This is the first sci-fi story I've written that has a clearly defined goal... which, in this case, is pure survival.. :D Hope y'all enjoy it.

*****

He yanked quickly back on the control stick, pulling the sleek craft into a tight loop. A plasma bolt exploded into a blue-tinged fireball where he had been only moments earlier.

Captain Lofton breathed a quick prayer of thanks before spinning his craft into a tight Immelman loop.

A loud bleeping sound permeated the cockpit, accompanied by a metallic HUD voice proclaiming “Incoming missiles! Incoming missiles!” Lofton took a quick glance at the ES radar screen. Two missiles, about 50 ft apart, were homing into the exhaust from the single rocket engine. A little green number above the closer missile indicated impact in just 30 seconds. A loud clang, followed by a deep buzz, told Lofton that the automatic jamming system had initiated. He scanned the ES screen closely. Both missiles wavered for a few seconds, then went dead. The buzzing stopped as the jammer shut down again.

Lofton glanced up just in time to see the plasma bolt explode right in front of the cockpit. Instinctively he shoved the stick forward. The craft responded instantly, quickly spinning 180 degrees.

Lofton grinned as the capitol ship appeared in front of the windshield. He side-spun to avoid another plasma bolt before gently pulling the trigger on his control stick. Two bright red laser beams speared into space. Lofton smiled grimly as the energy shield on the capitol ship flickered, then dissolved into wisps.

Just as he lined his targeting aid onto one of the forward guns, there was a loud crash, and his craft bucked, spinning almost halfway around. Alarms pierced his eardrums, while flashing red and yellow lights quickly dominated the control panel, and the metallic voice proclaimed sonorously “Craft damaged. Craft damaged.”. Lofton fought to regain control of the craft, but it was no longer responsive to the controls, jerking wildly. He quickly scanned the panel. The port laser system had taken a direct hit, and the explosion had also disabled the main control center. He flipped the switch to the secondary control system. The craft bucked twice before settling into smooth flight. Another plasma bolt exploded near the craft.

Lofton pulled the space fighter into a smooth sweeping curve. Within a few seconds, he had the capitol ship targeted. Quickly, he fired two pulses from his remaining laser system. A bright yellow spot appeared in the center of the capitol ship for a brief instant, then disappeared. Moments later the entire ship jerked, snapping into several large chunks.

As Lofton swept past the wreckage, something floated past the cockpit windshield. It was a severed hand grasping a toothbrush.