Clay lay in his new bunk, staring into the darkness as sleep eluded him. The day’s events kept playing through his mind, especially the destruction of the Purple Cloud and the loss of almost everyone he knew well.
The loss of the ship had stunned most of his fellow pilots. Many had fallen to enemy fire in the immediate aftermath. Clay and several others survived the initial assault but the tables had been turned. Now they were outnumbered by the enemy.
For Clay anger drove all other feelings away. He fought like a demon, destroying enemy after enemy. None of the others faired so well. Clay had reviewed the recordings. Some still seemed stunned by events. Others fought well, but without Clay’s skill and anger, and so were overwhelmed.
In the end only Clay remained, but the attac
