Animorphs: Galactic War
13: Attack of the Cyborgs: Part 2
The Gardens
It was a demoralised group of Animorphs that eventually arrived back at the Gardens. Tom gently set Jake down as they tried to figure out what to do next.
"Jake's going to do a real number on you when he wakes up, Tom!" Rachel said bluntly.
"I know!" Tom winced. "I just hope we've figured something out by then."
"I take it things didn't go well. What happened?" Tyler asked, coming out of the Gardens.
"What happened? We got our butts kicked, that's what happened!" Ryan snapped irritably. "Those tin-cans got Cassie and Justin!"
We should try and find where they've taken them, Tobias suggested. Then hit the place and get them and all the others out.
"Don't forget about the cyborgs!" Tom warned. "We have to find some way of knocking them out too!"
As he said that, Malarnex decloaked nearby. It seems I'm needed again!
Tyler's eyes became large dinner plates as he saw this. "A PREDATOR!" He was lurching for his gun before Rachel stopped him.
"He's with us! You know about them?"
"Nearly everyone in the government does!" Tyler said seriously. "We know enough to say that they're not the type to make friends!"
Amusing! Malarnex sneered. We didn't think humans were the type to make friends either! His voice then turned more serious. I heard what happened. I've just sent for reinforcements.
"Can more of your men sneak through now?" Rachel asked.
If what I've heard on the communicators is true, with luck they won't have to sneak through in a few more minutes!
Above the town
"Ok, Ax. I'm ready whenever you are!" Marco called from his weapons station.
Ax smiled at the helm of the fighter as he opened communications. My Prince, we are ready to attack!
I was hoping you'd say that, Aximili! Edullon eagerly replied from the lead fighter. Fighter lead to squadron, commence attack run.
"Good thing the Predators can store fighters on their ships," Marco said as he armed the fighter's shredders.
It had been Ax's idea to hit the Chelraks from the air. On the way back from the town he had collected Edullon and all of the other squadron pilots.
Get ready, Warrior Marco! We're going in! Ax started his descent as he said this.
"Ok lizards, payback time!" Marco grinned.
Chelrak Elite Guard
Durok was beginning to think that things were finally going right. The Andalites and Hork-Bajir were stuck outside the town and were going nowhere fast. He was about to smile in satisfaction when a loud scream derailed his train of thought.
"COVER!"
Durok had time to see a large number of Andalite fighters bearing down on him and his men before they opened fire. Blue shredder fire tore through their ranks, killing troopers and destroying buggies easily and tearing a massive hole through the Chelrak lines. Alloran, seeing this, ordered all his forces onward. Durok quickly realised that he would have to retreat. He had lost over 100 men and it would take time to reorganise the rest: time that the Andalites were not going to let him have.
Shaking a fist at the Andalite fighters, he reached for his communicator before ordering his men to fall back.
"Sorinek! Prepare to fall back to the shuttles. Our lines have been breached!"
"WHAT!" Sorinek couldn't believe it. "How?"
"We just got hit from the air by enemy fighters. Now fall back before you end up as their next target!"
Izlyr's voice then came through the communicator. "You needn't worry about the fighters now, Durok. They'll be taken care of soon enough. Regroup at the shuttles. I'll meet with you there."
Andalite fighter group
"That was fun!" Marco chuckled.
We've breached their lines. Our forces are inside the town, Ax said with satisfaction.
Prepare for another run! Edullon's excitement carried over the communicator.
Marco looked down at his scanners and the blood drained from his face as he saw the readings. He quickly snapped out of it. "Ax, we've got company!"
Edullon had seen it too. All ships scatter! Hostiles on approach!
Ax threw the fighter into a tight turn as green disruptor fire rained down from above.
The Gardens
Rachel had been right about one thing: Jake was furious when he had woken up.
"Why the hell did you stop me?" he snarled, almost lurching for Tom's throat as he did so. "I could have saved them!"
"I don't think so, midget," Tom replied, trying to fend Jake off. "We'd have just lost you too!"
In the end, Ryan forced them apart. "Cool it, Jake! We're meant to be fighting them, not each other!"
"In case you'd forgotten, Jake, we have to get Cassie and Justin back," Rachel added.
Jake seemed to cool down after that as Alloran and his forces piled into the town.
How'd you get in here? Tobias asked in shock. I thought you were pinned down.
We were, Alloran said. Until Aximili, Edullon and their fighter wing came to our aid.
"So that's where Marco and Ax were going," Jake realised.
"So we've got the edge now?" Rachel asked hopefully.
Not entirely. Our fighter wing is now…somewhat occupied. Alloran pointed upwards. There were a lot of blue and green flashes from the skies above. We're on our own again for the time being.
"If you're inside the town I'll bet the Chelraks will be pulling out," Ryan realised. "They'll be leaving soon! We can't let them take Cassie and Justin with them!"
"They're not taking anyone with them!" Rachel said fiercely. "Not this time!"
Then I suggest you go directly to their camp and try and free them now, Malarnex suggested. We'll continue the assault here.
As they morphed and flew off toward the Chelrak landing site, Malarnex turned to Alloran. I suggest you contact your fighter squadron. We have a weapon that might prove useful against these cyborgs, but it must be deployed from the air.
How many fighters will you need? Alloran asked.
Only one. But choose carefully. We only have one weapon so whoever is chosen will only get one shot!
Andalite fighter wing
Withdraw? Ax couldn't believe what he was hearing. My Prince, we are in the middle of a battle!
I'm aware of that, Warrior Aximili, Edullon replied as calmly as he could. But this is vital, so I understand.
"Ax, behind us!"
Ax pulled his fighter hard to the left to avoid a rain of green fire from behind them.
"You haven't lost him, he's still with us!" Marco warned.
You have now, Edullon's fighter flew in and blasted the pursuing Raptor into pieces. Now get going, we'll cover you!
Understood, my Prince, Ax turned his fighter toward the valley and accelerated to maximum burn.
The Ellimist's Valley
Darnexva, Malarnex's rival Elder, was waiting for them at the Predator ship.
"Why did you bring us back?" Marco asked impatiently.
We have a new weapon for you, Darnexva explained. It should help to neutralise the cyborgs.
Several other Predators began wheeling what looked like a large bomb toward their fighter.
What is it? Ax asked curiously.
A scrambler bomb, Darnexva said. It's designed to emit a large energy discharge that will knock out the CPU of any mechanoid opponent. Hopefully it should render all of the cyborgs useless.
"Will it kill them?" Marco asked in concern.
We don't know for certain since we don't know how these cyborgs operate. But they have to be eliminated in one way or another. It's a chance we'll have to take.
Will it affect the Chelraks in any way? Ax put in.
Unfortunately we think not. Their implants partly use bio-organic parts in case of any mechanical failure and their brains aren't dependent on a CPU like the cyborgs. We'll still have to deal with them whether this works or not.
Marco was alarmed. "What?! You don't even know if it works?"
Darnexva shrugged. It's a prototype. We haven't tested it in combat yet.
"Oh great!" Marco muttered. "Anything else I should know?"
Yes. Its area of effect is somewhat limited so you'll have to wait until all the cyborgs are together before using it.
Marco sighed. This was going to be a real hard day.
Chelrak landing site
The rest of the Animorphs had a hard time getting to the Chelrak landing site as they had to fly low to avoid the fighter battle that was raging overhead.
I don't envy Ax and Marco right now! Hannah said looking up at the sky.
I do. They're probably safer than we are! Tom complained.
I really don't want to fight those cyborgs again.
We've got no choice, Jake said. I'm sure as hell not abandoning Cassie…or Justin," he added almost as an afterthought.
Then let's get in there! Rachel broke in.
They landed in the trees near the Chelrak shuttles. Most of the cyborgs were clustered around the shuttles standing guard.
Where are the Chelraks? Hannah wondered.
Probably still out fighting Alloran and the rest, Ryan said. The cyborgs are bad enough.
How about we morph to fly, sneak inside the shuttles and go from there? Hannah suggested. Tobias can stay outside on lookout while we work on the inside. Maybe we can steal the APCs and drive everyone out of the shuttles!
Tom chuckled. That's good but how many of us know how to drive an alien vehicle? I don't think it's going to be that easy.
True, Jake admitted. But it's better than attacking them head on.
Then let's do it! Rachel said. We find Cassie and Justin first and then we try and free the rest.
It's that second part that worries me, Ryan said. But you're right. Let's go!
Andalite fighter wing
Ax and Marco had flung themselves back into the dogfight overhead. They'd already shot down 3 Raptors, but it was not looking good overall.
The Andalites had launched all the fighters they had into the sky at the start but the Chelraks had plenty in reserve and the destroyers kept launching new waves of them all the time. As a result, the Andalites were getting worn down.
"We can't keep this up forever, Ax!" Marco screamed in despair as he blasted another Raptor.
Tell me something I don't know! Ax screamed back. The messages he heard over his communicators only increased his despair.
I'm hit! My port wing's gone!
I can't get him off my tail!
A message from Malarnex came in from the ground. Aximili, Marco! The cyborgs have all fallen back to the shuttle-landing site. We're already there and so are your friends. We need back up! Use the bomb now!
Ax opened a channel to Edullon. My Prince, I…
I heard, Aximili. Go now! I'll cover you!
Understood.
Ax punched up the fighter's speed and dove for the deck with Edullon following at a distance behind.
I'll try and keep as steady as possible, Warrior Marco. You only have one shot: make it count!
"Like I really needed to hear that again, Ax!" Marco snorted as he turned back to his controls. He barely had time to check his systems before the warning systems went off again. "Ax, look out!"
Another Chelrak Raptor had come out of nowhere and had tucked in tight behind them.
My Prince, get him off me! Ax screamed as he barely avoided another blast of green fire.
You're too close together, I can't get a clear shot! Edullon replied in despair.
"Oh man! We're dead!" Marco wailed from the back.
Not yet! Ax replied firmly as he started to dive toward the ground with increasing speed.
"Ax, what the hell are you doing!" Marco felt like he was going to throw up.
Taking a risk, Ax said coldly.
Ax punched up maximum burn as he headed straight for the ground with the Raptor close behind. Ax waited until the last second and then pulled up, making Marco's insides feel even worse than they already were. Unfortunately for the Chelrak, his reflexes weren't quite so fast. He plowed straight into the ground at maximum burn and exploded into smithereens.
"Ha ha! Nice one, Ax!" Marco cheered, although he still felt slightly queasy.
We're approaching the target, Ax warned. Get ready!
"Bomb's armed," Marco said, his finger hovering over the firing trigger. "Almost…NOW!"
As soon as they dropped the weapon, Ax pulled sharply away to get back in the fight. He only hoped that they'd done enough…
Chelrak landing site
Jake and his group had made it into one of the shuttles but had found themselves at a dead end. All the cyborgs had pulled back to guard the shuttles and the unconscious human prisoners. Whatever they did, it didn't look like a battle that they could win without help. They were about to change back to their battle morphs and fight again when they heard a loud noise from outside.
What was that? Tom asked in confusion.
As he said this, all of the cyborgs in the shuttle seemed to go haywire. Some started firing wildly into the air, some started emitting electrical sparks from their implants and all seemed out of control.
What the hell? They're going crazy! What's happening?" Ryan asked.
I don't know and right now I don't care, Jake said. Go to battle morphs. Here's our chance!
They quickly demorphed, remorphed to their strongest forms and then ran outside. All of the cyborgs were affected and none were battle capable. There were a few Chelraks clustered around one other shuttle looking at the cyborgs in alarm.
Malarnex and some other Predators decloaked nearby. Jake! That's the command shuttle they're guarding. Should we attack it?
Jake considered. Forget it. We've got to get these people away first. Get anyone in the APCs and the shuttles. We'll cover you.
Malarnex and the Predators cloaked again and started heading for the vehicles and shuttles intent on hijacking them. There was no time to haul away all the people that had been seized. Jake and the others started attacking the few Chelrak guards that remained.
Chelrak Command Shuttle
Izlyr could not believe the scene outside. What magic hat had his enemies tapped to counterattack like this? Frantically he ordered all his guards to protect his shuttle while he opened his communication lines.
"DUROK! Get your worthless hide back here! I'm under attack!"
"What? How? Can't the cyborgs hold them off?"
"They're disabled! I don't care how you do it just get back here on the double!"
Izlyr cut the connection, hoping that Durok and Sorinek wouldn't be long getting back. In the end he needn't have worried as he saw what was going on outside. The human morphers were keeping his guards tied down whilst the Predators were stealing the APCs with the captives aboard. Izlyr cursed in impotent rage. There was nothing he could do. Without the cyborgs he had no means of driving them off, not with most of his army caught in another fight elsewhere. To make matters worse, another message came in.
"This is Tyranous. Our probes are detecting a large fleet of ships closing in. I suggest you evacuate now. We don't have much time!"
Izlyr stared at the communicator in dismay. He wouldn't even have time to grab back some of the captives. He had no choice: he had to cut and run. The Emperor wasn't going to like this one bit…
Andalite fighter wing
I don't believe it! They're retreating! Edullon spluttered.
Marco looked at his scanners to see it was true. All the Raptors were disengaging. Alloran's triumphant voice came over the communicators.
Our main fleet is here! They're pulling out!
Malarnex then came on the line. We've rescued most of the captives! They've left the cyborg troops behind too!
Marco sighed in relief. "Let's land and meet up with the rest, Ax."
Ax smiled with his eyes in reply as he brought the fighter around to land outside the town.
The Gardens
Back on the ground, the clear up had already started, along with the celebrations. The Animorphs were practically being mobbed by the townspeople. Most couldn't believe that they had returned after the treatment they had received from the government but they were relieved they had! Jake was uncomfortable with all the attention but he supposed it didn't matter too much. He was just glad to get Cassie and Justin back. They were all still fending off their admirers and answering a barrage of questions when Ax and Marco arrived.
"Hey, Big Jake! You're ok!" Marco was ecstatic. "I take it the bomb worked?"
"Bomb?" Jake asked.
They quickly swapped stories. "So it was you that knocked out the cyborgs? Nice one, Marco!" Tobias said. He had reverted to his human form for the time being.
Rachel, hearing this, broke away from Melissa Chapman for a second. "Don't say that, Tobias. Marco's head's already big enough as it is!"
"Where's Hannah?" Marco asked, ignoring Rachel for once.
"Up there," Cassie pointed to the sky where the Tailstrike hovered over the town. Galuit had brought it in close so he could evacuate quickly if there was a need. "She went back there with her brother."
The mood went more solemn as she said that. Chad had eventually been found amongst the fallen cyborgs and had been moved with the rest to the Tailstrike for immediate attention to see if their conversion could be reversed. They'd heard nothing since.
"Let's just hope for the best about that," Jake eventually said.
"I can't believe you guys were the Animorphs," Melissa Chapman broke in. "I never suspected anything!"
"It's good you didn't," Rachel said dryly. "If you had, we'd probably have Yeerks in our heads about now."
Her father, who was standing right next to her, winced slightly at that. "Everyone wondered where you'd gone. At least we know you're all right."
Most of the crowd suddenly backed off and they soon saw the reason why. Galuit, Alloran, Edullon, Malarnex and several guards were approaching them.
Congratulations, Prince Jake! You have prevailed again!
"Prince Jake?" Chapman, Melissa and several other people said at once as
Jake sighed in exasperation.
Are you ready for departure? Alloran asked.
"Departure? What about the cyborgs?" Justin asked.
Galuit looked grim. We were able to undo their conditioning and restore their personalities. However the implants are…permanent.
They've asked to go with us, Alloran added.
"They want a piece of the Chelraks, right?" Rachel guessed. "I don't blame them!"
"Then we're ready to go whenever you are," Jake decided.
"Go? We thought you'd stay here now!" Chapman couldn't believe it, nor could the rest of the crowd.
"Sorry, you thought wrong," Jake said with finality. "We've a war to finish. Besides I don't think the celebrity life is really me."
"It might have been for me once," Rachel said. "But I found out that I like a fight much better!"
"I know where my fate lies," Tobias added. "And it's not here!"
The others all added their agreements. None were staying.
"I guess I can't blame you after what's happened," Melissa said. "But I really envy you! Will you ever come back?"
"We probably will," Jake replied. "Someday…"
Izlyr's destroyer
Izlyr, Durok and Sorinek felt mired in despair as their small fleet retreated into Zero-Space. The offensive had failed utterly. Not only had they failed to take any captives for cyborg conversion but they had lost most of the cyborgs they'd already had. There hadn't been time to recover them as they had run from the Andalite/Hork-Bajir army in their rush to get off the planet.
The moment they were dreading soon came as Slaar's face appeared on the viewscreen.
"I take it from your expressions that things did not go well."
Izlyr sighed. "I'm afraid not, Emperor. We were unable to complete our mission. The Andalites have found a weakness in our cyborgs…"
"No matter," Slaar said calmly. "Your engagements have bought us valuable time. Saavek has just reported in. The Iron Fist tests were a success! We will begin our final offensive in 3 days!"
"It works, Emperor?" Durok asked, his relief showing.
"It does. The Andalites are in for a most unpleasant surprise, eh? HA HA HA!"
The Emperor laughed evilly and the others laughed with him. It wasn't over yet…
TO BE CONTINUED…
Author's note: Sorry it's been so long AGAIN! With all the work I've got I just can't write as fast as I used to. Sorry!