[i]<Got it.>[/i] Mana replied.  [i] I'm not the best with barriers, but I'll try to keep the Bydo off your back.  Join up with me once you have those civilians safe.>[/i]

She knew she'd be buying time, but that makes it a bit more pressing.  Mana looked up at the Bydo streaming down, and it seemed that other mages had already moved to join the battle, as flashes of light were exchanged between flying opponents up above.  Her grip on the hilt of her sword was hard, to stop her hand from shaking.  Was she afraid of these small fry?  Nonsense.  Mana rocketed into the sky to meet the enemy.  

Most of the Bydo were some of the usual small mechanical craft.  Small, mobile, and not very dangerous to any mage capable of paying attention, they were only a real danger in massed swarms, and even then wouldn't be much of a threat.  Of course, the little guys usually were just a screen for something bigger.  Hopefully, nothing bigger was going to drop down, or there could be real trouble.  

Mana met the first group  she encountered head-on, cutting through several of them with a single wave of energy from her sword, before she had to flit out of the way of the ones trailing behind them.  Big groups like these were never her strong suit, but did she feel up to a duel with something more dangerous?  

"Stardust tears," Mana shouted.  "Full auto fire.  Airgetlam, I'll leave the targeting to you."  Blades of silver light formed around her, a few at a time, and launched themselves at nearby enemies as Mana focused on maneuvering around.  As long as she could keep it up, that should put a dent into the enemy groups.  At least enough to get their attention.  Her real goal was to keep an eye out for anything falling right to the ground, because the last thing the city needed was some big ground-pounder running amok down there.