Author's note: Sorry to all readers, reviewers, fans etc. for the extremely long wait for this part. All I can say is this: House moving is hell on earth! 3 months in a small temporary house with no central heating, no satellite TV and NO INTERNET CONNECTION! (grrrr!) Worse still, FF.net decides to upgrade to IE 5.5 while I'm out of the loop. I get it and it promptly crashes my system! Next I have to get used to this new chaptering system of FF.net too. Still, I'm somehow back up and running again and I can finally post this and re-establish my fanfic empire. Sorry everyone! I won't leave you waiting that long again! Well, now that's out of my system here's the fic:
Animorphs: Galactic War
15: Fist of Iron (part 2)
Iron Fist docking bay
As soon as the Iron Fist had entered Zero-Space, Jake and his team had morphed to fly and allowed Ralgha to carry them out through the docking bay.
"You can demorph now," he said about 15 minutes later.
They all demorphed to find themselves in what looked like a storeroom.
"What now?" Rachel asked.
"We wait. The movement's team should be meeting us here shortly,"
"Let's hope they're not long," Tom muttered.
"One's already here!" came a voice from the back of the room.
"Vorshak?" Ralgha recognised the voice instantly.
Another Chelrak emerged from the shadows at the back of the room. "It's good to see you again, Ralgha. We thought you weren't coming back at all from the Andromeda mission."
"At first, neither did I," Ralgha replied. "Is it just you?"
"Our leader's in on this too," Vorshak said. "He'll be joining us shortly."
"The leader of the movement is here?" Ralgha said in disbelief.
"Yes, he felt this was too important so he came along. Actually he had no choice since he had to come but…"
"Since we're all here, what's the plan?" Ryan butted in. "We've got to do this before we drop out of Zero-Space again, right?"
Vorshak nodded. "I can say one thing with absolute certainty: You'll never get near the main reactor."
"Too heavily guarded?" Jake guessed.
"More like shielded from access. They've flooded all the vital areas with neutronium radiation so nothing can get to the reactor itself."
"Isn't that dangerous? What if something goes wrong and they need to repair it?" Justin asked.
"Most of it can be controlled remotely from the bridge," Vorshak said. "And if any emergency comes up they do have NBC suits so they could fix it themselves."
"So we can't blow it up directly," Jake wasn't happy about that.
"No. But the Defender shield is still vulnerable and can still be destroyed. This ship may have the power to smash planets but against other ships it is virtually useless. Your fleet should have an easy job finishing it."
"Why haven't they flooded that area with radiation too?" Cassie wondered.
"The generators are too close to the bridge," Vorshak smiled. "Our 'esteemed' Emperor might be willing to risk the lives of our technicians and our soldiers, but he's not willing to risk his own."
"So what are we waiting for? Let's go trash the place!" Ryan was heading for the door before Jake stopped him.
"You want the whole ship to know we're here, Ryan?" Jake asked condescendingly. "The idea was to stay low until we do what we came to do, or do you want to fight every Chelrak on board?"
"Sorry Jake," Ryan muttered. "But this waiting is killing me!"
"Are you sure this leader of yours is coming?" Rachel asked impatiently.
"It'll depend on how quickly he'll be able to get away," Vorshak revealed. "It's difficult to get away unnoticed from where he is now…"
Chelrak flagship Armageddon
"Commander."
Izlyr turned to his new first officer. "What is it?"
"Our probes have detected a large fleet at the Andalite homeworld. It seems they are expecting us."
Izlyr thought that Sorinek wanted it that way from the way he said it. "Well, it was hard enough to keep something as large as this fleet undetected in the first place. With the Iron Fist as well it was impossible."
"Shall I inform the Emperor?" Sorinek asked.
Izlyr shook his head. "Chances are he already knows. If our sensors can see this fleet then his can too. So can the rest of our fleet. Just maintain speed and course."
"Yes Commander," Sorinek turned back to his station.
"We're all eager to burn some Andalites, Lieutenant. Be patient. They're still going to be there when we jump out of Zero-Space in 2 hours, aren't they?"
Izlyr and Sorinek grinned. They could hardly wait.
Iron Fist storage room
"If we wait for much longer it'll be too late!" Rachel said.
"You don't have to wait any longer."
As soon as Ralgha heard the voice from the door he lurched for his gun. "You!"
"What's wrong, Ralgha?" Commander Tyranous asked. "Now I'm here, you finally get to 'trash the place' as your friend put it!"
"Who's this?" Justin asked worriedly.
"He's Commander Tyranous and he's one of the Emperor's Inner Circle!" Ralgha spat.
"And I'm also leader of the resistance movement," Tyranous said calmly as the Animorphs went into battle stances.
"Yeah right!"
"No, he's serious!" Vorshak broke in.
"Who do you think contacted you out of nowhere and had you rescue these humans on Andromeda, Ralgha?" Tyranous pointed at Hannah. "Who do you think released her from her stasis tank on Keldoria? And how did you get the plans for the Iron Fist without the Emperor knowing?"
Ralgha and the Animorphs had to admit that it all scanned. The resistance would have needed someone high up to get most of the information they'd been given, but Ralgha had never dreamed that they'd have someone with this level of rank.
"Why?" Jake asked. "I can understand Ralgha and the others doing this. But you're a commander, what's in it for you?"
"Absolutely nothing," Tyranous replied. "Except knowing that I'll be freeing my race. As much as I hate the Andalites for what they've done it doesn't justify all of this. The Emperor has forsaken his own people in his quest for vengeance. If he isn't stopped, his ambition could destroy us as well as you. I don't intend to give him the chance."
"So what do we do now?" Tom asked.
"We have to destroy the Defender shield," Tyranous said. "Without it, this weapon is extremely vulnerable. I doubt the Emperor would proceed with the attack with himself exposed."
Jake had big doubts about that but said nothing.
"We'll have to divide our forces," Vorshak went on. "There's 2 generators that must be destroyed. If we don't get both, the shield will still function."
"I'll take the first one," Jake said.
"I'm with you, midget," Tom decided.
"Make that 3," Justin put in.
"I'll go with you too," Cassie said.
"Rachel, you take the others and blow the other generator," Jake said.
"Sure, Jake. I'll enjoy this!" Rachel smiled.
"Let's go through the ventilation system again," Ralgha suggested. "We can't afford to be detected at this stage."
"We must hurry," Tyranous added. "I think we're only a few hours away from the Andalite homeworld."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Tom quickly opened the ventilator and climbed inside.
"We'll see you again soon," Rachel said as they split up. If we're still alive, that is.
Generator room 1
"We must be cautious," Vorshak said. "We're only 1 level down from the bridge."
"How many guards are in there?" Cassie asked worriedly. They couldn't see very much through the ventilator exit.
"There'll be at least 4 technicians. There might not be any guards since this weapon's supposed to be impenetrable but…"
"…We can't count on that," Jake finished.
"So what do we do, just rush in?" Justin asked.
"I think that's what we're going to have to do," Ralgha said. "This mission has to succeed, whether we escape alive or not!"
No one wanted to hear that but they all knew it was the truth.
"Alright. Get ready!" Jake said.
Iron Fist bridge
"Emperor, there seems to be a problem."
"What kind of problem?!" Slaar didn't want to hear about any problems now, not when they were so close to victory.
"One of the Defender shield generators has just inexplicably gone off-line. It's now operating on number 2 only."
"Get guards down to that generator! That shield must remain operational no matter what! It won't be long before we engage the Andalites!" Slaar's eyes narrowed as he said this. If those human filth were aboard…
"I'll go myself!" Durok said eagerly. He was having the same thoughts the Emperor was having but he secretly hoped they were on board. After all, he had a score to settle…
Generator room 2
"We must hurry," Tyranous said suddenly.
"Why? That was easier than I thought!" Rachel smiled at the motionless technicians they had just taken out.
"If your friends have destroyed the first generator then the bridge will be aware of it by now and they'll be sending troops to protect this one!"
"Then let's trash the place!" Ryan said eagerly as he started to morph again.
"Hold on. We have something that will do the job a little better," Vorshak pulled out several demolition charges.
"I like it!" Hannah grinned. "I'll plant some on the far side."
I'll watch the corridor, Tobias flew toward the door.
"I'll take the main controls, let's do this fast!"
As Rachel moved over to the main controls, Tyranous went over to another console. This one displayed most of the ship on security camera. He started flicking through the screens, grinning when he saw generator 1. Jake had done a good job. His smile faded, however, when he saw the next picture.
"What the…that's outside! Close the door! Elite troopers!"
As soon as he said that Tobias flew in at top speed just ahead of a disruptor bolt. We can't get out that way!
Tyranous cursed as he reached for his disruptor. "I'd hoped it would never come to this…"
Outside Generator 2
"It's the human morphers all right," a trooper was telling Durok. "I saw one of them fly in there."
"Then what are you waiting for? Blow this door!"
"While you're at it, seal off the ventilator shafts as well," came a calm voice behind him. Durok turned around to find Saavek standing there.
"What are you doing here, Science Leader?" Durok asked. "In case you hadn't noticed, we're in the middle of a combat zone. Hardly a suitable place for you."
"Don't even think of trying to get rid of me," Saavek snarled. "I have a score to settle with these humans too. They destroyed my facility once and I'm not going to let them destroy my greatest achievement. Now, about the ventilators?"
Durok snorted and reached for a communicator.
Generator room 2
"We have to get out now," Tyranous warned. "That door won't hold them for long!"
"Then let's go!" Ryan said. "We're finished here."
As they all piled into the ventilator shaft, Tyranous realised he had made a critical error. "I left the detonator behind!"
"I'll get it!" Hannah muttered.
Going back into the room, she saw it on the security camera console where Tyranous had left it. She picked it up but before she could return a heavy metal plate slammed shut over the ventilation shaft…
Iron Fist storage bay
Jake and the others had just returned to their original meeting place when Ralgha's communicator sounded.
"Ralgha? We have trouble!" Tyranous said. "Get to generator 2 if you can."
"What kind of trouble?" Ralgha asked.
"One of the humans is trapped in the generator room with some demolition charges, the detonator and an Elite Guard squad nearby. We can't get to her from where we are now; the ventilator's been sealed!"
"Damn! Meet us in main security! That's all we can do now!" Ralgha said as he cut the connection.
"What can we do?" Tom asked worriedly.
"We have to get to main security and override the lock on the ventilator," Ralgha explained. "That's the only place we can do it unless you want to take on an Elite Guard squad head on?"
"Let's get there fast then!" Jake said.
"We should go through the corridors. It'll be faster," Vorshak suggested.
"Fine." Jake and the others morphed to fly again. Let's go!
Ralgha and Vorshak pulled out their disruptors and ran from the room with their 'passengers'.
Outside Generator 2
"Can you bypass that lock or not?!" Saavek snapped at the Elite Guard trooper who was working on the door lock.
"I'm almost there," the trooper replied.
"Science Leader, I strongly advise you to let us handle this," Durok said.
"I'm going in there whether you like it or not," Saavek replied. "Since I have your men with me there shouldn't be a problem."
Durok sighed. "As you wish." He didn't share Saavek's confidence about the situation. He had faced these humans twice before and knew they were not soft targets. Still, he knew there was nothing he could do to change Saavek's mind. He would just have to make the best of it. If Saavek succeeded and killed them then that was fine. If Saavek was killed, well it certainly wasn't Durok's loss. If Saavek failed, that meant he'd have his chance yet…
Main security room
"6 guards and 2 technicians in there," Vorshak said.
"You take the guards on the left," Jake said.
"Do we take out the rest?" Justin asked hopefully as he started to morph to his Jaguar form.
"Yeah, we do!" Jake said before he started to morph into his tiger form. Justin was soon morphing to Jaguar and Tom to Predator.
Ready? Jake asked as soon as they were done morphing. Ok, let's do it!
With that Jake hurled himself through the door at the nearest guard and raked him with his claws. Ralgha and Vorshak opened fire with their guns, mowing down the other guards before they could intervene whilst Tom grabbed a technician and snapped his neck from behind.
The last technician, seeing he was outnumbered and outgunned, lurched toward an alarm switch.
Oh no you don't! Justin's Jaguar form bit down on his hand before he could press the alarm. As he screamed in pain Vorshak calmly shot him in the chest with his disruptor.
Ralgha quickly ran over to the main control panel, trying to find the controls for the ventilator shafts.
"Hurry up, Ralgha!" Tom urged. He was watching another array of security screens on the wall and could see the Elite Guard squad was almost through the door…
Generator room 2
Hannah knew she was in real trouble. Aside from the ventilator there was no other way in or out but the main door and she knew it was only a matter of time before the elite troopers broke through. She ran over to the control panel and started pushing every button in the hope of getting lucky.
I'll need a hell of a lot of luck to get out of this one!
Main security room
"DAMN!" Ralgha spat. "They've isolated the door and the ventilator shaft from the outside! I can't open it!"
"Let's get down there then!" Justin screamed. "We've got to get her out of there!"
He started to run for the door but Vorshak stopped him and held him back.
"Hey! Wha…"
"See for yourself."
Generator room 2
The minute the door flew open, Hannah knew it was all over for her. She had just enough time to realise that before 2 disruptor bolts hit her. It felt like she'd been hit with a sledgehammer as she was flung back into the console and then onto the floor. Although her vision was blurring she could see the Chelrak troops moving in cautiously…except for one.
"How long do you plan to take to finish this?!"
She knew that voice all too well. Saavek! Of all the Chelraks, excluding the Emperor, he was the one most directly responsible for the loss of her family and everything else. She knew she didn't have long left. Each breath was a painful effort and blood was running from her mouth. She didn't want to die but if she was going to, she'd bring this bastard along for the ride!
Saavek, for his part, was confused. He'd only caught one human morpher and she seemed strangely familiar…
"Where are the others?" he snarled, pointing his disruptor straight at her head.
Hannah looked up at him and grinned insanely. "You think you're so smart, why don't you find them yourself? Not that I'm going to give you the chance!"
Just then, one of the troopers noticed the charges. "Sir! The whole room is wire…!"
He never got the chance to finish as Hannah pressed the detonator.
Iron Fist bridge
As the explosion rocked the Iron Fist there was a flurry of activity on the bridge. The bridge controllers quickly checked for damage while the Emperor lurched for the nearest communicator.
"Durok! Tyranous! What is going on down there? Someone answer me!"
"Emperor, the Defender shield has failed!"
Slaar looked like he'd been knifed in the stomach. Then he got a response from his communicator.
"Durok here. I'm standing near what's left of generator 2. Saavek and half of my squad are all dead, along with 1 human morpher. I'm going to hunt down the rest."
Saavek dead?! The shield down! What else could go wrong?
A transmission then came in from the command ship.
"Izlyr to Iron Fist, your shields are down! Should we abort the mission?"
Slaar, remembering Crayak's words before he left, grabbed the communicator again.
"NO! We go on! You are to protect this ship no matter what, do you understand me?! I did not come this far to fail now! My revenge will not be denied!"
Chelrak flagship Armageddon
Sorinek was aghast. "He's still going on? This is madness! We can't…"
"Stay at your post and hold your course!" Izlyr snapped. Privately though, he agreed with Sorinek. This was madness indeed. The Iron Fist wasn't built for speed or any kind of ship-to-ship combat. Without the Defender shield it was a sitting duck and that meant that the fleet would have to surround it and protect it themselves, which gave the Andalites a big advantage.
"We're approaching the Andalite system now, Commander."
Izlyr noticed that all the eagerness had gone out of Sorinek's voice.
"Prepare to jump. All hands to battle-stations!" Izlyr looked at Sorinek. "Don't worry, Lieutenant. We will survive, I will see to that!"
Iron Fist: ventilator system
Rachel's group heard and felt the explosion too.
"What was that?!" she asked Tyranous fearing the worst.
Tyranous also had a sinking feeling as he reached for his communicator.
"Ralgha, report!"
"Meet us in the docking bay," Ralgha replied. "The shield is down and we have nothing left here if you take my meaning."
"I do," Tyranous said bitterly. "We'll be there."
"Hannah!" Cassie was choking back tears. "You can't mean she's…"
"She detonated the bombs herself," Tyranous added grimly. "She did not survive. I'm very sorry."
"GODDAMNIT!" Ryan's rage carried all the way through the ventilator. "When I get hold of Durok I'll…"
"There's no time for that now!" Tyranous snapped. "With the shield gone, this ship is now very vulnerable and we'll be in the Andalites' system any minute! Unless we want to join her we must get out now!"
Rachel nodded. "Let's go. We'll avenge her later!"
Andalite flagship Invincible
War-Prince, enemy fleet entering system!
Finally! War-Prince Breeyar had grown tired of waiting. All ships, prepare to engage. Launch fighters!
War-Prince, the Iron Fist is here.
It's running without shields! another warrior reported excitedly. The humans must have succeeded!
Excellent! Breeyar smiled. We'll win this yet! All ships attack! Your target is the Iron Fist!
Andalite Alpha fighter wing
Alpha 1 to squadron, launch now!
"I told you they'd do it, Ax!" Marco grinned as their fighter launched with the rest.
I don't recall you saying that, Ax replied. I can recall you saying 'what if they can't pull this off' however!
"Cute, Ax!" Marco muttered. Then a sudden thought struck him. "Ax, what if they haven't got off that ship yet?"
Ax looked uncomfortable. We can not delay our attack now, Warrior Marco. To do so may mean death for my homeworld and countless innocents. We must act now and hope that Prince Jake and the others escaped in time.
Marco knew Ax was right but he had a very bad feeling about this. His thoughts were then interrupted by Edullon's warning.
Alpha 1 to squadron, enemy fighters approaching! Take evasive action!
Ax immediately threw the fighter into a tight turn. His orders, and those of his squadron, were to target the Iron Fist with the heavy missiles they were carrying while the other squadrons occupied the Chelrak Raptors. This wasn't as easy as it sounded, especially as there were far more Raptors than expected. The whole of space seemed alight with blue and green fire.
"Ax, we'll never get through this!" Marco screamed from the back.
Just stay calm! Ax snarled in reply, trying not to lose his concentration.
Marco focused on his scanners and targeting systems and tried not to think too hard. It was nearly all in Ax's hands now.
Iron Fist: docking bay
Rachel's group had reached the docking bay first and run straight into a load of trouble. Durok had anticipated them trying to get out by shuttle and had moved the rest of his troopers there. A hail of disruptor fire greeted them when they went through the doors.
Any ideas? Tobias asked as they somehow managed to find cover behind a shuttle.
"If we can just distract them long enough so we can get into one of these ships…" Rachel started.
"Forget it," Ryan said. "And leave Jake and the others behind? Besides how would we distract them without another of us getting killed?"
"He's right. They're closing in on us now," Tyranous added as he leaned out and shot one of the troopers in the chest.
"That wasn't very friendly, Tyranous! So you're the leader of the traitors? Amazing. Despite all the Emperor did for you, you still turn on him like this? I never figured you for a spineless weakling!"
Everyone knew the voice. Durok.
"Better that than a self-serving maggot like you!" Tyranous snarled back. "I'm in this for my people. All you care about is your own power! You're the disgrace to our race, not me!"
"Your grand speeches don't impress me, Tyranous. All of you will surrender now. Do that and I'll spare you!"
Tyranous looked at his human friends. "Well?"
Rachel spoke for them all. "Let's tell that son of a snake what he can do with his surrender!"
"I was hoping you'd say that," Tyranous grinned. "No deal, Durok. Only one of us walks away from this!"
Durok sighed. "So be it. Finish them off!"
"How about we finish you off instead, Durok!"
Durok recognised Ralgha's voice immediately and dived for cover. Most of his troopers weren't so lucky and died where they stood as Vorshak tossed a grenade at their feet. Jake's team then mauled the survivors before they could recover.
"How many of you filth are there?" Durok snarled as he raised his gun.
You're the only filth around here!
Durok whirled round in time to see a jaguar leap straight for his throat…
Andalite Alpha fighter wing
"We're almost there, Ax!" Marco said as Ax narrowly dodged fire from a destroyer's defence batteries.
Lock onto the main reactor as soon as we're in range, Ax ordered. Assuming we get in range…
Even Ax wasn't feeling too cosy about things. Three of his wingmen were already down and they still hadn't penetrated the perimeter of destroyers around the Iron Fist yet.
"Ax, behind us!" Marco warned.
Ax dodged again only to find yet another Raptor coming at him head on.
"He's still on our tail, Ax!"
Not for long!
Ax punched up maximum burn and flew straight at the Raptor in front. The Raptor behind punched up his speed and kept pace, which was just what Ax was hoping he'd do.
"Ax, are you crazy?!" Marco couldn't believe what Ax was doing. The Raptor pilot in front couldn't either. He was so shocked at what the Andalite was doing he never thought to fire his cannons.
Ax waited until the last second and then pulled hard right, leaving the 2 Raptors on a direct collision course.
Both Chelraks veered sharply to avoid a collision and barely avoided each other. The first one, however, veered too hard and slammed right into the side of a nearby destroyer. The second had time to level out before his warning sensors went off. He didn't have time to dodge again as Marco blew him into oblivion.
"I must have a death wish to keep flying with you, Ax!" Marco sighed.
Alpha 1 to squadron. We're in range. Destroy the Iron Fist at all costs!
With that, Marco quickly locked onto the Iron Fist and fired his first missile.
Iron Fist docking bay
It was all over in the docking bay. All of Durok's troopers were dead and a frenzied Justin had ripped open Durok's front. He was still alive but only just.
"Are you guys ok?" Jake asked as soon as he'd demorphed.
We're ok. Thanks to you, Tobias said.
"Good. I didn't want to lose anyone else!" Jake said bitterly.
Tyranous had walked over to the fallen Durok. "Not so tough without your troopers backing you up are you?"
"You may have killed me," Durok coughed up blood as he spoke. "But I'm not going alone!"
Before anyone could stop him Durok pulled a small device from his belt and pushed a button on it. All of the shuttles in the docking bay exploded throwing them all onto the ground.
Durok laughed madly. "If I can't win, no one will! Enjoy your victory while it lasts! HA HA HA!"
Enraged, Tyranous whipped out his gun and blew Durok's head off.
"Oh just great!" Rachel snapped as she looked round at the wreckage. "Any ideas now?"
Everyone wore the same defeated expression. No one had any ideas.
The Tailstrike
Status of the Iron Fist? Galuit asked worriedly. The battle against the Chelrak fleet was going well but it all meant nothing if they couldn't destroy the Iron Fist.
It has sustained heavy damage to its hull but its critical systems are still operating! It'll be in firing range of our homeworld shortly!
Galuit opened a channel. All ships: the Iron Fist is almost in firing range. Close in and destroy it at all costs!
Iron Fist: bridge
Slaar now stood alone on the bridge of the Iron Fist. All of the other controllers had fled for the escape pods after the first missile attacks but he had not yielded so easily. The Iron Fist would be in firing range in less than 2 minutes and whatever happened, he would ensure that the Andalites' homeworld would be destroyed. The fact that several of his own ships were in the line of fire meant nothing to him, nor did the immense damage the Iron Fist had sustained. Slaar was too far-gone. This was his moment of glory and he would not be denied!
Andalite Alpha fighter wing
Edullon cursed as he heard Galuit's message. In spite of their best efforts the Iron Fist was still intact and nearly all their missiles had been fired. The Dome Ships and Hunter-Killers were closing in but they probably wouldn't make it in time, especially with the destroyers still putting up fierce resistance.
Alpha 1 to Alpha wing, it's all up to us now! Target their main reactor!
With that, Edullon fired his last missile shot. It slammed into the port side of the Iron Fist but didn't do any critical damage.
Crangar's tail! Alpha 2, finish it off!
Alpha 2 engagi… Alpha 2 was sheared in half by disruptor fire before he could finish.
Edullon cursed again. Alpha 3?
Yes, my Prince? Edullon smiled slightly. At least Aximili was still alive.
You're the only one with a heavy missile left. Close in and engage!
Understood.
Everyone else cover Alpha 3. He must reach the target!
The Armageddon
"Status of the Iron Fist?" Izlyr was almost afraid to ask.
"It has been critically damaged on its port side. Another hit in that quarter and it's finished!"
Izlyr opened a channel. "All Raptors defend the Iron Fist! I don't care how you do it but keep the Andalite filth away from it!"
Andalite Alpha fighter wing
"Ax, on our tail!"
There's one ahead too!
It seemed to Ax and Marco that every Raptor in the Chelrak fleet had descended on them. Although Edullon and the rest of the squadron were doing their best to hold them back some had inevitably slipped through and now they were all gunning for them.
We're almost in range, Warrior Marco. Get ready!
"Ok. Shit! Ax, behind us again! He's…"
A disruptor bolt slammed into their fighter before he could finish. It wasn't a direct hit but it was enough to throw both of them onto the floor.
Edullon quickly dropped in behind the pursuing Raptor and blasted him at point blank range. Alpha 3, are you all right?
That remains to be seen, Ax replied.
Marco ran a damage report. "Cannons and engines are ok. SHIT! He knocked out the missile launchers! We can't take the shot!"
Crangar's tail! My Prince, we can't…
I heard, Warrior Aximili, Edullon said grimly.
"Ax, the Iron Fist!"
Ax turned to see the front of the Iron Fist opening up. It was powering up to fire. Ax couldn't believe it. If they fire now they'll destroy their own ships too!
"Ax, I don't think their Emperor cares much about that. He's flipped, remember?"
In his fighter, Edullon thought through his options. As he saw it, he really only had one left. We have one option left Warrior Aximili. It is my job to execute it. For now, you have the command. Good luck.
Ax was confused for a moment. Edullon seemed very calm considering the circumstances and he was giving him command all of a sudden? He realised as soon as Edullon's fighter pulled away and went to maximum burn.
My Prince! Do not do this! There must be… Ax stopped as he realised he was talking to dead air. Edullon had cut him off.
Iron Fist: bridge
Slaar felt a great thrill of pleasure as the weapon doors opened and the Iron Fist began to charge up. Despite all the losses and humiliation that he'd been through he would still destroy the Andalite homeworld. He was so busy preparing the weapon to fire he never noticed the Andalite fighter heading for him at full thrust…
The Armageddon
"Commander, the Emperor's already powering up the Iron Fist! 25 of our destroyers are still in front of him. If he fires now he'll destroy them as well!"
What!? Izlyr cursed as he realised the extent of the Emperor's obsession. He was supposed to have given the lead ships time to get clear. "Tell the destroyers to get out of there!" Even as he said it, Izlyr knew they wouldn't have time to get away before the Emperor fired. For the first time ever, Izlyr was having doubts about the path he was on. He hated the Andalites but was that really worth all the losses they'd taken? Was this path really the right one?
"Commander, there's an Andalite fighter heading for the Iron Fist at full thrust! He's heading for the weapon access!"
Izlyr knew what the Andalite was doing. He also knew there wasn't a thing he could do about it…
Iron Fist: bridge
Slaar's smile was wiped off his face as he was hurled onto the floor when a sudden explosion from the front rocked the ship. Slaar quickly got to his feet again and jammed his finger down on the firing switch. Nothing happened. Slaar pressed the switch again and again in fury but the result was the same. Slaar quickly had the computer run a damage report. He wasn't prepared for the results. Edullon's suicide run had done extreme damage. He had flown right into the bay where the weapon was stored and had smashed into it just as it was powering up to fire. The great mass of energy that had built up in it was now starting to feed back into the ship, which meant that in 10 minutes the Iron Fist would cease to exist.
Slaar frantically opened a channel to Izlyr. "Commander, the shuttles here are destroyed and there are no escape pods left. I need you to send a ship for me!"
"I'm afraid that is impossible, Emperor," Izlyr replied.
"WHAT! I gave a direct order!" Slaar raged.
"Orders from corpses mean nothing to me!" Izlyr snarled in reply. "Which is what you will be in a very short time. There's not enough time to get a ship out to you. Even if there were I wouldn't bother!"
"I don't need your help!" Slaar raged. "I'll contact another ship and have them rescue me. When I get back you'll be the corpse!"
"What other ships, ex-Emperor?"
Slaar looked at the scanners and realised with horror that the Chelrak fleet was retreating! Every ship was opening a jump point to Zero-Space.
"Wha…why?"
"Why? Because they have had enough of your insanity," Izlyr calmly added. "You were willing to kill them all just for your shot at the Andalites! They will no longer follow you and neither will I. It's a pity I couldn't have done this sooner!" Slaar then realised that with him dead and Tyranous onboard the Iron Fist and dead as well, the next in line for leadership would be Izlyr! "Don't worry, Emperor. You'll be given a decent funeral back on the homeworld. I'll see to that!"
Slaar stared at the communicator in a mix of horror and rage. He was still frozen in that same position when the Iron Fist blew up a few minutes later.
Iron Fist docking bay
"Man! What a burn!" Justin screamed in rage. "We go through all that for this?"
Everyone was feeling the same way as the Iron Fist began to crumble around them.
"Jake," Rachel said calmly.
"Yeah?"
"It was fun. Nice knowing you."
"Don't say that! Never give up hope!" Cassie broke in.
"She's right," Ralgha added. "Especially since help's on the way!"
"Help? What help?" Tom asked in confusion.
Ralgha held up his communicator. "Aximili's fighter is close by and I just managed to signal him."
"What! This ship's breaking up! They can't land here, they'll be killed along with us!"
Ax and Marco's fighter
"Make it fast Ax, this ship's coming apart!" Marco warned.
Your talent for stating the obvious is starting to annoy me! Ax grumbled.
"Look who's talking!" Marco muttered as he ran to the fighter's ramp. Once Ax had stopped he lowered the ramp and leaned out. "Hey guys, this the last cab out of here! Move it or lose it!"
No one needed telling twice. Marco quickly ran back to his console as everyone piled into the fighter.
"Punch it, Ax!" Jake said as he brought up the rear and closed the ramp.
Punch…? Ax said confused.
"GET US OUT OF HERE!" everyone screamed at once.
With that, Ax quickly punched up maximum burn and sped out of the docking bay.
"It's going to blow! Hang on!" Marco warned as all of space seemed to turn white for a moment and the ship was shaken by a massive shockwave. 30 seconds later the fighter levelled out although it had seemed much longer. Marco quickly checked his scanners again. "We're in the clear, Ax. There's no fighters around, they've all gone home."
Then I suggest we do the same, Ax said calmly.
"Thanks for the rescue, Marco," Ryan said. "I thought we were dead that time."
"Hey, where's…?" Marco had noticed Hannah's absence. Then he realised. "OH MAN! Two in one day!?"
"Two?" Cassie asked, eyes wide.
"Edullon's gone too," Marco said. "He did a kamikaze run into the Iron Fist."
No one said much after that as they flew back to the Tailstrike.
The Tailstrike
A joyous celebration was underway in the Dome. Andalites, Predators and Chelrak resistance fighters were all together celebrating the destruction of the Iron Fist and the Emperor's death. However, the absence of the Animorphs hadn't gone unnoticed by Galuit and Alloran.
I'll go and find them, Alloran decided. The heroes of the hour should be here after all.
I'll go with you, Malarnex offered. I think they might need some convincing after their recent losses.
Eventually they found them all in Jake's quarters and, as Malarnex had thought, none of them were in party mode. Jake said as much the minute they walked in.
"Sorry guys, but we don't feel like a celebration right now."
I can understand that. I lost many comrades on my last mission too, Alloran said. It wasn't an exaggeration. Most of Alloran's cyborg and Andalite team hadn't returned from their diversion raid on the Chelrak bases.
"I kept telling myself it had to happen sooner or later," Jake went on. "But…"
…You never thought it actually would, Malarnex finished.
"It just doesn't seem real!" Cassie sighed. "Hannah and Edullon. They've fought with us all this time, almost from the start and now they're…"
Casualties are a part of war, Alloran said coldly. And from what you've told me, none of you can be held responsible for their deaths. They chose to do what they did, even though the choice was forced on them. You did not kill them.
"Yeah, but we couldn't save them either," Jake added bitterly.
Trying to be right all of the time is impossible, Prince Jake. It can bring you even more pain than this. Believe me I know. Together you saved our world and countless others from the Emperor's madness. Let them go, don't make their sacrifices meaningless.
He's right, Jake, Malarnex broke in. You can mourn them but you can not bring them back.
Jake sighed. "Alright, we'll be there in awhile. Just don't expect us to enjoy it, we'll need more time for that."
I understand. The pain will lessen in time. Alloran walked to the door. Look at it this way: there is little chance of it happening again. The war will soon be over!
"Don't be so sure about that."
Everyone turned to see Estro in the doorway.
"What do you mean?" Rachel asked.
"The celebration's on hold. War-Prince Breeyar's called another council of war. It's not over yet."
Everyone groaned. Peace, it seemed, was still a ways off.
"Let's finish this!" Jake said grimly as he walked out.
Everyone followed him out thinking the same thing: We'll finish it if it's the last thing we do…
TO BE CONCLUDED…