Yeerk Distress Beacon

Yeerk Distress Beacon
Creator	Yeerk Empire Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill
Made	1997 (Ax's version)
Owners	Animorphs
Users	Animorphs
Status	Inactive
Appearances
First Appearance	The Predator
Last Appearance	The Predator

"It is a distress beacon that can broadcast on Yeerk frequencies."

―Ax to the Animorphs

A Yeerk Distress Beacon is a device used by members of the Yeerk Empire to signal when they are in distress and require assistance. In 1997, Ax created a Yeerk distress beacon to summon a Bug fighter in an attempt to steal it.

History

Used by the Animorphs

"I can create a Yeerk distress beacon. They will send a ship to investigate."

―Ax to the Animorphs

In 1997, shortly after the Animorphs rescued Ax from the bottom of the ocean, Ax decided he wanted to return to the Andalite homeworld. With human spacecraft unable to make the journey, as the Andalite homeworld was eighty-two light years away from Earth, Ax's plan was to fly home using a Yeerk ship, specifically a Bug fighter. In order to obtain a Bug fighter, Ax decided to build a Yeerk distress beacon, which he could use to emit a signal on a frequency he knew the Yeerk Empire used, knowing it would cause the Yeerks to send a Bug fighter to investigate; the Animorphs and Ax would then attack the Taxxon and Hork-Bajir-Controller who emerged from the Bug fighter, thereby allowing Ax to fly the Bug fighter back home.

As he needed parts to build the distress beacon, Ax went with Jake and Marco to Radio Shack, where Ax found coaxial cable and batteries along with all of the other items that he needed, aside from a Z-Space transponder, and Jake paid for the items. With the help of screwdrivers, a solder gun, a battery-powered drill, a hammer, wrenches, and pliers, Ax was able to build the distress beacon. He then joined the Animorphs in infiltrating the Chapman Residence in order to procure a Z-Space transponder, which would allow the beacon to send the distress signal into Z-Space so that the Yeerks could sense it. However, the frequency Ax used was an older one, and it signaled to the Yeerks that this was a trap set by the "Andalite bandits." As a result, the Animorphs were captured by Visser Three, who boarded them onto the Blade ship and brought them to the Pool ship in space. However, Visser One allowed them to escape in order to sabotage Visser Three's career, and the Animorphs were able to return home safely, with Ax returning to their city with them.

Capabilities

"And since we can't get a Z-Space transponder, it's basically useless, right?"
"Yes. Totally useless without the transponder."

―Rachel and Ax

The Yeerk distress beacon, when integrated with a Z-Space transponder, can transmit distress signals to the Yeerk Empire. The user must input the correct frequency into the beacon to ensure that the correct recipients are receiving the signal. While the beacon itself emits the basic signal, a Z-Space transponder is required to translate this signal into Zero space as well as to send the distress signal to cloaked ships, which Yeerk Empire ships most often are. As a result, the distress beacon is considered useless if a Z-Space transponder is not available since the beacon's distress signal cannot be picked up.

Appearances

• The Predator