C. Wars: First Strike

[Matrilwood]

Warning: Contains low level violence, and the occasional Category 1 swear word.

"This is a populated sector, we can't just leave people to die!" Pippy was rather upset at the current situation.

"Attacking now would be suicide. Even when reinforcements arrive its not like its really going to make a difference. Their probably only going to bring a few hundred battleships and carriers for evacuation."

"Your blood pressure is increasing!!!"

"Shut up 64!!!" Everyone looked at him silent. "sigh, I'm sorry. When reinforcements arrive THEN we'll see what we can do." Fox walked back to his quarters. Krystal tried to follow him, but Falco lightly touched her shoulder and shook his head.

Fox McCloud sat at his desk and put his hands on his head. "Ten Thousand warships. Maybe even a Hundred Thousand. I don't think the entire N Army could compete with that. Once reinforcements arrive we've been ordered to stay here and defend the Lylat System until all civilians are evacuated. And that's assuming any do arrive." The morral of the entire ship had been low ever since they saw a colossal fleet of Sony Battleships entering the Lylat System. And Fox was the only one who knew that Starfox was not leaving.

20 hours passed before 5 battleships jumped out of hyperspace. Albeit a lot more than anyone had expected it was still little compared to what was ahead. That and N had plans to attack the Sony forces from another area. With so many ships here, it was unlikely that the other areas were well defended.

*****

"So this is the schematics for N warships?" A man with an eye-patch holding a data-drive was talking to Wolf O'Donnell.

"Along with information on the Lylat and the nearby star-systems. Among other things" Said Wolf.

Almost everything in the Sony Battle-ship was black with Silver trim. No color like N Star-ships. Snake turned around and put the drive into a computer. "I hope we will be well pain for this." Pigma said.

"Far from it." Replied Snake.

"WHAT?!?!" Exclaimed Starfox in unison.

"This is an outrage. Just becouse you've got a huge fleet doesn't mean you can treat us like rubbish!" Wolf yelled.

"There are 3 things that effect my decision." Said Snake, "Firstly, I can treat you like rubbish because I have a huge fleet. Second, I don't think I can trust anyone who is willing to betray their country for money. And finally, my orders were to eliminate all N scum, and you, I'm afraid, are N scum. Throw them into deed space." Gaurds grabed the members of StarWolf.

"Wait!!!" Exclaimed Wolf, "There are battle schematics of StarFox, their more dangerous than you think, we're the only ones who can best them."

Snake put his hand up to stop the guards, then looked at StarFox's battle schematics. "Interesting," Snake turned around, let me strike you a deal. Kill StarFox, and I will personally make you an Official citizen of Sony. And if you fail. Well. You'll be thrown into deep space and the oxygen in your body will cause your head to explode." Pigma gulped.

"With honers?" If Wolf's blaster hadn't been taken off him, he would have killed Panther then and there.

"With Honers." Snake smiled.

[Guest Julius Quasar]

heh heh! sweet! :yes:

[Guest Matt macdowel]

Nice!

[Velocity]

very cool

could of used some explaining at the begining

but over-all very nice!

[rainfyre66]

You got me interested. I am eager to find out what happens next...

[Matrilwood]

Starfox and the other 5 battleships headed for the Sony army in formation. Behind them would be a fleet of carriers to evacuate the populations. They were just past Solar when they received a message from an unwelcome source.

“How’s it going old friend?”

“Starwolf what are you doing here? There are Sony forces in this sector, I suggest you leave.”

“Yeah yeah, I understand that we’ve had difficulties in the past, but there are more important things to worry about. I’m thinking this time we could join forces.  Think about it. Team Starfox and Team Starwolf fighting against a common enemy.”

Fox and Falco looked at each other for a second. “Listen Starwolf, we’ve got 5 N battleships on our tail armed to the teeth and ready to destroy any threat, I suggest you get out of our way before I use this opportunity to remove you permanently. You got that?”

“Woah woah woah. You’re the boss, but you’re forgetting something. I know things that you don’t.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh well, a little bird told me that there where warships headed for a certain planet, but obviously you don’t want me to help you so I won’t.”

“Don’t play games with me Wolf. Who is attacking? Where are they attacking?”

“Oh you’re just going to have to find out you’re…” The Starfox fired a warning shot in Starwolf’s general direction. “Alright their attacking Corneria. They’re sending a few battle ships to destroy the planet.”

“Why would they do that?!”

“I don’t know, its Sony. But you’d better hurry. I wouldn’t be surprised if they arrive soon.”

Fox cut transmission, “Starfox isn’t fast enough we’re going to have to go by arwing alone.” Fox told the other battleships not to wait for them. The arwing left the Starfox and sped towards Corneria. Within about an hour they had arrived.

“Are we too late?” asked Slippy.

“I think we’re early” replied Falco.

A giant humanoid robot appeared, followed by fighters recognisable as Starwolf. “You know, that was easier than I thought it would be.”

“You brought us all the way out here for nothing?” said Falco angrily.

An unfamiliar voice sounded, “Your weapons are useless. This is an armored core, an elite Sony battlemech.” The armored core lifted up a machine gun and started firing at Fox’s ship. Fox jolted to the left to avoid the stream of bullets. Fired the boosters and shot the armored core in the chest, melting the metal slightly. He then spun around awkwardly and returned to formation.

“Seriously, you’re wasting our time.” Said Fox.

“I was just getting warmed up.” Turrets came out of the Armored Core’s back and started firing wildly.

Fox’s arwing dodged the heavy mass of bullets, however his wing was scratched. The mass of bullets didn’t stop, and he couldn’t get close enough to hit the armored core. Fox barrel rolled, fired the boosters, and hit the mech in the face with a smart bomb. An ejection pod fired out of the armored core and it self-destructed. The force of the explosion knocked Fox against the window. Falco flew past Fox and fired at Wolf’s ship. Wolf maneuvered around Falco and trailed him. However Slippy zipped behind Wolf and fired. Wolf moved out of the way and Slippy hit Falco instead. “Watch where you’re shooting Slippy!” yelled Falco.

“Sorry!!” Cried Slippy.

Wolf’s dodge allowed Falco to move out of the get out of his sights. Forcing a stall and getting behind Wolf. Wolf flew in an erratic pattern making him hard to hit. Then Wolf’s ship did a backwards somersault mid-flight and began firing at Falco. Falco had to swerve not to hit Wolf, this put Pigma right in his sights. Falco fired a direct hit on Pigma’s ship which lost control. Falco pulled the brake and turned around to see Wolf heading straight for him.

Panther was on Slippy’s tail, firing wildly. Slippy jolted to the left, pulled the brake. Panther barely dodged the slowing fighter. Their wings scraped into each other. The impact had clawed into Slippy’s right fuel tank and he was leaking. Slippy hit Panther, whose jet ruptured and sent the dogma into an out of control spin which collided with Leon’s fighter. Slippy shut off the right fuel tank.

Falco and Wolf fired boosters simultaneously. Firing at each other’s ship, and hitting. Just before impact they moved out of each other’s way. Falco pulled the brake and spun around. While his ship was badly damaged, Wolf’s dogma was in far worse condition. Falco was surprised it was still active.

After a few seconds wolf hailed, “I see you’ve won this round. But next time you won’t be nearly as lucky. We’ll come back with more armored cores, more ships, more weapons.” Starwolf went back into formation and flew away, parts breaking off as they did so.

“Status report.” Falco said.

“Slippy here, though I’m losing fuel.”

A few seconds passed. Falco spoke again, “Fox, Krystal, what’s your status?” no reply, “Fox, Krystal, do you copy?” two arwing came into view. One of them looked ok, but the other had a wing that had been completely torn off. Falco flew to the damaged ship to get a closer look. It was full of holes, but the cabin looked intact. “Slippy, go down to Corneria and tell them we need a carrier. We’ve got two casualties up here. I’ll stay up here in case more of them arrive.”

“You’re ship doesn’t look to good either, if they come you won’t stand a chance.”

“Yes I will, because I’m a better aim than you. Now go.”

“I said I was sorry,” Slippy said as he flew towards the planet’s surface.

[Matrilwood]

Sorry for the delay, I had some stuff I had to get done.

---

“This is Slippy of the StarFox, requesting a carrier for 2 fighters.” Slippy got no reply. “Repeat this is Slippy of the StarFox, requesting an emergency carrier for 2 badly damaged fighters.” Again no reply. “That’s strange...” as Slippy travelled down to the planet’s surface he knew something was wrong. No evacuations, no vehicles, not even normal activity. It was as if the planet was dead. The planet could not have been evacuated so quickly. With so many people it would take at least a few weeks at best. It had only been 1 or 2 days. Slippy landed his arwing near an air-dock where he could get a carrier.

When Slippy got out he pulled out his blaster. The planet was dead silent, not even the birds cawed. Cautiously, he went into the Air-dock, checking corners to make sure nothing was hiding. The automatic doors still worked; there opening was the only sign of life, the soft scraping noise was like a loud bang in the silence. The building was equally dead. Last time he was here, there was a huge crowd of people going their which way. Now there was nothing. Save a glimpse of something moving at the corner of one’s eye. Slippy pointed his blaster in the direction of the movement. There was nothing. He could hear the drumming of his heart. Slippy began walking on.

*****

Falco sat in his arwing, waiting for Slippy, “What am I doing here? If something happens I’m dead. I can’t fight off an army of robots all by myself. And what about Slippy? What if something goes wrong, what if I sent him to his death? ” Falco’s thoughts were interrupted by an object appearing on his radar. It hovered there for a second and disappeared again. Falco dismissed it as interference.

*****

“I have to find out what happened here,” thought Slippy. He walked to a com-link and pulled out his screw driver, undoing the bolts that hid the service controls underneath. Knowingly pressing buttons, Slippy eventually hacked in. There was an audio file, Slippy opened it.

“Get out, they’re here. Get out now. Anyone who’s listening to this, your life is in danger. They’ve taken entire cities prisoner; those that resisted were simply destroyed. BANG. There here. BANG. If you listen to this get out. BANG... Audio File Complete.”

“All that’s done is confirmed my fears.” Said Slippy standing up. He felt something metal press against the back of his head.”

“Don’t move,” Slippy was too petrified to. “give me your blaster.”

*****

“What the hell is taking him so long,” thought Falco.

“Ugh, what happened?” Falco’s heart lit up at the familiar sound.

“Fox you’re alright!!”

“Yeah, minus a headache”

“Fox you’re bleeding from the side of your face.”

Fox put his hand on his head and felt blood, “It looks like it’s just a flesh wound, nothing serious.”

“Still don’t think you’re going to fly in that state.”

“Falco who’s ship is that?!”

“Huh?”

“That ship, who’s is it?”

Falco went quiet for a second, “Its Krystal.”

“Krystal? Krystal, are you alright?”

“Calm down Fox, her ship’s been torn to pieces but the cabin looks intact. Slippy has gone down to get a carrier. Everything is going to be OK” Fox could sense the uncertainty in his voice.

*****

“Turn around,” Slippy turned to see a young woman in blue armour. “Slippy Toad, looking for a carrier. How utterly typical. I’d let you live and take you prisoner, however your knowledge of technology makes you far to dangerous, therefore you must die.”

“May I make a request?”

“What?”

“Can I have a smoke?”

“Alright fine! But make it quick”

Slippy pulled a packet out of his pocket, without warning he pressed a button and the place was instantly filled with smoke. Slippy ran for his life. The woman followed him, shooting in his direction. Slippy ran past the edge of the smoke, he turned to see the woman raising her gun. Slippy ran down a corridor, barely missing a bullet.

Knowing the password to get into the mainframe was enough for Slippy to hack into the mainframe with his PDF. However he’d never used it running for his life and dodging bullets before. And the girl seemed determined. Slippy got found his way to the hanger. The girl close behind him.

*****

The blip that Falco thought was interference came back. Heading straight for him and Fox.  Falco turned around to see what it was. It was an armoured core, much larger than the last one. “Fox, I think I was wrong about you not fighting for a while!!!” The armoured core stopped, and a graty laughter was heard from the communications.

“2 arwing all alone, and what’s this?” The armoured core picked up Krystal’s Ship.

“Get the hell away from that ship!!!” Fox yelled over the link.

The core looked at Fox’s ship. “I see, so you must care about the occupant then… I wonder what would happen if I did this…” The core squeezed Krystal’s ship making the metal bend.

“NO!!!” Fox fired at the Core’s head, to no avail. The gratey laughter was heard again. “Don’t you dare hurt her.”

“And what would you do if I squashed this ship like a bug?” Fox didn’t answer, “It amuses me how easy it was to find your Akeley’s heel.  And don’t you worry; I’ll take good care of your girl friend.” Fox charged his gun, “I don’t think you want to be doing that, it would be no effort on my part at all to kill the occupant of this ship.” A gratey laugh and the armoured core began to fly back to the surface of the planet, putting the arwing in a dock in its back. Fox watched helplessly.

[Guest DRL]

Great so far!

I hope to see Krystal in action soon.

[rainfyre66]

This is really pretty good, keep it coming. It could benefit from some technical editing, but that aside, it's an exciting story that I'll be sure to keep reading.