Star Fox

                      by Theodore P. Perrotti
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WARNING:  This story has been written and posted free of charge
solely for entertainment purposes.  Star Fox, Fox McCloud Jr, Falco Lombardi, Peppy Hare,
Slippy Toad, Venom, Corneria, Fara Phoenix, General Pepper, Andross, and all other principle
characters, places, and other indica created by Nintendo are TM and copyright (C) 1993 Nintendo
of America Inc.  Used without permission.

     Vessic and all other characters, places, and other indica  created by me, Theodore P. Perrotti,
are copyright (C) 1996 Theodore P. Perrotti. (However, feel free to use all of this story's
characters, events, and places as you wish as long as you abide by the conditions described in the
next paragraph.)

     This story may be redistributed, stored, or archived in any
way just so long as it is unaltered, this entire disclaimer
remains with it, and such action is taken free of charge.  In
short: DON'T SELL OR ALTER THIS STORY!  Also, please ask my
permission before using any of my creations (any characters or
events I've created) and give me credit.

     Parts of this story were based on characters, places, and
events in both the Star Fox video game and the Star Fox comic
which appeared in Nintendo Power.

     This story has also been influenced by the "Star Trek: The
Next Generation" episode "The Defector", as well as the movie
"Star Wars" and the TV series "Babylon 5".

     Those of you who are familiar with the comic and the
backstory established in the game's instruction booklet will
probably notice that, in some places, my version deviates from
the "cannon" version presented by those sources.  I tried to keep
the basic story intact, and made only changes that I felt would
result in a better story.  You can think of this story as an
alternate version of the events that led up to the attack on
Venom.  I hope you enjoy the fruits of my labor.

WARNING:  Recommended for mature readers only.  Contains some
adult subject matter.  (Seriously, this story is darker than its
predecessor, Star Fox: Armageddon)

     I welcome your comments.  Please e-mail them to me at
author@galaxycorp.com.
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     Chapter 19: The Way Home 

     Finally, it came time to leave.  They didn't take much besides the clothes on their backs, as
they knew that they would be doing a lot of traveling.  Besides, if they succeeded in their mission
and were reinstated as promised, there would be plenty of
time afterwards to come back for personal items.
     As Fox prepared to leave, he found himself unable to decide whether or not to bring one
last item-his red cape.  He picked it up and held it close to his body.  Since even before his father's
death, Fox had taken it with him everywhere he went.  When he was a SpaceForce pilot, he'd fold
it up in one of his shirt pockets and take it into the cockpit with him .  That way, Fox felt as if his
father were in the cockpit as well.  It was his way of remembering, and he never ever wanted to
forget.
     It was for this reason that he finally decided not to bring it.  He knew that, since they would
be prisoners, anything that
could be fashioned into a weapon would be confiscated.  And, seeing as how they were going to
"break out of prison", he might not get it back if it were to be confiscated.  Reluctantly, Fox put
the cape away again and left the room.
     Little did Fox know that Peppy had been silently watching him the whole time.  When Fox
turned toward him to leave, Peppy quickly looked in another direction.  Once Fox was gone,
Peppy quietly walked into the room and removed the cape from storage.  He knew how important
it was to Fox, perhaps even more so than Fox himself knew.  Leaving it behind on this mission
would be a mistake.
     Peppy quickly took the cape and left.  He would simply have to use his now
well-developed "dexterity" to keep it from being discovered during a search.
     Chapter 20: The Choice of a Lifetime

Venom: 2 months earlier

     Vessic walked slowly down the hall, not in any hurry to get to his destination.  His mind
was, as usual, on Andross' actions.  Andross seemed more interested in conquest than in helping
his people get a new home.
     Also, Vessic's experiences had somewhat contradicted Andross' description of the
Cornerians and the SpaceForce as callous and cold creatures.  In particular, he couldn't forget one
time when a SpaceForce officer had had him dead to rights and easily could have killed him, but
didn't.  Because that officer had let him live, he had been able to warn his men before the base was
destroyed.
     Vessic knew that others must have had similar experiences to his own.  Yet, if anyone had,
they showed no outward indications of having doubts about Andross.  He sighed.  They remained
fiercely loyal to Andross even though Andross regularly abused them when things didn't go his
way.
     Vessic turned and looked at a door marked "No Unauthorized Entry".  Behind it was a
passage that lead to one of Andross' "devices", the telekinetic amplifier.  Few outside of those
who
had built the device even knew of its existence, and even they had been kept in the dark about its
ultimate purpose for as long as possible.
     Vessic was something of a confidante to Andross, so Andross had told him about this top
secret project while it was still being built.  The Emperor had explained to him that the device
would be an effective means of maintaining morale and helping troops maintain their
concentration
during critical missions.  The fact that Andross swore him to secrecy should have alerted him to a
potential problem, but at that point Andross was a savior in his mind, and therefore was beyond
reproach.
     That was then-this is now.  However, Vessic felt that if he were to tell anyone about the
device and that Andross might be using mind control, they, at the least, probably wouldn't believe
him.  At the most, they might kill him for questioning their leader.  Still, the intrusion he had been
feeling in his mind had greatly intensified since the machine's completion.  It was like a slight
headache that had suddenly become a migraine.  And, at those times he felt the intrusion the
strongest, Andross' actions seemed perfectly logical to him.
     He turned a corner and saw his destination-a small lab in which scientists were investigating
an event that had occurred several months earlier.  Satellites had picked up several large metallic
pieces being ejected from the black hole.  The composition of the pieces was analyzed.  The
pieces
were found to consist of a mixture of metals known to be used by the SpaceForce and by people
from planets near the Lylat system.
     Further analysis revealed that those pieces were part of a ship's hull.  It was a small ship,
like those known to be used by traders and smugglers.  This ship had probably ventured too close
to the black hole and was pulled in.  (Some smugglers, desperate to avoid boarding, had been
known to hide in high-risk areas before.  There, they figured, no one would come looking for
them.)  Once inside, the ship was torn apart by the hole's immense gravity.
     The truly remarkable thing about the occurrence was that, in order to exit a black hole, a
ship would have to be travelling faster than the speed of light.  As far as Vessic knew, the only
ships capable of that were large battleships, not the small freighter they had found.  Thus far, that
aspect of its emergence had not been explained.  It was a mystery to make even the most
indifferent person think twice.
     Messages had also been intercepted from the other side.  Many of those messages had not
been encoded and were easily read, once some interference had been filtered out.  From those
messages, it was deduced that the other end of the black hole was located somewhere in or near
the Cornerian asteroid belt (as it was called).
     The pieces' apparent trip through the black hole raised the possibility of using the black
hole as a conduit through which to travel to the heart of the SpaceForce.
     Andross' power transmitter, on which the modifications were almost complete, would give
their battleships more than the range needed to travel to Corneria without such a shortcut. 
However, the SpaceForce still had plenty of fight left in them and would probably see them
coming.  That would make the approach to Corneria difficult, as the 'Force still had much of its
fleet intact, and Andross didn't want to commit all his ships to one battle.  If, on the other hand,
their battleships could travel through the black hole, they would suddenly appear on the
SpaceForce's doorstep, catching them totally unprepared.  That made the black hole at least worth
looking into.   That's what Vessic wanted Andross to think, anyway.
     Vessic entered the lab and approached one of the scientists.
     "How are the tests going?" Vessic asked.
     "So far, they've been a mixed bag, Sir.  We've sent several probes into the hole in an
attempt to chart a safe course through.  However, each of the probes has been destroyed after
getting only partway through.  We're preparing to send another one in now."
     "And the probes are set to self destruct on command, I trust," Vessic replied.  "We don't
want the SpaceForce finding them and figuring out what we're up to."
     "Of course, Sir."
     Then, another scientist walked up to the one Vessic was speaking to.  "Excuse me, Doctor,
Major... but we've finished charting the approximate size and shape of the black hole.  I think you
should see the results right away."  He then pointed out a computer console in the front of the
room.
     Vessic and the Doctor followed him over to the console and studied the results, which
were shown on the screen.  The Doctor frowned, "That's what I was afraid of.  According to this,
our end of the hole simply isn't big enough for one of our battleships to enter."
     A puzzled look came across Vessic's face.  "What do you mean, Doctor?"
     "According to these readings, a ship would have to stay within a zone no larger than five
miles in diameter all the way through the hole, or else it would be torn apart in seconds.  The
hole's
internal gravitational field is such that the gravitational forces outside of that zone are so strong
that
not even our strongest battleships could withstand it."
     "Which means that we can forget about sending a battle armada through it," said the other
scientist.
     "Assuming for the moment that one of our fighters could stay within that zone," Vessic
asked, "What would be its chances of making it through the hole intact?"
     "It would make it through the black hole just fine," the Doctor said, puzzled.  "However,
that kind of control would be difficult to maintain, to say the least.  Every probe we've sent in has
started shaking violently due to the intense gravity on all sides, making steering difficult.  Also,
the
zone's dynamic.  It seems to shift position almost at random.  It may be stable for several minutes,
and then change suddenly.  All the information we can provide is a time-average of the zone's
location-that is, its most likely location at any instant in time.  I seriously doubt that any ship
would
be able to stay in the zone for more than 3 or 4 minutes at most."
     "Even then, it wouldn't be able to leave the hole without accelerating past the speed of
light," one of the others contributed.  "Our large battleships are capable of doing so by bending
space, but none of our fighters have that capability."
     "But the debris from that trader's vessel made it out of the black hole, as did several
messages from the other side," Vessic pointed out.  "Have you any idea how?"
     "Only a vague notion, Sir.  The messages made it through because they naturally travel
faster than the speed of light.    Theoretically, the debris could have hit a nexus, a dimensional
limbo that serves as a junction between many universes, within the black hole.  Then, it could
have
temporarily crossed over into another dimension.  Finally, the nexus might have pulled it back into
our dimension.  Only, it pulled the debris into our dimension just in front of the black hole instead
of within it."
     "Could this nexus have been somewhere outside the hole?"  Vessic asked.
     "Not likely.  We performed a stress analysis test on the debris soon after we brought it in. 
It had been exposed to forces that could only have resulted from being inside a black hole," the
other scientist explained.  "Also, the formation of such nexuses is believed to be linked to the
warping of time and space brought about by phenomena such as black holes and wormholes. 
That's why the debris was deposited so close to the black hole."
     "Wouldn't the debris have been pulled back in to the hole, then?  It was just drifting."
     "It may have popped back into our dimension far enough away from the black hole to
escape the hole's gravitational pull.  Both 'ends' of the nexus need to be near the black hole, but
only one of them needs to be in it."
     "'Popped' back?" Vessic questioned.  "As I recall, we picked up the pieces leaving the black
hole, not appearing in front of it."
     "It's very difficult to pinpoint an object's location precisely near a black hole, unless that
object has some kind of beacon attached to it.  Ironically, signals seem to have little trouble
getting
out of the black hole, but a lot of trouble getting in.  It's like light passing through one-way glass."
     "If I were to enter such a nexus, would there be any way to control where it left me?"
Vessic asked.
     "Theoretically, your final destination could be fixed by your course and speed when you
entered it.  But, in reality, you could wind up anywhere."
     "If I might ask, Sir-Why do you want to know?" asked the Doctor.  "Even a fleet of stealth
fighters wouldn't be able to take on the entire SpaceForce fleet without backup from our
battleships."
     "I'm not at liberty to say... direct orders from the Emperor himself," Vessic replied. 
"Would a cloaked ship be able to make it out?  They're not exactly in our dimension while they're
cloaked."
     "It could probably make it," replied the Doctor.
     "How well do you have that safe route mapped out?"
     "In theory, I believe we have it completely mapped.  All we had to do was get sufficient
data and then extrapolate from it.  We just have been unable to get a probe to stay in it long
enough to go the whole way through to be sure."
     "Excuse me, Sir, but the next probe is ready for launch," said a member of his team.
     The Doctor turned to Vessic as if to ask whether or not to bother with the launch.
     "Proceed with the test run, Doctor," Vessic ordered.
     "Aye, Sir."  Then, the Doctor turned to the man who had just spoken and said, "Launch
the probe."
     "Yes, Doctor."  A few seconds later, the probe was away.
     "There's a visual sensor on the probe that will allow us to see where the probe goes," the
Doctor told Vessic.  Everyone in the room, save the probe's navigator and a few individuals
monitoring radiation read-outs from the black hole watched the viewscreen intently.
     As the probe approached the black hole, Vessic could barely make out the phenomenon. 
Then, he could see what he could only describe as creases in space, giving the hole the appearance
of a giant vortex.  The vortex rapidly approached the screen as the probe passed the hole's event
horizon.
     "The probe's inside the hole and is within the safety zone.  No noticeable vibrations so far,"
the probe's navigator informed them.
     "Somehow, I doubt that'll be the case for long," the Doctor commented.
     Vessic looked at the screen and pointed at a series of small objects off in the distance. 
"What are those?!" he asked.  "Can the probe zoom in on them?"
     "They're pretty far off, but I think it can be done," replied the navigator, looking up from
his controls to see what Vessic was referring to.  After a couple of seconds of manipulating the
controls, he said, "There.  That ought to do it."
     Suddenly, the objects jumped in size.  What they were was all too apparent to Vessic. 
"Those look like pieces of ships!  I'd say at least thirty of them!  They must have been pulled in
too!"  
     "And those rocks are probably asteroid fragments."
     Then, the image started shaking violently.
     "Vibrations are increasing," reported the navigator.  "I'm showing a major malfunction in
the probe's guidance system.  It's starting to veer off course."
     "Try to regain control," Vessic commanded.
     "I can't, Sir.  We can only receive data from the probe.  Interference from the black hole
would induce too many errors in any instructions we send.  The probe's following a
pre-programmed course and adjusting it on its own."
     Vessic stared at the screen as a blinding white ball of light became visible in the
background.  "What the..."
     Then, the screen went dark.  "What happened?"  Vessic asked.
     "The probe's been destroyed, Sir."
     "Damn!" cursed the Doctor quietly.
     "Is this typical of the test runs you've made so far?"  Vessic asked.
     "Actually, this is the farthest we've gotten," the Doctor admitted.  "We've even tried
controlling the probe from here solely by computer, but the gravity of the hole keeps pulling the
probe in ways the computer can't predict.  The warping of space and time seems to be effecting
the transmission of our instructions to the probe's computer.  Several times it's taken incorrect
actions or no action at all when we've directed it to do something.  We came up with a system
that
we thought would filter out the interference.  But, you can see the results of those efforts. 
Perhaps
a biological pilot could better adjust to changing conditions, but that would be very dangerous to
the pilot."
     Vessic turned toward the Doctor and asked, "Just before the probe was destroyed, I saw a
very bright light in the background.  Could that have been a nexus?"
     "Possibly.  But it could also have been a mere convergence of rays of trapped light," the
Doctor replied.
     "If there is a nexus in there, would it change position, too?"  Vessic asked.
     "Theoretically, no.  But then again, theoretically, the safe zone shouldn't be shifting,
either."
     Vessic thought for a moment, then told the Doctor, "I want you to continue the tests until
further notice.  I want you to focus your efforts on testing the passage of drone fighters through
the hole.  But, I particularly want to know where the nexus is, and how or if it can be used to get
a
fighter to the other side of the black hole with any chance of success as soon as possible.  Can you
do that?"
     "We should be able to give you a theoretical prediction of the necessary course and speed,
as well as the most probable location of the nexus.  But, trying to fly through the black hole  will
still be a big risk," the Doctor replied.
     "I'm aware of that.  But can you do all I asked?"
     "Yes, Sir," the Doctor replied.  "But it will take a week or two."
     "Very well.  You have two weeks."  Then, Vessic turned to face everyone in the room and
announced.  "Remember...no one outside this room is to know of these tests, and the results are
to
be given to me only.  After all, we don't want to risk any security leaks.  I will keep the Emperor
informed of your progress."
     The Doctor looked at Vessic as if to ask him about something.  Vessic said to him,
"Emperor's orders".  At that, the Doctor nodded and went back to work as Vessic turned and left
the room.
     As Vessic headed for Andross' chambers, he knew the time was near.  He psyched himself
up for his report to Andross, as he found himself better able to resist the intrusions into his mind
when he was excited or upset.  He didn't want Andross finding out his true thoughts and feelings,
and he felt certain that the "intrusions" were actually Andross probing his mind somehow.
     As Vessic neared Andross' throne room, he saw her open the door and walk out.  MAYBE
HE'LL BE IN A GOOD MOOD.
     As was his custom, Vessic stopped and waited until she was out of sight before entering. 
He knew not what her name was, but she always seemed to make Andross very happy.
     Once inside, he went directly to Andross to make his report.  "Emperor, I have news about
the studies on the black hole if you wish to hear it."
     "Of course," Andross replied.
     "I've been told that the black hole is too small for our battleships to pass through," Vessic
reported, being careful not to say anything that was an out-and-out lie.  "Our scientists have
experienced some minor difficulties in dealing with the hole's gravity, but nothing that wasn't
expected.  We may not be able to use it to transport our ships during the coming battle, but it
could
prove most valuable after the battle.  It could be used by our fighter pilots to get to remote
locations quickly, making maintaining our control over the worlds we've conquered much easier."
     "Well put, Major.  I must say that you certainly seem to have taken a keen interest in this
investigation."
     "I'm just doing what I think best for our people."  Vessic felt so much energy surging
through his body that he could barely stand still while he spoke.  He could only hope that Andross
wouldn't notice his agitation.
     A concerned look came over Andross' face as he observed his second-in-command.  "Do
you have anything else to report?"
     "No, Sir."
     "Good.  Tell our scientists to continue their work on the black hole," Andross replied. 
"Everything's proceeding according to plan.  In a little under two months, the modifications to the
power transmitter will be complete.  Then, we will take control of Corneria and our people will
have their new home."  Then, Andross looked straight into Vessic's eyes with a deep, probing
stare.  "Does that make you happy, my friend?"
     Vessic felt a pounding in his head, as Andross attempted to smash through the wall of
defence that Vessic had built around his mind.  "Of course," he said with as much feeling as he
could muster.  "Is something wrong, Emperor?"
     "No, nothing," Andross assured him.  "But, you have seemed very nervous lately."
     "You know me, Emperor.  I always get like this just before a major campaign," Vessic
explained.  "And this one more than any other.  After all, a victory in this battle will enable our
people to live on a world the likes of which most of us have never before dreamed."
     "Then, your excitement is understandable," Andross replied, smiling.  "I can assure you
that you won't be disappointed.  Corneria's beauty is unrivaled."
     "Yes, Sir.  Well..., if you don't mind, I have other important matters to attend to."
     "You are dismissed, Major."
     Vessic quickly turned and headed out the door.  Andross was getting suspicious of him-he
was sure of it.  He was uncertain how he had managed to hide his feelings from Andross for so
long.  But now it was just a matter of time before Andross caught on to him.  He was going to
have to act fast.
     After the chamber doors had closed behind Vessic, Andross closed his eyes and
concentrated on projecting a message.  COME TO MY THRONE ROOM IMMEDIATELY.  I
WISH TO SPEAK WITH YOU.
     As the days passed, Vessic grew more and more certain that Andross was onto him. 
EVERYTHING'S SET.  ALL I NEED IS THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEXUS AND
I'LL BE READY.  Yet, hadn't the scientists studying the black hole been acting strangely lately? 
And Andross, hadn't he been asking many questions lately?  What does he suspect?  What does he
know?
     Thus, it was with much relief that Vessic was given the information that he needed in order
to make the flight.  Vessic had it all planned out-he had called for a manned test flight into the
black hole (with Andross' permission, of course).  After all, a biological pilot could adjust to
changing circumstances better than even the best artificial intelligence computers that they had (or
so Vessic hoped).  He gave the assignment to a pilot named Lt. Caldo, whose records showed a
picture that looked just a bit like Vessic.  He looked like Vessic because he was Vessic.  After all,
Andross would never let his second-in-command take part in a dangerous experiment that a lowly
Lt. would do just as well in.
     Also, Vessic had spent many hours listening to, and 'interrogating' their Cornerian prisoners
in an attempt to gain some degree of fluency in the SpaceForce's official language-not an easy
task,
since the prisoners' implants allowed them to speak fluently in many languages other than
Cornerian, and many of them preferred to speak in their native tongue, rather than the official
standard.  Still, he had learned enough Cornerian from them to at least try to get his point across.
     Vessic knew that the docking bay was always cleared of personnel before a take-off, so no
one would notice that the ship actually had no pilot.  But he'd disguise himself slightly and allow
himself to be seen entering the test ship, anyway.  While in there, Vessic would activate the
receiver on a special remote control unit a friend of his had rigged (for "pilot training", Vessic had
told him) so that he'd be able to fly it himself.  Once the test ship was in the air, he'd run in and tell
the chief engineer to prepare for another takeoff, as he'd discovered that Caldo had stolen
valuable
information and that he probably planned to give it to a SpaceForce spy, and that he had to be
stopped.
     Vessic would then chase the test ship to the entrance of the black hole, where he would
destroy it.  He'd then vent some of his ship's fuel, which would be ignited by the heat of the
explosion.  This would make it appear as if he'd been destroyed by getting too close to his
exploding prey.  This would allow him to slip into the black hole, where Andross' sensor satellites
could not go.
     Vessic knew that, eventually, Andross might discover that Lt. Caldo didn't really exist. 
However, birth records on Venom were kept rather haphazardly on Venom during the civil war. 
So that fact and Caldo's fake military records would probably keep Andross fooled long enough
for him to warn the SpaceForce of the coming attack.
     The night before the test was to be carried out, Vessic was in his quarters getting ready for
bed.  He quickly slid the remote control and a bag full of optical disks into the lining of his jacket,
which he clutched in his hand.  They contained, among other things, schematics, mechanical
drawings, and specifications for every type of ship and weapon in Andross' arsenal, as well as for
the Venom base itself.  Everything that would be needed to mount an assault on Venom.  One of
the perks of being the Emperor's second-in-command was having very high security clearance. 
He
could only hope that the information would be readable to the SpaceForce's computers.
     Then, Vessic's emotions, which had been in turmoil for some time, took a downturn.  He
looked out his window and saw a vast, open land, with only a few mountains standing out in the
distance.  Venom might not be much to look at, but it is home-a home he might never get to see
again, except possibly in battle.
     And his people, those he wished to protect the most, would probably think he was a traitor. 
WELL... I SUPPOSE I AM A TRAITOR.  BUT, IF SOMEONE DOESN'T DO SOMETHING
TO STOP HIM, ANDROSS WILL DESTROY US ALL.
     He was so wrapped up in his thoughts, that he never even noticed the footsteps outside his
door, coming closer,... closer.  And he never noticed the probing in his mind, reading his every
thought, be it conscious or subconscious.  He never noticed, that is, until the probing ceased. 
Then, the pressure lifted off of his mind, like a constant humming suddenly going silent.  It left
Vessic with an erie feeling.
     Suddenly, the footsteps became audible to him.  Instinctively, he drew his sidearm from his
belt and aimed it at the door as he crouched behind his bed.  He then set the jacket down on the
floor.  He reached over and stuffed a pillow underneath the covers of his bed to make it appear as
if someone were lying in it.
     He quickly made his way over by the side of the door.  After all, a bed wasn't much of a
shield against blasterfire.  Then, the footsteps stopped and the door opened quietly.  A bright
beam
of energy shot out and struck the bed right where Vessic had placed the pillow.  But then, there
was silence.
     It was too quiet.  Any good assassin would enter the room to make sure his target was
dead.  Vessic felt sure of that.  He then turned his head toward the open door to see if whoever it
was was gone.  But, when he looked outside, he found himself face-to-face with Andross!
     "You're a traitor!" Andross yelled, pointing his gun in Vessic's face and pulling the trigger. 
Vessic quickly jerked his head back inside the room as the shot struck the opposite wall, leaving a
wide hole.  "What you were just thinking now only proves it!  I checked up on your study of the
black hole!  And did you really think you'd be able to steal top-level information without my
knowing about it?!  After all I've done for you!"  Andross screamed hysterically.  "You will die
for
your crime!"
     Andross, now inside the room, punched Vessic in the midsection.  Vessic's gun skittered
across the floor as he doubled over in pain.  But, he managed to regain his strength in time to
dodge Andross' next blow.  He then quickly came back with his own blow to Andross' midsection,
toppling Andross to the ground and knocking his gun across the floor as well.
     Suddenly, Vessic felt Andross trying to probe his mind again.  Andross was trying to get
Vessic to pick up one of the guns and shoot himself!  But, he must have been very drained, or else
Vessic wouldn't have known what was going on.  Yes, he was too weak, for now.
     Vessic quickly grabbed both guns and threw one out the window.  He then looked at the
other gun in his hand.  SET TO KILL.  MAYBE I CAN END THIS RIGHT NOW.  I'VE GOT
TO.  Vessic, unused to shooting unarmed men, hesitated.  Then, his hand started to turn the gun
toward him.  Andross was recovering his strength.
     Summoning all his strength, Vessic quickly threw the gun out the window and then
knocked Andross out cold with one mighty blow to the head.  He then heard guards coming and
knew that he was out of time.  He had to go now.
     He picked up the jacket and headed for the door, trying to appear as nonchalant as
possible.  In order to delay the guards' finding Andross, he programmed the door to lock from the
inside as soon as it closed behind him.  Once the door was locked, the door controls would lock
out all outside access.  It wouldn't take them more than a few minutes to crack the lock-out code
he'd used, but those could be the few minutes that would allow him to escape.
     He walked quickly toward the docking bay, knowing that he was going to need time to get
into his flight suit before taking off (to protect himself from the rigors of flying through space,
especially a strong-gravity environment such as the black hole).  This would be extremely difficult
if someone were to notify the bay workers of what was going on before he got off the ground. 
And they would be notified as soon as the guards found Andross.
     As he walked, he turned off his hand comm, so that it couldn't be used to trace his
position.  SO FAR SO GOOD AVOIDING SECURITY.  IT'S A GOOD THING ANDROSS
ISN'T VERY PROFESSIONAL WHEN HE GETS REALLY ANGRY, OR I'D HAVE RUN
SMACK INTO A WHOLE SQUAD OF SECURITY COMING OUT OF THAT ROOM. 
BUT, HE WANTED ME ALL TO HIMSELF.
     Back inside the room, Andross stirred.  He groaned as he got up and looked around. 
NOTHING.  DAMN!  Then, he noticed a commotion outside the door.  It sounded like someone
was working on the door from the other side, trying to open it.  
     "Maj. Vessic!  Are you in there?!" a voice yelled from the other side.
     "Vessic is a traitor!" Andross yelled.  "He plans to defect to the SpaceForce!  Do not let
him escape!"
     "Emperor Andross?  Is that you?"
     "Yes, it's me!  Now, go and close off all exits from this base!  I can get myself out!  I want
Vessic stopped at all costs!  If you see him, kill him!"
     Without questioning him further, the security guards ceased working on getting the door
open and went about carrying out Andross' orders.  Inside, Andross looked at the door and
concentrated.  Within seconds, the door was unlocked.
     "Docking bay three, close off all doors to the outside.  Maj. Vessic is suspected of treason. 
If you see him, your orders are to shoot to kill.  Do you copy?"  No response.
     Vessic finished putting on his flight uniform as he walked out of the locker room.  As he
walked, he heard the call on the hand-comm of one of the bay workers, all of whom were now
lying on the ground, stunned.  Fortunately, there were only two or three of them on duty at this
time of night, making taking them out fairly easy.
     Hearing the message told Vessic that they had found Andross.  Also, they would be there
any minute, wondering why no one had responded to their call.  So, Vessic hurried toward his
ship.
     He grabbed a boarding ladder and pulled it over to his ship.  Once it was in place, he
quickly climbed up and boarded the ship.
     He glanced over at one of Andross' stealth ships.  He had its schematics and mechanical
drawings on him, but he wished he could actually take one to SpaceForce territory. 
Unfortunately,
Andross kept an extra close eye on them.  Each of them contained a homing beacon that would
activate should the ship be started without Andross' authorization.  That would allow Andross to
trace his flight into the black hole, and perhaps beyond it once he got to the other side, if the
messages intercepted from the other side were any indication.  Assuming that Andross had talked
to the Doctor, Vessic knew that Andross would know that he could have gotten through the
black
hole with one of his most potent weapons.  Andross could then anticipate an attack by the
SpaceForce.  He could also step up his invasion plans, giving Vessic and the SpaceForce less time
to prepare.
     However, now was not the time to think about all that.  As soon as Vessic was settled into
the cockpit, he reached up and pulled the canopy closed.  Vessic pressed the button to open the
bay doors just as some security personnel rushed into the docking bay. 
     "Surrender!" yelled one of the security guards.
     As he heard blasterfire hitting his ship's shields, Vessic looked up and saw the docking bay
door open completely.  Ready for takeoff, Vessic started the ship forward.
     One of the security guards looked at the door's control console, only to find that Vessic had
blasted it to bits.  Then, he heard a loud roar, and Vessic was off.  The guard took his hand-comm
from his belt and ordered a squad of fighters to be launched immediately.  Vessic wasn't going to
escape that easily.
     At that moment, only one thing was on Vessic's mind- getting into the black hole in one
piece.  Once he was inside, he would then have to concern himself with staying on the prescribed
course, but not now.
     A series of audible beeps from his ship's computer warned of the approach of a few
Venom fighters.  To make sure the drone was one of them, Vessic manipulated the remote to
make the drone accelerate.  One of the ships accelerated accordingly.  Vessic eased off on the
drone's throttle to match the speed of the other ships and avoid suspicion.  He could only hope
that
no one would notice the extra fighter and try to contact its pilot, who didn't exist.
     ONE-HUNDRED KILOMETERS TO THE EVENT HORIZON.  Vessic thought to
himself.
     He banked hard to his left and made the drone do the same.  The drone slowly caught up
to him, just as Vessic wanted.  Then, a shot lanced out in front of his ship, just missing the crucial
connection between the ship's body and his right wing.  THAT WAS TOO CLOSE!  Vessic
spotted the shooter and his wingman on his scope, and then quickly pulled back on the stick,
sending his ship into a backward loop.
     Before they knew what was happening, Vessic was directly behind them.  He took aim at
the lead ship and fired, damaging it just enough to force the pilot to land.  THERE'S NO NEED
TO KILL THEM.  AT LEAST... NOT YET.  He then quickly zeroed in on the second ship and
did the same.
     With his two closest pursuers incapacitated, Vessic turned his guns on the drone and fired,
but simultaneously maneuvered the ship out of the way of the blasts and into a position directly
between his own ship and the black hole.
     He glanced down at his scope and saw several more fighters closing in on him.  IT'S NOW
OR NEVER.  He quickly accelerated toward the drone ship, which was likewise accelerating
towards him.  Vessic got the drone in his sights and waited.  And waited.  He was going to have
to
time his shot perfectly, so as to make it appear as if his ship had been destroyed in the explosion
without it actually being destroyed.
     Finally, the time came.  The beam shot out from Vessic's ship, impacting just below the
drone's cockpit.  Vessic fired a couple more times until the drone exploded in front of him. 
Vessic
sped up, vented his fuel, and then banked sharply to stay away from the flying debris.  Several
seconds later, he then entered a steep climb, just staying ahead of the debris.  Vessic set the ship
on autopilot, and the ship started to fly the course pre-programmed by Vessic.  Now, all that he
would have to do is be prepared to make any necessary course changes.
     Vessic felt a slight jerk as his ship entered the black hole.  The stars that had surrounded
the ship up until now were no longer visible.  Instead, all the light trapped by the hole enveloped it
in a strangely colorful, almost surreal atmosphere.  It was so beautiful that Vessic found himself
wondering whether or not he was still alive.  It looked even more exotic then than it had back in
the lab.
     Then, Vessic was literally shaken back to reality as the the hole's enormous gravitational
forces tugged at his ship.  Vessic refocused his attention on his control panel, looking for any
signs
of trouble.  SO FAR, SO GOOD.  IT LOOKS LIKE THEY FELL FOR IT.  AND... HULL
STRESSES ARE AT ACCEPTABLE LEVELS.
     Then, Vessic just sat and waited, keeping a constant vigil for that nexus.  His ship vibrated
with an almost rhythmic pattern, always intense enough to be uncomfortable yet gentle enough
not
to pose a threat.
     But, suddenly, the ship began to shake violently and veer off course!  Vessic quickly jerked
the joystick to the left, pulling the ship to the side until the vibrations waned.  He glanced at his
instruments and saw that the hull stresses were now near dangerous levels, but his course and
speed were still within the prescribed range for entering the nexus.  The gravitational forces
seemed to be growing in intensity, as did the randomness of their direction.  It was all he could do
just to stay on course.
     As he struggled to keep control of his ship, Vessic's proximity alarm went off.  Ahead, he
could see the debris of other, apparently ill-fated, journeyers into the black hole.  He did his best
to
stay clear of them without leaving the safety zone.
     He was near the coordinates predicted for the nexus, but there was no sign of it.  Vessic
began to worry, but then he finally saw it: a bright ball of light that grew and grew until it was
everywhere.
     "Are you sure his ship was destroyed?" Andross asked.
     "I believe so," the pilot reported over the comm unit.  "I saw his ship engulfed by the
explosion, and then I saw his ship explode."
     Andross turned to one of his other officers and asked, "Did he enter the black hole?"
     "I can't tell.  The explosions occurred so close to our sensor satellites that it blinded them."
     DAH!  EVEN IF HE DID MAKE IT INTO THE HOLE, THE CHANCES OF HIS
MAKING IT OUT AGAIN ARE ONE-IN-A-MILLION.  HIS CHANCES OF MAKING IT
OUT SOMEWHERE IN THIS DIMENSION, ANYWAY.  BESIDES, WE'VE COME TOO
FAR TO CHANGE OUR PLANS NOW.
     "Are there any signs of Lizard ships?", asked
Capt. Gillespi.
     "No Sir."
     "Keep an eye out anyway," Gillespi said.  "This close to the Federation/Lizard border, we
need to stay on our toes."
     Then, as if to illustrate the Captain's point, the tactical officer said, "Captain!  There's a
Venom fighter approaching us from within the asteroid belt!"
     "One fighter?" Gillespi asked skeptically.  "Are there any Venom battleships nearby?"
     "No, Sir.  It just suddenly came out of nowhere!"
     "What is its condition?  Is it still in the asteroid belt?"  the Captain asked.
     "Aye, Sir.  At its present course and speed, it should clear the outer edge of the belt in five
minutes and forty-three seconds," replied Tactical.  IF IT CLEARS THE BELT.  "Its hull and
shields are intact.  However, the hull does appear to have been exposed to great stress."
     "Put us on an intercept course," Gillespi told the helmsman.  "Approach slowly.  There
may be other ships concealing themselves from our sensors."
     Before long, Vessic's ship was about a hundred kilometers from the Cambridge.  Capt.
Gillespi stared at the viewscreen, wishing he knew how to speak the Venom language.  The
SpaceForce had managed to take several Lizard prisoners, but the prisoners had proven most
untalkative, making learning the language very difficult, even with their implants.
     I GUESS WE'LL JUST HAVE TO COMMUNICATE SOME OTHER WAY.  Gillespi
then turned to the Comm officer and said, "Establish contact with the Venom ship."  Gathering up
his courage, he then turned back toward the viewscreen.
     "This is Capt. Gillespi of the Federation Battleship Cambridge."  Gillespi stopped, noting
what seemed to be a confused look on Vessic's face.  THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY.
     "Is there any sign of activity by the Lizard?"
     "No Sir," replied Tactical.  "In fact, he's completely powered down his engines."
     "Is he surrendering?" the helm officer asked.
     "It certainly looks that way," Gillespi replied.  Then, he turned toward Tactical.  "Can his
ship's hull withstand our tractor beam?"
     "I believe so, if we bring him in slowly enough," replied Tactical.   
"Good.  Lock a tractor beam onto the ship and pull it into the forward docking bay.  Then, get a
security team down there."
     A couple moments later, Vessic's ship came to a gentle stop on the docking bay floor. 
Vessic reached up and opened the canopy.  As he stood up, he noticed a bay worker push a
boarding ladder up to his ship.  Vessic then looked toward the one he had seen on the viewscreen
earlier.  He guessed that that must be the ship's Captain.  Finally, he noticed the Security
personnel.  YES... I CERTAINLY HAVE MY WORK CUT OUT FOR ME, GETTING THEM
TO TRUST ME.
     Chapter 21: Waiting Game

Station Mckinley: Soon after the arrival of Fox and the others

     Fox looked on silently as they were led to the detention area.  He had not set foot on a
SpaceForce base in many years, and much had changed since then.  Back then, he was a young
officer, only a few years out of the Academy.  Now, he was returning to the 'Force after years in
exile.  He had agreed to help the 'Force in this mission because many would die if Andross weren't
stopped, but he couldn't forget how that same SpaceForce had judged him and his friends traitors.
     "Guess you just can't trust anyone nowadays, huh McCloud?" one of the guards
commented, not even bothering to face Fox as he spoke.  "That smuggler friend of yours handed
you right to us.  Why'd you leave Papetoon, anyway?"
     "We had a job to complete," Fox replied vaguely.
     "Hmmm...I'm sure."
     Then, they arrived at the cell in which the Commander had ordered him to put Fox and the
others until the time of their execution.  They stepped in without so much as a word from any of
the guards, and watched as one of the guards activated the force field.
     After most of the guards had left, Falco moved up close to Fox and spoke softly.  "So now
we just sit here?"
       "Until we hear from our contact here, YES," Fox replied.  "Be patient."
     "Humph!" Falco replied as he lied down on one of the cell's cots.  "I hope they know what
they're doing!"  He looked at the ID band he now wore on his right arm.  Each of them had one. 
They had to.  It was the SpaceForce's way of identifying prisoners.  He hated being a prisoner.
     Pepper leaned back in his seat, trying to grasp all that had happened.
     For years now, the SpaceForce had slowly been losing their territory to Andross' forces,
thanks not only to a series of suspicious failures but also to the seemingly incredible power of
Andross' ships.  Until now, Pepper had had only a vague idea how he did it.  Now that he knew
exactly how, he was more uneasy than ever.
     He reached down and opened one of his desk's drawers and removed something wrapped
in plastic.  Without even thinking, Pepper peeled off the plastic and slipped the red, shiny lollypop
into his mouth.  Ever since he could remember, he would always suck on a lolly whenever he felt
ill at ease.  Perhaps his wife had gotten him started doing that.
     Things had been topsy-turvy ever since the Lizard had arrived.  In a matter of weeks,
Andross would launch an all-out assault on Corneria, and they had to be ready.
     The information Vessic had provided had proven an invaluable boon to their efforts in
developing the new nightview system to detect the stealth ships, but Pepper just couldn't trust him
completely.  After all, a Venom traitor was unheard of.
     Vessic sat in the interrogation room.  It was a spartan room, devoid of any furniture, save
the small table at which he now sat.  He had given them all the information he had, but the
questions never seemed to stop coming.  A SpaceForce officer sat across the table and looked at
him.  The officer's eyes seemed to never leave Vessic's own the entire time Vessic was there.
     "What exactly made you decide to help us?" he asked.
     "It wasn't any one event.  It built up over the years.  Andross trusted me.  I shata (saved)
his life.  I worked closely with him, and saw his madness.  He had us raid worlds, take slaves,
and...murder.  I could not stand by and let it continue, even if it meant helping to matas (defeat)
my own people," answered Vessic in a tired and frustrated voice.
     "If you were so troubled by his actions, then why did you stay with him for so long?"
     "He...promised us a new home.  I would have done anything for that.  For a long time, he
was our takas (savior).  He was able to put thoughts in our minds.  It took me a long time to
overcome that."
     "How did you get here?  Venom is far too far from the border for you to have made the
trip in that fighter you were picked up in.  And yet, you claim you left from Venom."
     "I told you before...I travelled through a...black hole.  Some of our scientists discovered a
way to use the black hole as a shortcut for small ships."
     "What bases does Andross have, other than Venom?"
     "As I said annas (before), Andross' two main bases are on Macbeth and Venom.  But,
without Venom, Andross' assault can't succeed."
     "We've found SpaceForce components in some captured Venom fighters.  How did your
people obtain those items?  They aren't your average black-market faire."
     "In the beginning, we didn't adas (have) the carras (extensive) resources available to us that
you do, so Andross had to take whatever he could.  My people have contacts at several of your
shipyards.  I believe you will find that most of the components you've found are from ships that
have been retra (decommissioned).  Other items, we got from captured SpaceForce fighters. 
Other items were taken from the essese (planets) around Venom.  And, the 'black market' does
provide them with many items of value, including SpaceForce material."  Vessic couldn't help but
feel a certain pride about his people's ingenuity, in spite of all of his other feelings.  "Now, I think
they steal from your shipyards just because Andross enjoys the eda (thought) of stealing from you
without your knowledge."
     "Who are these contacts at our shipyards, and what yards are they at?"
     "I don't know," Vessic replied.  "Usually, the contacts were handled by others." 
     "It's believed that your people have gained certain moles in the SpaceForce and other parts
of the Federation.  How are our people being subverted?"
     "Doctors," Vessic started.
     Meanwhile, Pepper walked into the lab and walked up to 
Dr. Samuels.  "Doctor, how are the tests on the nightview progressing?"
     "So far, so good.  Using the cloaking device on the Lizard's ship, we've been able to run
several simulations.  So far, the system has been successful in picking up its targets through the
cloak 99% of the time."
     "How soon will the units be ready to ship to Mckinley?"
     "A week, maybe two.  Once they're there, the base mechanics should have no trouble
installing them in the new ships."
     AND NOT A MOMENT TO SOON.  WE'LL SHIP THE MISSION INSTRUCTIONS
WITH THEM FOR THE CONTACT TO PICK UP, ALONG WITH THE FALSE
INFORMATION, FOR THE "NEW" PILOTS THAT'LL BE FLYING THE MISSION FROM
THERE.
     "Do you really think Andross's going to attack Corneria, General?"
     "Several of our bases along the border have detected large groups of Venom battleships
being redeployed, and civilian "traders" have reported similar sightings.  Our guest's story could
be
true."

Station Mckinley-same time

     Lt. Fara Phoenix looked around to make sure no one was watching or listening.  Ever since
she had been reassigned to the job of chief test pilot of the new Arwing project, she'd had to be
extremely careful not to let anyone else know what she was up to.  Only she and a few others
were
allowed within several hundred yards of the bay where the arwings were being kept, and scanning
in the test flight areas was always forbidden while she had the ship out.
     "Go ahead," she said to him.
     "Your co-pilots have arrived.  I want you to familiarize yourself with their information," he
said, handing her a packet.  "Talk to them,...get to know them.  But don't tell them anything just
yet, and don't make anyone else suspicious.  You'll receive further instructions soon."
     Fara looked at the names that had been given her, and looked up in surprise.  "These are
very...unusual choices, to say the least."
     "That they are.  But, then again, things are not always as they seem."
     "They were convicted of treason,"  Fara stated, confused. "Can we trust them?"
     "These are desperate times.  And, I have reason to believe that they aren't what many think
they are."
     "Sir, I think you should know that I met one of these pilots back on the Celeste.  He might
recognize me.  That could make it difficult for me to pass myself off as an interrogator.  They
might get suspicious."
     "They must not know that you are to fly the mission," he agreed.  "They must act naturally,
lest they be discovered by a traitor."
     NOOOO KIDDING!  BUT HOW DO I KEEP THEM FROM FIGURING IT OUT?
     "It will be taken care of."
     "There's just one more thing," he said, handing Fara a tiny black box.  "Keep this on you at
all times.  Don't let anyone else see it."
     "What is it?" Fara asked, eyeing the contraption.
     "A transmitter," he explained.  "If anything goes wrong, I will use a similar transmitter to
send a signal to you.  If you hear this device go off, then your top priority is to get your copilots
out of the cell listed, get them to the arwings, and head for Corneria as quickly as possible.  Tell
General Pepper, and only General Pepper what has happened, and have him meet you halfway. 
Understood?"
     "Aye, Sir.  But...what if the transmitter goes off, and I don't hear it?"
     "Trust me, Lt., you'll hear it."
     That night, while Fox, Falco, and Slippy slept, only Peppy remained awake.  He still had a
couple of things to do before going to sleep.  He reached down into his jacket and checked
underneath the lining, where he had stashed Fox's cape.  Once he was sure that it was safe, he
quietly sat on the cell floor and tried to clear his mind of all distracting thoughts.   Fortunately,
there were few other prisoners in the detention area, and those that were there were being
relatively quiet.  So, concentrating wasn't that difficult.
     Peppy always preferred to meditate while things were quiet, so he could concentrate on the
beings with which he wished to speak.  As he sat there, a million questions about himself entered
his mind.  Had he always been true to his beliefs?  Had he always done all he could?  The answer,
he realized, was "No".  There had been times when he had given into temptation-times when he'd
taken the easy way out.  This troubled him at first.  But then, a feeling of peacefulness washed
over him.  He was, and always would be, forgiven.
     Fox then turned his head, and his eyes opened.  There, in the darkness, he saw Peppy
meditating.  Fox was not surprised by this-indeed, they all knew how religious Peppy was.  Still,
Fox was amazed at the aura of inner peace that surrounded Peppy while he sat there...a kind of
inner peace that Fox himself had not felt for a long time.
     Fox said nothing, not wishing to disturb Peppy.  However, Peppy must have seen or heard
something as he opened his eyes, because he immediately looked in Fox's direction.  Calmly, he
said, "Good night," and then lay down to sleep.
     At the same time, Vessic was NOT having a good night.  As he slept, his mind wandered
all the way back to Venom.  HE FOUND HIMSELF STANDING IN FRONT OF EMPEROR
ANDROSS' POWER TRANSMITTER.  IN FRONT OF THE LARGE DEVICE, SEVERAL
ENGINEERS, TECHNICIANS, AND OTHER WORKERS SCURRIED BACK AND FORTH
IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE TRANSMITTER BACK ON LINE BY THE EMPEROR'S
DEADLINE.  THE DEVICE HAD ALWAYS BEEN TEMPERAMENTAL, AND THE
EMPEROR HAD NEVER BEEN PATIENT.  EVERY TIME IT BROKE DOWN, THE
LIZARDS FOUND THEMSELVES UNDER TIGHTER AND TIGHTER DEADLINES TO
FIX IT.
     SUDDENLY, THERE WAS A LOUD SCREAM, FOLLOWED BY AN EXPLOSION. 
VESSIC RAN OVER TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED.  WHEN HE GOT THERE, HE
SAW NOTHING BUT RUBBLE.  HE LOOKED UP, AND SAW SEVERAL LIZARDS
EXTINGUISHING A FIRE THAT HAD BROKEN OUT.  ONCE THE FLAMES HAD BEEN
PUT OUT, VESSIC STARTED TO SEARCH THROUGH THE RUBBLE.
     THINKING HE HAD SEEN SOMETHING MOVE UNDERNEATH, VESSIC
QUICKLY MOVED SOME OF THE DEBRIS ASIDE.  A SICKENING STENCH
OVERPOWERED HIS SENSES.  WHAT WAS IT?  Just then reality rushed back to him.  He
would sleep no more that night, he knew, and was relieved.
     The next morning, Fox and the others were jolted awake by the call, "All right!  Cell
inspection time!  Get outta' the cell!"  They got up and were immediately cuffed by the guards,
and
then were led out of the cell.
     "Sure," Falco quipped.  "After all, we might be stashing some spoons in there to dig our
way out with!"
     "That's enough of that, wise guy!" one of the guards replied.  "Now move!  All four of you
get over by that wall, and keep your paws where I can see them!"  Then, he said to a couple of his
men, "Keep an eye on them.  If they move...shoot to kill!"
     HEH!  WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ON DEATH ROW, ANYWAY!  WHAT WOULD
WE HAVE TO LOSE? thought Falco (Fortunately, he did so with his mind, not his beak!).
     While Falco and the others looked on, the guard and one other proceeded to turn their cell
inside out.  After a while, the guard seemed to give up, and ordered that the prisoners be returned
to the cell.