The atmosphere was tense, but more jubilant in the HEDGEHOG control room. After the call from Flight Squadron Sleek Felines, hundreds of new ships had arrived on their screens. They were travelling at full speed towards the Pure Centre, catching up the much slower army craft that the Grand Zombie Master controlled.

“We’re gonna get him, Sir,” said Ivan. “We are, aren’t we?” He was terrified, but there was genuine hope returning.

“Let’s wait and see,” said Captain Scheider, which Ivan took as a yes. His air of calmness had returned which had filled the room with confidence. “They’re catching quickly though.”

They were, and not an eye strayed from the red dots which flew across the screen towards the ship that the Grand Zombie Master was flying.

The gap narrowed, and narrowed until it looked as though they were on top of each other.

“Any time now,” said Captain Scheider. They were all looking for the disappearance of the stray dot, it would surely be gunned down at any second. “Any time…”

The dots carried on moving.

And moving.

“What are they doing?” asked Captain Scheider. “Why haven’t they blown him up?”

There was a quietness settling around the office, murmurings and a distinct air of confusion.

As the truth dawned on Ivan, there was a sinking in his stomach.

“Sir,” he whispered, trying not to break down. “Sir… I think they’ve followed the diversion.”

Captain Scheider put his hands to his head. “Radio them, quickly.”

They tried, but the Sleek Felines couldn’t be reached. The radio-jammers installed around the diversion were doing their job. Every member of the control room tried over and over again, with no success. The flashing dot of the Grand Zombie Master’s ship continued to get ever so slowly closer to the Pure Centre.