"Roger that," he said, and the Sherlock and Watson team immediately turned to engage them. The Lancers in the enemy reacted almost immediately and assault rifles released concerted volleys while she took a handful of shots and tried to place them accurately to kill the pilots. Even with AIs in control, she reminded herself, there were only a handful of functions they could actually perform. Those that didn't have pilots soon stopped fighting and turned to retreat before they were cut down by the Sherlocks with chainswords.
Literally cut down, she thought with a grim smile and returned her focus to the main battle line. A Guardian had raised its shredder plasma cannon and delivered a series of super-heated rounds at Hammerhand.
The man brought his shield up, and the pale blue film cut into the darkness around it like a knife. The impacts were hard and crisply audible, and she almost had to cover her eyes as the plasma rounds flashed a bright white light each time.
"I’m calling up a light filter," Mini said when he noted the sudden change in illumination around them,
The Knights moved forward. Those behind Hammerhand and the shadow of the shield circled and opened fire on the Guardian in a rapid and coordinated attack. The larger and more powerful mech's armor appeared untouched and it immediately retaliated. One of the Lancers fell back and steam hissed as the plasma round cut through the armor. The pilot had, thankfully, managed to twist aside and it appeared he would make it alive, although he hastily retreated to where Tinker waited to make an emergency repair.
The remaining Lancer moved into the gap where the damaged mech had been and left the Sherlock-Watson duo to fill the other position.
Hammerhand's shield dropped and his Knights released a furious barrage. The coordination between the group was impressive and it was difficult to say whether that was training, experience, or merely the AIs still working their magic.
Jessica13 turned her attention away from the impending clash of the two lines and located one of Athena's knights as it broke away to the side. The Predator V2 was easy to identify due to the point-defense lasers on its shoulder and the sword it carried, which was similar to the two her teammate used.
"I'm breaking away," Windchime said as if the thought had conjured him and immediately drew away from the group and moved to where the Predator attempted to flank them. She could have eliminated the mech from her location but the man already seemed focused on what he had to do and his swords would save them ammo.
Besides, having him come in with his hybrid monster of a mech would certainly play to their advantage.
Although she’d seen him in action a few times already, she hadn’t lost the sense of awe he always stirred in her. The Predator saw him approach, drew his sword, and started it. It was a chainsword, an older model than the vibroblades the Knight had, and when their blades clashed, a shower of sparks was unleashed to bathe them in a powerful green-and-yellow glow as they fought.
The Predator pilot was certainly not lacking when it came to fighting skills. He twisted and glided his mech through the fight and maintained the distance that would allow him to fight his adversary’s two swords effectively. Its movements were smooth and had most likely been perfected through experience as he slashed and cut, surged forward when his mech allowed it, and drew back quickly before Windchime could take advantage.
To Jessica13's mind, however, there was really only one winner. Windchime had the superior model mech, to begin with. Balthazars were infinitely more mobile and effective than the Predators, and the added swords were merely a bonus. The combination enabled him to constantly drive the Predator back toward Athena's knights' line without endangering himself too much. He wore the other pilot down step by step.
"Windchime, I can take him from here if you want," she offered through the commlink.
He drew away from the fight for a second. "There is no need. I can take care of him and it'll let me inch in closer to their formation while I'm at it."
The rockets on his back flared. The added weight of the hybridization meant it couldn't actually fly like Balthazars were supposed to, but it could still gain some elevation.
Which was obviously what he wanted to do and he had waited for the right opportunity.
The rockets activated suddenly and launched him vertically as he hurdled a swipe at his legs. Windchime lashed his boot out in midair, drove it into the cockpit of the Predator, and shoved hard. The mech stumbled as its gyros struggled to compensate for the sudden change in weight distribution.
The Knight was quick to take advantage and landed smoothly again, only to leap forward over the ground that had been scorched by his rocket to thrust his right vibrosword into the Predator's chest. The blow was blocked, but the strike with his left hand wasn't and another flurry of sparks spiraled when the blade slashed the legs and seared into the hydraulics.
Jessica13 frowned when the power in its legs suddenly cut off. Some of them would have compartmentalized hydraulics, and it seemed to be the case in this one. It was still able to move its sword even though fluid gushed from the damaged area.
The pilot within still attempted to fight, and she could respect him for that, but the fight was well and truly over.
Windchime darted back another step to avoid the chainsword. It was a sensible precaution as he wouldn’t want to be hurt or risk any damage to his mech in a fight that he had already won.
The Predator balance was totally compromised and it barely managed a few swings before it fell. Her teammate stepped in to finish it and drove his
