Identification confirmed, Commander. It's the Blade Ship. They're powered up and heading in our direction.
Brian let that sink into his brain for a few seconds. This is it. We've found them. They didn't drift from the signal. Do they know that we were coming?
Do we advance? Captain Kerell inquired.
West thought, but shook his head. "Negative. Return home ASAP, but maintain a patrol when you do. Helm, launch all available fighters."
Terance turned his stalk eyes toward him. All?
Brian nodded, knowing exactly what he wanted. "All, that includes the two gunships. All fifty of those bastards are gonna be ready in case they want to screw with us. Go to full alert-one."
The Andalite nodded, a guesture that certainly looked human. He hit the blue button for the second time. Alert-One, Alert-One, all fighters: Launch. Launch. All crew, report to your battle stations. Repeat, report to your battle stations.
West turned to his Tactical Officer. "Weapons check."
Kaerlin-Efforene-Apellan, one of the very few female Andalites on board, looked down with all four eyes on her terminal. All systems operational, and the PDS is powering up. Two minutes before full power.
The Commander nodded in affirmation, and looked at his Comms Operator. "Tank, anything?"
Martin "Tank" Breven shook his head. "Nothing, yet-- Wait, we're being hailed. Two-way visual requested."
"Put it on viewscreen," Brian ordered.
-----
"I'm not liking this any bit," Frost mused.
Kerell didn't feel much better than Deuce. These are one of the few times where I agree with you. But orders are orders. Besides, I'd rather be fighting in my Model 28 than in this jalopy, he said. No offense, Mel.
None taken. I'd rather be in my Gunship, anyway. Kerell could see Mel peering closer to his instruments.
Something wrong? the Captain asked.
Mel shook his head confusedly. I'm not sure. I'm getting some strange readings on the Blade Ship...
Like what?
Kind of like... his voice trailed off. Then he looked up, still perplexed. Like... I don't know. It's just giving off a bit more heat than it should be.
-----
The middle-aged human on the viewscreen had his arms folded across his chest and with a bemused, but disturbed, smile on his face. "Who are you and what are you doing in our space?"
West brought himself up to his full height. He glanced back at Cassie for a brief moment, who understood his meaning and stepped out of view. "I am Commander Brian West of the United Nations, Terran district. We have substantial evidence that you have seven of our people in your custody and we request that you allow us to retrieve them."
The man laughed. A Yeerk laugh. "Your species is so humorous. That's why I love this host. I am Efflit-One-Three-One-Eight of the Sulp Niar Pool, and your request is denied."
Brian held up two fingers from behind his back. Kaerlin brought up a request on her terminal. Ion Launchers armed and ready. Silent-lock. Two seconds before we get a firing solution.
"Why are you denying this simple request, if I may ask?" West asked innocently.
-----
"Oh, shit!" Frost let the curse fly free as he banked on his right wing and narrowly evaded the Dracon Beam fired from one of the four Bug Fighters.
Dammit all, they used the Blade Ship to mask their signal, but not their heat signature! Mel yelled at himself.
Kerell wasn't listening; he barrel rolled left and pulled up, breaking his attacker's lock. He heard Mel slam a hand against his station.
They're jamming us! We can't hail the Michael!
"One, break right!" Fox called. Kerell did as he was told, and felt the shockwave of an explosion behind him.
"Got 'im!" Fox exulted. "Captain, get the hell outta here, and get ahold of the Commander! Go! Go! Go!"
Kerell didn't need to be told twice, but still he was reluctant. You boys better not die on me. Going to Max Burn!
-----
"You humans don't understand the power We now hold. What is it that you want out of life?"
"I want to bring those people home, is what I want," Brian replied harshly. He was through playing nice, and they were getting ready to kick ass any second now.
Efflit 1318 chuckled. "You really are not a deep-thinker, are you? The One will give you all you want and more. The One Who Is Many. The One Who Is All. But you must be willing. Are you willing?"
Brian put his right hand behind his back, and ticked off each finger. When he reached one, he curled it into a fist. As he did that, he said, "Perhaps, but now's not the time to negotiate." He cut off the transmission before Efflit could reply as Kaerlin reported the firing of the Ion Launchers.
Two gigantic spheres of blue, crackling energy flew at supersonic speeds, a tail of the artificial lightning trailing it like a comet. Kaerlin reported the distance to target at fourteen hundred meters. Twelve hundred, one-zero hundred meters. Eight hundred, six hundred...
----
Kerell reacted as best he could. He dropped under the pair of charges, both of which just narrowly missed his ship. He could feel the ship's hull rattle and shake, but it held. Mel's eyes brightened. It must have lifted the jamming! Hailing the Michael!
Commander, they've launched Bug Fighters. Fox and Frost are taking care of them right now. I'm heading in at Max Burn, be ready to clear me for a landing and a ship change.
West's voice came in loud and clear. "Roger, Delta One. Take the rest of your ten out with you. Sending Gunship Beta to assist."
-----
Fox yanked back on the flightstick and cut his arc in half, finding himself almost right on top of the Bug Fighter. He triggered a snap shot from his Shredder and rolled under and to the right of the detonating ship. "That's three!"
Frost's voice sounded strained. "Don't get too happy, Trey. They've got friends inbound."
Fox leveled out his pull and ruddered left to get a bead on the fourth Bug Fighter trailing Frost. Frost weaved left and right, the Dracon Beams missing by only centimeters. Fox plotted his intercept course, and sent a coursing beam of green energy into the starboard wing of the trailer. The wing snapped off at where it met with the hull, and the Bug Fighter suddenly rolled to port, and continued rolling out into space, with no hope of regaining control.
"Thanks, Drake," Derek said, relief easily heard in his voice.
"Let's bail before their buddies come, Frosty," Fox called.
"Amen to that, Trey."
-----
"Enhance picture, Sensors," West ordered.
The Blade Ship grew to take up the entire viewscreen. It was still the Blade Ship, no doubt about it, but it was... different. At the top-center of the ship, a deck gun was installed, like a second pair of Dracon Beams, only much larger. However, despite the outward changes and different color scheme, the port side was damaged. A large, crumpled dent with the unmistakable burn marks of Dracon Beams was easily seen.
The ion charges converged into one massive ball, and at the last second slammed into the nose of the Blade Ship. The charge seemed to melt into the ship, a wave of electrical energy washing through it. It shuddered, and its turn to face the Michael was still being made, but without the minor changes it was making. The nose pointed at the Michael, but then kept going. Without control, and in the weightlessness of space, the Blade Ship could neither stop nor slow its turn or speed.
"Full thrust, but stop at ten kilometers," the Commander directed. "Call in all Alpha Team members. Tell them to be ready at the HTC in ten minutes and prepare to board the Blade Ship."