"I'll take care of them," Michael responded from his perch on the Quarter's flight deck - adjusting his orientation so that he was facing the Shrikes swarming around the Quarter's side. There was nothing in the way, which meant they were prime territory for a sniper.

"Skull-1, opening fire." He looked down the cockpit sight, placing one directly in the crosshairs, and then squeezed the trigger, sending a hyperkinetic projectile screaming through space at over 10 kilometers a second. And another, and another.