Jake and Cassie's discussion was an emotional one, but part of me didn't even want them to be together in the end after what had happened. Mostly because I was still angry at Cassie for what she did in book 50.
1. The book begins with a depiction of all the destruction following the Yeerk Pool explosion. The Yeerks are essentially obliterating the city and, in an attempt to keep the Yeerks alive, the Pool Ship lands, stationing itself in the middle of the city. The government seems to let it - a few jets are sent in and fried by Bug Fighters, but that's about it. Do you think that the US government could have (should have?) done anything more now that the mother ship is visable? Why didn't they?We could assume that the US would have done more hardcore attempted with some more heavy explosives off panel. Here, it could have the case of a missed opportunity on KA's part to once more highlight the agressiveness side of the humans as a race, by having Jake narrate some sort of new unseen weapon (aluding to the ones the US no doubt currently has at their disposal), that was somewhat innovative to human standards, but ultimately, lameslime in comparison to the Yeerks' alien tech.
2. Arbron, Jake and Cassie come up with the ultimate solution for the Taxxons - nothlitism via anaconda morph for the entire race. Essentially, voluntary genocide.I too had my reservations about this use of the technology. Simply because of the ethics a character like Cassie just 'conveniniently' ignored. It's probably Cassie's greatest hypocrisy act, as an Animorph. Someone who believes in Nature with such conviction, practically to an exoteric level, suddenly going with altering the way Nature dictated a species in THIS scale?!?!
...And am I the only person who sympathizes with the Taxxons? Especially after Tobias' description of their hunger. It's like, the Taxxons weren't hungry for power, they were hungry for food. And having been in some very difficult situations, I know what it's like to be so hungry that all you can think about is what you are willing to do to eat.:clap: Exactly! And this is why I feel Cassie and the others were a bit harsh on their low tolerance for Taxxons in some of their clashes. The Hork-Bajirs are better only because they are herbivores who happen to be mean-looking?!?!
The Taxxons were victims to their bodies. The Yeerks exploited their weakness....
3. While in the anaconda habitat, Jake and Cassie have a conversation about their lives after the war. Jake insists that he will be able to return to a normal life, but Cassies seems doubtful. She insists that they put their relationship on hold for at least a year. This conversation is considered one of the most important in the Jake/Cassie relationship by a lot of people, as it is one of their last as a couple. What did you think about it?I saw this scene as a goodbye dialogue between the two characters. It just wasn't going to happen. Much like Tobias and Rachel hadn't been happening since, jeez, I can't even remember what stage in the series, now.
4. Ax reveals that the Andalie high command intends on eliminating Earth instead of saving Earth. While this move was not necessarily unexpected at this point in the series, do you think it makes sense? Are the Andalites acting rashly, or from a militaristic standpoint are they making the logical decision?It was a bit repetitive and predictable, even, true as it was to the history of the Andalites in the war. The Andalites were never going to be the heroic figures we were led to believe at the start of the series. I actually think their role in the last book makes them more interesing as characters. Shows their military as the acidic supercilious extreme specimens of their optimistic species. Ironic, because it was the humans winning the war for them.
5.What do you think about the way Jake used Erek the Chee?It was wrong and low of him, yes, but once again, necessary.
5. Jake was using everything at his disposal. The Chee were an ace in the hole and Jake played it. Again, desperate, but legitimate and almost forgivable considering the Chee now considered Earth their homeworld.Totally agree, here, mate.
6. Do you think that Jake made the right choice in sending Rachel off on her mission without first consulting in the other Ani's?This is a tough one. Because Jake was done with 'being on the back of his foot'. For once he had clarity of vision when he really neeeded. He saw the whole end game at this stage and knew ALL THE CHARACTERS involved and what they could potentially do and acted on it.
...However, using a Chee to cover her when she had to demorph might have bought her some more time after she killed Tom. But I digress...oops, did I just give away a potential Saving Rachel fanfic idea?It begs the question. Erek wasn't THE ONLY Chee the Animorphs interacted with. They had significant numbers and now that you mentioned it, I think Jake overlooked this possibility completely.
7. Was Jake's decision to use Doubleday and the Auxillary Ani's as a diversion the most effective plan?Now this is a tough one. Though he didn't fool any of James' or Doubleday's people he did sent them in as, quite literally, expendable pieces. The plan was sound. He knew the enemy, he knew how Visser Three-now-One thought. He had to trick him by setting up the diversions that would get their attention away from the main event! With the auxiliaries' help and the help of the military he could do the facade.
8. Jake willingly flushed over 17,000 Yeerks into the vacuum of space in a scene that parallels Elfangor's first journey when he refused to follow a similar order. What does this possibly unecessary action say about Jake at this point in the war? How has he changed?I kind of hate how we are let to think Jake bad on this instance. But personally, no one has the right to blame, Jake, really. All this fighting, Jake knew this was going to be the final stand, being up there in the Mothership pool, it was uncharted territory. Like Cassie will state later on, "before Yeerks enslaved humans, no human came to the Yeerk-homeworld and stepped on a bug" (I'm paraphrasing).