The ship started to drift in the direction before Zechs made his decision. Eight hesitated. A couple years ago she would have followed that order without question, but now...? What her military training told her she should do and what her heart wanted to do were in conflict. How far she came for her to be indecisive...

The thrusters fired on and she banked toward base. "Roger that." She hated herself, but her gunner wasn't on board then there was no point in making the run.

Her hesitation cost her, though, and two of the faster makes was starting to catch up -- designed to chase infant whales, perhaps. Eight noted their positions on her radar. "Looks like we got company. Is there anything you can do?"