Secrets on Fichina
In the demo for Star Fox 2026 we get to play through Meteo. This level has two endings. One of which leads into Fichina, and the other which could lead to either Katina or Fichina. Each ending has a different cutscene.
In the first ending - where you face and defeat the Meteo Rock Crusher - General Pepper contacts the team and asks them to assist the Fichina base. He vanishes and Peppy and Falco say the following:
Fox and General Pepper then have this exchange:
Which okay, that gives us a reason for Venom to attack Fichina. A reason for this random base in the middle of nowhere to draw Andross' attention.
In the second ending to Meto, however, where we take the warp zone, Star Fox is given the option to either go and rescue Katina or Fichina. To help Fox make his decision, Peppy says the following about Fichina:
In this cutscene, when asked about why Andross would want to go after Fichina all Pepper says is this:
In the second version, Pepper leaves the choice of whether to save Katina or Fichina up to Star Fox. Which implies the intelligence base on Fichina is just as important as the Katinia Frontline Base.
It still begs the question though, what secrets is Pepper keeping? Just what information does that base hold? Given Star Fox's history, I suspect it has something to do with the reason of Andross' exile. Perhaps the reason James was the only one Pepper could trust to go to Venom.
I really hope this is a hint at us seeing another take on the Black Hole backstory for Andross and James. Or the teleporter from Zero if they choose to go that way. Maybe it's a new backstory entirely.
Or maybe this is all just a reason for Venom to attack Fichina and nothing more. We'll find out, I guess.
