Jak Phoenix

  ***

  Murdock watched in the darkness from his control chair. The quick explosions from the magneto mines flashed off the surface of the moon, accenting its curvature. He watched and took pleasure as they detonated one by one. A fire, fed by the ship’s fuel and oxygen jetted out of the ship through a hole in the hull. He noted in his computer log to use additional mines in the future to guarantee a total destruction, as opposed to the major damage they had inflicted.

  “Sir, they are attempting to break into our computer log bank.”

  What? How had they even survived that? Why would they waste their time playing around with his ship’s logs when they should be fighting for their lives?

  “Cut the communications and destroy the ship,” ordered Murdock from his perch.

  “Aye, sir.” A crewman began to lock out their computer as the weapons were charged.

  Jak Phoenix had sent his friends on a suicide mission. He should have walked away when he had the chance. Maybe next time he wouldn’t be able to let Jak live.

  “Incoming, sir!”

  The ship rocked as an unexpected last ditch attack effort from Stonewall’s ship was unleashed onto their hull. The power fluctuated slightly, but no hull breaches were detected.

  “Systems fine, sir,” said the helmsman. “Surface damage only.”

  Now he was going to have to take the ship into a station and have the surface coating fixed. He wasn’t about to go running around for long in a defective ship with a poor paint job.

  “Are they still in the system?” asked Murdock.

  “Yes. The lockout is just about ready. Weapons are nearly charged to maximum.”

  “Wait.” said Murdock. If Jak wanted to play games, then games he would get.

  “Sir?”

  “What logs are they looking for?”

  “It appears they are looking at the travel logs, sir”

  “Allow them to download the logs, then set a course for our next destination. Add in a stop at the Devil’s Horn Nebula before you allow them to have it.”

  “Are you sure, sir?” asked the bewildered henchman.

  “Yes. And if you are going to second guess me, we can drop you off over on their ship before we leave. Understood?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  If the men aboard Dodge’s ship had survived, which was unlikely, they would relay this information to Jak Phoenix. Jak would brainlessly pursue him, again giving Murdock the benefit of a surprise attack. Since Jak had decided to escalate matters, their ongoing duel would need to come to a conclusion before matters between them became any worse.