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

     Star Fox is copyright (C) 1993 Nintendo of America Inc. 
Used without permission.  All characters and places created by
me, Theodore P. Perrotti, are copyright (C) 1995 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 give me
credit if you use any of my creations.

     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.

     You may also notice a "Star Trek" influence in this story. 
This is no coincidence.  Specifically, this story has been
influenced by the original series episode "Mirror-Mirror", the
Next Generation two-parter "The Best of Both Worlds", and the
Next Generation novel "Dark Mirror".

     I welcome your comments.  Please e-mail them to me at
author@galaxycorp.com.
_________________________________________________________________

     Chapter 5: Moment of Truth

     
     Fox watched as four arwings flew into view, heading toward that monstrous ship.  The
fifth arwing they had was his, and the sixth was Tad's.  All the other pilots had either been killed or
shuttled off to Venom.  They simultaneously opened fire on it with photon twin blasters and nova
bombs.  Fox's heart sank when he saw that they had had no effect.  
     "The six cylinders pointing out the front are laser cannons and there's a turret on fore-side
top; it fires rapid-fire photon blasts,"  Graves warned the lead pilot, "Also, beware the tractor
beam, located bottom aft-side."  
     "I see them," the pilot said, "I also see two tubes protruding from the top, aft-side.  They
look like torpedo tubes."  The man sounded like one staring Death straight in the face.  
     "Unknown,"  Graves said, frowning, "The plans show them, but do not identify them. 
Also, there is a fighter-release hatch on the center of the underside."  
     "Strange,"  Fox noted, "They must be able to see our ships by now, and yet, they haven't
opened fire.  Is there any sign of them powering up their weapons?"  
     "No, sir,"  Graves added, equally puzzled, "But I am detecting high power levels in their
scanning systems."  He then paused to consult the tactical readout.  "Captain, they seem to be
scanning each arwing individually, trying to detect a transponder signal and identify it,"  he
remarked.  
     "Now why would they want to do that?"  Fox asked.  WHY WOULD THE PRECISE
IDENTITY OF OUR SHIPS BE OF ANY CONSEQUENCE TO THEM?  ALSO, WHY
AREN'T THEY TRYING TO FINISH US OFF?  Fox thought, indignantly.  His thoughts were
interrupted by a sudden gasp from the front of the room.  
     "Captain, the probes are picking up two more ionization surges from the wormhole,
identical to the first!"  
     "Put the wormhole on the viewer!", Fox commanded.  Instantly, the view changed to show
the wormhole.  There were, indeed, two more battleships emerging from it.  
     "Sir, the first battleship has opened fire on the arwings!  The leader's ship has been
destroyed!"  
     Fox quickly strapped on his flight helmet and headed for the door.  "Fox to arwing group! 
Two more battleships in your area!  I repeat, two more!  I'll be joining you shortly."  He then
turned to the next officer in rank and gave him command of the station.  Flashing Fox a surprised
look, he took the command chair.
     "But...," Graves began, as Fox headed for the door once again.  "We need all the pilots we
can get, and that's what I am, a pilot.  Tell the Council about the other two ships.  Good luck," Fox
said, then left.  
     Graves knew he was right.  "You too."
     Fox ran toward the docking bay as fast as he could.  Even against one of those battleships,
let alone three, he did not know how much help he could be to the other pilots.  He did know,
however, that he had to try.  He had to get out there with the others and face whatever fate dealt
him.  He spoke into his helmet communicator as he ran.  "Moe,"  he said, addressing Engineer
Sloane, "Have my ship ready.  I'm on my way down now."      "Right,"  was Sloane's only
reply.  
     The corridor rocked wildly, causing Fox to stumble.  "They're attacking the station now," 
Fox said, picking himself up off the floor, "Got to get out there.  The fighters won't last long."  He
picked up his pace.  As he neared the docking bay, he heard a voice call out to him.  
     Fox stopped and quickly looked about, unsure where it had come from.  "Let me out!" 
cried the voice.  Fox looked over his shoulder, and saw the infirmary.  It had been all but
abandoned.     "Let me out!" repeated the voice.  Fox followed the voice to Tad's bed, where he
found Tad struggling violently against his restraints, trying desperately to free himself.  One of the
restraints was partially opened, and the two security guards were laying on the ground,
unconscious.  Fox knelt by first one, and then the other, feeling for a pulse.  A pulse that wasn't to
be found.  Once again, laser fire rocked the station, but this time Fox was able to maintain his
balance.  BOTH DEAD.  THEY MUST HAVE BEEN TRYING TO LET HIM LOOSE WHEN
THEY WERE KILLED.  Fox looked at Tad, and started to undo the restraints.  Tad looked up at
Fox blankly, apparently too scared to show anger yet too angry to show fear.  "Must get to ship," 
were the only words he could muster.  Apparently still groggy from the sedative, he had to be
helped from his bed by Fox.  
     "Are you sure?"  Fox asked, noting his condition.  
     Summoning all his strength,  Tad pushed away from Fox, and said, "Yes, I'm sure!  We're
being attacked, right!  If I'm gonna die, I'm gonna do it fighting.  Even if I have to do it by your
side!"  There was no time to argue, so Fox simply headed for the door.  
     As Tad followed, his head cleared slowly.  When he reached the docking bay door, he saw
Fox climbing into his arwing.  He then looked over his shoulder and saw his own ship sitting in a
corner.  He dashed back to his locker, grabbed his flight helmet, and was climbing into his arwing
in less than thirty seconds.  He, now completely lucid, prepped himself for flight.  
     Moe Sloane's voice crackled over Fox's helmet communicator, "Three! Two! One!
CONTACT!"  Fox activated the boosters, and his arwing started toward the now-open docking
bay door, with Tad not far behind.  "Good luck,"  Moe whispered.  
     Fox's arwing glided effortlessly through space.  Ahead of him, he could see the battleships
and arwings locked in silent combat.  I WONDER WHERE THEIR FIGHTERS ARE.  NOT
THAT THEY NEED THEM.  Fox took a deep breath, and gave his usual start-of-mission call. 
"All ships check in!"  Other than Tad's, there were two responses, both expressing dire straits, but
also relief at hearing his voice.  
     "Try to get in close to them and draw their fire,"  Fox commanded, preparing to do the
same himself, "If our weapons can't damage them, maybe theirs can.  Stay spread out and keep
moving.  Don't give them an easy target."  
     "But, sir...," one of the pilots protested, "What if they hit us?  Lt. Castillo and Sgt. Turly
are already dead!  We can't..."  
     "Pull yourself together, Private!  This is a risky situation and there's a good chance we
won't come out of this alive, but we have to do them as much damage as we can!  We must help
the SpaceForce survive, and we'll need you!"  
     "Yes, sir," the pilot replied nervously.  
     On board one of the battleships,  Graves looked at his console, then turned back to face his
commander.  "The computer has just identified Fox McCloud's arwing, grid coordinates 
three-three-five."  "Sir, may I ask why you wanted their ships singled out?"  he asked carefully, as
one walking in a mine field without a map.      
     "No, you may not!  Now, do not question my orders again, lest you have to face the
consequences of your actions!" ordered the Commander.  "Also, I do not want him shot down! 
Now, send out the Squadron to carry out their assignment.  Do it!"    "YYYesss, SSirr."  he
replied sheepishly.  
     Fox aimed his ship directly at one of the battleships and increased the speed to maximum. 
He transferred all power to the engine and shields.  Normally, he would have reported such a
maneuver to his squad.  However, the enemy was likely intercepting their broadcasts, forcing them
to reduce those transmissions to the bare essentials.  
     "Shots coming in, point three-five!"  crackled a voice on the radio.  It was Tad's.  His
arwing was sailing along the outer edge of one of the ships.  Three photon blasts from one of the
others missed his ship and hit the battleship, but had little effect.  DAMN!  DOESN'T
ANYTHING GET TO THESE GUYS?  Then, a photon blast sizzled by Fox's ship, missing the
nose by several feet.  He dove, as another shot screamed over his wing.  In reality, they were
silent, due to the emptiness of space, but they were thunderous in Fox's mind.  He then got a very
bad feeling.  THAT FIRST SHOT SHOULD HAVE HAD ME!  EITHER THEY'RE LOUSY
SHOTS OR THEY AREN'T REALLY TRYING!  
     Then, more shots rang out, but not at him.  "My left wing's gone!  I can't control the ship!" 
Fox's eyes opened, and he watched helplessly as the Private's arwing careened wildly, crashing into
the other arwing.  The two ships exploded in a blinding flash of light.  After a second, Fox looked
to the battleship near the explosion, and saw the aura flicker briefly, then start glowing again.  At
the same time, the ship paused momentarily, then resumed its course.  WHAT IS THIS?  DID
THE EXPLOSION GET TO THEM?  Then, he realized that the ships were no longer firing on
them.  They were just moving slowly ahead, turning.  
     "Damn!"  the battleship commander screamed.  
     "Sir," Graves reported reluctantly, "A low-frequency transmission just went out from the
station."
     "Well, what did it say!"  yelled the Commander.
     "I don't know,"  he explained nervously, "Our array isn't configured to receive and
decipher such low frequencies.  But I can tell you it went to the SpaceForce's Defence Council on
Corneria."
     "Corneria,"  repeated the Commander. "You think you're so clever, don't you, Junior?"  he
said to thin air.  "Well, this will put things back in their proper perspective.  Tactical officer, lock a
Supernova onto the base and fire!"
     A long, narrow object streaked out of one of the tubes atop the battleship.  Fox watched as
it started out straight, then turned and headed toward the research station.  Fox knew that it was
dangerous but the torpedo was too fast for him to even hope to intercept.  "McCloud to base! 
torpedo coming in at point four-zero.  Target with lasers!"
     But it was too late.  The torpedo slammed into the station, and it went up in a great ball of
light.  "No!"  Fox screamed as he shaded his eyes and turned away from the light.  
     The arwing shuddered violently as the energy waves passed by.  When Fox looked back,
there was absolutely nothing left of the station.  It had been vaporized.  A tear came to Fox's eye as
he struggled to maintain his composure.  Inside, he wanted to explode.
     Suddenly, the fighter hatch of one of the ships opened and four smaller ships flew out,
guns blazing at him and Tad.  They were arwings, of a kind Fox had seen before.  Six months
before, to be exact.  WELL, I KNOW FROM FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE THAT THESE
GUYS, AT LEAST, ARE VULNERABLE TO OUR WEAPONRY.  One of them immediately
broke off from the others and came after him, while the others attacked Tad.  
     "Hello, Fox!"  called the other Falco's voice over Fox's helmet communicator.  Fox knew it
had to be the Alternate Falco, not his friend.  "You're gonna die, Fox.  You know that,"  taunted
the other Falco, hauntingly.  "C'mon!  Tell me how ya' feel!"  he goaded on.  
     "I have nothing to say to you,"  Fox couldn't bring himself to call his antagonist Falco,
"except 'Fat Chance!'"  He quickly jerked the joystick back, causing his arwing to do a half-loop. 
He then righted his ship and found himself on a collision-course with the other Falco!  Each pilot
held to his course as the ships quickly bore down on each other.  Suddenly, the other Falco opened
fire with his photon twin blasters.  Fox's head jerked forward, and he found himself surrounded by
bright light.  THEY WANTED ME TO FLY STRAIGHT SO I'D BE AN EASIER TARGET! 
Fox wanted to break free, but could no longer see his ship's controls.  All he could see was the
light.