Summary

This chapter is the end of the first section and much is revealed. When Zach gets to school the morning after the mission, his nemesis, Knotcher is waiting to have two huge friends beat him up. In response, Zach pulls out an iron rod that he’d snuck into his backpack. This draws a horrified audience. However, before this drama can culminate, something larger appears: an ATS-31 Aerospace Troop Shuttle, one of the ships used by the Earth Defense Alliance in the Armada. It lands in the yard of Zach’s school and Zach’s boss, Ray walks out. He asks for Zach, Zach is immediately given up to him by his peers, Zach boards the aircraft, the aircraft takes off.

Once airborne, Ray starts to small talk with Zach, and Zach becomes angry at Ray. Confused, scared and feeling betrayed, he begins asking...