Author's Note: Wow! You're fast, Hellblood (nice name change, btw). You got first review this time around, lol. And Shishio, great to see you didn't forget about me, lol. Just playing, it's great to see you again. I'm thrilled that you both enjoyed the first chapter, and I hope the rest is as good. :)

Oh, and if anyone knows of a site about Star Fox, general story info like dates or names of places and such, game story info not fanfics, I'd seriously appreciate it. There's one chapter I can't finish until I have a little more info.

Chapter 2: General Pepper's Surprise

Team Star Fox met with the General, Peppy, and Rob the robot at Cornerian Defense HQ, where they were waiting at one hanger bays that housed a shuttle ship.

"Hello Star Fox Team, Skye," greeted the hound dog general.

"Glad to see you up and on active duty again, general," Fox greeted in reply. Ever since the Apariod invasion six months ago, Pepper had been on sick leave to recover from his brush with them, and was only recently returned to active status.

"The Defense Corps wouldn't know what to do without him," joked Peppy Hare. "But now that we're all here, what's the secret?" The General smiled.

"I can't tell you yet. And it's not here. We'll have to take a little trip first." He began leading them to the shuttle ship.

"All right!" cheered Fox. "A little in-space time! At this point, I don't care if I'm flying or not." Everyone laughed as they boarded the ship, and it took off.

They rode for about fifteen minutes to one of the space stations that orbited around the planet. It was used both as a focal point for Corneria's last line of defense, and as a hub for trade shuttles from Katina and other nearby planets. To minimize the air traffic on the planet itself, trade shuttles would dock at the station, and then the merchandise would be sorted and sent to the surface from there, usually in privately-owned ships.

They docked in the hanger, and when they left the Star Fox crew was instantly surrounded by news media. Startled, they didn't really know how to react. Skye, on the other hand, discreetly ducked behind General Pepper, and was more or less out of sight.

"I know how you dislike publicity," apologized Pepper, "but today seemed like a special occasion." The silently followed, even the normally camera-friendly Falco, trying to ignore the reporters, cameras, and lights, though Fox's fur was raised a bit in annoyance.

"They wove through the station to another, larger docking bay, aside a wide window. Outside, the area was kept clear by patrol ships.

"That's not normal," commented Falco. Still the General was silent.

"I'm as clueless as you are," whispered Peppy. Near the entrance they paused, by the window, where General Pepper began to absently stare out the window.

"General Pepper," Fox finally said, "what's going on here?" The hound smiled.

"Just watch and be patient, Fox." They peered out, seeing the stars, the planet, and their own reflections. Then, suddenly, Fox's ear twitched and perked up.

"What's that?" He pointed out a small, bright speck approaching the station at a swift pace, seemingly from out of nowhere.

"It's a ship," Slippy finally said as it came closer. The ship, so far away that details weren't visible, moved about so it would come into full view as it docked. Fox felt his heartbeat increase as it drew closer.

"It's fast!" gasped Falco.

"It's beautiful!" Krystal oohed. Fox gasped as he finally saw it clearly.

"It - it's the Great Fox!"