Zat Arras had brought five thousand ships. The sky was black with
the three enormous fleets. It was Helium against the field now, and
the fight had settled to countless individual duels. There could
be little or no manoeuvering of fleets in that crowded, fire-split
sky.
Zat Arras' flagship was close to my own. I could see the thin
features of the man from where I stood. His Zodangan crew was
pouring broadside after broadside into us and we were returning
their fire with equal ferocity. Closer and closer came the two
vessels until but a few yards intervened. Grapplers and boarders
lined the contiguous rails of each. We were preparing for the
death struggle with our hated enemy.
There was but a yard between the two mighty ships as the first
grappling irons were hurled. I rushed to the deck to be with my men
as they boarded. Just as the vessels came together with a slight
shock, I forced my way through the lines and was the first to
spring to the deck of Zat Arras' ship. After me poured a yelling,
cheering, cursing throng of Helium's best fighting-men. Nothing
could withstand them in the fever of battle lust which enthralled
them.
Down went the Zodangans before that surging tide of war, and as
my men cleared the lower decks I sprang to the forward deck where
stood Zat Arras.
"You are my prisoner, Zat Arras," I cried. "Yield and you shall
have quarter.
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