//------------------------------// // First Raid // Story: My Own Wings // by Tatsurou //------------------------------// "Zoness is one of two aquatic worlds in the Lylat System," Rob explained to Krystal as the team moved towards the planet in question. "Unlike Aquas, however, Zoness has numerous island chains breaking up the oceans. Its proximity to Lylat's stars also ensures an almost continuous tropical environment. Between these two things, Zoness is a favored vacation spot with numerous resorts and widely varied wildlife, many favored delicacies." Krystal stared out the viewscreen at the green clouds, tainted seas, and poisoned air below. "I think you'd better change that to was..." she murmured sorrowfully. "This..." She couldn't find words to really describe what she was seeing. "It's worse closer in," Slippy spoke up through the comms. "Rob, you should keep Great Fox at that distance. No need for Sunset to see this." "Agreed," Fox confirmed. "She'd either not understand, understand too well, or try to fix it. And I doubt even her magic is enough to fix something on this scale." "Affirmative," Rob responded, even his robotic voice muted as he moved the Great Fox to a higher orbit and cut off visuals. "There appears to be Venomian bio-technology active on the planet below. Andross appears to have a strong military presence here." "He must have taken over without anyone noticing," Falco growled darkly. "Damn him!" Krystal raised an eyebrow at Falco's vehemence, but said nothing. Apparently, the damage to Zoness was somehow personal for him, and she didn't want to get involved in that, or bring that out any further. It would either upset everyone or get Sunset riled up, neither a good idea just now. Given the level of defenses the planet had, the Team decided to fly in low and fast, taking out any scanners or spotlights they encountered to hide their approach so they'd have a chance to take down whatever was in charge of the place in the hopes of crippling the operation, if not try and reverse some of the damage. They'd gone part of the way along their projected flight path when Rob picked up something unexpected. "Incoming fighter craft," he warned the Team. "Fighter is not broadcasting recognized identification signals." "Be on guard!" Fox ordered the others. "Wait a minute..." Falco interrupted. "I know those codes..." The comm screen lit up, displaying a pink feline on the other end. "We're closing in on them, Falco," she stated as the unknown fighter zoomed in close to the Star Fox Team. "Take the right light, boys," she instructed as she swerved towards one of a pair. "I'll take the left." "Katt?" Falco gasped in pleased shock. "What are you doing here?" "Is that any way to greet a girl?" Katt teased playfully. "You seem to be sporting some new tech-" "Unca Bahdi!" Sunset called out through the comms. "Who dat?" Katt burst into a sudden fit of giggles. "I could use the same answers, 'Uncle Birdy'," she teased wickedly. Falco groaned and rolled his eyes. "Katt, that was Sunset. She's Fox's adopted kid. Sunset, this is Katt. She's...an old friend." "We should save this for later," Katt stated before anyone could question 'old friend', though Krystal noticed her voice sounded...somewhat cold. "This isn't exactly a vacation spot anymore." "I noticed..." Falco admitted grudgingly. It didn't take long for the group to make their way through Zoness' defenses, eventually coming across a massive manned sub that was spewing pollution into the ocean. With the five fighters working together, however, it didn't stay intact for long, a very satisfying explosion heralding a possible recovery for the planet. "Is everyone okay?" Fox called out as they set course back for the Great Fox for repairs and cleansing of the ships on the way to the next destination. "Katt?" Falco called out over the comms. "Where'd you go?" There was no response. "No fighter sized explosions detected," Rob informed Falco reassuringly. "...guess she must have had somewhere to be..." As the Great Fox entered Sector Z, drone fighters immediately began swarming it from all directions but directly in front. "They're after the Great Fox?" Fox gasped in surprise. "After seeing the Main Mana Cannon in action twice, I'm not surprised," Peppy observed as the four Ar-Wings swarmed around the larger ship to protect it. "That's the sort of tech Andross - and others - would want to get their hands on." "Be careful everyone!" Slippy warned. "Sector Z is filled with magnetic radiation from being so close to the Venom area and Lylat's two suns...not to mention being filled with wreckage from a huge space battle. All navigation is going to have to be manual." "That's not the worst of it," Krystal called out. "Look!" "Six missiles incoming from the left," Rob intoned. "Identified as Copperhead missiles. Missiles are warp capable, and will have unknown effects if explosive energies interact with Great Fox's magic stores. Unable to rotate in time to bring ship weapons to bear." "We'll take them out!" Slippy called out. "They aren't that durable!" Despite the bravado, the missiles came uncomfortably close to the Great Fox before the fighters were able to destroy them. After the third missile was destroyed - cutting far too close to the ship for anyone's comfort - the fourth was taken out by Katt's fighter as she arrived on the scene. "You're not going to hog all the fun, are you?" she asked playfully. "Katt!" Falco called out. "Where the heck did you go?" "I'll tell you later," Katt replied readily. "For now, let me help you protect that kid of yours." "Thanks, Katt," Falco responded warmly. "I owe you one." "I'll collect," Katt purred as the last two missiles were destroyed at a much more comfortable distance. "For now, I'm going to see what other trouble I can get into. Keep that tyke safe, you hear?" With that, she peeled away to head to another sector. "She seems nice," Krystal observed idly. "Don't start," Falco growled irritably. Sunset giggled impishly. "Aunty Katt?" she asked hopefully. "Definitely not," Falco chided as the others laughed.