The starship captain shook his head.  “It puts us right in harm’s way, that’s what I think.”  He tapped his fingers on the back of Broadaway’s chair, making the Navigator glance nervously over his shoulder. Finally, Mansel shook his head.  “Let’s get this over with,” he mumbled.  “In and out, quick, Broadaway.  Don’t stop for anything, understood?” “Yes sir.” “Alright then,” said Mansel, rubbing his hands together.  “Do it.” Slowly at first, then with gaining speed, the Explorer came about on its new course heading and shot off to gobble as much information as possible. After a time that seemed too short to Mansel, Broadaway called “Approaching Jupiter, sir.  We are within their visual range.” “Shields!” the captain called.  “Go to a yellow alert status!”  The silent yellow light changed the tone of the ship and blinked on and off, indicating that their defensive measures were up. “Record data Talaj!” called Vaughn as the Explorer neared.  He was now at a secondary science station, gathering info on their response time. “Their powering weapons!” cried Lieutenant Commander Lamb, finger poised over the red alert status button.  “Recommend we go to red alert!” “No!” said Mansel, even as the first volley of laser fire hit the ship’s shields.  “We will have no sign of an offensive posture.” Two more hits from two more ships rocked the Explorer.  “Almost done!” announced Broadaway.  “Few more seconds!” “There’s a ship following us!” called Lieutenant Talaj.  “Two ships!” “Approaching Neptune!” came Broadway’s voice. “Go to immediate translight!” Mansel exclaimed.  The stars elongated and space warped around them as the Excelsior class ship was hurled off at faster-than-light speeds.  After the ship had been in translight for a minute or two, Mansel ordered the ship back to sublight speeds.  “Where are we?” he asked. Broadaway checked the star maps.  “Out in Corcian space sir,” he replied. “Talk to me Talaj, what kind of information did we get?” The science officer was prompt in putting her information in order.  “Approximately ten ships, all surrounding the planet.  Some more heavily armed than others.” “What about reaction time, T.J.?” The Executive Officer gestured to the viewer.  “You saw it for yourself.  Not too long after we approached, those two ships came after us.  As far as I can tell, all the other ships stayed put.” Mansel nodded before turning his chair to Lieutenant Hardy.  “Hardy--”  Before he could finish his sentence, the collision alarm sounded, automatically sending the ship into yellow alert.  On the viewscreen, two ships emerged from translight and began firing on the Explorer. “It’s the ships that followed us!” shouted out Commander Vaughn. “Red Alert!” called Mansel.  “Target the first ship’s weapons system.  Full fire!” “Evasive pattern!” ordered Vaughn. As the Explorer moved to defend itself, Lieutenant Commander Lamb opened fire on the first ship.  The second ship began to fire on them.  “He’s targeting our translight engines!” yelled Lamb over the sound of the alarms. “Redouble shields over the engines!” ordered Vaughn.  “Continue fire on the target!” “Broadaway,” said Mansel, “keep that first ship between us and the one that’s firing on us.  They won’t fire on their own person.” The helmsman struggled to get the long ship behind the first one.  The captain of the other vessel, seeing this, began to move as well.  The second ship was coming on a more sweeping course to try and broadside them.  Mansel figured that much out by looking at the viewscreen. “Come on Jason,” Mansel urged, “get in behind him.” “Trying sir,” came the quick reply. After a few seconds of maneuvering and struggling, Broadaway had one ship between the Explorer and the other enemy ship.  Laser fire came from the aft of the ship they were hiding behind.  Lamb redirected his attention to the three guns that were located between the translight engines.  With a few good concentrated shots, he managed to take each one out. The ship in front of them went into an unexpected dip, leaving them exposed to the second ship.   Lamb split the fire between the engines of the ship now below them and the ship in front. Mansel was starting to think that they were getting nowhere but a few seconds later, there was an explosion and the ship below them slowed to a drift. “Good shot Lamb!” Mansel exclaimed before the Explorer was hit again by fire.  “Now get behind it and stay behind it!”