He shoved the control stick all the way forward, and the Benatar shot ahead like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
But the warships behind them were faster. Not one, but three.
Three black, cone-shaped warships covered in energy turrets closed in on the Benatar in triangular formation.
They were faster than the Benatar, had more firepower than the Benatar, and outnumbered it three to one.
Quill activated the ship's weapons systems.
Two laser cannons extended from either side of the Benatar and automatically locked onto the nearest enemy vessel.
Quill pressed the fire button, and two beams shot toward the enemy ship's left engine.
The enemy ship's shields lit up and blocked the lasers, energy bursting into blue sparks across the shield's surface.
"Useless!" Rocket shouted. "Their shields are stronger than our cannons!"
"Then what do you want me to do? Go down there and fight them hand-to-hand?"
"Maybe that's a good idea!"
The aft turret opened fire.
Drax manned the main cannon, every energy round striking the exact same spot on the same enemy ship: an external node of its shield generator.
His patience and precision paid off. The third energy round struck the node, and the enemy ship's shield flickered before a small section vanished.
"Hit!" Drax shouted.
"Keep firing!" Quill yelled as he steered the ship through the incoming barrage.
Gamora was firing as well, operating another turret and targeting the leftmost enemy vessel.
Her firing was calmer and more calculated than Drax's, with exactly the same interval between every energy round.
Each shot landed precisely beside the last, like a painter creating a pattern on a canvas.
The shields of two enemy vessels began developing holes.
But the third vessel, the largest one, had already swung around in front of the Benatar.
Quill's