//------------------------------//
// Game 11-Zaxxon 
// Story: EqG Tales: Arcade Edition 
// by Brian Sheil 
//------------------------------//

Somewhere in outer space, a mighty base is stationed on a distant planet. This base is headquarters to a team of intergalactic warriors called the Wonderbolts. In the main meeting room, their leader, Captain Spitfire, addresses her troops.
“Okay, you grunts!” Spitfire said with authority. “We are the best team of soldiers in this galaxy. This mission will test our abilities and honor.”
Spitfire turns on a monitor, it displays a young woman with marigold hair and wearing a crimson body suit. Spitfire explains about her. “This is the vicious criminal, Lightning Dust. She escaped from Space Prison and is determined to wreak havoc all over the galaxy.” The image switches to a light teal robot with lightning bolts on its chest, and pointed antennas on its head. “This is her nasty creation. A deadly robot named Zaxxon.”
The other soldiers got surprised at the sight of this machine.
“With a robot like this,” Sky Stinger realized, “nobody is safe.”
“That’s where we come in.” Misty Fly replied. “We’re going to stop this machine of doom.”
Spitfire then organizes the team. “Misty Fly, there’s a floating base that’s near this location. You head over there to see if you can find any information about Zaxxon.”
“Yes, ma’am!” Misty Fly responded. “Permission to take Sky Stinger and Vapor Trail with me.”
“Permission, granted. The more, the merrier.” Spitfire turns back to her monitor. “There’s a fleet of drone ships no doubt patrolling the area. Soarin’ Skies, Fleetfoot, and I will take them down.” She then switches the image to a floating fortress. “This place is where Zaxxon is located. Once team 1 gives us the info we need, it’ll be your turn, Rainbow Dash.”
Rainbow Dash, the young up and coming Wonderbolt, soon speaks to her leader. “I fly into the fortress, and using the data Misty Fly and her team gives us, I destroy that terrible robot.”
“That’s right!” Spitfire replied. “This will be a good opportunity for you to prove your worth to the Wonderbolts.” 
Rainbow Dash smiled, knowing that this is her chance to be a hero.
“Okay, squad!” Spitfire ordered. “Let’s mount our jet fighters. It’s time to take Lightning Dust and Zaxxon down!”
Minutes later, a fleet of seven space jets flew up to the area of the base. They land on an asteroid, hidden from any surveillance devices.
“Team one,” Spitfire ordered, “take off to that base, and get the information we need!”
“Yes, ma’am!” The three Wonderbolts called out as their jets sneak into the base. 
Meanwhile, Soarin’ Skies see something on a scanner scope. “Captain Spitfire! Those drone fighters you talked about are heading this way!”
Sure enough, a massive fleet of crimson saucer shaped jets approach the area.
“Rainbow Dash,” Spitfire said, “you stay behind. Once you get the information downloaded into your computer system, head for that fortress.”
“Yes, ma’am!” Rainbow Dash replied.
As Spitfire, Soarin’ Skies, and Fleetfoot, take off, Rainbow Dash sees a pyramid shaped object at the opposite direction of the base.
That’s got to be the fortress Zaxxon is at. Rainbow figured. Be careful, everybody.
Inside the base, Misty Fly and her squad flew their jets through the base. They go through tunnels, dodge electric fences, and blast away any laser posts and missile launchers.
“There’s a computer system around the corner.” Sky Stinger reported. “There are no defenses there.”
“Probably no expectations of visitors.” Misty Fly figured. “Let’s go!”
The three jets arrived at the location, and landed. The pilots got out of their vessels, and made their way to the computer.
“Think you can do it, Vapor Trail?” Misty Fly asked.
“With my computer skills,” Vapor replied, “watch me.”
Vapor Trail soon hacked her way into the computer system. Soon, schematics if the robot, Zaxxon, appeared. She then tapped the computer keys more, and started to download the information to Rainbow Dash.
“Once the download is complete,” Sky Stinger said, “we’re out of here.”
“Hopefully Spitfire will leave some drones for us to blast.” Misty agreed.
Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash sees her monitor activate. It shows her the blueprints of Zaxxon, as well as its weaknesses. Satisfied, Rainbow powers up her jet, and takes off. Fleetfoot sees her heading for the fortress.
“Captain Spitfire!” Fleetfoot reported. “What’s that hot shot doing?!”
Spitfire sees Rainbow heading for the space pyramid, and smiled. “Don’t worry, Fleetfoot. Team one probably gave her the info she needed.”
Suddenly, Misty and her squad arrived at the area and joined the battle.
“Mission accomplished.” Misty reported. “The information is downloaded, and Rainbow Dash is ready for Zaxxon.”
“That’s good.” Spitfire replied. “Join the battle. We still got some drone jets to deal with.”
With that, the six fighter jets fly around space, blasting drones along the way. As he was fighting, Soarin’ Skies thought about the fighter heading for a battle against Zaxxon. Be careful, Rainbow.
Slipping through the defenses, Rainbow flew her jet into the fortress. She was astounded with the structure. The hot shot pilot flew around and under electrical fenses, used the voltage beam cannons on her jet to fire any gun turrets, and drop light bombs below. In another location, a shadowy figure watches.
“So, we have an uninvited guest.” The figure said with a young female voice. “Let’s see if this pilot can handle my vicious creation.”
Back at the fortress, Rainbow Dash found herself in a wide arena sized area. Suddenly, a large silhouette was in sight. It revealed itself to be a giant sized teal colored robot with lightning bolt shaped antennas on its head, glowing red eyes, and dark blue lightning bolts on its chest.
“That’s got to be Zaxxon.” Rainbow for figured. 
The robot charged at the jet. But, it zipped away fast. It turned to face Zaxxon.
“First thing is to shoot it’s big eyes.” Rainbow said. “This way, it won’t see what it’s doing.”
Rainbow fired the jet’s laser cannon on Zaxxon’s eyes. The lenses shattered, cutting off its eyesight. It also stops the figure from seeing the battle.
“Drat!” The figure said. “I can’t see what’s going on now!”
Meanwhile, Rainbow swerved back, aiming at another target. “Now, to knock off those antennas to disrupt its guidance systems.”
The laser cannons hit the antennas, and they shattered. This causes Zaxxon to wonder aimlessly. This gives Rainbow Dash an opportunity to finish him off.
“Ready laser torpedoes.” Rainbow Dash called. A hatch opens under the jet, revealing a tube shaped launcher. “FIRE!”
A glowing torpedo ejected from the jet, and struck the robot in the chest. The robot sizzled, then fell to its knees. Landing her jet, Rainbow Dash stepped out, and used her jet pack to fly over to the short circuiting Zaxxon. She then takes out an orb, and pushes a button on it.
“This blast grenade should finish the job.” Rainbow said proudly.
She drops it in a hole on Zaxxon’s chest, then runs back to her jet. She ducks in just when the grenade explodes from the inside. There was nothing left of Zaxxon but smoking metal and circuits.
“Rainbow Dash To Captain Spitfire.” Rainbow said on her communicator. “Mission accomplished. Zaxxon is history!”
Outside the fortress, Spitfire responds. “Well done, Rainbow Dash. We just finished destroying the drone jets.”
Rainbow Dash was happy to here that. “Anything else, ma’am?”
Spitfire gave her hot shot recruit a report. “The Galactic Police found out where Lightning Dust is hiding. Stay right there until a pick up unit arrives. They’ll help gather Zaxxon’s remains.”
“Roger that!”
Meanwhile, the shadowy figure steps into the light. It turns out to be the outlaw, Lightning Dust, wearing a crimson jumpsuit with black boots. 
“Those Wonderbolts will pay for destroying Zaxxon!” Lightning grumbled.
As soon as Lightning Dust stepped outside, she saw many soldiers wearing dark blue armor and white helmets pointing rifles and small guns at her.
“This is the Galactic Police!” One of the soldiers announced. “You are outnumbered. Surrender!”
Lightning soon raised her hands to show that she gives up. One of the soldiers cuffed her hands behind her back when the Wonderbolts and a transport truck arrived.
“Captain Spitfire.” Lightning Dust said with disgust. “We meet at last.”
“Lightning Dust,” Spitfire replied. “your reign of terror is over. Zaxxon is finished.”
“I created Zaxxon to be my most powerful creation. How did you space soldiers destroy it?”
“With a little help from my best recruit. I personally awarded her with a fireball medal for bravery.”
The Wonderbolts stepped aside as Rainbow Dash approaches the outlaw. Dash proudly wears the medal she was given.
“Of course!” Lightning figured. “The hot shot pilot I heard about. Rainbow Dash!”
“Sorry, Lightning Dust.” Rainbow Dash said as she signaled the transport truck to stop in front of her. “Looks like Zaxxon went to pieces.” She stepped aside. “But, I think all of the pieces are here.”
The truck dumped out the remains of Zaxxon in front of Lightning Dust. Seeing all of this scrap metal made her realize one thing. She’s on her way to jail.