“That last hit I took must have knocked something loose in the rear stabilizer. I can’t maneuver to get a weapons lock on him!” Panic was beginning to grip his senses. In about 2 minutes, the Al’teroth fighter could launch his Heartseeker missiles and destroy the Stargazer, along with about 9,000 crew, 3,500 refugees and Frank, the best damn cook in the Universe.

He choked down his fear as he pushed some buttons on the PMT panel. “I’m shifting shield power to the thrusters to try and close the distance between us.”

“But you’ll be defenseless, Captain.” ComOfficer Peter’s grasp of the obvious was always annoying, especially when it came over the headset in a crackling, tinny voice.

“I’ll be no more defenseless than you if he fires those Heartseekers. Tell Frank to have some of his Ulleru pie ready for me when I get back.”

The EE-12 tracking screen showed the Al’teroth fighter as a rapidly blinking dot, when it went solid red, he could fire.

I want some pie he thought as he punched the thrusters.