Would I have thought of that?

Somehow, Tanner doubted it.

While the Odyssey bucked and wove its way along its course, Captain Weston waited impatiently for news from Engineering on the tokamak status. They’d need its power contribution in order to bring the full power of the ship to bear. Now that the hide-and-seek game was over and done with, he wanted as much punch as he could get when he “tagged” the bad guys.

“The chase ships are gaining on our acceleration advantage,” Waters told him, calmer now.

“And the bandit ahead?”

“We’re waiting for the return from the targeting laser, Captain,” he replied. “If we managed to paint her, we’ll have a firm lock.”

“Very well, Waters.”

The seconds ticked by, seeming to pass like hours as they waited for the return bounce from the laser. Finally, the moment passed, and Waters muffled a curse.

“Sorry, Captain.” He shook his head. “They’ve begun evasive maneuvering.”

Weston eyed the closing rates.

At less than fifty light-seconds now, the evasive actions on either side would begin to have limited usefulness in about two minutes. However, until the range closed enough to achieve a good laser lock, the only weapons that Weston had for useful engagement were the pulse torpedoes, and he’d rather save them for the chasers.

“Understood,” he said out loud. “Keep an eye out for fighters, Mr. Waters.”

“Aye, aye, Captain.”

Weston reached down and thumbed a switch. “Archangels, proceed to Ready One launch stations. I say again, Archangel Flight Group is to proceed to Ready One positions.”

“Whoop!” Paladin yelled as the voice boomed around them, and tossed his cards into a bag at his side. “Duty calls.”

“Saved by the bell.” Jennifer “Cardsharp” Samuels smirked as she kicked back and grabbed the edge of her cockpit.

Paladin just smirked as he executed a perfect backflip in the zero gravity, hooked his hands around the lip of the cockpit, and slid right into his seat. “That’s how the chips fall!”

“Right,” Samuels grinned, pulling her restraints down as one of the flight crew floated into place and handed over her helmet.

She accepted it as the man took a hold of the restraints and yanked them tight. The pressure seals locked with a twist, and she felt the rush of cool air hit her face, then flashed a thumbs-up to the crewman.

“Good hunting, ma’am.” He grinned at her. He finished checking her restraints and pushed back off the plane while he waved the loader in.

She nodded curtly, and as the plane shuddered from the loader’s kiss, she thumbed the cockpit-sealing command as soon as the crewman was clear.

The clamshell front and back of the armored shield slid down over her, locking solidly into place and engulfing her in a darkness that was lit only by the soft glow of her backlit controls. She ignored the dark, thumbing her systems online, one by one, until the full-surround HUD lit the cockpit back up, making it appear that she was sitting in a glass bubble with a near-perfect view of all angles.