ACT 09- SACRIFICE, Many die in war regardless of their thoughts on the matter. Most die against their will in the face of their enemy, but a small few will give up their lives willingly for a supposed greater purpose, or perhaps they’re just doing it out of spite when their world begins to crumble around them, like a last gasp of defiance.

Author’s Commentary
I included Bill to add another familiar face that readers would recognize, as well as appreciate. I was very deliberate in stating that the Cornerian 5th fleet came from Katina, which in this AU, is where Bill is stationed both during Star Fox Adventures and of course during the Lylat War. Since Katina sent their fleet to assist on Sauria, it made sense that Bill would be there with the Husky squadron.

I'm also a fan of Mobile Suit Gundam and wanted Arwings to face off against veteran mech pilots. It's rare that Fox & Co. get to square off with others ace pilots that aren’t the Star Wolf Team. I wanted a change of pace and write that the Empire had its own homegrown aces in their ranks.

This also allowed me a chance to reuse Sergeant Mire so he wouldn't become a one-off throwaway character in the narrative. Having more faces representing the antagonists also allowed me to offer more views of the battlefield and gives the reader a better idea of who the villains are that the heroes are fighting. Less focus was put onto Fox and Krystal in this chapter by design. The final battle is more than just Fox McCloud and the teenage girl sitting in his lap. I felt it appropriate to show more of the action happening elsewhere in the story from other viewpoints. This was a good opportunity to show the rest of the Star Fox Team having their own battles.

The reader now gets to experience the Grand Gambit firing its main gun directly. A terrifying weapon, isn't it? Even if reinforcements were to arrive, what's stopping Scales from simply blowing them out of the sky as soon as they arrive?

Glossary
Shogun – Shoguns are a bipedal robot enemy that appeared in only one mission in Star Fox 64, at Sector Y.