a old M1895 machine gun. Sandbag walls and barbed wire fortified the other weak buildings and redoubts. Emperor's Flags were all hoisted in some buildings at the city's borders.

"Anyway, I'll escort you all to my office. I'm sure all of you were tried in the holding up in Karifi." - Marezo said -

...

In Cornerian-occupied Karifi, Fox briefs his entourage. With Falco standing next to Fox, Krystal was busy tending to a wounded Splerai'ian POW while Peppy helped Slippy in repairing the jammed Hanyang 88s they have captured from the former Splerai'ian arsenals.

"Our victory here have brought great glory to General Pepper and for all of Corneria." - Fox said -

"When we'll invade the next island?" - Falco asked -

"We could invade the next island right about now, Falco but we should consolidate our forces first." - Fox answered -

"Oh great." - Falco responded -

"Besides, some of the POWs agreed to be our defectors and volunteers against Emperor Splero." - Fox reassured -

"Defectors and volunteers, you say?" - Peppy asked -

Fox nodded.

"Of all the 170 POWs we captured, 90 of them agreed to volunteer for our cause." - Fox explained -

"So far, So good." - Falco remarked -

"We also captured a few weapons that the royalists used in the previous battle as well, Fox." - Slippy added -

"I know, Slippy." - Fox replied -

He sighed and he took a look on the Splerai'ian Emperor's Flag. Krystal continued to tend the wounded.

"Argh! Please be careful with my leg, you vixen!"

"Just hold still." - Krystal replied to the wounded Splerai'ian POW -

Krystal then finished bandaging his leg and she injected a syringe of morphine on the POW's chest. The prisoner then lost his consciousness.

"Nice try in your first aid, Krys." - Fox commended -

"Thanks." - Krystal replied with a small smile -