His ear piece wailed. Someone was trying to target him!
“Snake,” he said through his teeth. “I got one on my tail.”
“Roger, Rock. Be there if I can.”
Austin fired again, the bolts sizzling off the rear of his target. He didn’t have time to bask in his success as enemy bolts flashed around his canopy and smashed into his rear shields. Keeping one hand on the stick, he transferred power to his rear shields.
“I’m hit, Scorpion, systems fail—”
A blinding light flashed to his right and Austin glanced just long enough to see a Trident coming apart.
“Snake!” Ryker yelled loud enough into the ear piece to cause static. “Report!”
“He’s gone!” Austin said, fear creeping down his spine like an icy trickle as he realized the pirates didn’t intend to capture all of them.
“Roger,” Ryker said, st
