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The Swarm War

Chapter 12

"Boy do I have got one hell of a story for you." Varrus said while on the ground.

Three seconds later the video cut to black. "That's the end." Lupa said grabbing their attention. "So do any of you have questions?" While she was saying this the door to the mess opened and Varrus entered.

Varrus after finishing with his plan for the defense of New Arcadia went back down to the mess hall to check on his new crew members. He walked in while Lupa was apparently going over whatever they watched. He stood in the back waiting for them to finish what they were doing when he noticed something odd. For some reason they all started to stare at him when he walked in ignoring Lupa's last question.

Starting to feel uncomfortable with all the intense stares he stuffed to shuffle around where he was standing. "So...uh Lupa what's going on?"

"We just finished the video only a few minutes ago."

"Oh...well that's good" he said still uneasy.

Realizing that the others were staring Lupa quickly came to the rescue. Clearing her throat she got the attention of the group sitting down. "As I was saying if any of you have questions now would be the time to ask. Seeing as Varrus is here you can ask him."

Noticing that he had no idea which of the many of his mission logs they watched he tried to find out. "So Lupa which of the mission records did they watch?"

"They watched the one from last month."

"I did 5 missions last month Lupa."

"The one on...Aquincium." She said at last.

"Ohh.....that one" he said getting a little quite. Fox looked at his friends and tried to puzzle out what to say when he was saved by the man in question. "Well then what do you want to know?" Varrus said suddenly back to normal as he made way to sit down at their table.

Fox was the first to speak. "I have to know, why did you go alone?" He was sitting next to Peppy and Slippy.

"Well on the assignment before this one there was only one other Pretorian. He was my best friend Merric he...died." Varrus said sadly taking a moment before continuing. "So only I remained and that Fox was why I went alone."

Feeling a little bad for asking Fox said his tail laid motionless on the floor and ears flat on his head. "sorry I didn't know."

"Don't worry about it Fox how could you have known." Varrus said trying to cheer him up. "So don't feel bad he died saving people it's how he would have wanted to go."

"Okay Varrus I won't" Fox said returning to normal.

"So anyone else have questions to ask?"

Krystal responded "yes I do." She was sitting on the opposite side of him.

Turning to her Varrus said "alright then shoot."

"How did you manage to keep yourself together through all of that? I know I couldn't have done it."

"I have been fighting for a long time Krystal. I was fifteen when i was thrown into my first battle. At one point you learn that you just have to use your fear, your anger, and channel it into something useful. Sure I was terrified but I used that to help keep me alive. So my suggestion to you is to use your emotions don't let them use you."

Taking it to heart she nodded her tail lazily moving around. "Alright I will."

"Excellent anyone else?" He asked.

"Yeah I gotta ask something." Falco said. He was sitting right next to Varrus.

Krystal and Fox glared daggers at him silently warning him not to be like he usually is.

Ignoring them he continued. "You took some serious hits from what I saw and I just have to know, how did you survive?"

Taking a second to gather his thoughts Varrus replied. "You know the augmentation I told you about earlier my healing factor?"

"Yeah."

"Well you see it's allot stronger then you think. I mean I'll still die if the wounds are serious enough but it's enough to keep me going even after most grievous wounds."

"That's pretty cool!" Falco exclaimed.

"Well honestly it still hurts allot. So I try not to get stabbed which in my line of work can't be avoided." Varrus said humorously.

That got a laugh out of everyone. "So anyone else?"

This time it was Peppy who answered. "Tell me Varrus if you saw these things again would you fight them, could you?"

"Yes Peppy I could and would, it's my duty to defend my people no matter the cost. Since our two factions are going to form an alliance you guys will be my people too and I'll do everything in my power to protect you" he said seriously.

Startled that Varrus was adamant about his stance Slippy decided to join the conversation. "We are aliens you only just met. We don't even look like you. So why would you want to help us so easily?"

"You see Slippy it doesn't matter what you look like or who you are, because on the inside we are all still people."

Thinking on what Varrus just said he responded after a little while. "I think I understand what your saying." He said while slowly nodding his head.

Meanwhile Krystal started to feel strange inside she began to feel warmth emanating from her chest. She tried to find out why. It didn't take long for she figured it was after Varrus made his speech on why he would protect them and again when he made the comment on how he thought they all were people and this made her feel happy for some reason. She was fascinated by his personality he gave of a aura of strength and kindness that comforted her. She soon realized she liked being around him. She wanted to spend more time around him and get to know him better. She was brought out of her inner thought when she heard him talking once more.

"Is that all?" Varrus asked. They all nodded in response until Fox suddenly remembered something.

"Wait!" He exclaimed "we forgot to thank you for this food its amazing!" He said gesturing towards the empty plates the others soon voiced similar verdicts.

"Really?" Varrus said.

"Yeah it was awesome!" Slippy replied

"Well your welcome I do like cooking for people. I used to do it for my teammates all the time after a successful mission but when they...all died I kinda stopped." He said with a far off look in his eyes. After a few seconds he turned his attention back to them.

"Anyways now you have two options." He told them. "You can resume your exploration of the ship or rest in your quarters until we arrive at our destination. "I will warn you though the lights dim during the 'night' time on this ship which is in...about 3 hours." He said after looking at his wrist watch. "So try to be finished before that happens." He said as he got up from the table. "If you need anything that Lupa can't help you with or if you just wanna talk I will probably be in my cabin." With that he left the room.

After he left Fox tried to puzzle out what everyone wanted to do. "Alright team" He said "what do you wanna do?" Falco wanted to go back to the armory, Slippy said he would like to check out the engineering deck, Peppy was already leaving to go to the library, and Krystal decided to head back to her room. With that decided fox went to talk with Varrus a little bit more.

It took him a little while to get there but with help from Lupa he made it in a reasonable amount of time. Upon arriving at Varrus's cabin he knocked on the metal door with a dull thud. Within moments the door was opened to reveal the man he was looking for.

"How can I help you Fox?" He said while leaning on the doorframe.

"I just wanted to talk for a little bit as i has some questions to ask you."

"Okay come on in." Varrus said gesturing for Fox to come inside. Once inside He looked around the room as Varrus lead him over to a table near the kitchenette section of his quarters. As he sat down his eyes were drawn to a wall spanning mural depicting soldiers clad in the same type of armor as Varrus standing over a deserted battlefield. The soldiers armor was worn and damaged but some how the mural made it seem like they standing strong and unbroken.

Curious he felt the need to ask "what is that?" motioning towards the mural.

"That my friend was one of the better moments of my life." Varrus responded melancholic.

"What happened?"

"It was two years ago and my brothers and I had successfully rebuffed a major invasion force on one of our inner colonies from the parasite I think it was Verona, millions died during the siege." he said sadly. "Yet it showed that we could stop them, that they could be beaten. It gave us the hope we no longer had but needed. It was one of my proudest moments. Still your not here to listen to my past so I'll ask again what can I do for you?"

"I was wondering" Fox began he took a little while before continuing "if we could help you during the upcoming siege?"

"I told you already I can't risk you our your team they are too important. Not to mention we will probably all die." Varrus groaned frustratedly.

"Not if we help. I know that if we did we could beat them."

"I don't know." Varrus said uncertainly.

"Please Varrus I have to do something I've never stood on the sidelines before and I don't intend to start now." Fox pleaded.

"What happens if you or the others get hurt of even worse killed?"

"We won't." He said with conviction.

Varrus let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair his considerable bulk making it creak. "Your not gonna take no for an answer are you?"

"Nope!" Fox said with a grin on his muzzle.

"Ugh...fine you can help."

"Alright!" He said excitedly tail wagging rapidly.

"Under one condition."

"You name it."

"You have to do exactly what I tell you when I tell you if I say run you run. I tell you you can't go on a certain mission I don't want you to argue you got it?"

"Yes sir!" Fox said enthusiastically.

"Okay since your coming I will have to fill you in on the battle plan." He said as he pulled up a panel on his table and activated a holo map. "This is New Arcadia" he said as a monolithic city materialized on the display. "It's the only city on the planet other plans were scrapped because the population was too small to expand and it would be easier to protect. As you can see it is completely surrounded by massive defensive walls forged of titanium. The walls are a hundred feet high and artillery installation are situated all around with another wall at the heart of the city with a similar defense networkEach section of the wall has its own defense emplacements and guards."

"Sounds formidable." fox said in awe The planets in Lylat didn't have nearly anything like what these Terrans had.

"Yes well there are only about a few hundred thousand legionaries garrisoned in the city with a few armored divisions and a standard garrison of fighters and bombers."

"A few hundred thousand soldiers with tanks and aircraft!"

"Yes it's a relatively small number I'm afraid."

"Small that's more then the entire garrison on Katina!"

"We are going to have to fix that if we survive and make it back to lylatian space. Your planets are going to need a major defensive upgrade and were gonna have to up the recruitment drive.

"Whatever for?" Fox asked.

"I'm sorry to say but your current military strength will be inefficient in repelling any attempt made by the parasite to invade. But we are getting of subject here the point is we don't have enough men."

"Sound like enough." Fox muttered.

"I'm afraid not the enemy will have any between two and three million of their warrior class on the ground supported by large number of armored tank like creatures and a unknowable number of air units."

"That....is allot of bad guys."

"Not really that is a scout force for their army."

"Scout force!"

"Yes scout force."

"But that's huge!"

"A full invasion force can have anywhere from twenty to thirty million."

Fox felt a cold jolt of fear "is that how many are coming to Lylat?"

"Luckily not, only a medium sized invasion fleet was detected."

"Phew" Fox said rubbing his muzzle "I thought we were screwed so how many are in a medium sized invasion force?"

"Anywhere from ten to fifteen million."

Fox started to get worried. "That's still a ton of enemies."

"Yes but they will be spread out evenly among all the planets they are going to attack. That will work in our favor as each planet will only have to contend with a portion of the full force."

"For some reason that doesn't fill me with confidence." Fox sourly replied.

"Don't worry fox when we finish up here we will make haste back to your home and begin to plan a defense. I will do whatever I can to defend your home." He said reassuringly putting a hand on Fox's shoulder.

"Thanks Varrus that makes me feel allot better."

"Don't mention it. Plus we have plenty of time before they get there as they are still many months from even being close enough to be a tangible threat. Now what do you think you can do in this current siege that could be useful?"

"Well as you probably know we are all really good pilots but only Falco and I have any real ground combat experience besides Krystal I think."

"Well in the beginning I think that you and your team would be best utilized in the air before the enemy manage to breach the gate or a part of the wall assisting the air assets we have. After that you could wait at the command center until I can find somewhere you can still help but not be in terrible danger."

"Where would you suggest?" Fox wondered.

"I think that you guys could defend one of the civilian shelters if worst came to pass. I'll warn you the parasite is like nothing you've ever fought before you must be prepared. Before the real battle starts I will try to impart what knowledge I can."

"Alright sounds like a plan."

"Was that all you needed Fox?"

"Yeah Varrus I feel much better now that we won't just sit on our asses while you go off to fight." Fox said as they got up from the table.

"I know you wanted to help I was just concerned about your guys safety but since your so adamant about helping I will take what help I can." He said as he lead Fox to the door.

"Thanks for listening Varrus." The vulpine said as he left the room.

"Of course now I suggest you get your rest you will need it." The man replied as he moved to close his door.

"Well first I have to tell the team what I volunteered them for." Fox said under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Oh nothing just talking to myself." The vulpine said suspiciously.

"Ok then see you later Fox." With that the door closed and Fox made his way to find the members of his team. At the same time Falco was still absorbed in his perusing of the magnificent array of deadly weapons in Varrus vast arsenal. He was so preoccupied he didn't notice when Fox walked in a few minutes later. He attention was on a strange looking long barreled rifle.

"So whatcha looking at." Fox practically shouted in his friends ear. Falco jumped startled and looked back at fox menacingly .

"What the hell man!"

"Sorry I couldn't help it you were just so out of it I couldn't resist." Fox stuttered in between laughs.

"Yeah ha ha very fun." Falco replied sarcastically. "So changing the subject what are we going to do while mr. knight in shining armor saunters of to save the day.

"Well..." Fox began to say while rubbing the back of his headfur. "About that...I may have volunteered our services in helping save the 'day' so to speak."

"Honestly I'm not that surprised." Falco said surprising his friend.

"So...your not mad?"

"No not really I kinda knew we were going to help somehow it's in your nature Fox and from what I could see in that way you and him are allot alike." Falco said in a rare moment of wisdom. "Although you have to do me a favor.

" sure!" Fox exclaimed happy his friend was not upset. "anything!"

"I wanna be able to use that" he said directing their sight to the weapon he was studying intently earlier.

"Ugh" Fox groaned "what is with you and weapons?"

"Come on man help a brother out!"

"Fine, fine I'll see if I can ask him later." Fox said placatingly.

"Yes I get the big gun!" Falco enthusiastically shouted fist pumping.

"Calm down hot shot we haven't even asked him yet."

"It's alright I know he will say yes." Falco confidently replied.

"Yeah well if your done drooling over weapons you should get some sleep I still have to talk to the others and fill them in on the plan."

"I was not drooling!" He said indignantly.

"There some on your beak still."

"No there isn't I wiped it off already!"

"I know but you just admitted to it now." Fox replied smugly.

"Oh shut up." Falco muttered as he left the armory.

Fox was alone in he armory when he asked himself "now where can I find peppy." He muttered as he forgot where the old hare said he was going to be.

"You can find mr. Hare in the library" a familiar voice answered his question surprising him.

"Jeez Lupa you almost gave me a heart attack!" Fox frowned clutching his chest.

"I'm sorry Fox it was not my intention." She said politely

"It's fine just try not to be so sneaky and thanks for helping me." He replied still holding on to his chest.

"It's what I'm here for and thank you Fox for offering to help Varrus I worry about him and it makes me feel much better now that there are people who will watch out for him again." She said gratefully.

"Don't mention he seems like a stand up guy and I hope to one day call him a friend." He said shrugging off her thanks. "So think nothing of it." Soon afterwards he made his way to talk to peppy.

He found the old hare buried in a pile of books that from the looks of them were historical records from human history. "I though I'd find you nosing around old books." Fox said from the doorway.

"Yes you know me well Fox" he said distractedly still focusing on the current book he was captivated by.

"Anyways I came to tell y..."

"That you plan on helping out our new friend on his mission i know." He said cutting of the man who was practically his step son.

"Am I that easy to read?" Fox muttered grumpily.

"For me maybe but not the others" Peppy replied finally putting down his book and taking of his reading glasses. "I raised you Fox I know you better then you think."

"Yeah I know."

"So is that all you wanted to tell me?"

"Pretty much besides that you should probably get some rest before we leave."

"I thought i ordered you around mister." Peppy replied in a fake grumpy tone before shortly saying "I'm just messing around alright fox let me just wrap up here and il leave shortly."

"Ok Peppy now I guess I just have Slippy and Krystal left."

"Slippy actually already went to rest in his room. Something about amazing technology tiring him out or some such techno babble."

"Well I guess I can tell him when he wakes up. Fox said as he started to leave. That leaves Krystal then see you later peppy."

"See you later Fox." He said already back to reading his book. With a chuckle Fox made his way back to the cabins that they had been assigned. He arrived after a few minutes worth of walking down corridors this truly was a huge ship he thought to himself. He spied her door and made his way to it.

He went to Krystal's door and started to knock. "Coming." He heard a kind feminine voice call out. The door opened to reveal the vixen in question she must have just showered as her fur was slightly damp and she was in a bath robe that she must have brought aboard the ship. Her tail was distractedly weaving behind her fanning the air with its fluffy mass.

"Sorry if I'm intruding." Fox said upon seeing her state of dress. "If you wish I could come back later."

"Oh don't worry Fox." She said sweetly "come in" he entered her room and she gestured for him to sit on her bed. She was brushing her long silky hair when she began to talk. "So what do you need Fox?"

"Oh I don't need anything I was just coming to let you know that I managed to convince Varrus to let us help him."

"That's wonderful!" Krystal said doing a little twirl before giving a little blush when she realized what she did.

Fox smirked "so any particular reason your so happy and eager to help?"

"No!" She shouted a little to quickly.

"Sure." Fox replied knowingly "anyways I just wanted to make sure you were onboard with my plan and considering your actions I suppose you are." He said with a smile as he went to leave the room. Before he left Krystal asked him one last question.

"What do you think of Varrus?"

"I think that so far he has shown himself as a kind, caring, and honorable man." He replied looking back to her from the door.

"I think so to." She said almost dreamily.

"Get some sleep Krystal I'll see you in the morning." And with another smirk he left the room and went to his own. Heading to his own room he got ready for bed and climbed in once he was finished. Surprisingly the bed was very comfortable and he soon found himself drifting of to sleep. His last thought was that tomorrow was going to be a long day.