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The two Lancelot Frontiers didn't notice the change in the red knightmare's drop in shields and continued along their trajectory, slicing and slashing at Raven.

---

"The rest of the main force has arrive," informed Latune. She sighed in relief. "We should probably leave this place to them," suggested Latune.

"Noted. Let's go then. But that doesn't excuse you from keeping an eye on things." Eternal lifted off the mountain floor and headed southwards. Well then, I wonder if Shishuku's faring any better. "Shishuku, we're on our way over, don't try anything rash."

---

"Who do you think I am," replied Shishuku. She slashed with her VES, only to be intercepted by Esther's armed claws. It's taking them on with those? She broke to the right hard, bringing up her Blaze Luminous simultaneously to deflect Esther's slash harkens. That many on something like this? She withdrew a good distance and switched back to her VARIS HTs and fired two shots and fired a spread barrage of missiles.

Esther retracted her slash harkens, wrapping her wings around her knightmare as she did so. This things really needs a ranged arsenal. She took evasive action as well. A pest this one is. I don't want to have to do it but...I might just have to. She fended off the barrage, spreading her wings as the barrage finished, blowing away the smoke from the hits. She disengaged the armed claws and drew her Edge Rapiers, activating them as soon as they cleared the sheath.

The second Lancelot Frontier paused for a moment and came to a stop. It was close enough to the red knightmare, but it drew it's VARIS and took aim at the red knightmare. It hesitated and didn't fire immediately, firing a moment later and completely missing its mark despite having done so at mid-close range.

The number of Lancelot Frontiers totaled eight, while the number of Vincents had increased to twenty-three, and further joined by 4 Gareths, and made up the total number of surviving knightmares of the Britannian main force.

---

"The rest of the main force has engaged the enemy," informed Latune. She checked the situation of the main force, bringing it up on two windows and closing them after assessing them. "The main force appears to be holding on, likely a stalemate."

"That's good," commented Eternal. Especially since they don't have any particularly good commanders in the area. Oh well, if they fail it's not my fault they couldn't hold their own against grunts. He pasted by a pair of Vincents engaging a pair of Akatsuki. He ignored them and headed on his way. Definitely not worth my time helping those two.

---

"I see," muttered Shishuku. Well that's one less thing for me to worry about. Hm? What's that, another incoming? Definitely not him. She fired a missile barrage aimed at the path of which the incoming knightmare would come across. That should buy a little bit of time... She shook her head. Not likely to do that much at all. She refused to make a move against the black knightmare since it had only moved in response to her attacks. "Hurry up."

Esther breathed calmly. She checked her radar and matched it with Shishuku's actions. So it's pilot understands that. Too bad it won't let me pass without a fight. Guess I'll just have to wait for the third wheel.

The Lancelot Frontier drew it's MVS with it's free hand and prepared to follow through with a attack as soon as it was close enough.

All other Britannian forces in the mountains were engaged in battle with other, normal Black Knights knightmares, and both sides were locked in a stalemate.

---

Shishuku stared at the black knightmare, flexing her hands over the control yokes, ready for the first sign of hostility from the black knightmare. So we're both waiting for someone. But who will get here first, whoever it's waiting for or him. "How much longer?" she asked. A good thing we kept the comm. open, even if it further adds to the drain on the unit.

---

Eternal sped past a trio of Vincents, who were barely holding their position against a pair of Akatsuki, while a Lancelot Frontier was nearby engaging two Akatsuki to a clear stalemate. They're holding pretty well on their own. But...could be better. He took aim and fired a VARIS HT shot at a pair of Vincents and Akatsuki which were blocking a direct route to Shishuku, complete and utterly ignoring the idea of friendly fire. The Vincents and Akatsuki in the line of fire scattered, putting self preservation over fighting. Good to know at least they have some sort of a brain. He rushed past them while they reorganized themselves, leaving them behind as he hurried on. "A little bit longer, just hold on."

---

Esther shook her head as she waited. This is taking far too long. It'd better turn out right or I might just need to call backup to make up for it. Then again, that guy's a pain... What part of taken doesn't he understand. She sighed. I'd rather not ask him to help if I can help it but...I might have to if things go sour... She flexed her hand on the control yokes and gripped down on them.

The Lancelot Frontier tried to aim it's VARIS at Raven while continuing through with it's MVS.

---

Shishuku strafed around the black knightmare, taking aim at Shido's position and firing a shot at him before completing her circular run around the black knightmare. She was more or less in her original position prior to her strafe. No reaction? So the one it's waiting for isn't it's ally? Or does it simply not care?

Esther stared at the monitors inside her knightmare. My thoughts exactly if I were in your position. Now how long is it going to take for the observer to move. The way things stand, feels like I have a second stalker right now.

---

Eternal noticed a Akatsuki breaking off from a fight and another one a short distance later. "How's the regular army holding up?" inquired Eternal. Breaking off some of their forces? That's... not exactly good news is it.

"They're regrouping, from reports it seems. Possibly the enemy is planning something, retreating, or regrouping themselves," replied Latune. "I'm not sure which one is it."

"In any case, we'll have to be careful about it," said Eternal. He breathed in deeply for a moment and exhaled. I wonder if anything else is going as planned.

The Britannian knightmares near Raven's area withdrew and seeked other targets, prioritizing withdrawal over engaging the enemy. A group of four Vincents and a Lancelot Frontier headed towards Shido's position to intercept. Their route would take them directly through Shishuku's position first.

---

"I've had the regular army maintain a fair distance from the red knightmare. Also, I directed a squad over to engage the other one. They'll pass by Shishuku's position," informed Latune.

"Thank you, but I don't think we'll need interception forces," said Eternal. He opened his mouth for a split second and closed it. "On second thought, it'd be appreciated." He raised the VARIS HT and fired at Shido's position, having just cleared the obstacles blocking his way, though he still lacked a proper lock on his target. "Shishuku, can you force that one over?"

---

Shishuku strafled around the left of the black knightmare and headed towards Shido's position, taking aim with her VARIS HT, but not firing, yet. "Might not be necessary, it's not attacking me if I'm not after it."

Esther turned her knightmare around and proceeded after Shishuku. At least this is better than waiting around here for slow people. Priorities matter, whoever's the enemy is the enemy. Destroying them is a different matter.She slid the edge rapiers back into their sheaths, deactivating them when she did so, as she was moving. She kept the arms near them, and wrapped the wings around the front of the knightmare.

---

I see. So it's one of them? "I understand," said Eternal to no one in particular.

The VARIS HT shot went wide and missed Shido and the Akatsuki completely. Damn, missed. Eternal switched out his VARIS HT for his VES. With both in hand, he charged at the nearest Akatsuki, ready to slash it apart.

"Shishuku-chan-" began Latune as she noticed the black knightmare trailing Shishuku.

"I told you to call me Onee-chan!" Shishuku fired at Shido a split second after she barely got a lock. It wasn't very stable as the lock broke the same moment she fired, as the Arch Zephyr was rammed. What the- She slammed the Arch Zephyr into full reverse, pulling away from her attacker. It was the black knightmare. Shishuku swung the VARIS HT over to fire at the black knightmare.

Too slow. Esther drew and activated the right edge rapier with the left arm in one swift motion, slicing the VARIS HT in half diagonally in the process. The Arch Zeypher released the VARIS HT, barely evading a loss of its arm. Esther brought the edge rapier back down, slashing diagonally at the Arch Zephyr.

That was close. Shishuku hit hard to the right to evade being struck, storing her remaining VARIS HT and drawing both VES in the process. She kept her distance from the black knightmare, splitting her attention between it and the Black Knights.

"Shishuku-Onee-chan-," began Latune again.

"I'm fine and just 'Onee-chan'." She had snarled it by accident out of annoyance.

"Onee-chan!" shouted Latune, somehow exactly at the same time Shido's Hadron Cannon fired. She wasn't paying attention to the situtation as she was too focused on Shishuku's current status.

"Shut-" began Shishuku. The cockpit rocked hard, slamming Shishuku forward and back as the black knightmare rammed the Arch Zephyr. What the- She blinked for a split second as she noticed the Hadron Cannon's hit land where the black knightmare was earlier.

That was close. Esther tapped a few keys and brought up a secured comm. to the submarine, specifically, her backup. "Seems I'll be needing that backup stalker-san." Esther disengaged from Shishuku and noted the strain on the edge rapiers. Phew, that was within limits. Shouldn't risk that too often.

Eternal slashed the Akatsuki in half before it could respond. However, the remaining four opened fire on Eternal, forcing him to activate his Blaze Luminous shields to defend himself. He took evasive action, dashing left and right to avoid taking as many hits as he could from the Akatsukis' Custom Hand Guns. Can't get closer like this! Damnit! He was losing a bit of his cool to a annoyance at how the situation had turned for the worse.

The EF submarine resurfaced and opened the vertical launch hatch. "That hurts you know," remarked Lance in mock offense. He activated the Snipelink's float unit and took off from the submarine, which summerily withdrew into the water, closing its launch hatch as soon as the Snipelink was clear. It began ascending upwards while Lance readied both CAD SR. "Lock and Loaded."

---

"Whatever." Esther spun the knightmare to face Shido, accelerating as she did so. She sheathed the edge rapiers, deactivating them as she did so, and readied the claws arms. Let's see how you fare up and personal.

"Onee-Chan?" Latune blinked and stifled a scream as several shots connected with the Arkice's Blaze Luminous in rapid succession.

"Shishuku, back up, now," ordered Eternal. A trio of successive hits landed on the Blaze Luminous as he tried to close distance with Shishuku's location.

"Shut up!" Shishuku glanced back and forth between the black knightmare, Eternal's situtation, and Shido's knightmare. No choice, I'll get those two later. She sped directly at the Akatsuki instead of rendezvousing with Eternal and Latune. Two of the four Akatsuki noticed her and shifted their fire over at her. Pests. She fired a missile barrage at them while activating her left arm's Blaze Luminous to block the hits.

If there's any more reinforcements on either of their sides this isn't going to go too well. "Latune, how much?" He shook his head as he didn't get a response. "Not literally."

"It's enough," stated Latune quietly. She sulked in her seat despite the situtation around them.