[center][h2][color=ff8533]Isaac LaBelle[/color][/h2][/center]
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Isaac jerked Algernon forward as his controls became responsive again, not even getting a moment catch his breath as Zahra's drones were rapidly approaching. He needed a plan in case Osamu tried that stunt again; Isaac didn't believe for a minute that the Red Star pilot would keep his word. But first, he needed to get himself out of danger.

[color=ff8533]"I'm okay! I'm okay! Call these things off, [i]s'il vous plaît[/i]!"[/color] he stammered into the comm frantically as Algernon dropped to all fours and raced for cover in the face of incoming fire. Looks like Red Star was shooting at him too - you'd think Osamu would've at least given an order not to target the NC doing Red Star a perverted favor. What a horrible deal this was. That smug brat was going to pay for threatening him. Algernon's claws dug in to the ground as its armor started getting clipped by incoming coilgun fire, sending its "tail" up to collide with one of the overzealous drones that swooped low for a disabling shot on the mech's legs. The EMP generator sparked on impact, sending the little machine to the ground like a moth on a bug zapper. 

Isaac raised Algernon's rifle for a dedicated counter-offensive before the drones paused and diverted their flight path, apparently having been called off. Would've been nice if they'd gotten that order [i]before[/i] they started shredding Algernon's plating. Battle damage already, and from his own allies, no less! Isaac was fuming. He gripped his controls tightly, falling back and away from the increasingly-near battle line. As far as he could assess, the Haven forces were already in a state of disarray, and it looked like that NC that was clashing with Alexander was going to end up disabled; not to mention, with the way Sahaquiel was erratically moving, he'd never get a clean shot on the Red Star ace. Wonderful, just when he'd been given a stake in this conflict, Haven started losing. He switched his comm back on, careful to keep the anger out of his voice when he spoke.

[color=ff8533]"Erm, thank you. I saw Akiyama inside their flagship, but I'm not entirely certain if that's his true location."[/color] Isaac hesitated; should he warn Alexei? No, too risky. [color=ff8533]"I'm- I'm not sure if I should say anymore, in case he's listening. Just try not to get pinned down, I think he's eager for slaves."[/color]

Deep breath. Focus.

He needed a target, lest he just start taking potshots at the supercarrier on the off-chance he somehow hits Osamu out of frustration. Isaac switched Algernon's lancer to its secondary firing mode, unloading a suppressive spray of plasma bolts on the largest group of Red Star forces in his line of fire. He'd need to thin their numbers for now, wait for an opportunity to strike at an enemy NC. And, worst case scenario, he could always just shoot Alexei and flee if the battle turned out unquestionably in Red Star's favor. Maybe if he overemphasized Osamu's importance to the Red Star war machine in his report, Paragon would harass him with assassins for the rest of his hopefully-short life. 

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