"The Gargol has heavier batteries than we do, and a bigger crew,” reminded Stilicho Keene.
"But we can outmaneuver them!” Lana said. She cried into the interphone to the pirate crew, “On suits and prepare for action, men!"
"Go down and take command of our batteries, Gunner,” Thorn ordered. “I'll take the controls. Suits on, everyone!"
In a few moments Thorn, in his space-suit now like the others, was poised over the firing-keys. Sual Av tautly watched the aura-chart, while Lana and old Stilicho peered ahead.
"We're close,” muttered the Venusian, his eyes on the chart.
"There's the Gargol!" Lana cried suddenly, pointing ahead through the glassite window. “And they've spotted us!"
Thorn saw the Saturnian cruiser in the black, starry vault ahead-a long torpedo-like shape pluming white fire from its rocket-tubes as it put on all possible speed to escape. Jenk Cheerly obviously had no desire to risk battle.
But the Venture, imbued with its unprecedented potential speed, swiftly came up on the tail of the naval cruiser. Now atom-shells began to burst in blinding flares near Thorn's ship as the Gargol cut loose with its stern guns.
"I'm going to run up under their keel!” Thorn called into the inter-phone. “Try to score a hit on their stern tubes, Gunner!"
The Gargol veered around suddenly ahead, to bring its broadside batteries into play. The heavily-gunned cruiser loosed a brief hail of shells in the direction of the Venture.