Forrorrois: Trager's Return

   ‘Weapons systems disabled on Utahar scout,’ the computer confirmed in his mind.

   Trager smiled to himself while he selected the second ship.  He darted his small scout between two of the larger Utahar scouts and strafed his second target.  His ship shuddered when a small laser burst caught his ship’s tail.  He maneuvered into a tight roll to avoid another volley.

   ‘Weapons systems disabled on Utahar scout,’ the computer confirmed for the second time.

   Trager eyed the remaining Utahar and began his third run.  He made a full frontal attack on the ship in attempt to weaken his opponent’s shields.  Unexpectedly, he caught a flash of light from the corner of his eye.  ‘Computer, report!’

   ‘Two Utahar ships have collided,’ his ship’s computer stated in his mind.  There was no doubt left.  Forrorrois hadn’t lost her touch—she was as deadly as ever in a cockpit.

   A burst of laser fire brought his attention back to his target.  He took evasive action.  ‘Fire,’ he subvocalized.  Trager released a powerful burst against the weapons turret of the Utahar craft.  The sleek bluish-black ship listed to one side.  He turned his attention briefly to his sensors to confirm Forrorrois had also narrowed down her attackers to one.  When he looked back, he was surprised to see the enemy craft drop down into the atmosphere.

   “Forrorrois, my target is heading for the planet.  I’m following him in.”

   “I’ll join you after I finish here,” she replied.

   “That’s a negative, Forrorrois.  You know the rules....  Stay with your prisoners,” he ordered as he plunged after the Utahar scout ship.  His attention refocused on his reentry.  Trager held his ship’s nose up while it bucked through atmosphere.  His small one-seat scout cleared the cloud layer over a large ocean closely behind the Utahar craft.  The enemy scout ship swung about to face him and released a burst of laser fire directly into his forward shields.  Trager veered swiftly, but still his ship shuddered from the impact.

   ‘Shields reduced by fifty percent,’ the computer announced in his mind.

   There wasn’t time for finesse—their presence within the Earth’s atmosphere was a direct violation of the Isolation Treaty.  The Utahar needed to be stopped without delay.  Trager narrowed his eyes while he came about.  He strafed the side of the Utahar’s scout ship without mercy.

   ‘The shields on the Utahar ship have been reduced to twenty percent,’ the computer reported.

   Trager maneuvered once more towards the Utahar craft and aimed for his weapons’ turret.  As he released his final volley they exchanged fire.  An eerie bluish-green beam flashed from the Utahar craft.  Horror registered in Trager’s mind as he recognized the glow that enveloped his one-seat scout.  Guruma protect me, it’s a large scale reduction weapon!  Blackness began to cloud his mind.  ‘Computer...engage auto pilot for an emergency landing,’ he ordered, hardly able to focus.  He felt a violent explosion rock his scout when the Utahar’s ship disintegrated.  The stress of energizing the reduction weapon had been too great for the Utahar’s already battle-stressed engines.  The craft vaporized, sending small metal shards raining onto the agricultural land below.  Before Trager could react, the blackness overtook him.