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Description
Corneria

Favors

A human sat behind a desk, examining the papers before him.  With a quiet sigh, the human tapped them with a pencil, knowing all too well what his bosses wanted out of this meeting.  He knew what he would have to do, but convincing others to agree was not going to be an easy task.  Finally, he stood up, picking up the Stinger handgun from his desk and loading it.  Carefully the human slipped the deadly handgun into a shoulder holster, pocketing another clip of 9mm, armor piercing ammunition.  As Hiigan pulled on a black coat, he picked up the files as his assistant looked up.
"Do you really think now is a good time to ask for help from Cornerian forces?" the dove asked.
"Ms. Sofia, we have no other option now." Hiigan replied calmly, "The Sev`fel have been attacking our colonies left and right.  If we do not receive assistance, it is a good chance that these attacks will continue to result in a great loss of profits and lives.  As a representative of the corporation and a former mercenary to the Cornerian government before my work with the corporation, I believe that I do still have some friends within."
The dove nodded, standing up as well.  Her white feathers seemed to gently glow in the sunlight as she smoothed out her short skirt and pulled a coat on over her blouse.  Under her blouse was an assault vest, designed to offer light protection against energy weapons and small arms fire.  But, before she left from behind the desk, Sofia picked up a second handgun.  As Hiigan's secretary and guard, the dove could not allow harm to come to Hiigan.  As good as Hiigan was, the human was getting older.  Sofia knew that his reflexes were not as they had once been, despite his aim and timing being very good still.  In training combat situations, the dove knew well that Hiigan could still fight as he once had.  Ms. Sofia just hoped that she would not have to see it in an actual situation.
*           *          *
The main city of Corneria was a sight to behold.  The city's tall structures towered above the ground, crafts of all kinds flying above as land based vehicles made their way towards their destinations.  The citizens were out and about, doing things normal civilians did.  What those were exactly, Hiigan did not know.  He had not been a civilian for a very long time.  In his mind, the human had little time to play tourist.  After the most recent attack near Fichina, there was no telling when another Sev`fel attack would come or where they would attack.
After reaching their destination, Hiigan and Sofia found themselves in the presence of several, high ranking personnel.  Flashing his badge to a pair of guards, the human knew that they had upgraded their security after the Aparoid attack a few years ago.  Anti-air turrets were hidden within the building itself, heavily armed guards patrolling the perimeter as Landmaster Tanks sat inside the gates, waiting for their crews to be called upon.  Across from them was an airfield stocked well with Arwing assault class fighters.  While these simply acted as a display of power, Hiigan quietly summarized that an attack on Corneria would most likely result in a failure at this time.
"Like the new security detail?" A voice said as Hiigan and Sofia walked past a series of offices.
Hiigan turned to find an old hare walking up to them.  As he hobbled on a cane, the hare pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his slowly twitching nose.  With a nod, Hiigan easily recognized the gray hare immediately.  The hare smiled and shook his hand.
"Peppy Hare." Hiigan stated, "I thought you had retired after the last mission against the Aparoid forces."
The old hare chuckled, "So had I, Hiigan.  And yet, here I am.  Funny how things work, eh?"
Hiigan nodded and glanced to a guard who was watching them, "I take it that the Cornerian government has finally stepped up security.  Mind telling me why?"
Peppy sighed and motioned to an office, "After General Pepper retried last year, we have been under a new commanding officer for this division.  Since then, we have been receiving word of an old threat, come back to haunt us."
"The Sev`fel." Hiigan stated, "They have been causing a great amount of distress to my higher-ups as well.  My corporation has been losing colonies throughout the Lylat system, and many of our mercenary teams have been lost as well."
"And the team you are in charge of?" Peppy asked with a hint of worry.
"Do not worry about Krystal." Hiigan answered, "She is with the best mercenary I know of besides myself.  Ronin has yet to fail me."
Peppy chuckled, "Fox will be quite glad to know that she is in good hands.  Still misses her something fierce.  And looking at the records you sent me, it looks like Chase could provide a good challenge for Fox, or even James if he were still alive."
As Sofia listened to the two talk, the dove shook her head.  When Hiigan had approached her about being his assistant, the dove had been thrilled to be at the side of someone important.  For a long time, Sofia had been in charge of watching over scientists during excursions to colonies.  The thought of going with someone who used to be a mercenary had excited her.
"This is not what I had in mind." Sofia thought to herself as Peppy lead the two to the new general who had replaced Pepper, "Still, at least Hiigan is not as boring as those other assignments were."
*           *          *
Sitting in the office, Sofia glanced at the well dressed bulldog before her and her boss.  The new general sat before the three of them, glancing over the papers Hiigan had brought to show them.  As he did, the dove gently tapped the grip of her handgun, her nerves on edge.
"You do realize that, if this were to go public, we could have a major problem on our hands." The bulldog finally said after setting the papers down.
"We already have a major problem." Hiigan replied calmly as always, "The Sev`fel have indeed returned.  As I have mentioned in the reports, they are attacking corporation colonies throughout the Lylat system.  While very skilled, our mercenary teams alone can no longer hold them off without assistance from our corporate troops.  We need Lylat Command to allow us access to several teams of soldiers if we are to regain what has been lost, or even if we are to halt the Sev`fel at all."
The bulldog stood up, turning his back to Hiigan and Peppy as he looked out over the city.  With a sigh, the general looked back at them.
"Look, right now, even I can't just give your corporation the firepower of even just a handful of our troops or vehicles." The general stated, "First off, we'd need more than just a few reports to show that the Sev`fel have returned.  Second, I know how the corporation you work for deals in 'favors'.  If we do help you, we will want something in return."
"I have the authority to set the terms for the corporation I work for." Hiigan confirmed, "I will have to run it by them for final clearance, of course."
Peppy sighed, "Either way, we are going to have to do something fast from the looks of things.  But why are they only attacking your corporation's colonies?  Lylat Command Central has outposts all over the system that could prove more useful in an attack.  Why not attack those?"
"As you know, my corporation has many uses within each colony we own.  Technology, weapons and vehicle development and testing, trade, and mining the precious xalphidium minerals we use as fuel for many of our vehicles." Hiigan explained, "If they can control those resources, there is little chance that anyone will be able to effectively halt their progression.  Another war could erupt very soon if we do not stop them before they grow too powerful."
The general shook his head, "So soon after the aparoid attacks?  Our forces are finally fully rebuilt, but even now we don't have the kind of power to fully halt the Sev`fel if the last war is any indicator of their current power."
Hiigan thought for a minute, then remembered something he had read a short time ago.
"The Aparoids used a bio-tech unique to their creation, correct?" the human asked.
When the general and Peppy both nodded, the human continued, "What if my corporation, combined with your R and D department's oversight, of course, was to be able to unlock their secrets?  It could lead to a new breakthrough in weapons and armor development that could benefit both of us."
"And just where do you intend to find this secret?" the general asked.
"During the attacks, the Star Fox team was able to disable many aparoids and secure a couple of data cores, correct?" Hiigan asked.
Peppy nodded, "We did, yeah.  What's your idea?"
Hiigan then did something that sent a chill down everyone's spine.  For the first time in many, many years, the human smirked.
"Simple.  Using those cores and one aparoid weapon that was not completely destroyed, we might be able to unlock the secrets behind their technology.  If we can harness it for our own uses, the Sev`fel will not stand a chance." Hiigan explained.
Peppy found himself in agreement with Hiigan.  After seeing exactly what magnitude of firepower the robotic parasites were capable of, the idea of using them to halt the Sev`fel was a strong one.  But the old hare also knew that the aparoids worked through a hive mind.  If the Sev`fel could gain control of what was left of the original Queen…
"There is no possible chance that would work!" The general stated with a growl, "Integrating their parasitic technology with our military hardware?  It's completely out of the question!"
Even Sofia found herself agreeing with the general.  Having gotten her start with the corporation by escorting scientists and researchers into high danger areas, the dove had faced off against the aparoids before.  After seeing what they could do to produce more of their own, Sofia began to wonder if Hiigan had somehow lost his mind.
"We will not be focusing on the unit integrations they had." Hiigan explained, "I believe that your superiors would be rather interested in the defensive technology the aparoids could unlock for us.  As adaptive as they were during the war, they remained well defended against many of our offensive capabilities."
Peppy nodded, knowing Hiigan was right.  The more powerful units the Star Fox team had faced off against all were well armored against most of their weaponry, having few exposed weak points.  Integrating that sort of defensive technology into armored units, and even heavy air and spacecraft, could prove beneficial.
The general sighed, thinking along the same lines.
"We do have a project to recover some of the destroyed aparoid tech." the general stated, "Including an effort currently underway on Fichina."
Hiigan perked an eyebrow, "We lost a colony near to Fichina two days ago to the Sev`fel.  At first, we were not sure as to why they would attack a colony so far out of the way.  But now, I see that the Sev`fel could be acting with the same intentions in mind."
Sofia glanced to him.  That idea had not been in anything she had seen.  But if Hiigan was right, the Sev`fel would have a foothold to easily take the aparoid technology for themselves.
The general thought for a moment, and then said, "I will speak to my superiors.  If your corporation would not mind sending a team to protect our extraction efforts, perhaps I can convince them to re-evaluate the Sev`fel threat."
Hiigan nodded, "Those terms seem fair enough for now.  I have a perfect team in mind and will expect to hear a result soon."
*           *          *
Walking out of the office, Hiigan glanced to Sofia.  The dove glanced back at him, knowing exactly what he was going to say.
"You had doubts of my reasoning, Ms. Sofia." Hiigan said calmly, "Care to explain?"
"I've seen what the aparoids could do." Sofia replied, "If the Queen can still somehow be activated and controlled, she could rebuild the aparoid forces."
"Their AI and productive capabilities were very advanced." Peppy added, walking beside them, "If we tried to add that to our own, the Queen could easily take us over from the inside."
"A valid fear." Hiigan stated, "But I have faith that Lylat Command Central will not attempt to work with the aparoid hive AI.  I am sure they will listen to the advice of an experienced one such as you, Peppy."
The old hare smiled, "Experienced is an understatement."
As they waked out, Peppy thought of something, "Hiigan, it's not like you to be on the same footing as the rest of us.  You already have a team on their way to Fichina, don't you?"
"You know me well." Hiigan replied without emotion, "Yes, the Ronins are already on their way to Fichina as we speak.  I will need to brief them of our current situation."
Peppy nodded, "Let's just hope we're not already too late to secure that technology before the Sev`fel does."

Description
Corneria

Favors

A human sat behind a desk, examining the papers before him.  With a quiet sigh, the human tapped them with a pencil, knowing all too well what his bosses wanted out of this meeting.  He knew what he would have to do, but convincing others to agree was not going to be an easy task.  Finally, he stood up, picking up the Stinger handgun from his desk and loading it.  Carefully the human slipped the deadly handgun into a shoulder holster, pocketing another clip of 9mm, armor piercing ammunition.  As Hiigan pulled on a black coat, he picked up the files as his assistant looked up.
"Do you really think now is a good time to ask for help from Cornerian forces?" the dove asked.
"Ms. Sofia, we have no other option now." Hiigan replied calmly, "The Sev`fel have been attacking our colonies left and right.  If we do not receive assistance, it is a good chance that these attacks will continue to result in a great loss of profits and lives.  As a representative of the corporation and a former mercenary to the Cornerian government before my work with the corporation, I believe that I do still have some friends within."
The dove nodded, standing up as well.  Her white feathers seemed to gently glow in the sunlight as she smoothed out her short skirt and pulled a coat on over her blouse.  Under her blouse was an assault vest, designed to offer light protection against energy weapons and small arms fire.  But, before she left from behind the desk, Sofia picked up a second handgun.  As Hiigan's secretary and guard, the dove could not allow harm to come to Hiigan.  As good as Hiigan was, the human was getting older.  Sofia knew that his reflexes were not as they had once been, despite his aim and timing being very good still.  In training combat situations, the dove knew well that Hiigan could still fight as he once had.  Ms. Sofia just hoped that she would not have to see it in an actual situation.
*           *          *
The main city of Corneria was a sight to behold.  The city's tall structures towered above the ground, crafts of all kinds flying above as land based vehicles made their way towards their destinations.  The citizens were out and about, doing things normal civilians did.  What those were exactly, Hiigan did not know.  He had not been a civilian for a very long time.  In his mind, the human had little time to play tourist.  After the most recent attack near Fichina, there was no telling when another Sev`fel attack would come or where they would attack.
After reaching their destination, Hiigan and Sofia found themselves in the presence of several, high ranking personnel.  Flashing his badge to a pair of guards, the human knew that they had upgraded their security after the Aparoid attack a few years ago.  Anti-air turrets were hidden within the building itself, heavily armed guards patrolling the perimeter as Landmaster Tanks sat inside the gates, waiting for their crews to be called upon.  Across from them was an airfield stocked well with Arwing assault class fighters.  While these simply acted as a display of power, Hiigan quietly summarized that an attack on Corneria would most likely result in a failure at this time.
"Like the new security detail?" A voice said as Hiigan and Sofia walked past a series of offices.
Hiigan turned to find an old hare walking up to them.  As he hobbled on a cane, the hare pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his slowly twitching nose.  With a nod, Hiigan easily recognized the gray hare immediately.  The hare smiled and shook his hand.
"Peppy Hare." Hiigan stated, "I thought you had retired after the last mission against the Aparoid forces."
The old hare chuckled, "So had I, Hiigan.  And yet, here I am.  Funny how things work, eh?"
Hiigan nodded and glanced to a guard who was watching them, "I take it that the Cornerian government has finally stepped up security.  Mind telling me why?"
Peppy sighed and motioned to an office, "After General Pepper retried last year, we have been under a new commanding officer for this division.  Since then, we have been receiving word of an old threat, come back to haunt us."
"The Sev`fel." Hiigan stated, "They have been causing a great amount of distress to my higher-ups as well.  My corporation has been losing colonies throughout the Lylat system, and many of our mercenary teams have been lost as well."
"And the team you are in charge of?" Peppy asked with a hint of worry.
"Do not worry about Krystal." Hiigan answered, "She is with the best mercenary I know of besides myself.  Ronin has yet to fail me."
Peppy chuckled, "Fox will be quite glad to know that she is in good hands.  Still misses her something fierce.  And looking at the records you sent me, it looks like Chase could provide a good challenge for Fox, or even James if he were still alive."
As Sofia listened to the two talk, the dove shook her head.  When Hiigan had approached her about being his assistant, the dove had been thrilled to be at the side of someone important.  For a long time, Sofia had been in charge of watching over scientists during excursions to colonies.  The thought of going with someone who used to be a mercenary had excited her.
"This is not what I had in mind." Sofia thought to herself as Peppy lead the two to the new general who had replaced Pepper, "Still, at least Hiigan is not as boring as those other assignments were."
*           *          *
Sitting in the office, Sofia glanced at the well dressed bulldog before her and her boss.  The new general sat before the three of them, glancing over the papers Hiigan had brought to show them.  As he did, the dove gently tapped the grip of her handgun, her nerves on edge.
"You do realize that, if this were to go public, we could have a major problem on our hands." The bulldog finally said after setting the papers down.
"We already have a major problem." Hiigan replied calmly as always, "The Sev`fel have indeed returned.  As I have mentioned in the reports, they are attacking corporation colonies throughout the Lylat system.  While very skilled, our mercenary teams alone can no longer hold them off without assistance from our corporate troops.  We need Lylat Command to allow us access to several teams of soldiers if we are to regain what has been lost, or even if we are to halt the Sev`fel at all."
The bulldog stood up, turning his back to Hiigan and Peppy as he looked out over the city.  With a sigh, the general looked back at them.
"Look, right now, even I can't just give your corporation the firepower of even just a handful of our troops or vehicles." The general stated, "First off, we'd need more than just a few reports to show that the Sev`fel have returned.  Second, I know how the corporation you work for deals in 'favors'.  If we do help you, we will want something in return."
"I have the authority to set the terms for the corporation I work for." Hiigan confirmed, "I will have to run it by them for final clearance, of course."
Peppy sighed, "Either way, we are going to have to do something fast from the looks of things.  But why are they only attacking your corporation's colonies?  Lylat Command Central has outposts all over the system that could prove more useful in an attack.  Why not attack those?"
"As you know, my corporation has many uses within each colony we own.  Technology, weapons and vehicle development and testing, trade, and mining the precious xalphidium minerals we use as fuel for many of our vehicles." Hiigan explained, "If they can control those resources, there is little chance that anyone will be able to effectively halt their progression.  Another war could erupt very soon if we do not stop them before they grow too powerful."
The general shook his head, "So soon after the aparoid attacks?  Our forces are finally fully rebuilt, but even now we don't have the kind of power to fully halt the Sev`fel if the last war is any indicator of their current power."
Hiigan thought for a minute, then remembered something he had read a short time ago.
"The Aparoids used a bio-tech unique to their creation, correct?" the human asked.
When the general and Peppy both nodded, the human continued, "What if my corporation, combined with your R and D department's oversight, of course, was to be able to unlock their secrets?  It could lead to a new breakthrough in weapons and armor development that could benefit both of us."
"And just where do you intend to find this secret?" the general asked.
"During the attacks, the Star Fox team was able to disable many aparoids and secure a couple of data cores, correct?" Hiigan asked.
Peppy nodded, "We did, yeah.  What's your idea?"
Hiigan then did something that sent a chill down everyone's spine.  For the first time in many, many years, the human smirked.
"Simple.  Using those cores and one aparoid weapon that was not completely destroyed, we might be able to unlock the secrets behind their technology.  If we can harness it for our own uses, the Sev`fel will not stand a chance." Hiigan explained.
Peppy found himself in agreement with Hiigan.  After seeing exactly what magnitude of firepower the robotic parasites were capable of, the idea of using them to halt the Sev`fel was a strong one.  But the old hare also knew that the aparoids worked through a hive mind.  If the Sev`fel could gain control of what was left of the original Queen…
"There is no possible chance that would work!" The general stated with a growl, "Integrating their parasitic technology with our military hardware?  It's completely out of the question!"
Even Sofia found herself agreeing with the general.  Having gotten her start with the corporation by escorting scientists and researchers into high danger areas, the dove had faced off against the aparoids before.  After seeing what they could do to produce more of their own, Sofia began to wonder if Hiigan had somehow lost his mind.
"We will not be focusing on the unit integrations they had." Hiigan explained, "I believe that your superiors would be rather interested in the defensive technology the aparoids could unlock for us.  As adaptive as they were during the war, they remained well defended against many of our offensive capabilities."
Peppy nodded, knowing Hiigan was right.  The more powerful units the Star Fox team had faced off against all were well armored against most of their weaponry, having few exposed weak points.  Integrating that sort of defensive technology into armored units, and even heavy air and spacecraft, could prove beneficial.
The general sighed, thinking along the same lines.
"We do have a project to recover some of the destroyed aparoid tech." the general stated, "Including an effort currently underway on Fichina."
Hiigan perked an eyebrow, "We lost a colony near to Fichina two days ago to the Sev`fel.  At first, we were not sure as to why they would attack a colony so far out of the way.  But now, I see that the Sev`fel could be acting with the same intentions in mind."
Sofia glanced to him.  That idea had not been in anything she had seen.  But if Hiigan was right, the Sev`fel would have a foothold to easily take the aparoid technology for themselves.
The general thought for a moment, and then said, "I will speak to my superiors.  If your corporation would not mind sending a team to protect our extraction efforts, perhaps I can convince them to re-evaluate the Sev`fel threat."
Hiigan nodded, "Those terms seem fair enough for now.  I have a perfect team in mind and will expect to hear a result soon."
*           *          *
Walking out of the office, Hiigan glanced to Sofia.  The dove glanced back at him, knowing exactly what he was going to say.
"You had doubts of my reasoning, Ms. Sofia." Hiigan said calmly, "Care to explain?"
"I've seen what the aparoids could do." Sofia replied, "If the Queen can still somehow be activated and controlled, she could rebuild the aparoid forces."
"Their AI and productive capabilities were very advanced." Peppy added, walking beside them, "If we tried to add that to our own, the Queen could easily take us over from the inside."
"A valid fear." Hiigan stated, "But I have faith that Lylat Command Central will not attempt to work with the aparoid hive AI.  I am sure they will listen to the advice of an experienced one such as you, Peppy."
The old hare smiled, "Experienced is an understatement."
As they waked out, Peppy thought of something, "Hiigan, it's not like you to be on the same footing as the rest of us.  You already have a team on their way to Fichina, don't you?"
"You know me well." Hiigan replied without emotion, "Yes, the Ronins are already on their way to Fichina as we speak.  I will need to brief them of our current situation."
Peppy nodded, "Let's just hope we're not already too late to secure that technology before the Sev`fel does."