Animorphs: Galactic War
12: Attack of the Cyborgs (Part 1)
The Tailstrike
Galuit walked into the Dome looking more optimistic than he usually did.
Prince Jake! I believe we may have reached the turning point of this war. With the Predators on our side and the defeats you have inflicted on the Chelraks, victory at last seems a possibility.
Marco didn't share his good feeling. "Why do I get the feeling there's a 'but' coming up?"
I'm afraid you'd be right, Alloran said, walking into the Dome behind Galuit. The Chelraks are throwing everything they have at us. There's no strategy or subtlety about it, they're just hitting us with everything they've got.
Ryan realised what this meant. "What ace have they got up their sleeve this time?"
"I can only guess right now," Ralgha broke in. "But I've just heard from my sources back home. It seems the Emperor is building something greater than anything previously known. We're guessing it's some sort of ultimate weapon. At this time we only know its name: Iron Fist."
"Oh great!" Tom muttered. "Don't they ever know when to quit?"
"The Emperor and his followers are all zealots," Ralgha said. "They will NEVER quit. Meanwhile there is another problem. My sources also say that they're planning to hit your world again."
"What? We're supposed to be winning but they're attacking Earth again?!" Rachel couldn't believe it.
"It's a cyborg recruitment drive," Ralgha calmly explained. "Or if you want it bluntly, it's a collection of more cannon fodder. They're trying to slow us down so they can get this Iron Fist weapon on-line. I'm afraid they're planning to attack the same area of Earth again too. I believe that would be your hometown?"
"Not happening!" Hannah said fiercely.
Jake was seething with anger too. "They've done enough damage to Earth and our home. They're not doing it again!"
The High Command agrees with you, Prince Jake, but we have a problem. They're sending out several other raiding parties to most of the other major systems so we're spread very thin. We can't send too much of our forces to Earth.
You don't have to, Everyone turned to see Malarnex enter in full battle gear. We will provide additional forces for you. I can only hope this will be worth something in the long run. It's forcing us to halt our offensives on the Chelraks' bases.
"It's worth it, trust me," Jake grinned. "If they can't slow us down, we might never have to deal with this Iron Fist."
Galuit turned to Alloran. Alloran, would you…
…lead the Earth Force again? A pleasure, Alloran said. I'll take Prince Edullon also. We're familiar with the area.
I will personally go to Earth with some of my warriors also, Malarnex decided. I have a feeling we'll be needed…
"We should move fast," Ralgha said. "By the time the movement learned of this attack they'd already left. We have to leave now if we're to get to Earth first!"
Then I suggest we take my ship and make sure some of our forces get there before they do, Malarnex suggested. The main fleet will have to catch up in their own time.
Agreed, Galuit said. Can your ship hold fighters?
Yes, some, Malarnex said. There's room for your troops and Striker units too if necessary.
Excellent!
Marco sighed. "I guess that means we'll be flying again, Ax."
I'll meet you in the fighter bays, Ax replied, smiling with his eyes as he did so.
Rachel grinned. "Let's do it!"
"Don't you mean let's do it again, Xena?" Marco added as he left.
Malarnex's ship
Alloran, Edullon, Ralgha and Jake were looking over the battle plans to pass the time as the ship headed for Earth at full speed.
See anything I've missed? Alloran asked.
"We should be ok," Jake said. "I mean we handled them last time."
It'll depend how many ships they have in orbit and if they'll interfere more directly than last time, Edullon warned.
"It depends on too many factors," Ralgha put in. "But it seems solid enough to start with."
The 'plan' was simply to defend the town with everything they had until the Andalite main fleet could arrive and force the Chelraks to retreat as they had done last time. Despite having Predator troops on their side this time as well as Andalites and Hork-Bajir, Jake still had a bad feeling about this. The last time the Chelraks had hit his hometown the damage had been appalling and he'd had to morph a Howler to deal with them. That was not an experience he wanted to repeat, but it seemed that he might not have much choice.
Earth Orbit
A few hours later the ship dropped out of Zero-Space into Earth orbit.
Status? Malarnex ordered.
No other ships detected.
"We got here first again. That's something, at least we've got some time." Cassie sounded relieved.
She'd only just finished talking when another Predator spoke up. There's a jump point forming nearby!
Engage the cloaking device! Malarnex ordered.
The ship cloaked just in time as 4 Chelrak destroyers dropped out of Zero-Space.
"You had to open your big mouth!" Marco gave Cassie a despairing look.
Head for the surface at once, Malarnex knew he had no time to waste.
We won't have as much time to prepare for them now, Prince Jake, Alloran said grimly.
"We'll just have to do what we can," Jake said. "And hope they haven't changed their battle plans much since last time."
The Ellimist's Valley
"Why is it whenever you show up, all hell breaks loose?" Toby asked without a trace of humour.
Sorry, Toby, Tobias said apologetically.
"Blame the Chelraks, they started this!" Justin muttered.
"We're the ones who'll finish it!" Rachel said fiercely.
Prince Edullon came over to Alloran. War-Prince, 10 ships are entering the atmosphere. We think they intend to land on the other side of the town.
"Shouldn't someone go and look?" Tom suggested.
I'll go again, Tobias said.
"I'll go too," Cassie said and started to morph to her bird form.
Are all the troops unloaded? Alloran asked Edullon.
Yes. But the Strikers aren't yet.
We'll have to go ahead without them for now. Get the troops ready to move out!
Chelrak ground force
Commander Durok was feeling pleased with himself. Despite the disaster on the Predator homeworld he'd still managed to get this assignment and a chance to redeem himself and his Elite Guard. The Chelraks had no tanks this time, but they did have some buggies and a battalion of 200 cyborgs on top of the Elite Guard division, which numbered about 500.
Lieutenant Sorinek, his number 2, walked over to him with Izlyr alongside him.
"You needn't worry, Commander," Sorinek was saying. "Look at all the forces we have here! Nothing can go wrong!"
"I've heard that before!" Izlyr muttered. "You can see the result! Just make certain that we capture as many humans as possible."
"Do you think the Andalites will try and stop us again?" Durok asked.
"We've tried to keep this as secret as we can but I'm guessing that they will learn of this anyway," Izlyr replied. "Tyranous and the destroyers will cover you from orbit as much as possible but if the Andalites send a full fleet…"
Durok nodded in understanding. "Let's get moving! Are the chemical units ready?"
Sorinek nodded. "We've got gas grenades and most of the cyborgs' disruptors are set on stun. I'm confident we'll take a lot of subjects quickly if your team can keep trouble away from us."
"Don't worry. No Andalites will get past me and my Elite Guard!" Durok said fiercely as he got into his buggy.
Sorinek nodded and headed for his 'capture' squad to get them moving. Izlyr walked back to his command station in his shuttle.
No one noticed Cassie and Tobias overhead as they flew over the Chelraks and headed back toward the valley.
The Ellimist's Valley
Good news and bad news, guys, Tobias said as he landed.
"Ok. What's the good news?" Jake asked.
They've got no tanks, sonic or otherwise, Jake sighed in relief as Tobias said that. But they've got far more troopers than before and they're using cyborgs too.
"Was Chad with them?" Hannah asked.
"Sorry, we didn't see," Cassie said. "He might be. There were quite a few cyborgs there."
The really bad news is that they've got buggies there and Durok and his Elite Guard are leading this.
Alloran saw the plan at once. So the cyborgs and some other Chelraks move through the town and capture everyone possible whilst Durok and his forces surround the town and prevent us or anyone else interfering.
Looks like it, Tobias said. It's a 'snatch' raid, not an invasion so that's probably why there are no tanks.
Ralgha agreed. "They're probably guessing that we know about this raid and are expecting us to show up so they're using a force that they can evacuate at a moment's notice."
"Why don't we use the Strikers then?" Ryan suggested. "We'd knock Durok and his goons out of the way easily!"
It's a good thought but I don't think we have time, Edullon said. We haven't unloaded them from the ship yet and I don't think the Chelraks are going to give us time to do that either.
Jake nodded. The Chelraks were intent on speed so it was likely they'd be starting their attack soon. "We'll just have to do it without them."
Alright. Prince Jake, take your group into the town and stop the Chelraks there. I don't really care how you do it, Alloran said. Our forces and the Hork-Bajir will engage Durok and the Elite Guard. We'll try and let them think that they have us contained.
"Just us against a whole bunch of Chelraks and cyborgs?" Justin understandably didn't sound too keen.
You won't be going alone, Malarnex and about 20 Predators decloaked nearby. If we're cloaked we can certainly get by Durok and his forces too.
"Good," Jake grinned. "Let's go! We don't have much time!"
"Let's go have some fun!" Rachel grinned.
"Why do I get the chills every time she says that?!" Marco groaned.
The mall: same time
Tyler Stone, government agent and the Animorphs' newest friend, was once again enjoying a coffee in the food court. Unlike before he wasn't on vacation, the government had called him back to work as soon as he'd reported in after the last battle here. He had been sent back to the town to see if he could get hold of any advanced tech or if there were any aliens left behind. Tyler had just sat back and hadn't bothered to do anything. In the first place he would not break his promise to the Animorphs and reveal the Hork-Bajir or Chee to the government and in the second place he knew that he would find no advanced tech. The Andalites had been thorough when they'd gone over the town and removed it all.
Stupid jerks never learn, do they? Tyler thought angrily. After all the negative publicity they'd already got, it galled Tyler that they were still trying to grab anything they could. After the battle in the town the news of the second attempted invasion had spread like wildfire, as had the secret of the Animorphs' identities and, unfortunately for the government, the reason they'd left. As an act of 'justice' on his part, Tyler had made sure that information had been spread as far as possible. The headlines that had resulted spoke for themselves: 'Animorphs forced off planet by US government' and 'Animorphs' reward for saving the planet: exile'. This along with news of their identities, pictures of them and their young ages, had whipped up a lot of angry feeling amongst the general public. As a result the government was up to its neck in brown organic matter, which pleased Tyler greatly.
He finished his coffee, walked out of the mall and looked up at the sky, wondering where they were right now and hoping they were all right. He was heading back to his car when he saw a flash of green light out of the corner of his eye. He whirled round and couldn't believe what he was seeing. A large number of cyborgs were approaching the mall. All had guns, in fact some had guns instead of arms, and were firing at any humans around them. Behind them were Chelraks carrying what looked like grenade launchers.
Shit, they're back! Tyler didn't stop to think. He turned and ran.
Over the town
Jake and the Animorphs were in bird morph watching the situation from above with alarm.
There's hundreds of those metal freaks down there! Marco said. How do we stop that lot on our own?
Even with the Predators we're really outnumbered, Tobias added. Not to mention the fact we don't really want to hurt those cyborgs. Not if we can undo their conversion.
Nice idea, Tobias. But we have to stop them somehow or we going to have a whole lot more of them! Rachel pointed out.
Let's meet up with Malarnex on the ground, Jake said. We're meeting him at the Gardens.
Isn't that Tyler down there? Ryan asked. He was looking down at a large group of people running from the cyborgs and Chelraks.
It is! What's he still doing here? I thought he'd have left by now, Tom said in surprise.
Ryan, fly down with Tom and direct Tyler and the rest to the Gardens, Jake ordered. I've a feeling we've got a slight problem with the Elite Guard surrounding the town. We probably can't get them to the valley.
Got it! Ryan and Tom started to fly down toward the crowd whilst everyone else flew for the Gardens.
The Gardens
Malarnex and his men were already waiting there when Jake and the others arrived.
"What's happening outside?" Cassie asked as she finished demorphing.
Nothing! Malarnex said grimly. Alloran and the rest of our forces can't get through. The Elite Guard is too well dug in and they can't press forward.
Then we've got a problem! Tobias said. There are more cyborgs and Chelraks in here than we thought. I don't think we can handle them alone.
"We've got to find a way of busting through that blockade," Rachel said. "I don't want to fight with my back to a wall."
"Easier said than done," Jake muttered.
We'll try and slow down the Chelraks while you think of something, Malarnex said.
As Malarnex and his Predators cloaked and left, Tyler and a flood of other people ran into the Gardens. Tyler saw them and quickly ran over.
"Thank God you're back too! What is this? Another invasion?"
"Not exactly," Jake and the others quickly filled him in.
Tyler cursed. "So unless we win we're all going to end up as walking tin cans, right? Shouldn't we go hide in that valley again?"
We can't get to it, Ax explained calmly. The town is surrounded by Elite Chelrak fighters. We could morph and get out but you'd be trapped.
Tom and Ryan landed nearby and demorphed. "They're stunning and gassing out anyone they come across and they're not being picky either. They're taking kids, old people, everyone," Tom said miserably. "I've seen some other Chelraks loading the bodies into APCs. We've gotta stop this or there isn't going to be a town left!"
I have an idea, Ax said. Marco, you and I must withdraw to the ship. We will return soon, Prince Jake.
Both of them morphed and took to the skies before Jake could ask them what their plan was.
"Let's just go and hit them," Rachel said. "If we can just slow them down for long enough they won't have time to get off Earth before our back-up comes!"
"Ok, let's go," Jake ordered.
Downtown
Malarnex and his men were doing well. They'd succeeded in tying down most of the Chelraks in the capture force. The Chelraks had been forced to turn their disruptors up to full power as the stun setting had virtually no effect on a Predator. The gas had no noticeable effect on them either. So far the total dead was 2 Predators and just over 20 Chelraks.
Sorinek quickly raised Durok on his communicator. "Can you spare any troops? We need help to claw some Predators off our backs!"
"No, I can't!" Durok replied. "We're holding the Andalites off but only just! They've got Hork-Bajir with them!"
Sorinek cursed. "Alright. I'll do what I can." He cut the communicator and started firing his gun again.
Malarnex was pleased about the way the things were going but he knew it wasn't going to be enough. Although his men had engaged the Chelraks the cyborgs had slipped past. He hoped the Animorphs could handle them…
Near the mall
The Animorphs were not having such a good time. The cyborgs had cornered another group of people near the mall and they'd been forced to intervene. Now they were stuck in a prolonged and bloody fistfight.
Man! We knock down one of these cyborgs and ten more show up! Ryan gasped as he knocked down another cyborg with the flat of his Andalite tail-blade.
We can't give up! Just stand your ground! Jake tried to sound encouraging as he bit into a cyborg's neck. Although he regretted it, it was becoming impossible to pull their punches. The cyborgs were certainly stronger than any human and had far more endurance.
As Tom knocked down another cyborg with his Predator fists he looked up and saw another group of them heading their way with guns raised. Heads up! There's more coming! he screamed before diving for cover as they opened fire.
Unfortunately, Cassie and Justin weren't quite fast enough and were caught in the crossfire.
Demorph quickly! Tobias ordered.
But worse was to come. As they demorphed another cyborg fired a grenade launcher and engulfed them in a cloud of green gas.
Get them out of there! Ryan screamed.
It's too late! Tobias said in despair.
He was right. Both of them were clawing at their throats and choking as they struggled to breathe. A few seconds later they crashed to the ground as the cyborgs approached.
"Targets neutralised. Initiate capture." The cyborg leader and several others surrounded them. Then they started advancing on the other Animorphs.
Rachel looked round and saw that the other humans had managed to escape. I hate to say this but we've got to run for it!
I'm not leaving Cassie behind! Jake snarled as he prepared to charge at the cyborgs.
Sorry midget, Tom said. But we can't lose you too!
With that he brought his fists down on Jake's head, knocking him out. He picked him up and slung him over his shoulder. Ok, run for it!
As he ran, Tom took one last despairing look back and saw Cassie and Justin being hauled away by the cyborgs.
Oh man, what the hell are we going to do now?!
Chelrak Command Shuttle
Izlyr was watching the battle's progress through the ship's monitors. All the cyborgs had a camera installed in their bodies and he was able to see all of the action. What he had just watched recently had been a real pleasure for him to see. 2 of the human morphers had been captured by his cyborgs and soon they'd be cyborgs themselves! He grinned sadistically as he watched the others retreat. "Run humans! Run for all the good it will do you! HA HA HA!"
TO BE CONTINUED…