Chapter 1
My name is Jekkal-Corlen-Fahlo.
Most of the Animorphs will tell you about what is happening with the Invasion of Earth. I plan to tell what has. Before I was on the GalaxyTree. Before the integration laws. Before so long ago. In a place few know... or knew.
I was inlisted in the FAAS (Female Andalite Armed Squadron), as a medical officer. I had complete training. I was generally not seen on the bridge so often, but in the dome, where I would sometimes do a Kafit bird morph, and fly, or simply run around on the surface. Otherwise I would be in sick bay.
The FAAS was a tiny division of the army. Very tiny. It had only one dome ship, the WarBlossom, which was terribly big considering the troops. About one hundered Andalites, total, made up the division. And even then, we were not the elite. Just a small group to help on back missions. I found it terribly unfair. But I couldn't complain, or I'd be thrown out of the military. I did want to fight.
Lately, Captain Selain and the War-princesses on the ship started to change that image by making us the top forces. She thought that if they could see how much better the FAAS was they thought, they may allow more to join. However, that meant more practice in the simulator, and tail fighting in the dome. We had just landed at the spaceport, giving a performance that amazed the crowd. I was in a sparring competition, doing quite well. We were waiting for results. Selain was in a council, bargaining for our tiny division.
WHAT?
That's what they told me. They said our show was good, and so on, but they aren't going to change anything.
Not even the missions?
Especially the missions. They say we're stil too 'emotional and unprepared the true horrors of war'.
These are the horrors! Why are we even in the military if we aren't going to fight? She gave me a puzzling look. We left the spaceport the next day, and we all had the same attitude about it.
About time!
Get me out of here!
Who needs Yeerks when that bigamist Electorate is around?
That's a little too far, isn't it?
I've never even seen a Controller. How am I supposed to know?
Enough! I screamed. Okay, so the plan was a good as dung. Okay, so the trip stunk. Okay, so now we think the Electorate is nothing more than a bunch of high powered ----. Can we shut up about it? No one say anything about this until we get back to Z-space.
It was a quiet trip.
Chapter 2
The atmosphere inside the ship was no longer of sweat and hard work, but of anger that made fur stand on end. Everyone was in a sour mood. I don't even know why we try. No matter what we do, no matter how hard we try, it doesn't change one bit what they think of us. Selain cried.
You're the leader of this division. Can't you at least decide what we do? I asked.
Your'e wrong, Jekkal. I'm just a captain. The leader doesn't even board this ship. HE doesn't even... wait! That's it! If they don't find out...
And if they do, we'll have blades to our necks!
Trust me, they won't. That night, inside the dome, a council was held. Everybody, including the two small arisths, Calli-Terrouss-Aquan and Melis-Serin-Lera, was there. On that night, we considered ourselves no longer under Andalite home world command. We were going to be run like a normal dome ship, treated like a normal dome ship, and ruled like a normal dome ship.
We decided to re-enter normal space around The Ssstram home world. I was advised by Selain herself to send a scout ship out with Calli and Melis.
Don't go too fast for them. An aristh is an aristh. she said, chuckling at her own wit. I laughed too.
We were all in the small ship, scanning for anything that may indecate Yeerk forces, when it showed up.
A ship, coming out of Z-space. Too small for a mother ship, but too big for a fighter.
A blade ship.
Chapter 3
It was the only one that had entered, so I figured it was not too much of an ordeal. After all, the Ssstram home world was already conqured, so probably, it was only a visit.
Probably was wrong.
A dracon beam seared the main engine, making us unable to move, only turn. It was with such accuracy and precision, I wondered, What would make them do that ?
Jekkal, what happened? Selain boomed through the intercom
A fighter, coming from the blade ship, inched closer and closer to our craft. It connected with us, yet I still hadn't opened the door.
It opened on its own. Three Hork-bajir, armed with their own dracon beams, stepped inside.
Jekkal, answer me! What happ- Selain cried again. The lead slammed his fist into the system, shutting off the intercom. The arisths had no training (or not enough,) at tail fighting, and the cramped quarters made it impossible for me to try anyway. I had no choice but to accept defeat and be taken.
The Hork Bajir worked quickly, shackling my hands and sheathing the blades in zelonite, a rare material that is too hard for blades to cut, but is thin enough to be used as fabric. Helpless, they led us down into a ramonite box in their fighter, carrying us towards the blade ship.
It only took a few minutes to connect with it, but they felt like a few years to me, being hurtled to oncoming doom.
I was manhandled down to the battle bridge and thrown to the the ground, stopping at the hooves of the visser.
Yes, hooves. Out of all the Controllers in the galaxy, there are millions of Hork-bajir, Taxxons, and miscellaneous spiecies that have fallen, but only one Andalite.
Visser Three. The most dispised of all controllers.
This was insane. I was a doctor, not a warrior! But I guess they don't care one bit. No, maybe they do. I know methods beyond Yeerk medicine. And the children .... have morph capability! If anything, they would want that.
I sprang to my hooves. I wanted to face my enemy in the eye, not at his feet.
A female? Hah! He mused.I knew they couldn't get too many soldiers into the army, but this? He slapped me across the face with the flat of his blade. I stood unmoved, trying not to look weak.
I guess that host of yours still has some say. After all, I still see prejudice and Andalite arrogance in those eyes. I sneered. I eased my tail towards my hands, hoping to take off the zelonite cover and have my blade free. I couldn't hope of fighting the visser, but possibly getting one good shot....
Then perhaps you'll prefer our side. Equal-opprotunity infestation. Male, female, young, old, doesn't matter. They'll all have our men in their heads. I almost... Yes! It was free. I would only get one chance.
THWAK!
Ow! I hit him on the left side of the face hard enough for it to turn green under the flesh. His blade was up to my neck before I even saw him comfort it.
I glared at him with cool eyes.You wouldn't dare damage me. You would want an Andalite body for your lieutenants. Or at least you would want more use out of a prisoner than this. He withdrew his blade, keeping a wary eye. Very well, then.
Tseww!
I slumped down in a heap, waking up in a dark room. A searing pain was in my leg, making it impossible to stand. I had no idea where I was or how the wound appeared.
Let's see how brave you are now. Visser Three's sinister thought speak announced.
Chapter 4
They dragged me out into a wide room, very plain, with hardy grass. Probably where the visser fed. I hobbled, trying to walk on three legs,to no avail. I noticed that the arisths were still being held.
Too weak to even stand, lady? No matter. This fight won't be long.
I stood on my hooves again, ignoring the pain. I wasn't going to be challanged and lose because of it.
He played around, forcing me to jump, dodge, and move in every way twice over as he laughed at my position. He swiped at me, I rolled over to avoid.
Hah! An Andalite that does tricks!
You like that? Watch this! Let me make a point here: In medical training, all soldiers get a novice class, but doctors take more for specialization, etc. That includes surgery, heath inspections, and anatomy. In defense, anatomy comes in handy.
Very handy.
Thoop!
AHHHHHHHH! His howl never stopped. I struggled to get back up and get out of there as fast as I could. They couldn't stop me, as they were unarmed. Or at least as unarmed as they could be, with those blades of theirs.
Follow me! I tried to remember how the blade ships were laid out. It's not normal information, but sometimes I try to find weaknesses in the structures and study them. Such information is useful in battle, for disableing or having enough for one hit. In this case I would need it to locate the Bug fighter. It should still be here, I thought.
I found it ungarded. I grabbed two of the dracon beams and tossed them over to the arisths.Here. We'll need it. I hastened.
I struggled to figure out the controls and hurry the others inside. Just in time, too. The Hork-bajir were entering just as I draconed a hole in the door, seeing as it wouldn't let me out. They died almost instantaneously, after seeing that I just opened into the vacuum. I tried to speed away, seeing that if the ship could target me, it would be all over too soon.
Selain!
Who the...? Jekkal? I thought you were-
Listen. we managed to grab a bug fighter, and we need to get in and away from here, immediately!
She paused for a moment. How do I know your'e not a controller? It's happened. She crossed.
I turned for the weapons station. Ready...Aim... SHOOT!
TSEWW! TSEWW!
Twin beams blazed across to break the neck of the ship, crippling it. Well?
She immediately acctepted me aboard and congratulated me on my escape. Too bad we can't tell command about this.But you deserve a promotion anyway.
Tell command about what? I twisted my stalk eyes to see that the transmitter had been on already for a few seconds, catching the last bit of our conversation. According to the readout, you are not in the right sector, and in Yeerk territory.
Well,... It's a long story. I explained my tale to him, in every detail, except for the parts the arisths had.
Hold on. You mean to tell me that this whole time, The dome ship was mutining against my orders, you and a couple of arisths were captured, fought the ambomination in a tail fight, stilll manged to escape, and lay a blow to his ship?
Yes. I sighed. I'd probably be thrown out for sure, or worse.
Amazing.
I had been immediately promoted to princess, and the arisths were given commendations for their actions, but no promotion. He did, however, want to speak with Selain for a little longer. I left the room for a few minutes. When the transmission was over, she walked out of the room, eye stalks drooping.
What.... what happened?
I've been impeached. They want me back to the electorate for sentencing.
What about a fair trial?
You learn quick in this army-nothing is fair. She moved back into a seculded spot of the dome, fell to her knees, and grieved.
Chapter 5
We were back on the home world,this time for that purpose. Nothing was told about it except the posted anouncements that read:
War-princess Selain-Terrous-Corri pronounced gulity of mutiny against the Andalite military. Sentencing is in progress and details including chosen punishment will be sent out soon.
Of course, it was a lie. First off, the ship as one chose for its independence. Second, it was not mutiny to the military, just to the one who ran our division. We still kept to every law and code of the military.We were just acting... normal.
The entire crew was set on leave. I went back down to my family's scoop for some well needed time off. It would have been good to be there again, except it haunted my mind of what would happen to her. The Electorate's patriot-breakers does a good job of scaring off most recriuts, and when you end up on the wrong side.... you don't want to know.
The patriot-breakers are a hate group. Females in the military are secretly frowned upon, so the Electorate pays for them to scare students out of recriuting.
I know. Once, they ran through our family's grazing land, setting afire the edge of our scoop, leaving a prominent shredder, symbolizing the army, burning at the south end. It took a long time to put out the fire. We had to live at our friend's scoop until the land was good enough to graze on again.
But the Electorate will try anything, use any rotten excuse or enforce any unjust law to keep us from the rightful power and glory we deserve. My own escapade proved that we could do that, and they still toss it aside. Was it not that important? Or did they want to instill a sense of hopelessness? I did not know. Until the sentence was announced:
Warrior Selain-Terrous-Corri's punishment has been dealt. The FAAS, with its new captain, Derral, will leave in two days.
I never felt more of a conspiracy zealot until that moment. Every last shred of faith in the Electorate was gone.
Like I had any.
Chapter 6
Six years later....
My story was heard, though. Every new aristh who joined the FAAS, by fate, bravery, determination, or perhaps just dumb luck, heard my tale of the fight. We were still the lowly group of backwards warriors we always were, but we still had that hidden pride, knowing that one day, we were going to be as enblazed in history as well as any other warrior that ever lived.
I was on leave, when I came upon a new challange. One of amazing risks. one that struck at the heart of the spaceports, shattering the home world.
A protest!
Many of the sisterhoods had gathered in full fury, beckoning at the entrance, blocking the way for all soldiers. Except when Selain, who was one of my own soldiers now, tried to get through. they had seperated, creating a pocket for her. I asked one of the barrier workers what was going on.
Don't you know? We've finally gotten enough proof of their prejudicial means to hit 'em for better treatment! said the keyed up protestor. In a slyer tone she added,I got it straight out of my husband.
I should explain. Sisterhoods were the main unity groups for females. They were for communication's sake, where interaction was not limited by the technology. Sometimes they would talk about topics such as these, but not in such force. And never like this!
Maybe they do now. I don't know. It's been so long since I joined in one, except sometimes on the dome.
I decided to stay at the spaceport and help out the protest, keeping away any breakers who could have stopped it. After a few days of protest, The Electorate decided to allow integration for the military, including more recruits and stopping the hate groups from striking. There have been rumors they only did this because their wives hassled them into it.
I guess I'll never know.
They also re-assigned Selain to War-princess, giving her back command of the WarBlossom, the still female Dome Ship, upon request. There are many co-ed dome ships, and a few left that are male only. I chose to try one of the co-ed ships. In my quarters, I had beside the hologram of my parents another one. Of me and Selain. We had grown quite close during the time. I kept the original at my scoop, while I took a copy of them with me on the Galaxy Tree.
Good thing, too. The battle for Earth... I had thought it would be my last. But the Ellimist... fate...did not think so. I'm still here, and I still fight. My main enemy, Visser Three, is here too. He has now realized it, and strives to find the 'bandits' even more.
I keep one thought in my mind, when it comes to fighting on Earth.
So much the better.