FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Diplomacy"

"Computer, status update."

"Full thrusters at fifty percent; hyper speed drive is unavailable. All-range-mode is currently unavailable due to a servo failure."

Wolf O'Donnell peered out the window of his cockpit into the ever-reaching vastness of space as he slowly passed through the eye of the nebula he had retreated into. He growled and tore off the visor that hindered his left eye and he sighed. His breath briefly fogging the glass. "Damn Star Fox." He said. "Him and his entire miserable crew need to be thrown into the pit of a black hole. "I've been floating in this pod for hours, lost all communication with my team and now I'm just waiting for my system to repair itself so I can return to Andross with my proverbial tail between my legs." He caught a growl in his throat. "Damn them! Computer, what is the estimated time of automatic repair?"

"Thirteen hours, forty-seven minutes"

"Son of a--" He hissed. "Estimated time to base return."

"At our current rate of speed, six years, nine months, twenty-seven days--"

"Enough! Just repair the fucking ship already."

"Acknowledged." A beeping noise filled the cabin for a moment. "Commander, long range sensors have detected a source of conductive metal that will improve our repair time by six hours."

Tapping onto the console. "How far to the source?"

"At our current rate of speed, we could reach the planet destination in one hour."

Wolf tapped his lower muzzle decisively. "Much better to have a five hour delay instead of a thirteen hour delay." He said. "Set course for the planet, but continue the repairs on the communications systems. If we could establish contact with the rest of the team--"

"Acknowledged."

The ship was already hot on the inside, environmental controls had been deactivated to facilitate repairs. He had already removed his flight jacket and was sitting drenched in sweat from the body heat of sitting in his cockpit for the past seven hours. The hope of a planet was positive, he could find someplace to wash up and cool off and knock a few hours off his repairs, he would do just fine.

As the nebula's blue glow trailed behind the ship as he passed through it and into another small galaxy. As the ship sailed past two planets, he peered down toward them, seeing faint hints of civilization in the form of satellites. He sighed through his nostrils. "They don't know anything about what happens up in the stars, do they?" He said.

"Please repeat your question, commander."

"I wasn't talking to you." He gave a sigh.

The ship reached a small blue and green colored planet and began its descent as Wolf buckled himself in. The turbulence was a bit hard on the ship when it couldn't enter all range mode for entering orbit. As the vessel hummed through the layer of clouds, it came over some forestry areas and like a streak across the sky, passed what looked to be settlements far below. Wolf often kept a discreet presence on unknown planets; he never know which ones had violent populations and which ones were more open minded, and he never took that chance. Guiding the ship to the edge of a large patch of jungle he'd spotted some large pools of water in, he disembarked and set up a few retrieval drones to find the metal to help repair his ship.

"Computer, I will keep my comms on me. Inform me when the ship is ready to go, though I should be back before repairs are completed."

"Acknowledged." It responded.

Wolf removed his shirt completely, wringing it dry before slapping it over the edge of his ship's wing and then made his way off into the jungle to freshen up.

Usagi had spotted the strange trails in the sky as he rode his horse along the countryside. Peering up at it, there appeared to be an object of some sort that shined against the light of the sun. Had it not been for his keen observation, this object may have gone completely unnoticed. "Hmm..." He pondered as he watched it fall from the sky at a controlled rate of speed and descend into the valley nearby. "Strange. There was no impact." He pondered. "Hah!" He kicked at his horse's sides in an attempt to increase her speed and investigate on his own. Normally he would have ignored it, but something like this did not happen every day.

The breeze was at his back, fluttering the rabbit's shitagi as he rode. He enjoyed the subtle breeze that made its way down his robe, but tightened his sash to decrease the flapping noises they made. His toes curled in the sandals he wore as they rolled forward in the stirrups as if he were trying to increase the speed at which he was travelling. He could hear the clanking of his katana in their sheaths attached to his saddle, the longer his horse rode, the more worried he became at this object.

As he came down the hill and into the valley, the object glinted off the sun, causing him to spot it immediately. Slowly, he dismounted his steed and approached it. It was a craft of some sort; as Usagi approached it, he could hear it humming and whirring. "What... is this thing?" He said to himself.

"Type: Arwing - Wolfen Class Fighter." The sudden voice made Usagi bound backwards ten feet as it spoke. "Current authorized pilot O'Donnell, Wolf; also known by the moniker Star Wolf. Do not approach, security measures enabled."

There was a clicking noise and Usagi spotted three gun-type ports open and one firing a red beam of light, which struck the ground only inches in front of the rabbit. "What is your purpose here?"

"Instigating repairs following battle." It responded. Usagi realized that it was not a person he was speaking to, but a machine of some sort.

"I do not wish you any harm." He spoke kindly. "But I do wish you to leave."

"Unable to comply. Pilot not present. Repairs have not yet been completed."

"Then I will speak with your master." Usagi said, sheathing his sword. "Where is he?"

There was a series of clicks and beeps that followed the samurai's question. "Location; northwest; distance, two point seven kilometers."

"Very well then." Usagi, never one to forget his manners bowed to the strange vessel. "Thank you." He said.

"Acknowledged." The vessel responded as the weapon ports then closed again, and the machine went back to its previous clicking noises.

Usagi made his way on foot from there, choosing to temporarily leave his horse behind. If this Wolf proved to be difficult; or a threat, then Usagi dared not to approach too loudly. As he clutched his katana under his hand, the rabbit darted into the woods, lowering his head to improve his speed and leave no sound but the sound of flapping wind against his clothing. Even as he came across a log fallen across the path in front of him, he bounced into the air, leaped off the trunk of it and somersaulted forward without making any sound. He was swift as the wind and well disciplined in his art. If this Wolf were any threat, he would take him out quickly.

A scent entered Usagi's nose that caused him to come to an abrupt halt. He quickly ducked and slipped into the foliage that surrounded the small lake he'd come upon and his ears picked up the sound of something splashing near the waterfall. Slowly, Usagi approached the break in the leaves and peered out toward the water. What he saw surprised him greatly...