The bulking spine lit up like the sun firing pulse lasers directly at the cobra. A beam laser added to the assault upon the cobra's shields from the underside of the nose. Fragmentation cannons snarled impatiently for the target to close. Sensing the whistle pop of ozone and brief demise of its shields the cobra dived for cover slithering across the skin of asteroids to lose line of sight with the python.
Dodging and weaving, loop after loop the python and cobra danced again and again. A momentary involvement by the pack of eagles led to an altercation as the python wanted to save the kill for herself. The wing of eagles peeled off, leaving to the other python hundreds of light seconds away.
The cobra took the advantage of its speed, and maneuverability diving out pushing the engines to max and rushing the python in an insane arc. Sphere strafing the python the cobra fired its beam lasers constantly, the updated power core and distributor sang out from the smaller ship with equal excitement rushing the python's shields, pleading for them to stop in bright red neon.
For minutes, the drew out for hours this repeated each attempt only infuriating the python. System security engaged for a moment before the python's better half obliterated them, the hunt declared as her's alone. The adder from earlier attempted to escape catching a full battery from the python before exploding in a distracting burst of white hot static on the screen.
Exploiting the system security to weaken the python a final fury exploded from the cobra as its pilot closed their eye's tasting the end with a crescendo of breaking canopy and audio warnings declaring the near approach of death as all power switched to weapons in a last ditch attempt to take the python with it.
The sound of an explosive discharge, the vibration of released energy and the distant feeling of frustration echoed out all around. The python too had over extended. The rush of adrenaline as the realization sank in and the sound of a bounty (some 300,000 CR) flashed up in pieces over the remaining display. The thought of traversing the void to safety kicked in as the super-cruise initiated sending the cobra away from the remains of the python.
Chasing the readout of Gooch Mine; a distant dot on the broken canopy, was a fever rush of panic, watching the oxygen supply run down as the mechanical sound of each breath rang out in the pilots mask. The constant sensation something was following as the gap of 30ls inched along. The need for excessive course corrections as the display visibility forced incorrect positions to see the way point. Hearts pounding as the sound of the dock gave a welcome release. Victory, the first of many but this was a battle to remember.
