The Earthship's beam blazed momentarily on the alien vessel, then vanished. The alien dodged suddenly ahead, and something flickered on her side. All hell broke loose in the Thirty-six. From the engine section came a faint thudding vibration of overload switches cutting out. The ship shivered and hiccoughed like a drink-deprived alcoholic.
Again Fire Control beamed out, and again the alien ship flared. But there was no answering blast.
Parmay, shaken, watched the weird battle on the screen. Behind the enemy ship loomed the vast bulk of planet six, a gigantic ammonia-methane globe, a Jovian monstrosity that outlined the darker form of the alien ship.
Slowly, the enemy vessel began to shrink; it was falling toward the giant planet.
"Her drive's out!" Tallen shouted gleefully.
"So is ours!" snapped a voice from the speaker above the panel.
"Are we falling?"
"No, it's the hypersee that's out. The planetary drive is perfect. The hypersee is burned all to hell. No breach in the hull."
"Get us orbited to Therbis," Tallen ordered. "What damage to the alien ship?"