McKnight had just finished shaving when the ship shook ferociously, the razor he had just discarded flying dangerously close to his face. As he hit the door, his face paled. Had engineering fucked up? Was this the first stage of the rapid compression and destruction of their ship in hyperspace? Pulling on a pair of pants and exiting the bathroom, McKnight poked his head out in time to hear Trapp give a call to battle stations. Confused, but unquestioning, McKnight sprinted towards the hangar deck, his flight suit only half on as he pulled himself into it while juking past other crewmen. 

The hangar bay was a mess. The impact had sent unsecured materials, and even several ultra-light mover MAS's tumbling across the floor, and the engineers and techs didn't have time to clean up- what with general quarters being called. The only portions of the deck the technicians cleared were the various launch bays for the fighters and MAS. Dodging past scrambling Ultra-Lights, and vaulting over crates and fallen munitions, McKnight sprinted to his machines, where his engineering crew were fiercely tapping away on keypads and loading equipment onto the Shrike. Sophia, her blonde hair loose and frazzled- she had obviously been asleep, shoved his helmet into his hands as she handed him a datapad, her hands jittering uncomfortably.

[color=wheat]"We've replaced the shield unit,"[/color] Sophia said calmly, despite her apparent stress, as she pointed at a gunmetal gray plate that had been welded over the melted hole that used to be where his destroyed shield generator laid. [color=wheat]"We replaced the missing tesla coil as well- but we haven't been able to finish optimizing the power draw yet."

"The Shrike has a pretty demanding power consumption rate."[/color] Sophia reminded McKnight, as he pulled on his helmet. [color=wheat]"If you start boosting with your teslas, you won't be able to fire the EKP and the shields will start draining."[/color]

[color=lightblue]"I'll keep that in mind."[/color] McKnight said with a frown as he climbed into his machine and booted himself up.

[color=lightblue]"Gallant, waiting on green."[/color] McKnight said into the comm as the order to sound off came.

[hr]
McKnight's head was forced into his headrest as the Lincoln launched the 7th from its hold. As McKnight formed up with the rest of the squadron, he took the time to analyze their opposition. On top of the enemy cruiser and destroyers, they were looking at 10 Mk IIs- 9, as one was shot down by Trent almost immediately, 3 Mk IIIs, and an new, white experimental unit. The 7th, still damaged from their previous fight, were ten reinforced by a pair of Ardin's black Imperial Service pilots, their black Sentries floating closer to the ship.

[color=lightblue]"Custom or not,"[/color] McKnight replied to Gerard, [color=lightblue]"I doubt the MAS itself is the reason for our predicament. All the same, we should use caution."[/color]

The two battlegroups now faced off. The Coalition group was backed with the nearby research planet and its defensive stations- a Trio of floating satellite platforms with artillery cannons. The platforms targeted the Lincoln and its escort ships, and opened fire. As the cannon rounds erupted from the artillery platforms, the Coalition MAS's charged forward as well, weapons firing. McKnight instinctively boosted to the side, cursing as his eye flickered to his units shield levels- which had already dropped to 90% after less than a second of boost. His shield slowly began to recharge. McKnight frowned, he'd have to take care of how liberally he used his boost- that would be a pain.

The different Coalition squads broke off, clearly intent on hitting the Lincoln from 3 directions at once- though they were close enough to aid other teams if needed. At the same time, the Coalition naval vessels advanced at flank speed as well, capital ship weapons already firing on the Lincoln and its support destroyers. 

[color=lightblue]"Here they come. Rookie, on my ass."[/color] McKnight called out over the com, [color=lightblue]"Cover my approach, we're going to take the three on the-"[/color] McKnight cut off midsentence, his eyes widening as the White MAS was suddenly in front of him, faster than anything he had seen before- he doubted even the Astelion or Trent's Mosquito would've matched that speed. McKnight boosted and rolled to the side at the last second, glowing claws tearing through the space he had just vacated. 

[color=lightblue]"He's fast..!"[/color] Was all McKnight managed as he instinctively began firing with his rotary cannon, watching as the White machine easily dodged the streams of fire and continued flying past him- towards the Lincoln, aiming for the hole by Port Engineering- which would give him easy access to the ship's reactor. [color=lightblue]"He's going for the breach!"[/color] 

The two Imperial Service Sentries flew in front of the White MAS, their autocannons firing streams of hot lead. The gleaming white MAS easily dodged its way through the streams of fire, its glowing claws leaving trails of light as it rapidly advanced on the black Sentries. [color=Gray]"I cant stop him!"[/color] came the panicked cry of one of the Imperial Service Pilots moments before the White MAS's claws sank into its chest. The first Sentry erupted into a fireball, as the white MAS pulled away and continued on its path, turning back to almost casually sink a long, but accurate burst of EKP rounds into the chest of the other Sentry- tearing through its shields and its pilot with relative ease. 

As the second Imperial Service sentry exploded, the rest of the Coalition MAS team was almost upon them. 

[hr]
[color=lime]ON THE BRIDGE OF THE LINCOLN[/color]

[color=blue]"Analysis Complete."[/color] chimed the synthesized voice of the Lincoln's AI. [color=blue]"This unidentified frame appears to be the first of its kind ever encountered by the UEE. Its observed to have speeds and firepower well greater than the typical for its size category. It can be assumed that this high performance unit uses a experimental reactor of sorts, and appears to be armed with hybrid weaponry. Caution is advised."[/color]

"Captain!" one of the bridge crew shouted out. "Enemy ships moving into close range at attack speeds, they will be crossing the WMG's minimum safety distance in a matter of minutes."

"Captain! Commander Collins has reported Gemini I's shields are about to break- the orbital platforms are concentrating their fire on him!"