Chapter 27

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"... and just remember to let your people know if they get hurt, pull back straight away. The more casualties we can avoid, and the less injured we have on the field, the better"

"Will do"General Cardwell, the man in front of me, saluted then moved off to go tell the Majors under him and their squads. Again, I felt awkward telling a man probably more than twice my age what to do, but I knew I had more experience at this than he did. We were now on the outskirts of one of the Australian cities, and we were surprised to know that the soldiers in this area had gone to great lengths to seek us out. From the intel they had given us, it seemed the Yeerks had gotten smart, and there we countless ground troops at the ready. So... we had now made a backup plan. And several squads of Australian troops had offered to help. So, we had included them in our new attack plan, and the five of us girls had offered to be on the ground with them, to help guide them through this. I just hoped we didn't loose too many of these well trained soldiers...

Then again, thinking about it, I was a 'well trained' soldier. Just... in a different sense than these guys and girls were.

It was hard to believe I'd been doing this for now almost nine years. Fighting in wars... somehow managing to survive...

I took a quick glance over at Amanda and Rachel, who were having what looked like a deep conversation. They hadn't turned their ear pieces on just yet, so I had no idea what they were saying, but it looked serious.

My eyes went from the more experienced two, to the least. Serah and Kristiana were both leaning against a wall, both occasionally talking about something or other. I saw Kristiana shrug, finally looking up at Serah. Rtaia had been able to give them something to settle their poor stomachs, and now they were in probably better shape than the rest of us were. I saw Serah give Kristiana a weird look, scrunching up her face before shaking her head. I half wondered what they were talking about...

"How are you guys doing down there?" Ithiell's voice jerked me out of my thoughts, and I tapped my earpiece.

"Yeah, the soldiers are on board"

"All right, Donnie and I are in position and waiting. Leo, Tobias, where are you guys?"

"We're here" Came Leo's reply.

"Marco and Mikey?"

"Same here"

"Raph-"

"We're here" Came Robert's slightly snippy voice. I think he was just eager to get moving. I was sure being back in Australia was also causing him a little internal grief as well...

"All righty then, now we know he boys and I are all in place. Rtaia is up in the fighter waiting for our signal. You might want to get the girls to switch their ear pieces on now"

"All right, hang on" I put two fingers to my lips, letting out a low whistle and seeing all four girls turn to me. As soon as they did, I indicated to my ear, seeing them all catch on and move to switch them on.

"All right, they're patched in" I told him, looking at the girls as they all gave me a thumbs up.

"All right, Jade?"

"Yup"

"You know what to do"

"All right" I looked at the girls, who all nodded at me "We'll get the soldiers and move into place"

"Copy, just give the signal when you're ready"

Slowly, I went to each squadron of soldiers, talking to the General as well as the Majors in charge, watching as they all moved off. I saw Rachel nod, taking to the sky to make sure we knew when they got into place.

"You girls ready?" I asked the remaining three, and they nodded. I turned, heading down the small alleyway near us, hearing the others follow.

"How's Sequae?"

Silence from behind me as I took a peek out, seeing the first line of Yeerk Controllers, weapons at the ready. Most of them looked to be aiming their weapons at the sky. I guessed they'd caught onto the fact that we were getting in from the rooftops, and were trying to be ready when we did our little trick again.

"Yeah, he's ready too" Came Kristiana's response from my left, and I looked back at them, nodding.

Serah and Amanda started to shift, and Kristiana nodded at me that she was ready, getting into a stance to run. I took out my dagger, knowing this would rely on my 'ninja' skills now.

I left the girls, darting in and out of the shadows and getting as close as I could to the first wave of Yeerks, hiding myself neatly in the shadows behind a half destroyed car. I pressed my back against it, hearing "All right, Jade has made her move and is right next to them"

"All right, are the soldiers in place?"

(Yep, they're all ready and waiting) Rachel told him, hearing him sigh.

"Okay... give the signal to start"

I heard a huge crackle above me, looking up to see the Pool Ships force field drop, and it started to tip slightly, seeming to struggle to stay in the air. Instantly, all the Dracon beams and spotlights were raised to both see and shoot above them. I took that moment to throw my little zapper towards the group, feeling myself lifted slightly in the air by Kristiana as it hit. I heard screams as the zapper electrified the ground under them, half turning to see some of them falling, the others now moving their Dracon beams to aim in my direction.

"Ah!" I yelped, covering my head as the shooting started, feeling Kristiana drop me. She probably had to duck away from the wall to cover herself.

"Give the word!" Ithiell yelled, and I heard Rachel give the go ahead to the soldiers. Instantly, the night lit up with weapons firing into the night, hearing the Yeerks near me now turning to the new enemy. I took the time to shift, seeing Serah and Amanda fly past me, Kristiana hot on their heels as she started to throw people.

(Guys!) I yelled, diving over the cars and getting into the fight, ducking a little as a gunshot whizzed past my head.

(I think we need to stay on the same side as the soldiers, otherwise they're going to get us as well as the Yeerks!) Amanda suggested as she body slammed a Hork-Bajir, smacking another in the face.

"Good idea!" Kristiana yelled as she lifted two controllers in the air who had been coming at her, throwing them off to the side.

(Watch it!) I dove over, knocking her down as a Hork-Bajir came at her, his blades barely missing both of us as he lumbered past.

"Thanks Jade" Kristiana grabbed the Hork-Bajir with her powers, throwing him randomly up in the air. At that moment I saw the ropes above us, then I saw Donnie and Ithiell sliding up towards where Rtaia had made holes in the ship.

(Stay safe guys) I muttered, jumping back into the madness and pushing myself with all I had.

"Enemies down!" Came one of the soldiers, and I looked around and realised he was right.

(First wave down) Rachel confirmed (But you got another wave coming towards you)

(Sequae, would you like to do the honors?) I asked him, feeling him touch my mind again in what I could only guess was agreement.

The ground shook under us, and the soldiers seemed to be having trouble staying upright as Sequae now passed under us, then...

(Whoa! He's on em!)

"We're in and setting charges! Hang on guys!" I heard Leo call out.

(Last time I checked, we all had boobs!) Serah grumbled at him, but he either didn't hear it or decided to ignore it, hearing sounds of battle in our earpieces from each of the groups now in the ship. I heard Amanda snort a little, then-

(All right, wave two down... but there's a third wave coming your way... and it's big)

(Care to join us Rach?) I asked her, suddenly noticing the soldiers were lining up behind the four of us.

(With pleasure!) I saw a bald eagle land beside me, starting to grow. The soldiers were looking at her in awe as a bird became a teenage girl in spandex.

"We're behind you... sir- I mean, ma'ams?" Came the Major's voice as she saluted us a little.

(Are your other squads and General in place?) I turned around to her, and she nodded.

(Can you keep in contact with them?) Amanda now, and she pointed to another person, who looked to have a walky talky in his hands.

(All right... get them to be ready. We're going to need them in case this goes sideways)

(Is anyone hurt down there?) Marco now, then I heard him grunt a little.

"Does anyone need medical attention?" Kristiana called to them "Because if you do, you need to get out of here fast. We don't want you dying"

Two soldiers had, and I noticed as another helped them move away from the battle ground in a sense.

(Kristiana, you might want to get behind that wall... we don't want you being shot) I told her, motioning at a half standing wall near us. She sighed, but nodded, knowing I was right and moving to kneel behind it.

(Everyone else, get into positions like Kristiana) Rachel instructed (The more you can cover yourselves now, the better. Just... don't shoot us)

(Agreed) I heard footsteps, turning back and getting into a fighting stance, baring my teeth as Rachel and Amanda stood on either side of me. Serah stood on the other side of Amanda, half mirroring my position.

The soldiers shuffled behind us, just as the Yeerks came into view, and the five of us struck first, tearing into them as a firefight started.

"Jade!" I spun just as I saw a Hork-Bajir arm raised, and it looked like it was having trouble bringing it down. I didn't hesitate, leaping up and sinking my teeth into his neck and knocking him down.

(Thanks Kristiana! Now we're even!) I yelled over the thunder of guns firing, dodging a blast and twisting my body to hit the person who fired at me.

I heard her say something, seeing more bodies flying and Hork-Bajir screeching, but before I could ask her what she said two Hork-Bajir were coming at me, and my mind went back to the fight at hand.

DUCK! ATTACK! BITE! SLASH!

I knew I was getting hurt, but with all the enemies around, I knew I couldn't stop... not now. I felt blood pouring from wounds, but I tried to ignore them as I brought down enemy after enemy, seeing the others do the same. I saw Serah near me, looking hurt and slowing her attacks a little, but I was glad to see she was fighting through it, still going. I ripped apart a Taxxon, jumping over the body and going to land beside her.

(You all right?)

(Yeah... just... annoyingly painful. Having a little... trouble... ignoring it)

(It's all right, you'll make it. And if all else fails, I got your back!)

(Thanks Jade)

Soon Sequae was there as well, his tentacles exploding up through the ground and joining Kristiana in throwing people, the rest of him just under the ground.

(Oh shit!) I heard a snap, seeing Rachel collapse to the ground, her front left paw and the rest of her back end now missing, blood pooling everywhere.

(You gotta demorph!) Amanda told her, now half hovering over Rachel as she attacked anyone that came close.

(How?! It's kinda not the-)

(Kristiana!) I yelled, seeing Rachel start to slowly move backwards, surprised to see three soldiers jump out from behind one of the walls, starting to drag her backwards as Amanda covered them.

I heard a yelp, then saw one of them collapse to the ground screaming and seeing an arm missing. I went to call out to the other soldiers, seeing two more dive into the madness, firing and pulling their injured friend back behind a wall.

(Rachel!)

(I'll... just)

(Kristiana! I need you to keep them off her!)

I heard her yell something, but saw the Yeerks that were trying to come at her being tossed aside, moving to duck a bladed arm and throwing my body weight at the enemy that was coming at me.

(Guys! Are you done yet?!) I yelled (We're getting our asses kicked out here!)

"Almost, hang on!" Ithiell's response as a blade cut deep into my shoulder, severing the tendons connecting my front leg to the rest of me.

(Where are those other soldiers?!) Amanda cried out, then shrieked as she was slammed hard into a wall by at least four Hork-Bajir. I saw Rachel, now an elephant, going to help her.

"From what my scans are saying, they hit another group of Yeerks" Donnie's voice now, even as I groaned and then yelled from the pain.

(Are they okay?!)

"Sort of?" Ithiell sounded confused.

(Fuck!) I screamed in anger and frustration as I dove under another hit, trying to focus my mind enough to try and shift myself into something else...

"Jade... the readings I'm getting... it just... it can't be..."

(FUCK YOUR READINGS!) I screamed, sick of the calm voices as the battle raged around me (We need help, now!)

"I am here!" Suddenly the ground lit up, and the Yeerks started to scream, turning and realise Rtaia had just fired a neat line through the Yeerks, taking a few of them out at once.

(We need to get to the other soldiers!)

(Take Serah and Kristiana! Sequae, Rachel and I will handle the rest!)

"I will help also!" Rtaia's voice again as she shot over our heads, firing at the enemy and hearing more screams from them.

(If you insist! Girls!) I dove behind the wall where Kristiana was, seeing Serah join me, shifting into a black panther. I shifted myself into a Jinnaw, and Kristiana jumped onto my back, throwing controllers aside before holding onto my fur as I flew off in the direction that Ithiell was now directing me to.

"Easy!" Kristiana yelped as I dove around a corner, Serah trying her best to keep up with me.

(Sorry, but we gotta move!)

"Jade, you need to know-"

(Just keep directing me! We need to make sure-)

I skidded to a stop, realising we were to the side of a firefight between the Yeerks and the soldiers, seeing Yeerks, Taxxons and...

(Oh...what the...fff...) I screamed worldlessly, hearing Ithiell sigh.

"I tried to warn you"

"What the hell are they?" Kristiana muttered from my back. I was about to tell her, but Ithiell answered for me.

"Terinans... the Yeerks have managed to take Terinans"

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Yes... I know... so evil!

I was going to write more, but I figure I'd leave this here for now :D

Please R&R!

Constructive Criticism appreciated!