Synopsis

       Tak felt his scalp quills lay back flat in anger. The impossible was happening. How could this be? He spoke to command, “The Amendra are the superior race on Anekh, are we not? Why are we running and hiding instead of ruling?”

       Command didn’t answer. Tak waited a moment for a reply. Hearing nothing but silence, he made a decision, took in a deep breath and announced, “Taking evasive action.”  

       Tak pushed the throttle until it clicked hard on the forward stop, coaxing maximum thrust from the pod’s null-gravity drive. The engine’s thrumming became louder. Within several seconds, Pod 37 was moving at maximum speed. He checked his monitors. Incredibly, not only was the craft behind him still within range, it was actually gaining on him. He shook his head. This was more than impossible!  

       There was no sound coming from the com-link ordering him to stand down, so Tak depressed the mass compensator button and selected the reverse course command. He felt only a small jolt as the recon pod came to an almost instantaneous stop. His chair unlocked and automatically rotated 180 degrees to face the set of controls that a moment ago had been behind him. Once his chair relocked in place, the pod accelerated rapidly to top speed in the direction he had just come from. He was now heading directly towards the pursuing craft.

       Moments later, the pod’s pilot warning system blared, “Incoming projectiles! Auto evade activated!”