War Birds — R.M. Meluch

I DON'T KNOW WHO WON THE BATTLE...

I don't know who hit me or even if it was an intentional shot. There was no enemy-ship registering in that direction. I think it was a random hit.

I thought my number was up, but I had an idea and anything was worth a try. If I could rig a power supply to activate the controls, it might afford enough thrust to kick me into a parking orbit around Erde.

Leaning out into infinity, I jerry-rigged my ship. I pulled myself in and sealed the hatch again. No time left. This was it. I threw the switch. Nothing happened. Seconds ticking past. I beat on the switch. A flash. The ship lurched. The wrong way. The directional rocket's blast drove me into the atmosphere, and my ship with me in it was burning up....