Author: PENGUINIO Subject: STAR FOX: The Beginning Posted: AUGUST 31, 1998 15:19 Venom. Last unexplored planet of the Lylat System. A thick gaseous atmosphere blanketed the barren, rocky planet. It was here that General Pepper of the Cornerian Defense had banished the maniacal genius, Doctor Andross, for his crimes against Corneria five years ago. "This is Flurry Six, my scan is clean, Flurry Leader." A heavily armored CDF Fighter approached a group of nine fighters amassing over the hull of the Cornerian Jewel, the heavy assault frigate sent to patrol the Venomian spaceways. "I read ya, Kelp." Flurry Leader announced over his ELF comm. The nine fighters swiftly flew into the Jewel's secondary docking bay. As the pilots deserted their fighters, technicians and scientist scurried about, shouting and screaming. Kelp McNeil approached one of the technicians. "Hey, what's goin' on?" He asked. "What? Haven't you heard?" The worried tech exclaimed. "Heard what?" "Venom! It's disappeared from radar! Cloaked!" The technician shoved Kelp out of the way and hurried to the lift tubes. Kelp walked over to the nearest security computer and entered his password. He heard a loud buzzing sound and glanced out the side viewport to see Red Flight of Flurry Squadron soar out toward Venom. A few seconds later, three laser blasts shot up from the deserted planet and destroyed the fighters in mid-flight. "Son of Lylat!" Kelp shouted and keyed in a distress signal to Zoness just before the Jewel's power shorted out. In the darkness, Kelp leaned against the viewport staring, just as more laser blasts penetrated the hull and another blast ignited the docking bays. "Sir! We've received a distress call from the Cornerian Jewel." Lieutenant Cheetah handed a few printouts to General Pepper. "Venom disappeared from their radars?"Pepper inquird. Cheetah silently nodded. Cheetah quickly moved to the holodisplay across the back wall of Pepper's CDF office. "This is what our Zonessian Observation Post picked up." Pepper laid the printouts on his desk and sat down as Cheetah activated the display. The lights dimmed, but the room quickly lit from the intense glare of Solar on the Observation Post's camera. The view swiveled to reveal Venom. The immense planet filled the screen. The Cornerian Jewel could be seen quite clearly in the background. Three small explosions outside the ship followed by a shuddering blast knocked out the ship's power. Then the ship exploded in majestic glory, leaving small fragments floationg in Venom's orbit. Seconds after, the cameras fizzled out and the holodisplay ended. "Sir, the High Command has contacted the President of Corneria and we have decided to upgrade to Defcon Three." Pepper leaned back in his chair. "Get me McCloud." "James, you, Pigma, and Peppy will be flying our new SFX-1 Arwing fighter. Remember, these are our first working prototypes, so please don't damage them TOO much." Beltino Toad, Director of Engineering, for Arspace Co. Ltd., showcased the experimental fighter to James McCloud, leader of the mercenary team Star Fox. "Don't worry, Beltino, we'll be in and out, Andross won't have his way with us." Beltino smiled and picked up a small handgun off the lab table. "This", he said handling the pistol, "is the TR-111, the most efficient laser gun in all of Lylat. We had them imported yesterday morning from MacBeth. Power Pack holds sixty shots, press here to release, here to reload." Beltino handed the gun to James who looked it over. Pigma Dengar burst into the lab shouting. "Hey Jimbo, Pepper wants you in here so he can breif us on the mission!" Pigma's high squeaky voice irritated Beltino who quickly left the lab, nodding goodbye to James. "I'll be right there, Pigma." "Star Fox, this is Venom." General Pepper motioned towards a large holographic sphere hovering in front of them. "Yeah, yeah, I've already seen Venom, Pepper." Pigma squealed. Peppy Hare glanced suspiciously at Pigma. "Sir, how will we get past Venomian airspace?" James spoke up. Pepper smiled. "Your ships use the latest technology in Lylat, so Andross' scanners should have a hard time picking you up. We have also painted your fighters a brownish hew to camouflague your attack." James and Peppy nodded in unision. Pepper turned off the holodisplay and sat down. "Good luck, Star Fox." The Great Fox, a dreadnought-class space cruiser built specifically for the Star Fox team rested in silent orbit around Corneria. James had had Beltino Toad and his engineers work night and day on their majestic mothership, perfecting every little detail. As James and Peppey stepped into the bridge area a small robot scurried in behind them. James pulled out his TR-111. "Welcome to the Great Fox! I am ROB64, your computer interface droid." James relaxed and put back his gun and studied the robot. ROB glided between James and Peppy. "Your comrade is in the docking bay working on his ship. I have been busy upgrading all the systems in your arwing fighter." ROB strolled out of the bridge followed by Peppy. James trotted over to the main viewport and stared out at the beautiful world of Corneria. Lights twinkled in the cities below, reminding him of his wife Vixy's eyes. He had missed her for so long and had the strange feeling he would see her soon. The lights soon reminded him of his young son, Fox's, determination to succeed at the CDF Training Facilities, always doing his best. James stood there for several minutes contemplating the mission before hurrying Missing part? "All fighters report." James said over the ELF2 Comm unit. "Peppy here, I'm doin' great." "Pigma, everything checks out, boss." The three arwings soared through the hazy atmosphere above rocky outcroppings and jagged cliffsides. "ROB, do you pick up anything? We've encountered zero resistence so far." "Nothing on radar, James." James glanced around his cockpit. To his left he saw Peppy and to his right, Pigma. SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT. WHY WOULD ANDROSS LEAVE THIS PLACE UNPROTECTED?, He thought. Suddenly an overhead light flashed followed by a beeping tone. "It might be Pepper, pick it up, Jimmy!!" Pigma squealed. James opened up his comm channel. "Ah, James McCloud!" "Andross!?! You egg-sucking ape, how did you get on our frequency?" James shouted. "Ah ha ha ha, foolish fox, you have come in vain, you will NEVER defeat me!!" Suddenly, hundreds of Venomian fighters filled the sky. Pigma launched a Nova Bomb into the conflagration and destroyed most of them. The few remaining were easy targets for James and Peppy. The team began to near a strange ancient temple. "Now, McCloud, you will die!" Andross' booming voice filled their cockpits. "Don't listen to him, James!" Peppy reassured. "Hahahahaha! Pigma, show your TRUE allegiance!!" Andross bellowed. "Seeya, Jim, it was nice knowin' ya!" Pigma swerved left nearly colliding with Peppy. "Pigma? What are you doing?" James shouted as laser blasts flashed by his cockpit. "One Nova Bomb coming right up!" Pigma screamed. "Ahhhh!!!!!!!!" James yelled as his ship burst apart around him. Pigma squealed in delight as he U-Turned to Peppy's position. "Why Pigma? We trusted you!" Peppy shouted as he sent an abort code to ROB. "I'm in it for the money, Peppy, isn't that what a merc does?" Pigma fired his final remaining Nova Bomb at Peppy, who barely dodged it, destroying his right wing. "You'll never win, Andross!!" Peppy screamed as his fighter blazed through Venom's atmosphere. Pigma shot two more lasers then broke off his attack. "On, the contrary, Hare, I have already won."