Tara’s eyes went wide with surprise. She’d missed. In six years of war, she’d never missed. Twenty Eight major engagements 1,692 confirmed kills. 0 misses. Until today.

She stared across the void through her magscope at the approaching armor. It was closer now, gleaming white against the blackness of space, but still obscured amongst all its drifting, lifeless companions. The targeting halo gently pulsed.

She focused, fired, and waited. This time, she kept her attention on the target, studying it. She tracked her shot as it closed.

With a jolt, her prey evaded the shot with impossible speed.

“Bastard!” she fumed. “Nesters. Target H-437. Engage immediately!” Tara barked into her comm, agitated by her shameful misses. “Continuous barrage.”

A moment later, 25 shots were hurled into space – and again – and again.

“Dodge that, you shit.” Tara breathed with venom.

It did.

With a series of precise, graceful maneuvers, the enemy eluded the onslaught and continued its approach, uniquely determined.