Star Fighters: Deadly Mission by Max Chase (author) (UK edition)

It is the year 5012 and the Milky Way galaxy is under attack. After the Universal War, a war that almost brought about the destruction of every known universe, the planets in the Milky Way banded together to create the Intergalactic Force – an elite fighting team sworn to protect and defend the galaxy. Only the brightest and most promising students are accepted into the Intergalactic Force Academy, and only the very best cadets reach the highest of their ranks and become . . . STAR FIGHTERS!

Deadly Mission To avenge the attack on earth, Peri and Diesel, have sided with the Meigworians in the new intergalactic conflict. They agree to rescue a Meigworian Prince, held captive by the Xions. But as they leave, the Meigwor insist that Otto, a gigantic Meigworian bounty hunter must accompany them, and Selene should stay behind to help fix the Phoenix. Our heroes capture the Prince and narrowly escape Xion, but the book ends with a twist – the prince says he is in fact the prince of Xion, not Meigwor, and they’ve just kidnapped him.