Lex waited bored as the Prince and his scouts went out to hunt Yeerk infested Hork Bajir. Of course they didn't immediately end the threat to the entire planet immediately like they could have. Instead, they would kill a few targets every day and track those that would flee. The situation changed once an Andalite ship entered the system.
"What is that?" Lex asked of the Andalite ship. The ship had a large dome structure that was highly reflective and then another piece that attached perpendicular to the dome. The ship resembled a tree or a mushroom.
"It is an Andalite warship. We're trying to stay out of sight while keeping contact with those on the planet," the Captain said as if it were obvious.
"Can they see us?" Lex asked.
"We are cloaked," the Captain said dismissively.
The Andalite ship appeared to break apart into small pieces but then it became obvious these pieces were Andalite fighters. They resembled manta rays with circular bodies and long tails. The tails were curved and aimed forward like a scorpion. Lex watched as the fleet of fighters descended upon them and then started firing. The already damaged Yautja ship was hit several times causing it to shake violently. The Yautja ship fell out of cloak.
The Andalite ships swung by the Yautja ship for another pass. The Captain and his officers worked to defend the ship by firing plasma bursts at the Andalite ships but they were too small and fast to be hit. The Andalite fighters hit the Yautja ship again with several shots disabling the weapons.
"Prepare for interstellar speed and point the vessel towards the Andalite warship," the Captain ordered.
Lex took half a second to realize what the Captain planned to do. "You're going to ram it?!"
"We have no other course of action," the Captain argued.
"We could talk to them," Lex suggested.
"We do not converse with prey," the Captain said dismissively.
"I was once prey," Lex said. "Hail them," she ordered.
The Captain got out of his seat and confronted Lex towering above her with a much larger frame. "You challenge my authority?" the Captain asked.
"As royal Princess I outrank you," Lex said determined.
The Captain snorted. "The wife a Prince has no rank and especially not an illegal experiment such as yourself."
The two stared at each other even as the Andalite fighters went in for another swing. A sudden flash of light sent the Captain to the ground. Lex looked around for the source and found the executive officer holding a plasma rifle. "Take him to the brig," he ordered and handed the plasma rifle off to another.
The XO walked up to Lex. "The ship is yours," he said.
"Thank you," Lex replied gratefully. "Hail the Andalite warship."
The XO inputted the command and waited. Lex watched the screen knowing the Andalites may not pick up. The Andalite fighters were almost on them and with this next assault could very well destroy the ship. Just as the Andalite fighters were about to strike they pulled back. The red screen showed the Andalite leader. He had no mouth to make expressions, but his four eyes gave Lex the impression he was furious.
"My name is War Prince Alloran-Semitur-Corrass. This is the first time a Yautja vessel has ever contacted us. We expected you to self destruct," he said. His face did not move, but his alien voice came over the speakers. His voice was not one that would be translated through the universal translator implant. No one except her understood him on the ship.
Lex recognized that the XO and crew couldn't understand the message. She decided to speak English instead of the Yautja language. "We are engaged in a conservation effort. The alien population, the Hork Bajir, have become infested by the Yeerks. The infestation is growing," Lex said.
"Who brought the Yeerks to the planet? You?" Alloran asked suspiciously.
"A Black Yautja clan. You understand the difference between us and them?" Lex asked.
"I know the difference," Alloran replied. "However, every action they take is Yautja Prime's responsibility."
Lex didn't think that was entirely fair but dropped the issue. "We require assistance to stop the infestation. If the Yeerks manage to leave the planet with an army of Hork Bajir they could threaten other systems," Lex said.
"It would be easy enough to heat the atmosphere," Alloran replied.
"You would be responsible for killing every life form on the planet. You can't do this. You can't go back to your people with honor if you do," Lex bluffed.
Alloran's upper eyes moved around as if he were being watched by others. "Very well, we will send a task force to the ground and eliminate the Yeerk infestation. Your ship will be boarded and inspected," Alloran said.
"Is that really necessary? Tensions would be high," Lex protested.
"Yes it is. Many Andalites have been killed by the Yautja for sport. We demand justice," Alloran said. "I expect your cooperation."
The screen went black as the Andalite warship came closer. Lex turned to other Yautja on the bridge. "We are going to be boarded. No one is to fight them went they come on board. I want every Andalite skull on this ship destroyed," Lex ordered.
The XO motioned to the others to do as she asked. "Destroying skulls is very distasteful to us," the XO told her.
"If they find an Andalite skull on our ship we're all going to be killed," Lex replied.
The Andalite battleship approached cautiously with fighters swarming around. There was a thud inside the Yautja ship as they made contact and then the Andalites breached the hull. Yautja warriors were armed and ready to fight as the Andalites came on board. Lex knew what they looked like from the holograms but nothing prepared her for how they moved and acted in real life. Each Andalite warrior was armed with a pistol weapon designed for a much smaller hand. As Lex stared at the Andalites she saw great beauty in their blue fur, human like face, and gentle arms. Still, she could not dismiss the deadly tail armed with a scythe blade that could slice a Yautja in two within a fraction of a second.
Alloran eventually made his way onto the ship and gave the conditions a disgusted look. Lex couldn't blame him as Yautja ships always had a damp dark feel to them. "This is an act of war against the Yautja Empire," the XO barked at Alloran.
Alloran appeared to have a confused look on his face as if he did not understand. Lex quickly realized the Andalites couldn't translate the Yautja language but could somehow understand the human language English. "Welcome aboard," Lex said diplomatically.
"We will now make an inspection of your vessel. We do not expect any resistance," Alloran said roughly in her head.
Lex looked at the other Yautja to see if they had understood the Andalite. They had not. Lex then realized that the Andalite spoke in thought and could direct those thoughts to an entire group or to one person. Those thoughts bypassed language translation and could be understood by any creature with a sentient brain.
"You may proceed with your inspection," Lex continued in English.
Alloran stayed still with his warriors present while others walked through the ship. "How do you understand me?" Lex asked curiously.
"Your language is in our universal translator database," Alloran replied.
"Then your species has been to Earth," Lex realized.
"Some of our scouts have been there," Alloran said vaguely.
The Yautja watched the exchange between Lex and Alloran with interest. They could understand Lex but couldn't hear Alloran's replies. The Andalites could understand Lex but could not understand the Yautja language. In this way Lex was the mediator between both sides. Allorans guards came back, spoke telepathically to each other, and then Alloran faced Lex again.
"You forgot one," he said to her revealing an Andalite skull.
Lex sighed feeling betrayed by her so-called comrades. Alloran grasped Lex's arm placing her in a trance for a short moment. Lex felt a sense of relief, harmony, and relaxation as she was touched. Alloran withdrew and then his arm began to morph. It became thicker, the blue hair disappeared, but his arm switched from Yautja to human to Yautja again. Lex watched in amazement as Alloran's arm morphed three different species combinations. Alloran then brought his arm back to normal.
"Your DNA is curious. On our world we genetically spliced different vegetation together. We have even experimented by morphing halfway between species to create a new hybrid. But you appear completely Yautja while still containing human DNA. It is like your flesh is a mask," Alloran said intrigued.
"If you let us live maybe we can share what we know," Lex offered even though the very idea was strictly illegal.
Alloran looked at the Andalite skull and gave it back to a guard who left the ship. "The Yeerk infestation is the first priority. We have a few options. We could incinerate the atmosphere killing all life on the planet but to do so is not lawful nor honorable," Alloran said pausing before he considered his next option.
"Or we could quarantine the infestation on the ground and try to save what life we can," Alloran said. "Whatever the cost to me, I will not allow the Yeerks to escape this planet."
"We have already made contract with the Yeerks on the planet. They have infested the native species, the Hork Bajir. They are very dangerous in close combat," Lex said.
"That doesn't concern me. What concerns me is that they may already have access to your technology. We can see through your cloak but only if we know where to look. I cannot allow the Yeerks to use a cloaked Yautja ship and escape," Alloran replied.
"Are you proposing an alliance?" Lex asked.
"It seems we are only able to understand you. The others on this ship are useless to me," Alloran said. His men then turned their pistols on the other Yautja and fired. There were several flashes of light and immediately the Yautja were on the floor. Lex flinched from the sound but otherwise made no protest. "No cry of protest? You truly are human," Alloran said amused.
"Are they dead?" Lex asked.
"No, merely stunned. We will hold them prisoner. You will help us control the Yeerk infestation. Imagine what would happen if the Yeerks ever managed to get to Earth," Alloran said.
"I understand."