This story is set directly after the events in Star Fox: The search for the Star Fox team.

This first part of the story contains a portion from the first part of the Mantia trilogy

"It's not moving as fast as before," said Peppy on the Great Fox's bridge.

            "So it is," said James.  Mantia who was ahead of them was limping along the sky as it headed towards a large canyon rock quarry.  Then it dropped from the sky and slammed into the large canyon crevice.  Pigma swung the targeting sight to directly on top of Mantia and was ready to pull the trigger.

            "Permission to fire," said Pigma.

            "Negative," said James.

            "Why not?" asked Peppy.

            "It doesn't deserve to die this way," said James.  He took the targeting sight and aimed it at the top of the canyon.  He pressed the button and the lasers fired on the top causing a landslide, which then buried Mantia.

            "And that's the end of that," said James. 

But it wasn't the end of Mantia.  It was only the beginning because Mantia would come back and sooner than anyone would think.

Several year later: The victorious forces of the Cornerian Army returned from defeating Star Wolf and his large battlefleet.  The Great Fox lead the wave of fighters towards the large party being held in the capital city.

            The Great Fox rec-room: The team was sitting in chairs thinking of the battle that had just been won.  In the background the T.V. was on showing the victory celebration: "It'll be nice to have some peace and quiet for once.  What are you going to do Slippy during your vacation?" asked Fox.  Slippy shrugged his shoulders.

            "I know where I'm going.  I'm going to a martial arts tournament," said Falco.

            "Less talking, more partying," said Fox as the team filed out of their rec-room on board the Great Fox.  Behind them the T.V. in the room hadn't been turned off so it still displayed the news.

            "In other news, some ancient remains have been discovered in a large canyon next to the old Jacobson quarry.  There has been a rock slide nearby and scientists are currently removing the rocks to see if there are more relics.  The work has to go slowly due to the fact that there have been several Venomian bombs that never detonated when they were launched and could potentially explode at a moment's notice," said the newscaster.

            Rock slide near Jacobson quarry: "What's our progress?" asked the project head leader.  In the background were several cranes lifting the large rocks and moving them to ground level above the canyon.

            "We're making medium progress.  But that's still not why I called you here," said the consultant.

            "Why then?" asked the project leader.  The consultant rolled out a map showing the canyons and the rock layers.

            "According to our scans.  The rock level doesn't reach to the bottom of the canyon.  Something is stuck between the rocks and the ground," said the consultant.  The project leader was considering this when a worker ran to them.

            "We've just hit a major snag!  Come with me," said the worker running off back to the diggings.  The consultant and the project leader both ran after him.  When they got to the digging area there was an orb stuck between some rocks.

            "That isn't what I think it is.  Is it?" asked the leader.  The worker nodded his head.

            "That is a Venomian bomb, specifically a model 12-17.  That has a blast radius of twelve kilometers," said the resident bomb specialist.

            "Run!" yelled one of the workers.  Instantly all of the workers jumped in their vehicles and drove away.

            "Call the bomb squad," said the consultant.

            3 hrs. later, Great Fox: The Star Fox team were laying around the rec-room all tired from the hearty partying.

            "That was great!" said Fox.

            "Yeah," agreed Slippy.  Peppy rolled over on his side and accidentally hit the volume button on the T.V. remote.

            "IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT A VENOMIAN BOMB HAS BEEN DISCOVERED INSIDE THE ROCK QUARRY," said the T.V. very loudly.

            "Shut it off!" yelled Falco.  Peppy was about to turn it off when he noticed the rock slide and the implications it presented.

            "Oh, no!" yelled Peppy who then ran down out of the room and then went to the vehicle bay.  The rest of the team ran after him.

            "Quick get in!" yelled Peppy as he jumped into a hovercar.  The team jumped in as well as Peppy slammed on the gas and the car zoomed off out of the bay and took off along the grass to the city streets leading to the quarry.

            "Peppy, what has gotten over you.  It's only a bomb.  Maybe some equipment might be destroyed but there's nothing to be worried about," said Fox.

            "You're right, it may be nothing, but if what happens, happens, we're all doomed," said Peppy.

            "Why didn't we use our fighters?" asked Falco.

            "Because they and the Great Fox are being refueled," said Slippy.  Peppy drove off with grim determination to reach the site before the bomb quite possible exploded.

            Canyon: The bomb squad was working double-time attempting to defuse the bomb while the consultant and the project leader watched on nervously.

            "What's taking so long?" asked the leader impatiently.

            "It's not like taking apart a bike!  If we do this too quickly we can kiss ourselves goodbye as we're blown to pieces that would take years to collect," said the bomb manager.

            "Okay, okay," said the leader backing off.  Instantly a clicking noise was heard.  A large dial read on the bomb: 3…2…1 and then the bomb exploded.  The last thing the leader saw was a large body underneath the rocks and that one of the creature's eyes was opening.

            Several kilometers away the team inside the Star Fox hovercar saw the large explosion and the shockwaves expanding outward towards the hovercar. 

"Hold on!" yelled Fox as the car was flung backwards for a few feet.  The team emerged from the car just as a loud roar was heard.

            "No, no!  It can't be!" exclaimed Peppy.

            "What, what is it?" asked Fox.  Out of the canyon a large manta ray emerged and flew off into emerging sunrise.

            "Mantia," was all Peppy said as he passed out watching the beast fly away.