Perihel

You fly at almost the speed of light, in a ship that has been out there for years. The paint is gone, a riveted patch plate hangs on the left strut, one light segment is dead. Comets come at you out of the vanishing point beyond your glass. Your job: shoot them before they get through. You have three shields. Every rock that gets past costs one. HOW YOU FIRE Your thumb rests on the fire bar below the glass. One press, one shot. The glass itself stays clear — you should see what is coming at you, not your own hand. THE RIGHT MOMENT Hitting alone is not enough. As a rock comes closer, a ring closes in around it. Fire exactly then and you get the most points. Fire straight away and you will hit — but get almost nothing. Hesitate, and just as little. THE RED MINES Not everything may be shot. Mines announce themselves with a red warning light and fly slower than comets: you have time to…