[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/oSZpZJp.jpeg[/img]
[h2]On the Ropes[/h2][/center][indent][code]Skogsrå, Gelcastre City Outskirts, LZ Delta_
101st Special Forces Legion. Local Time: 1240_ [/code][/indent][hr]

[color=steelblue]<<They're falling back!>>[/color] One of the Helldogs crackled over their comms as a combination of the Secutor's and Venator's direct assault, began to break the backs of the Coalition forces. Infantry abandoned their positions, and those too close to flee threw their hands up in surrender. The remaining MAS still put up a fight, but it was clear their hearts were no longer in it, as they began to fall back in order to reconsolidate their forces. The Helldogs surged forward to fill the gaps, though not reckless as one might expect of regular forces. Their advance was methodical and coordinated, calling out their positions to each other as well as Rhino as they advanced in tandem with the Secutor, forming a veritable wall of autocannon spewing death. 

[color=steelblue]<<Left, fire left!>>[/color]
[indent][color=khaki]<<Copy, shifting fire!>>[/color][/indent] [color=palegreen]<<Steady, keep in line with the Sec, don't overextend.>>[/color]
[color=steelblue]<<Fuck! I'm hit, falling back!>>[/color]

The comms were crackled and clipped, as return fire whizzed past and dented armor, one of the Helldog Sentries taking a direct hit to the torso, shaken but not out of the fight just yet. The damaged Helldog fell back behind Rhino, using the Secutor's bulk as cover as the Sentry fired over its shoulder.

[color=pink]<<Aww, boss you [i]do[/i] care about us after all huh?>>[/color] Sabine cackled as Sparrowhawk hunkered down for a moment, HPK and laserfire strafing around her position. Pits of dust and concrete kicked up as the Watchdog scored a half dozen kills on various infantry positions still converging around Sabine, a dropped AT launcher flying high, giving her enough space to break out of the potential encirclement. The Sparrowhawk, while grounded for the time being, was still a zippy fighter, using its remaining thrusters to skate across the wrecked roads, as she approached Braide's position from an angle. 

Sabine cocked an eyebrow as she examined the fight happening before them- two Skollrs and a third one not showing up on IFF. She snorted into her comms.

[color=pink]<<I recognize that ugly dome anywhere.>>[/color] Sabine snorted as she put a temporary IFF label on the unknown, pinging it as friendly. [color=pink]<<Rook, go be a knight in shining armor and pull Hex out of her little scrap- I can't wait to hang that over her head for the next week and a half.>>[/color] The pink haired menace cackled even as she leveled her rifle and began to take potshots at the Skollrs from a distance. Plasma beams flew over the Venator's shoulders as Sabine landed a quick pair of hits on the Skollr directly facing off with Hex, melting the barrel of its gun with the first shot, and blowing off its arm with the second. 

The Sparrowhawk took into the sky- for only a moment as Sabine leaped for the roof of the nearest building to get a better angle on the fight.

[hr]

Meanwhile, up in the sky. The Jaeger managed one last shot at the Shrike before it was too close. The Jaeger boosted backwards, releasing its grip on its rifle just in time for the Shrike's beam saber to cut through its space, sundering the weapon with an explosion. If the Jaeger pilot was panicked at all, it didn't show. A harsh voice growling over the comms in response.

[color=coral]<<Well met, Imperial dog.>>[/color]

The Jaeger strafed to the side, a panels on its shoulders, torso and head began to glow and flash rapidly as it drew its own beam saber. It strafed right, fast, then left again. The Shrike's optical sensors began to register not one, not two, but [i]four[/i] Jaegers screaming towards him. The four Jaegers flickered as they surged towards Kilmer's right, blade back ready to thrust.

[color=coral]<<Goodbye, dog.>>[/color]

At the last moment, Kilmer's proximity sensor screamed that something was coming from directly left.