I Knownobody hereby acknowledge that I do NOT own Star Fox. This is my first Star Fox story, so please be nice. This takes place after Assault, but command NEVER happens

The Cernian Secret

Chapter 1

In the wake after the Lylat War, the Lylat System had been trying to recover. As Corneria struggled to rebuild, it refitted its army with new ships, weapons, and tactics. The Star Fox mercenary team led by Fox McCloud had been sent to the distant planet of Sauria at the time. Upon returning to the Lylat System, the people where surprised to see that the legendary mercenary squadron had a new member. Many even started spreading rumors. Now consisting of five members, Fox McCloud as team leader, Falco Lombardi as first officer, Slippy Toad as chief mechanic, Peppy Hare as the team's advisor, and the new Krystal as the team's telepath, the Star Fox team had been able to relax.

That was until Andrew Oikonny, nephew of Andross, heir to the Venom Empire, and former member of Star Wolf decided to try and wage war against Corneria with the remnants of the Venom fleet. The two forces met at and fought a vicious battle in orbit around the planet Fortuna. The battle was cut short as a new force neared its face, the deadly apariods. The fight against the aparoid menace became priority one for the Star Fox team. After battle after battle, the Cornerian researchers managed to locate the source of the aparoids. Thanks to the joint effort of Star Fox and Star Wolf, two rival mercenary squadrons, the aparoids were destroyed, and it seemed as if Lylat had finally found peace.

Fox had taken the role of leader of Star Fox after his father; James McCloud had been betrayed by one of his wingmen and closest friends, Pigma Dengar. Peppy, James's other best friend managed to escape the battle and bring the ill tidings to Vixie, James's wife, and Fox. Pappy had always kept an eye out for Fox, even taught him how to fly and fight. The hare had recognized the glint in the vulpine's eyes, the thirst for justice and adventure.

Peppy was not surprised when Fox confronted him about reforming the Star Fox squadron all those years ago and was more than willing to help the orange vulpine. But now, Peppy was too old to fly sorties anymore and that it was time for him to retire, or at least that was his excuse. The Great Fox, the team's home and command center only had the storage capacity to sustain four arwing fighters. Anymore would mean depleted resources from the others. Instead, Peppy decided to sit on the sidelines and monitor the battles from the Great Fox, helping in whatever way he could.

Falco Lombardi, the team's "ace pilot" as he refers to himself was without a doubt Fox's first officer. While the two of them were great friends, they were also rivals, constantly trying to outdo the other's flying skills. While Falco always claimed that he was only on the Star Fix team for the money, everyone knew it wasn't true. Falco came back to the team after hearing from General Pepper that the team was at Sauria. His time couldn't have been better either; Falco arrived just in time to put Andross back in the grave. Despite how much of a "tough guy" front the avian tried to put up, Katt, an old friend of the Star Fox team always managed to get the bird wrapped around her feline paws.

Slippy Toad, an old friend of Fox's, perhaps the oldest next to Peppy, wasn't the world's greatest pilot and often got himself into trouble earning himself the nickname "Slip-up" was an exceptional mechanic. When he began explaining things to the team he often had to stop and translate everything he said into English so the others could understand. Although he would often need saving in the skies, the frog could build an arwing from scratch with enough time and parts. During the Lylat War, General Pepper gave the team a prototype land master class tank, but Slippy modified the tank into three separate classes, light medium and heavy. After the war, Pepper adopted the designs and began to utilize them in ground engagements.

Krystal, the newest member had by far the closest relationship to Fox. Although everyone knew the two foxes had feelings for each other, neither would come out and say it. Even with her telepathic powers, Fox still wouldn't come out and say it. The vixen would flirt with Fox on a regular basis and always leave him blushing and stuttering around her. When on missions she would always fly as his wingman, despite warnings from the others about attracting too much attention. While Krystal was not the greatest pilot in the skies, she took the medal hands down for being the best fighter on the ground. Krystal often thought of using her telepathic powers to read the thoughts of her friends as an invasion of their privacy, but when it was most dire she would. Fox however, always proved difficult for her to read. Unless he told her to check his mind for something she always found an impenetrable barrier around his mind. The most she could get from him where brief glimpses or feelings.

Since the defeat of the aparoids a few weeks ago, Fox had kept to himself lately. Everyone seemed to notice his change in demeanor and it changed theirs as well. Falco had become a little more level headed, Slippy much quieter, and Krystal seemed a little sad about it. Peppy watched Fox with knowing eyes though, as if he could see something the others could not. Something only age can see.

The entire team was gathered in the lounge of the ship. An aquarium, at Krystal's insistence, was located near one wall with a large television next to it. A table sat in the middle of the room surrounded by a couch and two chairs. One side of the room had a window showing the beauty of the stars and planets visible. A hall behind the couch led to the mess hall, and the hall perpendicular to it led to the rec. room and crew's rooms. The hall leading behind the Television and the aquarium led to the command center on the bridge, the armory, and the hanger.

Fox sat in one of the chairs, his head resting on his fists, lost in thoughts. Krystal sat in the chair opposite of him, her tail moving sadly as she eyed the orange vulpine with concern. Peppy sat on the couch watching the news with Slippy and Falco. "-And in other news, more mysterious activity has been seen near Fichina, Cornerian officials have dispatched an investigation force to find the cause of these strange sightings," the news reporter, a brown squirrel said.

"Hey Peppy, can I talk to you?" Fox suddenly spoke. It seemed like forever since he said anything, let alone a whole sentence. Everyone in the room suddenly stopped at the sound of his voice. "Falco, you too," Fox added and with that the vulpine got up and left the room, the avian and hare following right behind him. Krystal was about to follow, but Peppy put a hand on the cerulean vixen's shoulder stopping her movement. Her emerald eyes pleaded with Peppy's aged brown ones.

"Don't worry, I'll find out what's bugging him," Peppy whispered to her.

"Thanks Peppy," Krystal replied. The vixen let out a sigh once the trio left around the corner, he ears drooping and her tail swaying sadly.

"You ok Krys?" Slippy asked. Slippy, an expect when it came to machines and technology, tended to pay less attention to the world around him as he was always thinking of how to improve this or that.

"I don't know Slippy, I just don't know," Krystal replied.

"Yo Fox! What's up?" Falco asked as they turned the corner.

"Not here," Fox simply replied.

"Everything alright buddy?" Falco continued. The trio pasted through the halls, the crew that they passed paid them no attention except for a salute and the "Captain on deck" call. They ventured into the hanger where Fox locked the door behind them.

"What's up Fox? You've been out of it since we finished up the aparoids," Falco tried again.

"Something just doesn't feel right," Fox replied, leaning up against the wall.

"Do explain Fox," Peppy spoke.

"I'm worried that something is going to happen, something big. Which is why I wanted to speak to you guys in private," Fox replied.

"Talk to us about what?" Falco asked.

"Falco, Peppy, think of a wall, nothing but a wall. I know it sounds strange, but I don't want Krystal to find out about this," Fox said, quickly adding the second part.

"I think I know where this is going," Peppy mused to himself. "You're worried about her, aren't you Fox?"

"Yea- Well, um… yeah, I am," Fox blushed as he absent mindedly scratched the back of his head.

"We know you like her, so just go tell her already!" Falco nudged him on the shoulder, snickering.

"Falco! I'm being serious, I have an order for the two of you," Fox shook off the avian's arm, trying to shake the blush from his face. Peppy stood up straighter, and Falco instantly became serious. "Listen in the event that something does happen, and it looks like I might not make it, get her out of there," Fox said.

"Fox, what are you saying?" Peppy asked.

"If I get singled out by the enemy, don't let her near me, they could target her to get to me. I don't care what you do; just keep her safe if a battle goes weary. The code word is "treasure box," got it?" Fox asked.

"I understand Fox," Peppy said, nodding.

"You know she's gonna be pissed when she finds out right?" Falco said.

"That's why you won't think about it, just remember the code word," Fox replied.

"Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you," Falco said reluctantly while holding his arms up in surrender.

"Thanks guys," Fox said, relieved.

"What about Slippy, should we tell him to?" Peppy asked.

"No, I'm afraid that if everybody knows about it then Krystal will be more likely to catch on, and it's not that I don't trust Slippy or anything, but he's not the best at keeping secrets," Fox answered.

"Right," Falco said, nodding. "So it that really what has been going on in your head this whole time?"

"Part of it," Fox answered as the trio began to make their way back to the lounge. The two could immediately see the difference in Fox's attitude. His tail was less twitchy; his ears didn't twitch as often either now. But most of all, they could see the relief in his facial expression, and the smile that hadn't been there for weeks.

Krystal's ears and tail twitched, and instantly she turned to see Fox and the others coming back. Relief spread across her face as she saw Fox more relaxed. Slippy also noticed the change. "Hey Fox, what's up?" Slippy asked.

"Don't worry about it Slippy, it's nothing, just something I needed to talk to Pep, and Falco about," Fox replied, the smile still on his face. Krystal couldn't help but smile herself.

"It's about time you ditched that frown Fox, it doesn't suit you as well as that smile," Krystal flirted.

"Ohh, um, t-thanks Krystal," Fox stuttered, his tail flicking up before settling back to where it was. Falco snickered behind Fox's back and Peppy just shoot his head, keeping himself from laughing.

"Captain McCloud!" one of the Great Fox's crew ran up and saluted, the young beagle startling Fox. If there was one thing Fox didn't like about Pepper's generosity of replacing the old Great Fox with the Great Fox mark 2, it was the strict military code of the crew that Pepper provided. Fox preferred an easier going crew that would do what they were told with stopping and saluting every time they saw him or he talked to them.

"Yes?" Fox asked.

"General Pepper wishes to speak to you," the boy replied. Most of the crew Pepper gave Fox was fresh out of the academy, here to get a taste of real combat and experience.

"We're on our way," Fox replied. The moment the words came out of his mouth, Krystal was already next to Fox, with Slippy right behind them. Falco and Peppy a few paces ahead of them.

The Bridge was lined with monitors and consoles, all of which were manned. "Captain on the bridge!" one of the officers yelled, causing all crew members to stand and salute.

"At ease," Fox said, and instantly the crew went back to their tasks.

The Bridge itself composed of two levels. The lower level, where most of the bridge crew worked handled navigation, astrocharts, sensors, communications, and weapon systems. The upper level contained the hologram table used for mission briefing, the captain's chair, and the ship's internal systems.

Fox nodded to the officer as the group gathered at the hologram table. Pepper's face appeared on a screen just above the table. The old hound still had bandages, but refused to back down from his job. "Greetings Star Fox," the General said.

"Hello General, what do you need us to do?" Fox asked.

"I see, straight to the point as always, very well. As you may have heard, there has been some suspicious activity around Fichina. We sent a Cruiser and its escorts to investigate, but we soon lost communications with them. All we received was this audio transmission," Pepper said. Them Pepper's face disappeared as a sound wave measuring chart appeared on the screen.

"This is the CLC-97 Fortune, we've just arrived at Fichina, nothing yet," the captain of the ship said. Suddenly, a beeping noise sounded in the background.

"Captain, you may want to take a look at this," a woman's voice said.

"Oh god wh-" the captain was cut off.

"Sir! We've just lost the Hammerhand and the Steadfast!" another voice said. Sounds of combat could be heard from the recording. An alarm started wailing.

"We've lost our shields, sir-"the speaker was cut off by static. The transmission ended, and Pepper returned on the screen.

Fox had removed the emotion from his face; Krystal looked like she had seen a ghost, her hands covering her mouth. Falco had closed his eyes and looked turned away. Slippy had his mouth agape, eyes filled with horror. Peppy merely bowed his head, his long ears drooping over his face.

"We need you to investigate this matter immediately, we'll have a battle group on standby waiting for your orders," Pepper said.

"Yes sir," Fox replied.

"Good Luck, we're counting on you," Pepper said before cutting the transmission. The atmosphere on the bridge turned cold. Everyone heard the message.

"Listen up," Fox said, getting everyone's attention. "I don't know what's out there, but whatever it is; we can't let them get away for doing that to those brave men and women. I know this a lot to ask, but please, don't think about what could happen, focus on the now, focus on your jobs, and we'll all return home safe and sound," Fox finished. The crew's faces were still pale, but they resumed their work.

With his speech over Fox immediately left the bridge and headed towards the hanger, Krystal right on his heels. "Ok team," Peppy said. "Best speed to Fichina, put us in the asteroid belt if you can, it may hinder whatever is out there.