What is "shadowers"

Usage examples of "shadowers".

And since said shadowers were too spread out for him to get all of them, that meant the only way to prevent the Bug starships from intercepting him was to destroy or at least lame those ships so that they could no longer catch his own vessels.

One or two of the troopers muttered at the sight, and there were anxious glances at our shadowers, who had lined up on either side of the gateway.