Headscratchers / Star Fox: Assault

• Why did General Pepper's look change so much?
  • He was supposed to be really old, hence his wrinkly look.
• It's mentioned that an Aparoid entered the Lylat system about 17 years ago. So why are they attacking in the present? Why did they not launch a full scale attack back then? Why wait 17 years?
  • It could be that the scouting force relayed info to the main force that Lylat was on the verge of civil war, and the Aparoid Queen decided to hold off on engaging until both forces were worn down to pick off the winner.
    • Even then, they waited at least eight years after said war ended, the losers were on their last legs with incompetent Andrew leading due to nepotism, and their attack finished off the last of Andrew's forces anyway. They could have approached Andrew during that eight-year period, built up their forces, launched their offensive while Star Fox was messing around on Sauria, and they'd have won. Granted, we wouldn't have a game, but it would still have allowed the eight-year gap to make sense. Alternately, the scout could have been discovered recently instead of 17 years ago.