FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

I work my way out of the cave to see an incredibly beautiful valley with strong trees darting across it with some stone structures marking the land, among the land are dinosaurs, but they aren't SharpClaw, they are larger and quad-legged, their backs have boney bumps that turn to spikes on their tail and their mouths are beak-like as they feed on grass. None the less I enter the valley with caution however I relax my sword as I don't want to spook anyone.

I hear "An off-worlder?", I look to see what looks like an orange protoceratops with blue-eyes with a golden 'crown' that has a huge red jewel on the forehead with two triceratops at either side of him wearing primitive iron armor on their backs.

I think 'A dino that can speak english? At least that makes it easier.', I say "I am Adam, I'm a human and a member of the Star Fox team." as I wipe the dirt covering the Star Fox symbol off.

The royal dino says "I'm King Tricky, the leader of the Earthwalker tribe. It's a good thing Star Fox is here, things have gotten out of control, come let's head to the cave, I'll explain everything to you in there."

Tricky leads me to a massive cave on the other side of the valley where he informs me of what has happened on this world. The Sharp Claw had somehow rolled out a new array of weapons and tech on a much larger scale, re-conquering most of the world and launching a blood lust crusade into the void, with several factories and outposts coming to form, each one lead by a formidable commander. So we don't know if they are being supplied or if they have invented the tech on their own terms, but one thing is clear, the war machine needs to be broken down and fast.

Tricky says "With Scales return, he has reunited the scattered tribe with relative ease, but he hasn't appeared since very recently and no one knows where he's been since the previous take over."

I say "This won't be easy, not on my end anyway. My comm is dead and I only have my sword, but I'll do my best."

Tricky says "If Fox taught me anything, hope is always there, even in the darkest of times. I know you'll find a way, he did add you to his team after all.", he nods to a nearby guard who brings over an old backpack made out of what looks to be canvas and he says "Fox left a few things when he first saved our world, I'm sure you can put it to good use."

I say "Thank you King Tricky, I appreciate the help." as I start to open up the backpack.

The contents inside are a stack of maps organized into a book, a pair of advanced goggles and what looks to be flint rocks.

Tricky says "I know it's not much hopefully it's enough of a start." with a light smile.

I say "Thanks King Tricky, I'll put it to good use. But what Intel do you have the nearby enemy forces?"

Tricky says "They haven't attacked this area yet, but I'm afraid that that's coming soon. The nearest factory and out post is at Ice Mountain."

I say "Then I'll start there."

Tricky says "Good luck Adam." with a hopeful smile.

I leave the cave with my new supplies, but I know for a fact I won't get far with only a sword and I don't have any winter gear. I decide to try to get my comms working again, I do my best to make a fire place and after fiddling around with the rocks by scrapping them I eventually get a fire to start and begin drying off the comm unit, trying to open a link.

After what feels like hours I hear "Adam? Are you there?"

I say "Fox? It's good to hear your voice." with a smile.

Fox says "Adam?! Thank goodness, we've been trying to reach you for a while now. Where are you?"

I say "I'm in Thorntail Hollow, I even met up with your friend Tricky, he gave me the stuff you left behind, said it could be useful."

Fox sighs in relief and he says "Are you ready for extraction?"

I say "Negative, I think we can use this to our advantage."

Fox says "How so?"

I say "I got washed away pretty good, so the enemy might think I'm dead, maybe I can work behind enemy lines, tip the odds in our favor."

Fox pauses and he says "Adam, that's a good idea but that's a suicide mission."

I say "If I keep a stealth approach it shouldn't be a problem, but I don't have any ranged weapons."

Fox says "I'll see what I can do, let us know if you want us to pull you out or if things get too thick."

I say "I'll definitely keep that in mind."

Krystal chimes in "Hon, don't be reckless."

I say "I'll be fine, I just need to figure out the terrain and get my barrings."

I look up to see a shooting star, but it comes towards the ground and lands, it's a container with emblems of the U.C.R. marking it's hull. I open it to find a hunting compound bow, 30 arrows, 1 weeks worth of rations, a canteen, a flare gun with 3 flares, a combat knife and a poncho.

I think 'A bow? That's something I haven't even held, much less used!', I sigh and I think 'Well, adapt or die I guess.'

After reading over the manual for the bow and getting it set up, I begin to make my way towards Ice Mountain, my bow at the ready. I make my way to a ladder, I climb up it and enter a cave which seems to be abandoned as all I see are cobwebs and unlit torches, I do come to something interesting, there's a water system of some sort but it isn't working and the water itself looks to have been here a good while.

I sigh as I think 'More swimming, great.' and I jump into the water which is somewhat warm surprisingly and I swim around a platform to the other side and climb a ladder.

After a few more minutes of walking I exit the cave to see I'm on Ice Mountain or at the very least at the foot of it, the mountain itself looks to have been converted to an extent as there are structures built on it, it looks like someone took a base and a factory, gutted the mountain itself and placed both upon it, aircraft are circling overhead, but they don't look like jets, they look like twin-rotar gyrocopters but other then that I cant see any other details about them.

I activate the goggles and open my comms "Peppy, do you read me?"

Peppy says "Adam, what's the situation?"

I look over the structure and I say "I've got what looks like a factory that's locked down tighter then Fort Knox and I need a way in."

Peppy says "Hmm, the scanner is picking up a possible entrance, it looks to be part of a cooling system."

I say "Where?" as I look to the icey water.

Peppy says "It's in the tunnel you just exited."

I look behind me as I remove the goggles, it dawns on me and I say "Peppy, that means it's deep underwater and I can't hold my breath that long."

Peppy says "The only other one is up the mountain side."

I look up the mountain, I use my goggles and spot what looks like a conveyor... but there are patrols.

I say "Are those the only two ways you can see Peppy?"

Peppy says "Sorry Adam, but that's all I can uncover."

I sigh as I make my choice.... after about two hours of moving around I'm on the mountain climbing and I think 'After this, I'm going on vacation!' as the snow batters against me.

.....

On board the Great Fox, Miyu is cleaning her submachine gun in the armory, preparing to join the next wave.

Katt enters the room and she says "Fancy seeing you Miyu." with a witty smile.

Miyu says "Katt? It's been awhile." returning with a smile.

Katt says "Indeed it has, I volunteered to join the operation. The dinos wont know what hit em." as she taps her shotgun.

Miyu assembles her weapon and she says "Not gonna lie, the first wave took heavy losses but we do have a foothold, my brother helped see to that."

Katt says "Speaking of which, Adam checked in not that long ago."

Miyu says "Is he okay? Does he need extraction?!" instantly becoming determined.

Katt says "He's fine, he's launching his own covert operation."

Miyu says "But, Adam doesn't have any training in that field." with a raised eyebrow.

Katt says "Maybe, but we know he is a bit of an opportunist. I'm sure he'll be fine." as she fine tunes her suit.

The two felines leave the armory and head for the hanger, their craft are armed and ready to perform air support routines. Fay is up ahead, performing final flight checks on her arwing interceptor.

Miyu says "Our craft should be able to deliver a strafing run that'll shake them up enough to where we can gain some ground."

Katt says "Maybe, but something has my fur standing on end."

Miyu says "And what's that?"

Katt says "How did the Sharp Claw gain their new technology?"

......

I get to a rough slope and pull out my goggles, a few coptors are floating around and there looks to be an entrance but it's guarded but a dino of great size and adorned in bronze.

I sigh as I think 'What I'd give for a rifle right now!', I ready my bow and start to make my way towards the entrance.

I have an arrow aligned with the bow, trying to use sights I don't understand, I release the arrow which misses the dino and hits the wall behind him, instantly getting his attention..I duck instantly, I slowly get another arrow, I peak just over the snow, the dino is looking around with a raised halberd, I ready the arrow and launch it, the arrow does hit him but it strikes and deflects off his chest plate, he looks my way and roars as he charges.

I think 'Damn, I should've practiced first!' as I quickly grab another arrow, I look at the bow and I see what looks to be a notch, I place the arrow on it and I notice it's lining up with sights better, I aim for the creatures head and he's almost on top of me, I release the arrow which strikes him near his collar bone but he doesn't seem phased at all.

I leap from my position as he brings his halberd down, I quickly toss the bow and ready my sword, the dino makes ready to charge as I look over the creature, trying to see any sign of his muscles moving. The dino roars as I choose to charge, I may not be use to fighting in the snow but it's better then trying to use a bow with no real training, I do have my side arm which did dry but I'm not sure if I can trust it.

Our blades graze eachother, forcing sparks to fly as I try to force him back, I impale his leg but he hits me with his tail, I roll to avoid his weapon, I get back up and block a swipe from the halberd but he delivers quite a punch to my torso, sending me flying back by about eight feet. Even with the suits shock absorbent gel, I can feel my flesh being bruised from the impact, I look to see the out most layer is cracked... such primal power.

I decide to cop out and pull out my side arm catching the dino by surprise, I pull the trigger but instead of an anti-armor energy shot my weapons explodes in sparks and flame. The dino laughs as I put my destroyed weapon away and I brace myself for the attack. The dino comes charging at me, I decide to gamble and slide forward with a gliding jump, I spin and thrust up... I miss his torso but I hit his tail. The dino roars in pain as I get up, I swing which misses his core but clips his right elbow, causing it to go limp as the bone becomes splintered instantly. I smirk as I expect him to surrender as I see him drop his weapon, but instead he growls as he haunches himself, he lunges at me but I quickly bring my sword up which impales his neck, I quickly pull my weapon out as I get out of the way of the falling creature. I look him over and he's dead but now I know this will be a war of attrition and to the very end.

Up until now, I've mostly fought my enemies head on and with firearms and energy weapons with fairly no close combat if I can help it. But it has officially clicked in, fighting the Sharp Claw will be nothing like fighting the Venom's. Fighting the dinos would require a more stealth based approach and skills that'll take time to master.

I look to the factory as I pick up my bow, I think 'Time to improvise I guess.' and I make my way inside.

I can feel my nerves fire as I stalk through the shadows, trying to make as little noise as possible. If I have to be honest, it was blind luck I defeated that dino, but from what I've seen the Sharpe Claw prefer to attack in at least small groups... can I hold my own against such odds? And with no real firearms, there is no way I hold my own if any of them are armed with slug throwers.

After walking for a few mere minutes, I can feel the raw heat already, the thundering roars of a thousand hammers and loud hisses of steam creep in. I leave the cave to see the factory set, looking down it looks like the dinos have excavated the interior but left just enough to build the machinery on top of it. Huge smelters melting ore, molds filled with molten metal and carried off to be fashioned into tools of war, a few belts have firearms, one has what looks like half finished armored vehicles and a vertical belt is bringing aircraft parts up for assembly. Dinos that the Sharp Claw have captured are pulling and pushing heavy rocks and crates of finished parts with a pit having been filled with bones.

I think 'Incredible...' in awe at the sight.

I start to look for a way to cripple this factory, but it's all dispersed and not all that interlocked.

I think 'Fox did operations here, maybe he would know.', I open my comm and I say "Fox, are you there?"

I hear Fox "Adam? What's going on?"

I say "I'm in one of enemies factories, any idea how I can put a dent in thing?"

Fox says "I did go through one once, the factories the Sharp Claw use disperse towards the top but they all converge to a few points at the bottom. Slippy examined them after they were overthrown and they rely on high presser from steam and heat that they pull from a lava pocket that's somewhat close to the surface."

I say "So if I can cause a build up or overrun... it should bring this place to a crashing halt."

Fox says "Be careful, the explosive force will be focused in there, meaning you'll only have minutes at most before the explosion."

I think and I say "Not enough time to evacuate anyone."

Fox says "I hate to say it, but they died the moment the Sharp Claw put them to work."

I sigh and I say "I don't like it but I guess there's no other option."

Fox says "One more thing, the core will be protected by some of their elite forces, so expect heavy resistance."

I say "Copy that, thanks Fox, resuming radio silence."

Fox says "Good luck."

I start to move down and just the sheer size of this place going down is insane, there's no way I could climb back up in a matter of minutes and with the short fuse that I'm going to be dealing with, I'm going to have to find a way to extend the fuse. I get to the bottom level and the sheer heat is overwhelming, massive pipes and heat sinks are tied into what look to be an advanced steam engine with these turbines of constant water flowing through this pipe that goes through it and circulates, acting as a form of liquid coolant system.

The equipment is certainly dense and nothing I have will do anything to it, I decide to look around, avoiding these hulking dinos that aren't wearing any armor and they are armed with two handed wooden hammers, more then likely to not overheat and get burned just from conducting metals. Open pockets of lava are giving the area some decent light and the pipes are scorching hot as I can feel the heat from a few feet away, I look up at the water turbines and make my way up to one of them.

There's an electric box with switches and wires, it looks like the switches need constant re-calibration as they look to have seen a lot of use. I look at the bottom of the box and there is this pipe which is where I think the wires are located. I pull out my vibrosword and slowly cut through the pipe, sending sparks out and the turbine nearby starts to slow down, I make my way to the other turbine and do the same thing to the box there, I move a little further down and cut a small gash in the bottom of the pipe, water starts escaping into a dug out cavern and it's clear that the sabotage is done as light steam starts to escape as well.

I think 'Time to go!' and start to climb the wall.

I get to the top of the ridge and I feel something grab my neck, I get lifted up and I see it's Scales.

Scales says "0ei uwuad? Xen daso, A sud ijo u jdusb!" with a crooked smile.

I say "U0o, nxuk xulo 0ei rood if ke caquht rhoukx?" as I struggle to breath.

Scales laughs and he says "Roadw ed kxo vhedk, jooadw kxo odom0 tao uj kxo0 uffheusx kxoah teem aj ucnu0j jemokxadw ke joo. 0ei'ho badt uho fohjajkudk, A'cc walo 0ei kxuk. Rik 0ei sud'k boof kxaj if veholoh!"

I say "Zijk cedw odeiwx veh 0ei ke ceejo!" with a grin.

Scales shoves me into a nearby growl and he says "A'm weadw ke odze0 voujkadw ed 0eih vcoujx, uvkoh A'm tedo rhoubadw 0eih jfahak!"

An alarm begins to sound and I say "Vuskehaoj weadw ke rcen Scales, scesb aj kasbadw!"

Scales orders the Sharp Claw to evacuate and he gets me onto a twin rotar copter that resembles a crude chinook. We flee and soon the mountain explodes in a deafening boom.

I start to laugh and say "Fen, hawxk ad kxo bajjoh!" as I keep on laughing in victory.

Scales comes over to me and he says "e 0ei vadt kxaj... VIDD0!"

Suddenly I feel this pain going through my chest and out my back, I look down to see a sword through and it's serrated.

Scales says "Vehwok kxo voujk, A'cc cok 0ei jivvoh umedw kxo jsulodwohj. Ak nuj adkohojkadw, rik den ak'j kamo veh 0ei ke we!"

He holds me near the rear door, he kicks me and I go flying out the door and I crash onto the different branches until I land on the ground. I look to my wound, the hole is huge and blood is pooling around me... and I thought having my eye gouged out was painful, this pain was too much and I know I'm not going to make it.

Here I am, dying as I try to breath slowly and I slowly start to think of the others as tears start to form, Fox, Falco, Slippy, Peppy, Miyu, Fay, Katt, all of them with Krystal being the one I tear up the most over. I try to get up but I can't, I've lost too much blood and I have no strength left.

I gather my breath and I say with the last breath I can manage "I... I'm not gonna die yet! I want to live.... I WANT TO.... LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVVVVE!" as the jewel on my necklace grows bright and intense.

My head finally collapses on the ground as the sunlight starts to fade from my eyes closing. I suddenly hear some pattering around, I hear quick breathing as if I was being smelled and call me crazy but I feel like I'm being licked on my face... tasting me huh?

To be continued...