Still following the naive and ill-fated royal plan, Splerai Emperor Splero Kerano's escaped entourages suffered a second defeat as Fox and his Cornerian forces invaded Taraki with heavy losses.
The Splerai'ian Empire was in the state of national emergency as Cornerian forces totally controlled the entire island of Karifi. Fearing that the next invasion will be imminent, the escaped royal entourages led by Telero and Marezo established their very positions all around Taraki. Despite the mobilization of the royal forces sent by Splero earlier on, the island was poor guarded against the Cornerian assault.
While holding up inside a concrete bunker, Marezo briefed with the others before him.
"We're going to strengthen our defenses throughout Taraki, guys. The Emperor was really concerned about our serious defeat back at Karifi." - Marezo stated -
"To be honest, I really hated being invaded by a strong alien superpower." - Telero remarked -
"So far, we're going to continue on this operation." - Johivo added -
Korifo then prepared his own Hanyang 88 rifle.
"Even to the death." - Korifo remarked sternly -
The others nodded. They then heard the sound of low-flying planes from outside the bunker and the group went out. The entourage then saw 4 vintage OS2U Kingfisher Floatplanes flying in a small diamond-shaped formation.
"Where does those plane come from?" - Johivo asked -
"They were from Splerai'ia, My dear brother. Splero ordered me to send out those plane to Taraki's airspace in an effort to patrol the coastlines for any Cornerian vessels or aircraft." - Korifo responded -
Johivo sighed.
"Hope this defensive will be successful." - Johivo hoped -
...
Meanwhile, a Cornerian blockade was already moving closer to Taraki. Due to the victory of Fox Mccloud and his entourage on Karifi, they have captured some Splerai'ian AK-Class and AP-Class ships as well with the remaining tankettes that were captured earlier. As the blockade moves on, Arwings and captured OS2U Kingfisher Floatplanes patrolled the skies.
Inside a crammed transport ship, Fox was briefing his troops.
"Our next island that were going to invade was Taraki. According to the Splerai'ian defectors, Taraki was a island with a main industrial hub. Resistance might be more intense than the last one and if we success in annexing Taraki, we'll be on the road for Splerai'ia." - Fox briefed -
"To add something up, our forces were being backed up with the extra support of our defectors and captured Splerai'ian military logistics." - Slippy added -
"I can't believe the royalists were still fanatic for their empire." - Falco remarked -
"So far, our victory will surely demoralize them sooner." - Fox reassured -
"The more, the better." - Krystal said -
After saying that, an explosion jolted the Star Fox Team. Hurriedly, Fox went to the deck and he could see a AK-Class ship being torpedoed by a hidden submarine.
"We're being torpedoed!" - Peppy warned -
"Fox, eliminate any hostile submarines in the water as fast as we could!" - Fox hollered the order -
A few Cornerian-operated OS2Us flew further and dropped a few depth charges in the water. Huge splashes of water spew upwards as the Star Fox Team watched it from the decks of the ship. A Imperial Splerai'ian Type A Midget Submarine then appeared to the surface.
"There's the sub, guys! It's finally surfaced into view!" - Fox hollered -
"Seriously? The foe always uses vintage World War 2-era vessels." - Falco remarked -
"Doesn't matter that, Falco." - Fox replied -
The hostile midget submarine was being fired upon by the cargo and troop transport ships armed with captured artillery pieces. The Cornerian and Splerai'ian troops and defectors cheered as the submarine sinks to the deep sea. Krystal took hold a binocular and she saw something on the horizon.
"Fox, I could see the coastline from here." - Krystal said -
"Good. We have the moment to prepare the forces for the landing." - Fox replied -
...
Stationed in a small bunker adjacent to the coastline, Telero and the others were alarmed as they could see the blockade moving towards them.
"Here they come!" - Marezo warned -
Korifo then sounded the bugles as the royalists and conscripts readied themselves in their assigned positions. Splerai'ians armed with bamboo spears, swords and other vintage firearms were all taking positions that were facing to the coastline. Marezo took hold a binocular while Telero prepared his own Nambu Type 34 pistol.
"Telero, the Cornerians were moving in with AK and AP ships." - Marezo reported -
"Does the vessels moving in fast?" - Telero asked -
"Not quite. I think those vessels were moving at 18 knots." - Marezo replied -
"Since the vessels were moving in slowly, should we use the coastal guns now?" - Korifo asked -
"Do it at once along with Johivo." - Marezo answered -
"Copy that." - Korifo responded -
Korifo then left and went to a nearby coastal gun being manned by Johivo.
"Johivo, Marezo gave me the order to commence the coastal bombardment." - Korifo said -
"About time, Korifo." - Johivo replied -
He then sounded a high-pitched whistle.
...
As the Cornerian blockade were just 900 meters away from the coastline, the ships were being bombarded by the Splerai'ian coastal guns.
"Fox, we're being fired upon by those coastal guns in the coastline." - Falco warned -
"Return fire." - Fox replied -
The cannon-armed ships returned fire. More shells were being fired by the Cornerians than the Splerai'ians could ever imagined. The shellfire of the royalists were inaccurate and the Cornerian shellfire were so intense that the coastline were heavily bombarded and some royalists manning the other coastal guns were either killed or gravely wounded.
"Korifo, displace. It's now unsafe in here." - Johivo reminded -
Johivo and Korifo then departed to high ground. The other royalists retreated as well and soon, the coastal guns were abandoned. The rest of the royal entourages were stationed on the redoubts located further inland.
"We can't keep them at bay, Marezo!" - Johivo reminded -
"The ships were bombarding the coastlines!" - Korifo added -
"Prepare the bunkers, guys. We don't want Taraki to be occupied by the Cornerians!" - Marezo replied with an order -
Johivo and Korifo departed. Telero then overlooked the coastlines and he was shocked to see the blockade inching closer.
"Looks like the Cornerians just landed themselves in the coast, Marezo!" - Telero warned -
"Shut up and keep them pin down!" - Marezo rebuked -
...
Fox and the others then stormed the beaches as the ships landed on the sandbars.
"Charge through!" - Fox ordered -
The massive line of Cornerians charged through but they were being cut down by machine gun and rifle fire from the small bunkers occupied by the Splerai'ian royalists. The human soldiers fired on them with old M1895 Colt-Browning "Potato Digger" machine guns and Hanyang 88 rifles.
"Get down, guys!" - Peppy warned -
Fox and the others lay low to avoid the intense gunfire.
"Fox, I could see a few concrete bunkers in the north and west." - Falcon reported -
"I could see that, Falco." - Fox replied -
Sand and dirt spews to the air as the bullets nearly hit them.
"We can't stay here for long!" - Krystal warned -
"I know, Krystal!" - Fox replied -
"Slippy, call the Arwings and Kingfishers to lay down suppressed fire on the enemy land installations." - Peppy ordered -
"On it!" - Slippy responded -
Slippy then call the air force via radio and soon, a group of Arwings and OS2U Kingfishers dived and bombarded the bunkers with machine gun fire and bombs. The battle raged on and casualties were pretty high. Most of the royalists were nearly massacred to the superior Cornerians.
"Marezo, they have breached the line!" - Telero hollered -
"Speaking of breaching, we're outnumbered and outgunned!" - Johivo added -
"Our forces were eradicated!" - Korifo added further -
The stress was now unbearable for Marezo.
"Taraki has fallen. Retreat to Splerai'ia!" - Marezo ordered -
Even though morale was in all time low, the others heeded the order. Under fire, the royal entourage made their second escape. Johivo and Korifo escaped in a functioning OS2U Kingfisher while Telero and Marezo escaped to the sea in their own motor boat.
With that, the Splerai'ian suffered a serious defeat for the second time.