“Come on, just a little bit closer!” Trave Macom clutched the trigger of the phase cannon as
he watched the Drakon starfighter break from space and thunder into the planet’s atmosphere. The faulty navigation system had sent him deep into enemy territory. He had been
hoping to escape without alerting the Drakons when two fighters had closed in on him. One
he’d managed to out maneuver and bring into firing range, but the other ran hot and heavy
on his tail. The Drakon ship banked right, desperate to shake him. “Just a little closer!”
Trave piloted the ship with an expert hand, weaving in and out, following the vapor trails
left behind by the fleeing Drakon ship. The crosshairs of the cannon narrowed on the ship
ahead of him. He squeezed slowly on the trigger, enjoying each and every click as it eased
back to fire with a heavy thud, thud, thud.
Four neon green streaks sprung forth from the side of his ship. They ripped through the
sky, slipped up inside between the fuel cells and exploded from within. A second explosion
thundered around him. His ship gave a violent shiver then jerked, slamming him back in his
seat.
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