Chapter Two: Points of Authority

General Pepper yawned, rubbing sleep from his eyes as he wandered into the officer’s mess hall, sitting down roughly, not surprised when Nancy pushed a tray over to him she had already set up. “Thanks.”

“You look like you’ve been though the grinder, old love.” She pushed his fur out of his eyes gently. They were alone, it was early enough in the morning that only the kitchen staff was present. In fifteen minutes, there would be a breakfast rush, but until then they had the place to themselves.

“Sounds about right…” He sighed. “Leave time doesn’t freaking exist anymore, I swear it…”

“Our new allies again?” She continued the preening, her hands finding old routes, smoothing his fur.

“I don’t know if they’re our allies or our enemies. We’ve got three cities building on Alpha, two on Beta, but the intel from StarFox and some other sources suggests something completely different then what we know.”

“And you want to believe StarFox over the GalFed, right?”

“Like you wouldn’t believe. The GalFed is getting us back on our feet, but StarFox have saved us time and time again. I know they wouldn’t lie to us.”

“It probably doesn’t help that you think of Fox as a son.”

He chuckled weakly. “No. No, probably not.” He sighed, looking at her. “Nancy, why did you just divorce me and find yourself a decent husband?”

She smiled. “Because I already had one… I just wasn’t ready to admit that yet.”

“KISS HIM!”

Both of them jumped, and saw the entire galley crew, which were now clapping and cheering, hanging out the connecting door and watching. Pepper sighed and rolled his eyes, shouting back, “Get back to work you slackers!” Ignoring the continued catcalls, he looked at Nancy. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Not until you eat, we’re not.”

“Nag.” He laughed and dug in, shaking his head.

Jirest sighed, settling into a chair as the others did. “The GalFed have declared this ship both contaminated and marked it for destruction.” He announced, playing with his whole antenna worriedly. “The councils from the Colonies are protesting it as loudly as they can, but they don’t have much power. They’re being utterly ignored.”

“We’ve had an entire military after us before.” Falco remarked.

“Not one this big or this powerful.” Peppy said. “We’re going to be running for a long time, much as we hate it.”

“Sooner or later, we’re going to run out of places to run to.” Katt said very slowly. She had been on the bridge during Jesse’s story, but hadn’t been noticed. It had disturbed her, but she couldn’t help think that maybe the answers they needed were in the Entity.

“More true then not.” Fox said. “The problem is, we can’t get help from our own people, they’re too busy building up cities and thus forth. They can only provide political support.”

“Even that might be too risky.” Wrin pointed out. “If the GalFed takes offense to it and decides that your people are a liability…”

“I don’t think they’ll do anything, not as long as we’re marked as endangered.” Said Fara. “That won’t last forever though.” Snuggled on her chest asleep, Hope shifted as she spoke, and Fara automatically soothed her child.

“Any way you put this, this whole situation is very dangerous.” Said Slippy. “According to the workers that were helping us, The GalFed is starting to fracture a bit. The Rinaldi have completely pulled out, they did the minute they heard their colony was going to be wiped out.”

“Any comments on what they think of us?” Fox asked.

“Eh, we’re heroes again.”

“So what are we going to do, exactly?” Wolf wanted to know. “We can’t ignore the fact that the GalFed is going to continue wiping entire planets clean.”

“We’re going to try to stop them.” Fox sighed. “The problem is, we’re a bit outgunned. They’re sure to send more ships, and the last time was hard enough.”

“Strategy time, eh?” Falco asked, running his fingers through his feathers.

“No kidding. The problem is, it’s hard to defend against distance and melee at the same time, considering the limited number of cannons on the Great Fox.” Said Slippy. “We’re probably going to take damage every time.”

“Sounds to me like we need some new guns.” Jesse said, fingertips pressed together, looking deeply thoughtful.

“I just got overhauled, thank you.” ROB said through the intercom.

“ROB, you know as much as I do that this ship isn’t going to fare very well against four or more GalFed cruisers.” The mongoose sighed. “So don’t argue.”

“Well, we need something that isn’t Lylatian then.” Peppy said. “Because I’m pretty sure we’re carrying the heaviest guns we can from our own system.”

“And they don’t do crap to GalFed cruisers.” Said Slippy sourly.

Jesse played with one of the vines on his arm, deep in thought. The resurrected missiles had ripped apart the GalFed ships, but he knew that he couldn’t fit the Great Fox with those. After sorting through what he knew, he sighed and beckoned to the Entity, letting it into his mind, reaching out for weapons experts and conferring.

“Jesse? You ok?” Fox frowned, seeing that distant look come back, knowing that Jesse had faded back into the Entity.

“Hmm? Yes, I am. Just thinking.”

“We just got a transmission from the High Command.” ROB suddenly said. “Apparently the GalFed just sent out a new group to continue the orders and find us. Six heavy cruisers.”

“Oh, wonderful.” Falco spat. “We’re dead.”

“They can’t hit us while we’re in warp.” Said Peppy. “Where are they going, ROB?”

“Versyi, to finish it off.”

There was a long silence, and Fox sighed. “We keep going. Find out what planet they’re going to hit next. We’ll try to protect that.”

“You got it.” ROB said, and the ship changed direction in warp, everyone holding on as the ship shuddered, making a sudden turn. “Sorry.”

“That’s ok.” He shook his head. “Meeting adjourned. If anyone comes up with a good idea, tell me.”

Peppy sighed, shaking his head. “Again, ROB.”

The scenario ran again, showing a predicted battlefield, based on what they knew of GalFed technology and strategy. Five heavy GalFed cruisers versus one Lylatian fast-attack cruiser meant bad odds for the Lylatian cruiser. Every time they ran it, the Great Fox ended up permanently disabled or destroyed.

“Not good.” Fox said, rubbing his chin.

“Keep in mind the simulations I ran before the war were a little like this as well. The computers never predicted that one cruiser could beat all of Andross’ military.” ROB said.

“True, but still… this situation is a little different. We knew how the Venomians were, we don’t know everything about the GalFed. That, and they’re out to exterminate us for being ‘contaminated.’”

“Sorry.” Jesse ducked his head.

“Don’t apologize, kiddo. We couldn’t just leave you behind.” Fox ruffled Jesse’s long hair. “Run it again, ROB.”

“Would it take this long to wipe out Versyi?” Jirest said, looking at a map spread out on the floor of the den. He and Wrin were talking shop in the Rekuva’s home language, trying to second-guess their own government. They were starting to suspect that maybe, just maybe, their people hadn’t changed as much as they thought.

“Maybe. I’m not sure. I’m not sure that actual death is what they were striking for with the FAKK zones.” Wrin said, tapping the map. “The sweep path I got from my friend doesn’t make much sense. They’re herding the Entity toward the other systems, not away from. Fleeing ships would be able to get to other worlds outside the colonies.”

“Mm. You’re right, it’s not a very solid extermination plan. They should be using multiple crews, not just one large one…” He sat back. “It’s all bull, Wrin. It has to be. This doesn’t fit with the other strategies of the GalFed.”

“Sure it does. It’s inherently stupid. Besides, that planet-killer laser wasn’t bull, that was serious.”

“Don’t start. And we were witnessing it. I’m starting to think there’s something else going on here. I mean there always is.”

“Not always.” She corrected. “Though this just plain reeks of secondary objectives. I’m glad I ditched when I did, I wouldn’t want the job of carrying out the FAKK orders, or anything else.”

“What’s Jesse think?”

“Jesse’s working with Slippy on this ship’s weapons. I’ve given them every weak point the GalFed cruisers have, and they aren’t many.” He sighed. “I’m scared, Wrin. I’m peaceful if it’s my time to die, but… I know that none of our friends are ready yet. They’ve all got so many years ahead of them…”

She nodded in agreement. “Which is why we’re doing what we can, right?” She pulled him close and rocked him, trying to sooth him. He sighed and accepted it, eyes closing slowly, halfway wishing he had never started mistrusting his own people, but knowing he couldn’t go back to the way it was before, and that he wouldn’t want to if he could.

“There HAS to be a weakness we’re missing.” Slippy said in frustration. “We can’t upgrade our guns right now, so we’ve got to make do, but we’re so outgunned it’s not even funny.”

“No kidding.” Jesse was reading through a huge printout that spanned about twelve feet. They had been burning through reams of paper trying to figure out how to get around the technology they faced. “The real trouble is if we’re surrounded. They’ll break this ship like a wishbone.”

“Skip the imagery.” ROB begged from a terminal nearby, where he was watching the conversation, which was taking place in the bay. The pair was surrounded by idling computers, weapons parts, a variety of doodads and thingamajigs they had been trying to tweak and had so far unsuccessful.

“Sorry.” Jesse smiled weakly. He had brushed of the Entity for the time being, it was too distracting, and Slippy seemed relieved, happy that his friend seemed more normal again. “But if our guns can’t cut through the armor of the GalFed ships, what can?”

“Ok, let’s take this step-by-step.” Slippy stood and started to pace, a carrot stick hanging out of his mouth. In an attempt to slim down, he was keeping himself to healthy snacks. “For starters, what do the GalFed use for armor?”

“Something developed by the Rekuva, mostly silicon-based. Too reflective for lasers to be of any effect.” Jesse replied, leaning back against the palms of his hands and yawning widely. “That said, explosives are probably the most effective thing to use.”

“As you demonstrated not long ago, yes, but we don’t have many projectile weapons aboard. Our bombs are limited, and I’m not sure how much damage they’d do without getting at least slightly under the armor of the GalFed ships.” Slippy frowned. “Dammit, what can you use to hurt something made of silicon?”

“A hammer.” Jesse blurted, then blinked. “Slippy… can the Great Fox effectively ram something?”

“Get that thought out of your head.” Slippy replied. “The bridge is at the front, and not well armored. Ramming another ship would collapse the Great Fox’s neck and probably take out the guns and living quarters.”

“God, it was just an idea.” He replied, hurt.

“Sorry… too much stress.” Slippy slowed his pacing. “… However…”

“What?”

“ROB, didn’t the mechanics do something to your shields?”

“Doubled the power. Why?” ROB paused. “No way, Slippy, I’m not fighting close quarters with GalFed ships.”

“But it MIGHT be the only way to crack their armor.” Jesse said. “We need to build some more computer models… This is going to need some analyzing.”

Wolf woke up with a start, choking off a cry of pain and sitting up, rubbing his arms and shivering as he kicked off the covers, wrapping himself in his robe and leaving his room. The Great Fox was out of warp, orbiting another colonized planet, a flurry of shuttles surrounding it. ROB was in conversation with the colonies at all times now, apparently, trying to figure out how spread the Entity was, trying to get up a good defensive plan against the GalFed. Wolf had heard that Jesse and Slippy had an idea that ROB didn’t like at all, but the pair of super-geeks hadn’t said anything specific to anyone yet.

Wandering into the kitchen, he saw Jesse sitting at the table, pouring over a few notebooks which were covered in math formulas and scribbles that didn’t appear to be any language Wolf recognized. Jesse glanced up when he came in though, smiling a little. “Insomnia?”

“Nightmares.” Wolf grunted, leaning into the fridge, finally gathering what he needed to make himself a Bloody Mary. Jesse watched curiously, eyes flickering across the flow of the wine-red robe absently.

“Nice robe.”

“Only one I own.” Wolf replied, sitting heavily and taking a drink, chewing on the celery absently. “What are you writing?”

“Trying to figure out some fine details of Slippy and I’s idea.”

“Which entails what?”

“Some close combat… The Great Fox ramming the GalFed ships to be exact.” Seeing Wolf’s look, he smiled sourly. “Yeah, ROB thinks we’re bonkers, but it just might work.”

“If it does, it’s worth it, but Fox’ll want computer models.”

“We know, we’ve got them already. We just want to be sure it’ll work.” Jesse watched Wolf as his friend slouched farther into the chair, still chewing on the celery. “What’d you dream about?”

“Nothin’ pleasant.”

“Yeah, that would be why it’s called a nightmare…”

The door opened, and Drax stuck his head in. “Mind if join you two?”

“Sure.” Wolf waved his hand lazily, and Drax slipped in, sitting down beside him and looking across and Jesse’s worn notebooks. “Why are you up?”

“I was working on my story. Needed a break. How about you two?”

“Touch-up math for a combat simulation.” Jesse replied, shoving the notebooks aside. “Which I’m tired of doing.”

“Bad dreams.” Wolf sighed.

“Which I was trying to pry out of him, somewhat unsuccessfully.” Jesse added.

“In my experience, it helps to talk about nightmares, Wolf.” Drax remarked.

“… I don’t want to share any of it.” Wolf hunched his shoulders, shaking his head.

“Why not?” Jesse stood and moved to hug Wolf from behind, setting his jaw on Wolf’s shoulder. Wolf sighed a bit, placing his real hand on Jesse’s crossed wrists for a second, still wondering just who it was holding him.

“It’s embarrassing.”

“What, you get chased by vicious teddy bears?” Noticing Drax’s look, Jesse added defensively, “I’ve had nightmares like that before, ok?”

“Not embarrassing like that.” Wolf shook his head.

“Leave him alone, if he doesn’t want to talk about it.” Drax heard himself say.

“It isn’t healthy though.” Jesse protested.

There was a long silence, then Wolf whispered, “I dreamed about a former boyfriend.”

“Oh… How was it bad, though?”

“He… he used to… hurt me… really badly.”

“Jesus, Wolf.” Drax blanched. “Why did you put up with it?”

“I kinda, kinda liked it then… but…” Wolf’s voice choked off, and he gave up, hands tight around his dog tags. He had never taken off that third tag, Leon’s tag. He just tucked the chain under his shirt, kept all three on, the silver ovals close to his body and heart. He didn’t know why he kept it, he just did, a memento of his past, of a past love. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

Jesse nodded and rocked him automatically, ignoring the confusion of the Entity, pushing the voices back. The Entity liked Wolf, but then, the Entity liked most living things. “I’m sorry.”

“It isn’t your fault.”

Drax watched this, thinking silently, looking at the hurt that was all over Wolf’s face, displayed in his submissive, pained body posture. It wasn’t just the dream that was bothering him, and Drax knew it. “Your entire past hurts doesn’t it?”

Wolf whimpered and nodded weakly. “Until… about two years ago… or less…”

“When Venom rejoined the rest of Lylat?”

“… Yes.”

There was a silence, then Drax spoke again. “Look, the past can hurt, but you can’t get rid of it. It’s always there. All you can do is work to make sure that the present is better, and it is. We all have each other here, and everyone on this ship cares for you very much, including me.”

Jesse opened one of his eyes and looked at Drax, one eyebrow quirking just slightly, arms tightening just a little around Wolf. Drax knew the look, Jesse wanted him to back off. He decided not to react to it.

Wolf smiled weakly, finishing his drink. “Thanks, Drax.”

“No problem, it’s the least I can do. I don’t think it’s enough…”

After a few minutes Wolf staggered to his feet, yawning. “I gotta get some sleep. Don’t stay up to late…” He wobbled off, evidently returning to his room.

“You can stop glaring, you know.” Drax remarked as Jesse returned to his notebooks with a resigned sigh, tapping a pencil against the scribbled-on, wrinkled paper.

“You’re flirting with him.” Jesse sounded irate and tired, pressed too far for his own good.

“I know. I can’t help it really, it’s just…”

“That he’s a great guy. I know. But I’d appreciate it if you didn’t do it.”

“I can’t promise anything.”

Jesse didn’t reply.

“Look, General Pepper, I understand the uncertainty you feel about this situation.” The Vun said, sitting across from Pepper, voice understanding and firm. Pepper had learned to ignore voice tones when it came to politicians. “But if your ‘mercenaries’ continue their current path, we’re going to have to discontinue support of your race entirely! Their rash actions are endangering all of your people! Doesn’t that matter?”

“First of all, I don’t think they were the ones that destroyed your ships. Second of all, they’re under my orders. Senator.” Pepper replied, arms crossed. “I’ve yet to hear a good reason for the killing that your ships are trying to perform, so I’m having my own people do a little scouting on their own.”

“Your mercenaries are contaminated by the very thing we are trying to protect the universe from! They are deluding you!”

“Senator, shut up.” Pepper growled. “You mean Jesse Patterson? Kid genius who’s linked to the Entity?” Seeing the shock on the Vun’s face, he smiled. “Yes. I know about it. He’s spoken to me through the radio. I don’t agree that the Entity should be wiped out, and I can guarantee that no other Lylatian will. It is the decision of the High Command that the GalFed is being rash, and we shall continue to support the actions of our people in the colonies.”

The Vun stood. “You’re making a mistake, General.”

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes. But I’m sure that this isn’t one of them.”

Katt woke up with a start at sat up, looking at the clock. She had woken up a little early, which was a good thing. Falco didn’t wake up easily. Even as she looked at the clock, her boyfriend mumbled and rolled over, feathers fluffing up. She pecked him on the cheek and got up, getting dressed and leaving him to sleep in a bit.

Most of the group had already gathered in the kitchen. Wolf already had coffee made, and was absorbed in making breakfast, headphones plastered over his ears, humming to himself as he cooked. She accepted a cup of coffee from Drax and sat down. “So, anything new?”

“Nothing good, really.” Fox replied, rubbing one of his temples wearily. “The GalFed has officially decided we’re dangerous and has marked us to be killed or captured. They also have tried issuing ultimatums to the High Command. General Pepper told them off as politely as he could, apparently.”

“Good for Pepper. What’s the rest of the High Command think?”

“They’re standing by us, for now.”

Peppy walked in and sat. “Versyi is finished off. Apparently they did a very thorough search of the planet before doing so. They claim they wanted to capture some of the colonists ‘for observation.’”

“Glad Versyi was evacuated then.” Said Fara, opening one eye. She was sitting next to Fox, feeding Hope, who was mumbling happily under the blanket that was draped over Fara’s shoulder and part of her chest. “But haven’t they given up on studying the Entity?”

“Apparently not. Who knows if they’re still searching for immortality, but I can’t blame them for searching for more weaknesses in what they’re trying to destroy.” Fox sighed, kicking a foot back and forth absently.

Alarms suddenly blared through the ship, and everyone leapt up, running to the bridge, leaving Fara and Wolf staring at each other, Wolf with his headphones hanging around his neck.

“Sucks, doesn’t it?” Fara said with a sour smile.

“No kidding.” Wolf agreed, looking at a stack of waffles with his hands on his hips, sighing. “Well, I guess I can just set all of this aside for later, then we can go see what the god damn fuss is about…”

“The High Command just sent us a message. The GalFed just officially announced that they’re coming after us with hostile intent.” ROB announced once people started arriving. The robot was standing, looking at the screens around him, display windows opened over each other as he tracked several dozen things at once. “At the same time, the Rinaldi sent us a warning notice that three GalFed convoys have launched for the fringe.”

“How many ships total?” Fox said, landing in his chair and bringing up holographic displays with flying fingers.

“Over twenty for certain.”

“Oh, hell. Five ships is bad enough…” Slippy said, sitting down and running combat scenarios. “Fox. We’re screwed.”

“Don’t say that!” Fox snarled. “We’re going to make it!”

Peppy, who was looking over Slippy’s shoulder as the last people came onto the bridge, Wolf drying his hands, Falco rubbing sleep out of his eyes. “Best case scenario is run like hell.” He said softly.

“We don’t have anywhere to run to.” Jesse said, eyes distant for a second then focusing back.

“Not to mention that if we run, the colonies have basically no protection.” Said Katt.

“Twenty-plus GalFed cruisers.” Slippy said slowly. “Five, we had figured out… but… over twenty?”

There was a long silence, then Fox spoke again, voice severe. “ROB, put out messages to everyone, every colony, see if they can help in any way. Keep some contact up wit the High Command, see if they can get this order stopped.”

“You got it.”

“Slippy, can we do anything to increase the Great Fox’s defense?”

“Not any more then it has been, boss.”

“God damn it. How about the Arwings?”

Slippy frowned. “I’m not sure. I’ll take a look.”

“Good. Now. Wrin, Jirest, get us makes on those cruisers if at all possible.” He paused, and after a moment of debate looked at Jesse. “Is there anything you can do to help us?”

Jesse slowly smiled, and it was absolutely demonic. “Maybe.”

“Great, do whatever it is and wipe that expression off your face. Stack’em, pack’em, rack’em people. We don’t have much time.”

Jesse left the bridge, dragging along Falco, Wolf, and Drax behind him. “I’m going to need you’re guy’s help.”

“What are we going to do?” Drax asked.

“Temporarily dismember the Landmaster.”

Slippy put his hands on his hips, watching as Fara’s shuttle was hurriedly outfitted for combat, the huge turret-mount gun having been strangely converted by Jesse and mounted on the top. He didn’t approve of his tank being disassembled again, he had just recently gotten the thing back together properly after Wolf had accidentally wrecked it testing out one of Jesse’s combat suits.

“Ok, are you going to explain this to us now?” Drax asked, helping splice wires together.

“Application of principal.” Jesse replied around the huge wires he held delicately between his teeth, stripping others with quick motions of his hands. The AI of the shuttle watched this with curiosity. Outside, Falco and Wolf were finishing the spot welding, making sure the turret was strongly mounted and properly armored. “This thing is about eight times the fire power of an Arwing, because of some adjustments Slip and I made when we rebuilt it not long ago. It’s firing rate has dropped, and the recoil is up, but we’ve made it a plasma cannon on a small scale.”

“Got a suspicion that the GalFed ships might be susceptible to plasma?”

“They’re susceptible to heat, period.” Jesse grunted, finishing with the wiring and standing up on a ladder, wedged partly into the ceiling crawlspace of the shuttle. “From the information we’ve been given, they rely on heat shields when they have to go close to an extreme heat source, like a star. A plasma gun fires something almost on par with a sun’s plasma.”

“And let me guess. Your conversions just now keyed it up more?”

“You got it. OW!” This was when the wires sparked, his tail going straight, fur on end.

“You ok?”

“I have an afro, but other then that I’m just dandy.” Jesse grumbled, pulling in the finished wiring and rolling up the excess, closing all of the hatches and backing out of the crawlspace, missing the ladder and landing on his butt in front of Drax. “NOT A WORD!”

Drax just smiled a bit. “Done?”

“Yeah, if Wolf and Falco are.” He stood, dusting himself off. “This thing will need two people piloting it though, because someone’s got to control the cannon.”

“I’m sure someone will volunteer.”

Falco and Wolf jumped off the shuttle, joining the other two in admiring their handiwork. “Not pretty, but functional.” Falco finally said. “Tell you what, Jesse, I’ll see if Katt will be willing to fly this thing while I gun.”

“Thanks, Fal.” Jesse pounced, tail whipping around. Falco tolerated it until one of the vines started tickling him, then prying Jesse off and holding him off the ground at arm’s length. “Hey!” Jesse protested.

“You weigh nothin’ kid. You eat right?”

“Put me down!”

Falco shrugged and dropped him. “Might as well tell Fox we’re done eh?”

“Probably a good idea.” Wolf said as both he and Drax helped Jesse up. “Take a bit of stress of the poor guy…”

“Look, ROB, I know you’ll be taking the Great Fox in close this time.” Fox said quietly, talking to the robot as they looked at the combat simulations. “But the minute hull integrity starts to drop, get out of there and go to pure defensive. I’m not going to risk this cruiser.”

“Or Hope and Fara.” ROB looked at Fox. “We know you’re scared.”

“Can’t help it.” He shook his head wearily as Jesse came back in, the others following him. “Done?”

“Done. Katt and Falco are going to fly it.”

“I just hope you know what you're doing. A tank cannon on a shuttle…” He shook his head. “Just crazy enough to work.”

“Thank you.” Jesse sat down. “What’s their ETA?”

“Less then half an hour from now.”

“How the hell are they moving so fast?”

“Different engines from us, I guess.” Fox popped his knuckles, fidgeting.

As the minutes ticked down, everyone gathered on the bridge, waiting silently for the alarms to trigger again. The Great Fox and the Arwings were as prepared as they could get, the Colonies had no war equipment of any kind and promised repairs if they survived the fight. The High Command had no power to stop the attack.

Eventually the red lights started flashing on the walls, and Fox stood, looking around at everyone. Not even in their war, had they faced such a hopeless battle. Fara stepped into Fox, holding Hope, and it progressed from there to become a massive group hug/prayer, spending a few precious seconds trying to reassure each other.

“45 seconds until they drop from warp.” ROB announced, voice tense as his metal hands flew over the keyboard, bringing the Great Fox to combat readiness.

Fox nodded, kissing Hope’s forehead. “Let’s do this.”

Those flying fighters left the bridge, leaving behind a small collective. Fara, Wolf, Drax, and Jesse, all standing there watching the others sprint away, adjusting headsets, all worried.

“What do you need us to do, ROB?” Drax finally asked.

“Grab a weapons terminal, you can help with the smaller defensive turrets and such, help me keep track of this.” ROB made a sighing noise. “This is going to be hell.”