// send a shot message to execute a shot in the safe mode
 public byte[] shoot(
     byte[] fx, byte[] fy, byte[] dx, byte[] dy, byte[] t1, byte[] t2, boolean polar) {
   byte[] inbuffer = new byte[16];
   try {
     if (polar) out.write(ClientMessageEncoder.pshoot(fx, fy, dx, dy, t1, t2));
     else out.write(ClientMessageEncoder.cshoot(fx, fy, dx, dy, t1, t2));
     out.flush();
     in.read(inbuffer);
     return inbuffer;
   } catch (IOException e) {
     e.printStackTrace();
   }
   return new byte[] {0};
 }