Star stared at the wide expanse of space before her. They had just tested a new thruster for the Science Circle. It had worked perfectly.

She smiled to herself. Jac was in the back shutting off the new thrusters and putting their normal ones back online.

Five years of research. Still no one believed them, but they were close. Very close. If only she could find that DNA sample to prove everything.

But even if she couldn’t prove it, she knew. She knew everything there was to know about the humans that had come to New Gaia. She knew about the Yeerks they had fought. Their allies, the Chee and the Andalites. Yes, she knew about the past.

Star’s mind drifted back to the words she had first read when she found Rachel’s book. Ten years, but she remembered them as if they were right there in front of her.

Earth still haunts us. The people we left behind. The Yeerks we failed to defeat. But one day, we’ll go back. Go back and reclaim our native planet. Perhaps not in my lifetime, but we will go back. Because even if you can run from the past, you can’t hide from it forever.

How true. Star thought. When, I wonder, will we go back?

BOOM!

Star was knocked out of her seat. "We hit something!"

"What?" Jac, who was also knocked down, picked himself up.

"I don’t know! There was nothing on sensors."

"I’m going to try to modify our scanners." Jac called.

A fuzzy, static image appeared on the viewscreen.

"It’s a ship!" Star gasped.

"Open a com link."

Star’s fingers flew. "They’re not responding."

"They’re using some kind of cloaking device!"

BOOM!

Sparks flew from the consoles.

"They’re firing on us!" Star cried with outrage and surprise.

"What!?" Jac screeched. "This is a Council vessel!"

"Should I fire back?"

"Try hailing again."

Star did so. "No response."

The ship rocked as another burst of energy hit it.

"Fire!"

Star did just that. "Shields are down!"

"Ours or theirs?"

"Both." She targeted again and fired. "I took out their weapons system."

"Good. Tractor beam." Jac opened another frequency. "Control! This is the NGS Avion. We have been attacked by an unknown alien vessel. Please sent a Protector ship immediately."

"Acknowledged, Avion. Please stand by."

Star looked up from her scans. "Ten lifeforms aboard the ship. Five unknown, five…Gaians."

Jac stared at her. "What?"

"The scanners could be wrong." Star shrugged.

The com beeped. "This is Captain Jason Roderick of the NGS Watcher. Avion, please respond."

"Avion here."

"What seems to be the problem?"

"We have an alien vessel with cloaking technology. Switch your sensors frequency to 1-89-05."

"We’ve go it."

"How about we join you and then board the ship."

"Fine. We’re attached to your ship."

Star and Jac opened the hatch and crossed over to the Watcher.

Captain Roderick tossed them two lazguns. "We’re locked on. Let’s move."

He unlocked the spacedoor and stepped into the connection tube. They could see the outline of a door on the other ship’s hull.

Roderick fired at it and the door popped open. Immediately, weapon fire was directed at them.

Their lazguns on stun, the group fired. Soon, the return fire ceased.

Roderick, Star, Jac, and a few other officers stepped into the alien ship.

Jac spotted the motionless bodies on the floor. "But there are only five here. We detected ten"

Roderick gasped "They’re Gaians!"

Star pointed to the gray slug crawling out of the man’s ear. "No. They’re humans. Humans and Yeerks."

Jac paled. "We didn’t find them. They found us."

"What do you mean?" Roderick demanded. "What are those things?"

"Yeerks. Parasites." Star whispered. "This ship is obviously a scout ship. They want to invade us."

"What?"

"Read my report. We need a medic team here! Tell them to handle the slugs and humans carefully. Keep them contained. Don’t let them near your ears!"

"Eh! I’m the officer in charge here." Roderick looked annoyed.

"These are not normal circumstances! You don’t anything about these aliens. I do." Star’s mouth was a tight line. "We need to talk to the President."

Roderick looked at her. "Why? What’s going to happen?"

"I’m not sure. If they sent a report back, they Yeerks will eventually invade us. Who knows what level their technology is at. And even if they Yeerks don’t know about us, they’ll come looking for these five when they don’t show up. Either way, we may have a war on our hands."

"We haven’t had a war in centuries!"

"I know. But this time, we may not be able to avoid it."

She turned to Jake. "We need access to all the ship files. Can you crack it?"

"Are you my wife?"

"Keep talking like that and I might just leave you."

Jac tapped at the Bug fighter controls. "This is simple."

"What do we have."

"Zut! They sent a report. Apparently, we are, and I quote, ‘an intelligent, sentient species with technologies a century behind ours and very fitting to be hosts. However, these creatures resemble humans greatly. There may be a biological link and we may meet the same resistance we felt on Earth’."

"So they’re coming."

Jac nodded. "They may already be on their way."

Roderick’s com beeped. "The President is not available, but the Vice President is ready to see you."

Star looked at Jac. "She is not going to like this."

Vice President Sarah Esgarrouth stared out the window of her office. Alien invaders. Gaians from another planet. It was too much to take in.

She shook her head. She was the youngest vice president ever in office. Only 27. Fresh out of law school. The former vice president had a paralyzing accident and resigned, leaving her to fulfill his duties.

The Council was doubtful of her abilities. But things had been going well. She might even have been reelected. But now this…

She could just hear their complaints. "She’s too young to help lead this planet." "We need someone with more experience." "You’re too casual. We need someone more serious, more in touch with politics."

They had made those arguments when she first took office. Sarah was not looking forward to hearing them again.

In times of emergency, such as war, the Council had the power to overrule the Commanders, even force them to leave office. The President was the kind of person they wanted on the High Council. They would want someone like him to replace her. Sarah knew they could do that. It would take a unanimous vote by all 500 members of the Council, but it could happen. If these aliens came, and if they were attacked, there could be war. The Council, and the people, would want someone with military experience in the Vice Commander’s chair.

"Madame Vice President?"

Sarah turned at the voice. "Lieutenant Fangor, Lieutenant Robinson, and Captain Roderick, I presume?"

"Yes, ma’am."

"Call me Sarah." She pressed a button on her desk and the room was sealed off. "Now what’s going on here?"

Star passed up a datadisk. "They’re coming."

Sarah read the notes. "Oh, no."

"We found a machine in the Yeerk ship." Star told her. "Produces some kind of rays that imitate the kind of energy a Cornell sun would send out. The Yeerks have already exited their human hosts. They’re dependent on these rays."

"How are the humans doing?"

"Fine physically, but they seem to have no will of their own. After being controlled for so long…"

"I see. What do you suggest?"

"Send the ship back with a message. Maybe it will scare them off."

"Is that wise? To let them know that we know?"

"There’s a danger factor here. Unless you want an war on your hands, we need to do everything it takes to keep them from trying to invade us."

"How long before they invade?"

"From the logs we got of the ship, a year, two, maybe even three."

"Then let’s wait. Wait for them to come to us. Build our defenses and prepare of an invasion. When they come, we’ll be ready."

"And afterwards?"

"It might scare them off. If it doesn’t, we’ll deal with that when the time comes."

"I really hope this works."

"Me too, me too."

"We need a defense build-up. Some ships built. A real military." Sarah rubbed her temples. "My first year as vice president, and they throw a war at me."

"You’ll deal." Star whispered. "We’ll all deal."

Roderick tapped at the plans in front of him. This planet hadn’t had a war in 300 hundred years. There were no good tactics. All weapons were designed for criminals. The majority would never be useful in an invasion. He sighed. This was hopeless.

Beep!

Roderick turned to the computer beside him. "Roderick here."

It was the Vice President. "Captain, I need you to get together a few logistical analysts and go through the files we got from the Yeerk ship."

"Yes, ma’am."

"I’d also like your advice on something." Sarah’s professionalism disappeared.

"What can I do?"

"My advisors, and the Council are suggesting that I step down."

"Resign?"

"Yes. Should I?"

"It’s your decision, but you’re a remarkable person to even get this far. Don’t throw it all away."

"Thanks. It’s good to know not everyone thinks I’m being a fool."

"Have you talked to Star or Jac?"

"No. I was about to call them."

"Do that. I think they’ll give the same advice."

Sarah gave a rare smile. "Thanks. Now get to work." The screen went blank.

The computer beeped again. This time, it was Jac.

"Hey, Rod."

"Do you have to call me that?"

"You’ll never guess what I found!"

"What?"

"The plans for some Andalite technology."

"Where?"

"It was a code. Hidden in one of the records."

"A weapon?"

"I don’t know. It affects DNA, changes it. I’ve got the Science Circle on it." Jac glanced behind him. "Got to go. Star wants to run some tests."

"Bye." The screen once again turned black.

Roderick turned to his address files. "Logistical analysts, hmm? Logistical analysts…"

Star stared at the screen. Should I? Should I tell her her past? She deserves to know.

"Network, call up the Vice President. Tell her Star Fangor needs to speak with her."

The computer beeped. Then, Sarah’s face showed on the screen.

"Star! Has something happened?"

"Not really. I just wanted to tell you something."

Sarah waited for her to continue.

Star quickly changed her mind. "We-we found a code in one of the documents by the Animorphs. It’s details for a machine. A machine that contains highly advanced technology. It’s quite amazing. I want to build it."

"Why?"

"I’m not sure on this, but I believe this is a machine that will gave a person the ability to, um, the word they use is morph."

"Morph?"

"Change their bodies. Become other animals. Literally switch DNA."

"Is this feasible?"

"I can do it. Give some time, and I can do it. But, I need money. I need a donation from the Council."

Sarah frowned. "I’d like to, but the Council will want something we can use."

"Morphing was the Animorphs’ greatest power. We can use it militarily. For stealth, or direct combat."

Sarah leaned on her hand. "Do it."

"There’s something else I wanted to tell you." Star said reluctantly.

"Yes?"

"I-I found this out ten years ago. I had no proof, and I was reluctant to tell you. But it’s important, and you have right to know."

"Go on." Sarah whispered.

"There was an Andalite that came with the humans when they came here. He eventually became a human, and married, and had kids. He-his name was Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill."

Sarah’s eyes widened and Star could see her trembling.

"You’re his descendent."