Pilot Cadet James McCloud Jr, known as 'Fox' whenever he could get away with it, sat in one of the seats in the atrium of the Lylat System Alliance Naval Academy at Ringo Island and worried. A second semester pilot cadet, even one who'd done as well as he had in his placement exams, generally didn't attract the attention of the Commandant of the Academy, General Hardy, let alone rate a personal meeting.
The year and a half Basic Officers Training Course was broken up into three half year sessions, the first being cadet training common to all three branches of the Navy, covering everything from physical training, armed and unarmed combat, military law, naval operations, leadership, military history and tactics, plus a couple of electives. After that, placement exams decided which branch of the service they would go into, and if the cadet was suited for their preferred branch.
Fox had aced his tests to transfer to the McCartney Flight Training School, though he scored well enough to go into the Lennon Marine Training Camp or even the Harrison Navy College. His elective course had been Basic Flight training, and as he'd already had a provisional civilian licence for both orbital and atmospheric flight, he'd had no trouble flying anything they threw at him.
He'd also done well in tactics and leadership, and even been brevetted to Assistant Instructor for the tactics course. Which made this summons all the more puzzling. Senior Instructor Kite or Colonel Beaglesworth, the superintendent of the flight school, would handle any unusual circumstances, not old Hard-as-Nails herself.
He examined the holo-statue that dominated the multi-story atrium, showing the signing of the Accord between the founding planets of Corneria, Zoness, Fortuna and Aquas, and the Cornerian colony of Katina. Above floated a real-time but scale distorted, projection of the Lylat system itself, with the multi-species colony worlds of MacBeth and Papetoon also shown, and Fichnia, the most ambitious Alliance project ever attempted, the terra-forming of a world.
He wished Slippy was here to talk to, but the young toad was currently having the time of his life at the Lylatian Institute of Science and Technology. The pair had been best friends since their respective parents had moved to Corneria when he was just a kit. It had been a wrench, but he'd finally persuaded Slippy to follow his own dream, rather than Fox's. From the holo-mail he'd received, Slippy was acing his courses, and already good friends with an Aquasian girl, Amanda.
Fox was well liked, but there was no-one in his life he could call a 'best' friend at the moment, unless you counted William Grey, his room-mate. He'd focussed on his studies, and his placement exam marks had gotten an appreciative holo-mail response from his space-trotting father. His attention switched to the people travelling through the atrium, amphibian Aquasians, avian and feline Zonessians, primate and lizard Fortunans, and the inevitable array of canid and leporid Cornerians.
Most of them wore Alliance Navy uniforms, and an impressive array of rank tabs. It made a young and junior fox feel very insignificant. A lieutenant detached himself from the flow, and came over.
"Flight Cadet McCloud?"
Fox stood and snapped off a smart salute. "Yes sir."
The male Dalmatian returned the salute with a not unkind expression, and indicated a direction. "Good, follow me."
A pad-print secured lift took them to the highest level of the main tower. Fox reckoned he was probably the first mere cadet to ever set foot in these hallowed halls. The carpets were plush, the display windows large, and the view impressive. Ringo Island laid spread out in the evening twilight, tens of square miles of illuminated buildings, skirted by space ports and training areas.
A CDF medium cruiser was lifting off as they walked, escorted by the glowing sparks of a fighter escort. Despite the close integration of the various planetary fleets, each fleet retained it's pre-alliance name, for morale and administrative reasons, so despite being part of the LSA forces, the identifier for the ship was still Cornerian Defence Force, Zoness Orbital Guard, Aquasian Space Service or Fortunan Space Force for their respective worlds.
The lieutenant led him unerringly to an office, which was an antechamber to the office of the Commandant. A large cat with a steno-headset and a large console in front of him, looked up as they entered, and moved his hands over the holo-interface without looking. "Commandant, Flight Cadet McCloud is here."
Receiving what was clearly an affirmative over her headset, he indicated the door. "The Commandant will see you now."
Fox walked up to the door, which slid silently aside, and with no small trepidation strode into the lion's den. This wasn't just a figure of speech; Commandant Laurel Hardy was a leonine Zonessian, who had fought her way up through the ranks of the Marine Corps. Though she had to be in her fifties in Cornerian standard years, she showed little sign of desk chair spread, and could probably still put most close combat types on the floor in short order.
However, she wasn't only one there, and if he'd been surprised at the summons, this kicked the whole situation well up into astonishment. Planetary General Zoltan Pepper sat in a comfy seat off to one side of the desk. Fox immediately came to attention and saluted, first facing General Pepper, and then holding it to turn to the Commandant.
"At ease, flight cadet." said Commandant Hardy in the rumbling purr he'd only ever previously heard at the Commencement ceremonies and over the base address system. It released him from holding the salute until it was returned. "Have a seat."
This was another unexpected honour. A seat unfolded from the wall and hovered over, the same form fitting executive chairs the others were using. Fox was still adjusting to the presence of the person he would never now call 'Unka Peppa' even in his head. A Planetary General controlled the armed forces of an entire planet, from the soldiers standing guard at memorials to the 'fixed' orbital defences and planet-based aero-space fighter squadrons.
Along with the Fleet Admirals, who controlled each planet's mobile space forces, they formed the staff to the Sky Marshal, who reported direct to the Alliance Council itself. Captain Pepper had been his father's commanding officer on the CDF Assault Cruiser Laika when his father had been Wing Commander, and a close friend of the family.
When James McCloud had been forced to resign and become an independent mercenary, Colonel Pepper had made sure that the newly formed Team Star fox had received enough military contracts to keep up with the mortgage on the Great Fox until the Team had sufficient reputation to survive on it's own. Not that they didn't still get plenty of military contracts, since they _were_ the best out there.
Meanwhile the General had left the Fleet, and gone back to school to do over the Senior Officers Training course, returning to duty in the army, and had quickly risen to his present position. This was the path of a future Sky Marshall, who had to have held general command in both Army and Navy, and scuttletail had it that General Pepper was the favourite for the task when Sky Marshall Peregrine Mason stepped down.
Fox's thought's had flashed past as he sat, consciously guiding his tail through the gap at the back designed for such things. Hopefully he'd kept his expression well schooled enough not to betray his nervousness or puzzlement at this situation.
General Pepper spoke. "Laurel, I think your efforts to put young McCloud at ease are doing just the opposite."
Okay, maybe not.
"I said at ease. You're not being called up on the deck-sole, quite the opposite." She pulled up a holo-image, a panel that even from the back could be seen to be a student personnel record, Fox's to be precise from the attached headshot. However, it was noticeable that she didn't need to glance at it when she continued.
"In the upper 10th percentile in all your classes, top in basic flight, tactics, leadership. On the energy weapons and close combat teams, assistant instructor… a very impressive record for a first session cadet, possibly the best in ten years."
Fox could help but straighten up slightly at the praise. It was one thing to see dry report percentages, but to have it pointed out by the Commandant…
General Pepper interjected. "I knew when James' son entered the Academy, he'd prove a top student. That's one reason he's the right man for this task."
"Well before our young charge's head swells past the point of fitting in a command headset, I'd like to shrink it a bit." Commandant Hardy turned back to Fox. "As General Pepper has stated, we need someone for a difficult assignment. Personally, I'd have wanted a more experienced officer, or at least a third session cadet to do it, but there are other factors. I won't give the go-ahead unless I'm convinced you can handle it. It wouldn't be fair to you, or the other cadets, no matter how enthusiastic the General is."
She steepled her fingers and looked directly at him over them. "To come to the point, we are considering you to act as a mentor."
Fox's puzzlement redoubled. Mentoring was an established technique in the Academy. A second or third session cadet was assigned one or more first session cadets, usually with an interest in the area the older cadet was training in. The mentor acted as a point of contact, someone who'd been through the mill before them, a shoulder to cry on, and general support during the tough first session of the BOTC. In practical exercises, a mentor also acted as a team leader for the mentored.
For the mentor, it was a clear sign that their instructors believed they had demonstrated command ability, and gave a foretaste of the real thing. Such things were generally handled at instructor level, so what could be so special about this student it required this kind of build up?
Seeming to read his mind, the Commandant popped three other student files, oriented so the text and images faced him. Just the headers were enough to stop him in his tracks, pull up the railroad and burn the sleepers for firewood.
Name: Miles Prower
Age (LSY): 14
Origin world: Mobius
This was a red fox, well more a light orange, who from his file shot looked even younger than his stated age. His most noticeable features were a head fur fringe, the goggles he wore on his forehead, and a happy, guileless expression. He also wore some kind of advanced earpiece headset, with a transparent panel that seemed able to fold out over one eye, and a loose yellow shirt.
Name: Krystal
Age (LSY): 17
Origin world: Cerinia
Fox had never seen deep blue fur before, except on a rabbit, and if it was a dye job, it was an amazing one. The white markings, both natural and artificial, set it off nicely. Apart from her startling colouration, she didn't seem to different from any fox you'd meet on the streets, though she was beautiful enough that she'd probably have a bunch of drooling males offering to buy her dinner, or buy other things. Her green eyes had unusual depths and gave an impression of intelligence and calmness. A diadem with a green gem rested on her forehead, and she wore a tunic with embroidered designs.
Name: Sasi of Clan Tsuk'Tadish
Age (LSY): 16
Origin world: Titania
Titania meant a Fennec, and this vixen was almost an archetypal Fennec warrior. She seemed to be staring down the camera, challenging it to take a good picture. Her piercing eyes were a luminous violet from a lifelong exposure to the lichen that pervaded the Titanian bio-sphere. It grew on every sand grain and performing the job that phytoplankton did on more waterlogged planets.
She also wore goggles on her forehead and a flowing, multi-coloured headscarf which continued down her back and wrapped loosely around her neck, clearly to be pulled over her muzzle in open dessert. Her oversized ears should have looked comical, but somehow they framed the pointed, undeniably good looking face well.
After a moment, it was clear both his seniors were waiting to see what his initial response was, so he thought before answering.
"Since it's clearly not some practical joke, and stating that none of their planets are even allies, let alone LSA members, would only show that I stayed awake in Galactic Studies, I have to ask, what is going on?"
General Pepper spoke first. "Well, Fox… Cadet McCloud, it's mainly a matter of politics, or rather diplomacy. It's part of an effort to set up closer ties with these planets, and possibly convince them to _become_ allies. I assume what you hear will go no further?"
"Of course." Fox nodded firmly, with an undertone that he was surprised that even had to ask.
"Laurel, if you would pull up a galactic map?" It took a few seconds for the lioness to open up a three dimensional map that showed the irregular, hundred parsec volume that was explored space, either by the LSA or it's allies. Without asking, she'd highlighted the Lylat system near the centre, and the stars that Mobius and Cerinia circled, each on opposite perimeters.
"With the faster hyper-drives, over the last 50 years we've been expanding at an increasing rate. New colonies, new civilisations, new trading routes… the Navy does well, but the truth is the only reason mercenary units like Team Star Fox can make a living is because the navy is being stretched to cover it's commitments."
No wonder the need for secrecy, Fox thought, eyes widening at the assessment. That kind of admission could be a political nova bomb.
"Oh, it's not critical yet, I've been working with the planning board to stretch times between refits, extend the service lives of our older vessels, even redeploy in-system fleet strength to patrols … but if we can't do anything else, within five years, we're going to have problems. We need to start a major ship building program inside of three years to take up the slack.
"But the System Council is dragging its tail approving funding. They seem to think that we can make up the difference from the home fleets, that we can rely on our hyperspace listening posts to detect any incoming threat, and re-call strength to confront it. However, they don't take into account that nominal home fleet strengths include ships under refit and repair at MacBeth and Corneria, and training vessels."
He realised he'd said more than he'd intended to, and sighed.
"Extra-system contact and exploration comes off different budget, one which we can get more funding for. So new allies could be assisted to improve their own space capability, and allow us to catch our breath. And Titania, Cerinia and Mobius are primary candidates."
Fox nodded again. "I see, I think…"
The Commandant interjected, "Feel free to explain. I want to see for myself that you can do more than score highly on tests."
"Well, Titania is obvious. It's the only planet within the system with a space-fleet that isn't a part of the LSA. The whole planet is one big desert, but somehow the Fennec thrive there. Only real export industry, Lichen mining. It's restricted, but valuable, since it won't grow off Titania, and it has applications in everything from closed cycle life support to bio-meds and pharmaceuticals. It gives them the money to support a fleet, and enough influence that the LSA can't really complain.
"The Fennec are a warrior race, big on honour, and touchy about what they see as theirs. No-one could get a kilogram of Lichen off the surface without their say so, and they have ships and hardware built on MacBeth to cover local space, including an armed orbital transfer station with several squadrons of fighter cover. Fleet strength, slightly less than Katina in hulls, but considerably less tonnage since they only run corvette and frigate class ships, no cruisers or heavies.
"That said, Sand Dagger frigates and Alephant corvettes are nastier customers than their mass suggests, as they don't mount military-grade hyper drives. That mass and power generation goes into weapons, shields and normal space drive. Plus they carry externally docked fighters. After all, their task is defensive coverage, in-system patrolling, and escorts for Lichen freighters.
"They are true neutrals with respect to the LSA, but at least some of our in-system fleet posture must be there to cover the possibility that some idiot will make a mistake and things turn nasty. Any planetary fleet could defeat them, but it'd take heavy losses. Those guys are tough, and punch well above their weight."
"So why would we want to help them expand their fleet?" asked Commandant Hardy.
"If you can move them towards an alliance, or even a mutual defence treaty, the picture changes. LSA fleet requirements drop, because that reserve against them turning hostile isn't needed, and more ships means they can patrol more of the in-system, which in turn frees up LSA light capital ships for extra-system duties. Lichen fees mean they can afford it, especially if the LSA can supply funding or discounts on hardware."
"You seem very trusting of their goodwill." It was clear the lioness was leading him, but he was happy to follow.
"My father has run Lichen freighter escorts, worked alongside Fennec units, even fought off a pirate attack on one convoy. I trust his analysis, and everything he's told me. What I could find out for myself confirms that while they are iconoclastic, and not particularly friendly to strangers, they are very loyal to those they see as friends, and if they make an agreement, they will stick to it, come solar flare or singularity."
The Commandant finally nodded approvingly. "A fair analysis. And the other two planets?"
"The strategic position is clear enough, if they were allies, and had their own fleets, they could cover large areas of the perimeter they're on, which would free up more units to cover closer in trade routes. As to how likely that is, while I know a bit about Mobius, all I have on Cerinia is what I know off the news-vids and holo-docs, so I'd just be guessing."
"So what do you know?" The lioness leader probed.
"We already have an 'in' with Mobius, because we helped them overthrow that lunatic dictator… my father's current deployment is escort and ground support for the LSA Marines, and I still find some of the things in his messages hard to believe. Robotisation? That implies nano-tech at a level that makes Lylatian prosthetics look like peg legs and eye patches. And what can only be described as super-powers?
"Before Robotnik… and I don't believe he was really a Precursor derived species, Mobius was a post-industrial society, tech and science level at least at Lylat standards, better in some ways, but the most biggest society on the planet was a monarchy, and not interested in expansion. I mean, they used balloons and propeller craft in places despite having the capability to build counter-grav flyers. And their population level, even before Robotnik, was less than Katina.
"Now, of course, with extra system contact, they're more interested in trade, and finding out about the universe beyond their own system. But from what I understand, they're still repairing the damage that Robotnik did to the planet, and even with Lylatian assistance, that's going to take time and effort. You'll need a convincing voice to move your plan up their list of priorities. Plus in their place, I'd think twice, or even three times before throwing in with another system they know so little about, no matter how helpful we've been."
Fox looked back at the holo of the red fox. "But if that's who I think it is, someone's lucked out. What that profile doesn't say is that he was born the day Robotnik took over, and spent his entire life in the camp of the most important group of Freedom Fighters, lead by the only surviving member of the royal family, and their greatest hero.
"He was effectively the adopted son of those two, though they aren't much older than I am. He wasn't just rear echelon either, for the last few years before the liberation; he was an active member, part of their special ops top team, and the one with his adoptive family in.
"Now, with King Sonic and Queen Sally on the throne, he's the Crown Prince in all but name, and a well respected freedom fighter in his own right. He's also a tech genius who was practically drooling over the chance to play with Lylat System hardware, and a skilled pilot…"
"You do seem to know a lot about him."
"My dad again. We may be so far away that direct hyper-com can't reach, but he sends me a lot of holo-mails." Fox grinned. "I guess it's only natural that he'd meet them, and what with him being a fox and a pilot… From what I understand, it was a lot less paperwork to let him explore the Great Fox than one of the LSA capital ships.
"My dad and Peppy gave him free run of the sims, and he spent quite a bit of time up to his tail in the guts of an Arwing. Apparently he quite impressed my dad, and anyone who can do that is worth further notice…" He paused for a moment. "You knew about this, that's one of the special considerations, isn't it?"
It was General Pepper that nodded. "Indeed it is, Cadet McCloud."
"And while I don't remember, I'd be unsurprised to find out that the clan that ran the ships my dad fought alongside would be Tsuk'Tadish." The general's expression was enough confirmation.
"Okay, so I have at least some basis of contact with those two, but the Cerinian, Krystal? All I really know is that Cerinia is giving a lot of double-dome types nervous breakdowns. Their tech tree is… weird, to say the least. Flying wooden sailing ships that somehow interact with an energy field that surrounds the planet, swords, steam engines and mechanical calculators alongside cold lighting, ceramics that we'd have trouble duplicating and energy crystals that literally grow on trees."
He shook his head. "Oh, and flying riding lizards. And let's not forget the fact that rather than being the occasional wild, and as far as I know, irreproducible wild talents, psychic powers seem to be common, and reliable. On the other hand, they do have a stable, worldwide government, and their unique talents could be valuable enough to buy a lot of space hardware."
"About the only thing I can see Krystal and I having in common, is we're both vulpines. In fact, now I come to think of it, the entire group is vulpine. If she's like the other two, she's interested in our world, our spaceships, is a warrior of some sort, and is connected to decision makers in her culture."
"Well done! I knew that I'd made the right choice when I picked you for this assignment!" exclaimed General Pepper.
Commandant Hardy was more reserved. "Hmmm… I have to agree that your analysis seems logical… however, that raises other questions, not for you, but for the general here. Sir, obviously you want these three to take back the most positive possible reports to their respective worlds, but are you expecting us to give them an easier time because of it?
"I despise favouritism and patronage, and in fact I wondered if that had something to do with the choice of Cadet McCloud, for what looks to be a high prestige assignment if he can pull it off."
She forestalled Fox's exclamation of denial with the addition. "Don't worry, Mr McCloud, you've demonstrated you're probably are the best available person for the job. From their records, they've met the entrance standards, but how rigorous was the testing, and what help did they get?"
General Pepper wasn't used to being on the receiving end of questions, but he understood the need. "We were looking out for suitable contacts, true, but in each case they got no more help than access to the necessary academic databases, and time to study. But if you're implying the examiners gave them a dumbed down tests… That would defeat the purpose of the exercise. They passed the physical and academic tests by themselves. They each got in on merit, and they know it."
Fox looked thoughtful, and the Commandant picked up on it. "Yes Mr McCloud?"
"Sorry ma'am, I was just thinking that it's just as well, at least for Cadet Sasi. That kind of assistance would be seen as an insult, saying you didn't think she was up to it. Considering the Fennec honour code... she might well have withdrawn, crashed the whole ship. Also, can I assume that this isn't the only scheme to make friends and influence planets that's going on? Or is that information beyond my pay grade?"
General Pepper frowned. "We have other tours and visitors exploring, it's true, but that doesn't make this any less important. However, do your best, and help them the ways you would any other group of trainees, and that should be enough. I have more detailed personnel files for you."
"Thank you sir, but no. If I'm going to do this the way I would for more usual groups, I don't intend to start out with more than the information I would have for them normally, their Academy records. If I can get access to databases on the planets… that would be a more useful resource."
The General nodded, "I'll see you receive the latest data. You accept the task as mentor then?"
"Contingent on the Commandant's approval, yes sir." Fox nodded and stood.
Commandant Hardy gave an answering nod. "You have it. Good luck, Mr McCloud. I shall make sure to keep a close watch on your progress. Your pad?"
Fox pulled his PDA from his pocket holster, and the small holo-display flashed into being over the flat palm sized box. The Commandant pressed some controls on a holo-interface that appeared over her desk, and the three student records compressed down to points of light, and flew off in his direction, disappearing as they reached the edge of the desk's holo-display, and appearing on the holo-display of Fox's handheld device.
"Thank you ma'am, General." Fox put his PDA away, and waited.
General Pepper added his own comment, with a slight smile. "Yes, good luck, Fox. I'm fairly sure you don't need it, but it can't hurt. Now, I'm sure we've given you a lot to think on, so…"
Commandant Hardy took the hint. "Yes. Dismissed."
Fox saluted, turned and left, both less and more worried than when he entered.
Authors Notes: This is some fluff I'm working on during lunch times at work. I don't know if I'm going to continue it, but I had enough for a solid chapter, so I'm throwing it out for inspection.
I've had enough of 'Fox goes to High school' fics, and decided to throw my own take on the idea into the ring. I've never seen a Fox McCloud story set during his time at Naval Academy, before his father died and he resigned to take over Star Fox. So I decided to see what I could do with it.
Partly inspired by Honor Harrington novels, specifically 'Saganami Island' stories, firstly I got wondering about the actual official Lylat system armed forces. The general impression I get from the games is that the Lylat system is balkanised, with each planet pretty much independent, and Corneria the most powerful. Certainly that would explain why General Pepper's fleet is the Cornerian Defence Force.
I've tweaked that a bit, the relationship is more a Federation, with a degree of planetary autonomy, but a combined System Council and space navy. I also decided to make it's reach more in line with a major interstellar power, with kilolight plus hyper drives, wouldn't they be colonising extra-system planets, or trading with inhabited ones? It also gives the breadth of setting to have trade routes, mercenary forces, pirates and such (once again inspired by Honor Harrington).
I also decided to make explicit something that was never really touched on in Cerinia Chronicles. I don't know if it's canon, but I've assumed species and home worlds, at least for the Lylat system. Canids (dogs, wolves and foxes) and leporids (rabbits) hail from Corneria, avians and felines are from Zoness, primates and lizards are from Fortuna, and amphibians are from Aquas.
Since the other worlds of the system are colonised or uninhabited, they don't have a species association. Except Katina, which is Canid because it was colonised before the formation of the Lylat System Alliance in my setting. Except for non-cannon Titania, which I'll get to later.
So given the setting, how to put my own spin on it? That's when it occurred to me that for a team called Star Fox, they didn't really have that many foxes. So how to introduce some? It went from there, Krystal of course, because I am a massive Fox/Krystal fan, Miles Prower (though this won't be the super-powered Training Tails version) because I am an equally big fan of his. But as in Bridge, I needed a fourth. Since I was already dragging in a non-Star fox character, I considered another.
I had considered Mimi Le Flou, the character from 'Bucky O Hare', but she's more a capital ship commander than a fighter jock, though considering the anaemic 'frigates' SPACE uses as a cap ships takes some doing. Talespin has foxes, but they tend to be archaeologists or minor characters. I finally decided to go with an OC.
Doing a version of Dune with Star Fox characters has been in the back of my mind for some time. Titania is an Arakis-equivalent; it even has giant gribblies (what I called Aleph-ants) the thing that grabbed Slippy's ship in Lylat Wars. So just add a Spice equivalent, Fennec foxes for Fremen, the House Dengar as baddies (Baron Harkonnen always reminded my of a pig, anyway), and Fox McCloud as Paul Atredies.
Peppy as a Mentat ('It is by my will alone I set my mind in motion, it is by the juice of the radish the thoughts acquire speed, the lips acquire stains, the stains become a warning, it is by my will alone I set my mind in motion!'), Falco as someone like Duncan Idaho… There's so much to play with… While I may never get round to it, the idea stuck, and I thought, why not? Hence Miss T'suk Tadish. If anyone else want to use the 'Star Fox – Dune' setting, feel free.
So, if this idea seems like it has promise, let me know. I am finally back on the next chapter of Cerinia Chronicles, but I'll put lunchtimes aside for this, if people are interested.