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"I'm not sure," Brinley said. "It might be us. One minute until she catches up. Wait, brace yourselves!"
A shaft of light blossomed in the back window of the pod, heading right for us. Just when I thought it would hit, it shot over the top of us, so close I had to throw my hand over my eyes to keep from being blinded.
The laser passed over us and disappeared.
"Plot a course to evade further shots," J'avet said.
"Okay, but the Iri ship is now headed straight for Gamma," Brinley said. "They must have decided we're friendly, because their enemy tried to hit us."
"Let's take advantage of it. Head for Tarathu. Send a message that we are damaged and need to land immediately." J'avet's mouth was set in a line. Gamma gave us an opportunity, but she'd brought herself under fire to do it.
I couldn't look. I didn't want to think about all those people who might die so we could succeed.
"Message sent," Brinley said. "The reply is coordinates."
"Follow them," J'avet said.
"Following," she confirmed.
A flash of light drew my attention to the rear window, followed by debris blasted in every direction.
I couldn't tell if it was Gamma or another ship that was completely destroyed.
"Focus," J'avet said.
I wasn't sure if he was talking to me, himself or the others. Maybe all of us.
"Approximate time to landing?"
"Twelve and a half minutes," Brinley said, her voice tight. "Twelve."
We passed through the planet's atmosphere with a shudder.
"Gamma singed the top of the pod," Brinley said. "Any closer and passing into the atmosphere would have caused the pod to break up. That would have sucked."
"It's a long way down," I agreed. The planet drew closer. It looked blue and green like Earth or Calig. If you'd told me it was either, I wouldn't argue.
"Just a bit," Brinley agreed.
"Prepare to veer off course for an emergency landing," J'avet said. "Everyone get strapped in and brace yourselves."
"I'm not finding a nice, flat field," Brinley said. "This is going to get bumpy." She pressed a button and an alarm started to sound.
I hurried to sit and whipped my harness into place.
"Impact in five. Four. Three. Two."
We hit the ground so hard I was jolted forward, almost hitting my head on the seat in front. I felt as though my neck would snap, but the harness held the rest of me in place.
Outside the window, the world was a blur of green and brown.
Under the pod, trees groaned and snapped, scraping along the hull like nails.
I gritted my teeth and hung on. I liked a good roller coaster, but not like this. This felt like we'd slam into something solid at any moment and be crushed like an aluminium can.
Finally, we started to slow, before coming to a stop in the middle of a stand of trees.
"Everyone get your belongings and get off the pod." J'avet was already out of his seat, while I was still dazed.
