Tarl executed as sharp a turn as the ship was able to perform. Lining up the main guns, he took a few pot shots. The turrets took aim and opened up. There were flashes of light as shield charges were burned up. The pursuing ships evaded, darting in different directions. He picked a target of opportunity and gave chase.

Pure focus. Carefully examining the hostile ship’s position. Calculating potential movements.

The target jinked to the left, feinted a dive before heading up and back to the right. Tarl stayed glued to their tail. Other craft maneuvered to get back behind him. Tarl deaccelerated, giving the turrets closer targets, The sudden onslaught forced the enemy ships to break formation again. Tarl accelerated again, moving into range and finishing off the ship that he was chasing.

Eli entered the bridge. He moved like a man possessed. His eyes gleamed with confidence and raw power. The demoniac strolled across the bridge and to one of the consoles, where he brought up the forward camera feeds.

The body that was operating the dorsal turret spoke, “It’s working. I think that we’ve bought ourselves enough time to get out of scanner range and patch the hole they made.”

“No, don’t stop till they’re all dead!” Eli ordered.

“That isn’t necessary. We can slip away.”

Tarl gained even more speed as he dove sharply, intending to scrap the tops of the trees.

 Eli punched the button that retracted the cockpit module. He hunkered down and leaned over the pilot and took hold of the controls, an insane look on his face.

“Hey!” the body that was operating the vessel exclaimed. Tarl looked on in horror with his big, all black eyes as Eli turned the ship back around, making a beeline for one of the enemy ships.

“Eli, stop!” Tarl pleaded.

The captain ignored him. Grinning like the devil, he pulled the trigger, spraying the fleeing vessel. A glancing hit stripped away their last shield charge. They tried to get an advantage by climbing. Then the enemy craft braked and dipped its nose forward. Eli saw through the maneuver, staying locked on and holding down the trigger. Tarl’s bodies braced as the ship shook violently. Cavalier flew through the flaming cloud and emerged out the other side. Eli selected another target and vectored toward it.

There were three hostile ships left, each plotting a different course. Tarl kept the turrets trained on them. The dorsal guns reduced an enemy ship into flaming scrap. It smashed into the jungle, scattering burning debris, which rolled and tumbled through the dense foliage. Incoming shots from the enemies’ turrets ate away Cavalier’s shields.

Eli closed in on another. His attacks took out one of their engines. The stricken craft started to rapidly lose altitude. As it fell, it fired up at Cavalier, raking its underbelly. Then the enemy ship dropped out of the sky, exploding under the jungle canopy.  

The final ship was heading toward them. Eli moved to intercept, told Tarl to hold his fire. He waved the ship from side to side as they closed the distance. Tarl was unsure if this was meant to mock, confuse, or intimidate the enemy. Perhaps Eli didn’t even know.

The enemy opened up on them with an array of turrets. Eli kept speeding toward them, flying around wildly, but always moving in the general direction of the final ship. One of the wings was struck by an energy bolt, the engine that was mounted on it sputtered out. He kept going till they were a stones throw away.

“Fire!” the captain suddenly yelled. Tarl obeyed the command, discharging both turrets. Eli lined up the main guns. For a moment, he had them in his sights. Their final shield charge blinked out. The two vessels passed one another. The turrets on both ships swiveled around so that they faced backward.

Cavalier shook as one of the engine banks was destroyed. Tarl blasted the enemy ship’s engines out of existence. One of their fuel tanks blew. Half of the craft was incinerated. The other half exploded when it hit the ground.

The sound of Eli’s maniacal laughter managed to get past the blaring alarms. Without a word, the demoniac left the bridge. Tarl took control of the ship again. He was able to keep it airborne, but it was a struggle.