A.N: Here's the next chapter. We are returning to Prince Isidar at the outpost. Enjoy!

CHAPTER 14: The Outpost

Third Person

‹Preparing to dock with Sector BG-6 Outpost. Please stand by,› the automated thought-speak voice on the MoonFire droned,

‹Docking process complete. You are now free to leave the ship.›

Everyone filed out of the MoonFire into the outpost that overlooked Sector BG-6. BG-6 was a galactic rarity. The BG indicates a blue giant and the number six indicates that there are six planets orbiting the sun. Blue suns do not occur often and when they do, the planetary life is usually very unique in biology and culture. This is because the sun, unlike others, consists of freezing nitrogen rather than the usual hot gasses. As such, it leads to strange evolution and many of the species worship the sun as a kind of god.

Prince Isidar looked over the sight with awe. He had never seen such a thing before and few Andalites ever did. A loud thought-speak voice shook Prince Isidar out of his reverie,

‹Prince Isidar!› the voice belonged to a very young warrior, ‹Quit slouching around and get to the captain's quarters! He wants a word with you.›

Prince Isidar shot the warrior a look of fury, ‹You dare order you're your superiors around that way?!›

‹N-no, Prince Isidar it was entirely my fault. I'm sorry.›

‹As you should be. Move along!›

The warrior left and Prince Isidar followed the directional arrows down the corridors until he found the captain's quarters. He paused at the door to taste the grass and found that it was very good. Then he realized with a pang of annoyance that the captain wasn't there. He scuffed his hoof irritably on the grass and waited for the captain to arrive.

‹Isidar, you fool! Get your tail out from between your legs and come over here. I want a word with you.›

Prince Isidar walked over to the captain.

‹As you know the Dome ship was assaulted by an unknown assailant. We lost T. O. Ondar during the attack and were forced to retreat to this outpost.› Prince Isidar murmured in agreement, ‹The attacker's ship was very well armed and they communicated in a very strange way.› The Andalite prince remembered that all too well. The voices of the creatures penetrated further than just the mind. They delved into your very soul and shook you from the inside out.

‹Yes, I remember. What do you want?›

‹I want you to lead a team to investigate this species. In approximately fourteen standard days, you will be sent out to Earth with a team of specialists to investigate. You will acquire and morph humans to blend in. Look for anything strange or unusual.›

‹Why Earth?› asked Isidar,

‹They were descending to the planet's surface when they attacked. I want you to contact the outpost immediately if you think you've found them. We don't want another alien species attacking the planet. The Yeerks are enough to deal with at the time being. Come, I will take you to your team so that you can prepare yourself for the journey.› The captain led Prince Isidar to the launching bay where his team was stationed.

His team consisted of two somewhat weak looking males and an attractive female. Standing apart from the group was an elderly male with pale blue, almost white fur. Both sets of eyes were fixed on Isidar making him feel uneasy. Andalites were trained to have their main eyes fixed on a certain thing and to have both stalk eyes swerving around, looking for signs of trouble. Something about him unnerved Isidar and he looked away.

Isidar could tell that these Andalites were scientists, clearly not fighting warriors.

‹Captain, why have you chosen me to lead the team? I'm not a scientist and I hardly know anything about alien races except what needs to be known for communication and combat.›

The captain looked at Prince Isidar for a moment, ‹I have chosen you because you, however puzzled you are at your task, will keep things on track. You have the strictest discipline system I have ever known a prince to have. I trust you will take appropriate measures to ensure that your mission does not fail.›

Broadcasting for all to hear, the captain addressed the team of scientists, ‹This is your leader, Prince Isidar-Ganal-Eluit. You will carry out his orders as he gives them. Prince Isidar, your team consists of Toorlin-Mennorak-Hasheen and Yarlut-Sirinial-Wendoth.› the captain pointed at the two males, ‹That one, there is Raschen-Noorlit-Dahar,› he motioned to the female, ‹And he is Cirmaal-Endenoth-Gashill.› the elderly Andalite still had his gaze fixed on Isidar who looked away once more.

‹We accept you as our leader and will carry out your orders to the best of our abilities.› the team carried out the standard phrase of acceptance, although Cirmaal said nothing and continued staring.

After a while, Raschen-Noorlit-Dahar took Isidar on a tour of the vessel they would be flying to Earth in. She showed him the bridge, the lab, and the quarters,

‹That one is yours,› she motioned to a large room at the end of the hallway, ‹The grass isn't great but it's edible at least. It will take us approximately seventy-six point four hours to arrive on Earth. The ship is an old model and isn't Z-Space capable so we can't go any faster.›

‹Who exactly is Cirmaal, anyway? He keeps looking at me like I'm something special.›

Raschen hesitated, ‹I suggest you ask Cirmaal himself. No one really understands him. If he's interested in you, it must be something urgent. All I'll tell you is that Cirmaal is older than you think and he has seen things in battle that I don't care to think about. You should feel honored that he thinks you will be a good enough leader. You should go now; preparation starts early in the morning.›

Isidar went to his quarters but did not go to sleep. Instead he ran over in his mind the mysterious Andalite named Cirmaal and the task he had been given. They had fourteen days to prepare. Why such a long time? That would give the unknown aliens plenty of time to settle themselves on Earth. Why had they attacked anyway? The MoonFire had not assaulted them in any way, but had simply asked them to identify themselves. They must be a naturally aggressive species.

As Isidar thought these things over, the blue sun began to set over the outpost. Isidar didn't think he had ever seen anything so beautiful before in his life. The sun cast startling shades of blue through the window into his quarters. It ranged from the darkest shade of navy to most vibrant and bright hue of turquoise. The sunsets on the home world weren't nearly this incredible.

In the glow of the dying sun, Prince Isidar began to drift asleep, his troubles forgotten in the torrent of bright blue. But they were far from over.

A.N: My birthday is this Saturday. No joke. Do you readers know what I want for my birthday? I want lots of reviews!