Maybe he was worried about me being too close to the humans. I don't know. I just know that an aristh doesn't usually stay on the bridge.

It was small, as battle bridges go. None of the wide-open spaces of a Dome ship bridge. There was good, hardy grass underfoot, though. And the latest in sensors and computers ringed the circular space, watched by half a dozen intensely focused warriors.

It was an honor to be there. It was exciting.

So why did I keep picturing my human friends sitting in the little room off the sick bay?

A tall, holographic display shimmered in the middle of the room. It showed the planet and the ships in nearby space. Yeerk ships in red, our ships in blue. There was a lot more red than blue.

By focusing my mind, I could see one of the new thought-speak displays. It transmits data directly to your brain. Very "cutting edge," as Marco would say.

I decided that I had no reason to feel guilty. I had been united with the humans when we were on Earth. That made sense. But now I was back among my own people. My true place was here.

On the thought-speak display I called up a detailed map of the situation on the ground.

Planet Leera was ninety-two percent covered by water. Eight percent land in a few scattered islands and one continent. The land battle would take place on the continent. Neither we nor the Yeerks had much capability underwater where the Leerans built their cities.

I could see several Leeran cities, usually built within forty or fifty miles of the continent or one of the islands.

Whoever--Yeerk or Andalite--ended up controlling the continent would effectively control the planet.

What do you think of the tactical situation, Aristh Aximili?"; the T.o. asked me.

It startled me. He sounded almost friendly.

I'm not an expert on--"; I did not suppose you were,"; he snapped. I asked for an evaluation."; all yes, sir. The Yeerks are strong in orbit above the planet. I would say the odds favor them. But they don't want the battle to take place up here. Even if they beat us, they might be too badly damaged to be able to invade and hold the continent below from Leeran counterattack."; I see. If they fear the Leerans on the surface, why take the risk of engaging us and the Leerans together on the surface?"; I was out of things to say. Of course, the T.o. was right! I must sound like an idiot.

The T.o. turned one stalk eye to look at me. Because, Aristh Aximili, the Yeerks understand that different species do not fight well together. We have one way of doing things. The Leerans a very different way. The Yeerks are united under one command; we and the Leerans are not."; I noticed the captain looking thoughtfully at me and at his T.o. He seemed displeased.

There's a lesson there, Aristh,"; the T.o. said. We Andalites are strongest when we fight alone."; all yes, sir."; I knew what he meant.

He was talking about the humans. And I really should just keep quiet. And yet, with all due respect, it was my human friends and I who destroyed the Yeerks' attempt to create a species of ocean-going shock troops for use here on Leera. If the Yeerks had succeeded in that plan, the situation here today would be impossible."; The T.o. looked angry. I didn't regret having spoken up, but I was waiting for him to-- Dracon flashes!"; a warrior at a sensor station called out. We have Dracon flashes at the north end of the continent. Now Shredder flashes. The battle has begun."; An instant later, a holographic Andalite head appeared in midair before us.

Force Commander Prince Galuit-Enilon-Esgarrouth,"; the T.o.

said. Attention!"; No one stood at attention except me. They all had things to do. You don't actually stand at attention if you're doing something.

In a calm thought-speak voice the holographic head said, The action has begun on the continent. There are heavy Yeerk forces.

Carry out plan seven four. To our Leeran allies: May your great god Cha-Ma-Mib smile on you this day. And to all Andalite warriors: The People expect that every warrior shall do his duty."; The Ascalin decelerated, slowing as it dropped into the thick, humid atmosphere of Leera.

Sir, what is my battle station?"; I asked the T.o.

He laughed the grim laugh of a warrior going into battle. For the bold aristh who made all this possible? You'd better stick with me."; He and the captain exchanged a glance and a laugh. I didn't know whether to be embarrassed or proud. Mostly, I was just scared.

The continent loomed larger and larger. Most of it was lush and green, primarily jungle. Green like Earth's forests and jungles, but with wide swaths of some brilliant yellow vegetation, too.

The northern end of the continent was less fertile, more barren, probably colder. It was in one valley there that the battle was underway.

Visual,"; the captain ordered.

Magnification optimum."; The hologram that had showed space now switched to a startlingly real picture of the valley. I could see Yeerk forces, mostly Hork-Bajir with a reserve of Taxxons and a scattering of Gedds, dug in on high ground around the west rim of the valley. They had erected massive force fields covering their back, thus forcing our forces and the Leerans to come at them head-on.

Our ground skimmers were racing across rock and through scattered trees, firing and being fired upon.

A force of Leerans was on foot, scrabbling over the rocks almost unprotected to assault the Yeerks.

ally see why the Yeerks chose to fight here?"; Captain Samilin said. As the T.o. was saying, different species under different commands cannot function well together. You see? We waste our forces protecting the Leerans from being mowed down. And as a result, we are weak."; The Ascalin will turn that around,"; the T.o. said confidently.

Landing approach,"; a warrior called out.

Then ... Captain! Malfunction in the ground-approach guidance system!"; The captain looked perfectly calm. The T.o. swung his face toward the warrior who'd spoken.

What?!"; he roared.

Sir, the controls are frozen. I've been locked out. Attempting to override. Override failing!"; The T.o. leaped to the console. His fingers flew across the fields and resonators. I saw his concentration as he made the mind-link with the system.

Then, with absolute horror on his face, he turned to the captain. Captain! We are on approach to land behind Yeerk lines. We won't have a prayer!"; The captain walked calmly over to his T.o. And then ...

FWAPP!

The captain whipped his tail blade like lightning. The blade hit the T.o. at the base of his tail.

T.o. Hareli's tail fell to the deck and twitched. Every warrior on the bridge froze, staring at the impossible sight.

The captain drew his Shredder and fired.

TSEEEWW! TSEEEWW!

Warriors fell to the deck, stunned unconscious. The air crackled with heat.

Static electricity sizzled and danced in blue flame across bodies and equipment alike.

Only the bleeding, horrified T.o. was left conscious. A deliberate insult: He was no longer dangerous.

Ah, my good aristh,"; the captain said, holding the Shredder on me and taking the T.o.'s Shredder. don't want to take the chance of injuring you. Visser Four would be very upset if I injured the creatures who have been causing Visser Three such trouble on Earth. Vissers Three and Four are such close friends. Just remain calm. It will all be over in a moment. And you will all be ... guests ... of the Yeerk Empire.";

I stood there like my hooves had been nailed to the deck. It wasn't possible! An Andalite ship's captain a traitor?

Or was he a Controller?

No one moved. The computer guided the Ascalin down, down to sweep slowly forward, just a few hundred feet above the rocky ground. In seconds we'd be down.