Brian took a quick look at who was still with him; he didn't even make an attempt to casually glance at the names of the dead. Despite knowing there was nothing he could have done about it, the fact remained that they had been under his command, and therefore his responsibility. "Chris."

The Brit's voice came back strong, despite the stinking quasi-human corpse at his feet. "Yes?"

"Think you can find us a map of thise place?"

Chris' face disappeared from the window on Brian's HUD for a moment. There was a scrolling of numbers, and then Chris returned. "Negative. It is quite secure."

Commander West frowned. He checked his M-25, and reloaded. He opened the frequency. "We still may have secrecy on our side--"

The door opened, revealing a T-intersection; no one was at the intersection. A calm, male voice, with a hint of the old-age computerized speech, spoke through the speakers in the walls.

It is pointless to fight. You are grossly outnumbered.

"So much for secrecy," Katrina muttered. She switched out her M-25 for the MP-15; it was obvious she still agreed with the Commander.

Brian's mind worked at a speed he had never thought possible. He navigated through the HUD to activate thought-speak. While morphed organisms and Andalites are capable of this form of communication, it was impossible for humans on their own. The suits are able to pick up humans' and Hork-Bajir's attempts on thought-speak, and then transferring that data over the frequency. Anyone who is wearing the suits and are connected to the frequency will pick up the thought-speak, as it is posted in lettering on the HUD.

Still have to try. Everyone strap away the M-25s. We'll use them later, Brian ordered. He looked at the list of the living. Okay, pair up. McCain and I are heading straight. Tormak, Carbron, you're outbound to the right. Nicolette, Michaelson, and Brenner, you got left. Cass, you're never any farther away than two feet from either of them.

He received a number of acknowledgements, and then silently looked out the open door, taking in the sights. The floor was a black metal, seemingly an alloy of aluminum and titanium (or so the readings on his HUD says), and the sides, along with the ceiling, were black marble. A white band would travel a block at two-second intervals, giving him an eerie feeling. The corridor leading straight ended in a double-door, while the hallways on either side led to a number of other smaller doors. He looked back to McCain, to make sure he was ready as well, and started forward, his MP-15 at the ready.

-----

The HTC was slow.

"Break left!" Derek was screaming at Drake.

"I have been for the last--" Fox stopped in mid-sentence as a blast sent a tremor throughout the HTC, "--five seconds! Now gimme a status!"

Derek looked at his instruments. "Shields at Seventy-six percent! Engines still full!"

Drake looked back at his passengers. "Are y'all strapped in?"

Kerell shook his head. I am an Andalite. I have no need to strap in.

Fox gave him a smug grin. "Don't say I didn't warn ya... Frosty, full throttle, switch to full reverse on my mark!"

Derek did as he was told; the two pilots quickly were pressed into their seats, even piloting a giant such as this. The pair of Bug Fighters, seemingly grateful that the HTC decided to level out, began to line up a good, solid shot.

Frost looked at an indicator. "They'll have a clean lock in two seconds..." he looked to Fox, his hand on the throttle lever.

Fox felt a bead of sweat drip down the side of his face. "Ready..."

"One second...!"

"Mark!"

Frost pulled back on the lever as quickly as he could. The sudden change in momentum lurched everyone forward in their seats, even knocking Captain Kerell over. Fox ruddered left as the HTC was changing directions, making a one-eighty degree turn, finishing the turn aimed directly at the two Bug Fighters and moving backwards from them.

"Tank! Fire!"

The two Shredders lashed out at the left Fighter, vaporizing the left wing, and pummeling its hull with fire. The ion cannon merely increased the Shredders' effectiveness, and the Bug Fighter disentegrated into metal shards. The cannon quickly snapped off a second shot, but Fox was already turning away. Even so, one of the two Shredders drove its beam right into the Bug Fighter's nose and cockpit, probably burning up the pilots and crew in the blink of an eye. The Fighter continued on its straightaway path, probably out into eternity.

Fox shivered. He'd rather have his ship be destroyed with him. "Scratch two bandits," he said in monotone.

-----