EPISODE CXLVI - IN SEARCH OF HITLER'S SOLID GOLD PROPELLER HAT
In open space he'd have eaten this guy for lunch, Schrader thought as he juked left and right, avoiding the fire of his pursuer, but he had to admit he was becoming a little claustrophobic
due to the proximity of the walls on either side. He gunned the engines to put some distance between them and launched a Drifter-mine* from his aft weapons turret, in hopes of
catching his enemy off guard. Milliseconds after its release, it was vaporized by the pulse cannon of the other vessel.
"Not bad", Schrader begrudged the other pilot, "but that was an easy one."
He let the other ship close, shifting auxiliary power to the rear shields, then reversed the propulsion in his own engines, bringing his ship to an abrupt halt directly in the path of the oncoming vessel.
The impact was jarring, but Schrader shook it off, more concerned with stabilizing his fighter than checking for bruises. The other ship was demolished and the lieutenant watched as the wreckage drifted by,
noting a few organic items within the expanding cloud of debris.
Checking his readings, he found everything in order and began moving forward again, through the small, steel valley. He hadn't gotten far when his sensors picked up three more incoming ships, two of which
resembled the fighter he'd just dispatched. The other was of a more aerodynamic construction, it's wings inverted for greater maneuverability, much like Space Fleets current design.
They flew in a tight, wedge formation, the odd ship in the middle and slightly in front of the others. Schrader pushed his accelerator forward and began to eat up some distance, but was surprised, and a little
concerned to see them matching his speed. He knew he could out run them, but would have to move out of the duct and into open space to do it, essentially offering himself up as a sacrifice to the gun turrets
ablaze on the ships's surface. He'd just have to hope for the best.
