He angled the throttle, turning his fighter and blasting the thrust nearly up to full power. He could feel the g-forces slamming into him, despite the best efforts of his ship’s dampeners to counteract them. His course took him right through the enemy interceptors…toward the bombers lined up behind.

He could see the enemy birds changing course, moving to hit him before he could get into firing range of the bombers. He thought about just blasting his engines at full, making a mad dash for the bombers. But he sighed and pulled back on the thrust. Even if he could outrun the enemy interceptors, his velocity would be too high. His fighter would zip right through the enemy bombers, and by the time he could decelerate and return, the attack force would be halfway to Dauntless. No, his people had to focus on the interceptors first. If they could get enough of them, the second and third lines could hit the bombers.

He tugged at the controls, bringing his fighter around almost completely, and he hit the thrust again, decelerating this time. His eyes dropped to the screen, and he reached out, flipping two small levers on the control panel.

“Missiles armed,” the AI announced.

He’d intended to try to save his missiles for the bombers, hoping the enemy might be careless and position the unwieldy torpedo-armed ships too far forward. But the enemy formation was textbook, and that meant his people had one job right now. Destroy the interceptors.

“Forget the bombers for now,” he said into his com unit. “Clear the interceptors…leave the bombers to Lynx and the Reds behind us.”

He stared straight down at the screen, adjusting his controls, moving one of the small icons into the tiny crosshairs of his scope. He waited, staring intently, making minor adjustments. Then he fired and he felt the kick as his bird lurched and his left wing missile blasted forward.

He angled the fighter hard almost immediately, hot on the heels of target number two. He was focused on the second enemy fighter when the AI announced that the first shot had hit. Another kill.

It won’t be the last one today, not if we’re going to keep these bastards away from Dauntless…

He fired the second missile. And then he brought his ship around again, flipping a series of switches to activate his laser cannons. It was time for close work now.

“Enemy missile lock.”

The AI’s voice was disconcertingly calm, considering what it had just reported.

Stockton pulled back hard on the throttle, blasting at full thrust, even as he moved his vector wildly. He could feel the sweat, his hair wet, droplets beginning to roll slowly down his neck, his back. He was focused, with every shred of intensity he could muster.

But the missile was still on his tail…

*   *   *

This one is good. Damned good…