"Can we shoot?" I looked away from the hideous shifting face of The One, unable to bear the sight of my friend and comrade Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill's face disfigured by a toothy, red-rimmed mouth that did not belong there.

"His Dracon cannon have longer range and greater power, and his defensive fields have been enhanced. I doubt our cannon can penetrate them." Menderash replied, making no effort at all to hide our discussion from the alien whose foul visage took up our ship's viewscreen and more, projected somehow in the light that was so bright it seemed to sear through the bulkheads.

"Thought so," I said. The detached calm of command was descending, just like in the old days. "But we're faster."

"Yes."

"Okay." I should have been scared, should have been terrified. We were all going to die, after all. But I'd been there and done that, over and over and over for three long years during the Earth-Yeerk war. Right now, there wasn't time to be scared.

I took a deep breath, looking around the bridge of the Rachel at the rest of our tiny crew, but remembering the Animorphs as they had been.

Rachel. Dead on my orders.

Ax. Lost and taken by the enemy now before us.

Cassie. Left behind on Earth to protect her from this suicide mission.

Tobias. Staring back at me with the eyes of a hawk. Literally.

Marco. My best friend. A remnant of another war. I met his eyes.

"What was it, Marco?" I said. "'Crazy, reckless, ruthless decisions'?"

Marco nodded. He looked sick with fear. I knew the feeling, but I was smiling. I knew what I had to do. And I knew that if she were here, Rachel would approve. I gave the order.

"Full emergency power to the engines. Ram the Blade ship."

Our superior engines took us to maximum speed in nothing flat. Menderash threw up our own defensive fields so that we wouldn't be incinerated by theirs. Force fields are not supposed to touch each other. The noise was unbelievable. The light surrounding The One at the front of the bridge was so blinding now it blocked out all sight.

OBSERVE. AN INTERESTING CHOICE, NO?

INDEED. SHALL WE GIVE THEM ANOTHER CHANCE?