[center][img] https://i.imgur.com/5ILCycx.png[/img][/center]
[hr]

Éliane shot the sole remaining grovemaster a sharp look at his comment. “I still don’t like you, but that was before you presented yourself as a halfway reasonable head of state. I can still show concern for a city being sieged by Valheim.” 

Nonetheless, she nodded at his explanation. 

On Loki, the information Esben confirmed was grim. On the other hand, if she got a chance to play with one of Valheim’s flying ships… 
Well, she was looking forward to that.

-

The airborne assault came quickly and ruthlessly. Although it was never intended as the main line, the first line of defense fell quickly as enemy airships began to land.  

The position that Éliane had chosen to site the gun, now in its anti-aircraft emplacement configuration was slightly exposed, but the pink-haired officer wouldn’t be who she was without at least taking a medium-level of risk in whatever decisions she made in combat. She was in a very good enfilading position to shoot at the ships bearing down on the city. 

Although she still had to nurse her ammunition, she had already made good on her position. There were already a couple small frigates in flames as they spiraled out of control in the sky. 

…

Then a certain somehow decided to show up again, his aggravating, irritating voice clearly heard over the din of battle. Was that man vain enough to use a loudspeaker in battle? 

Of course, it was that annoying Edrenian traitor from before, standing atop a particular Valheimian cruiser. She swiveled the gun to fire at the ship, but as his stupid speech continued despite his own words, she switched to something that would be far better at swiping the smug grin he no doubt had on his face.

A moment later, she had her rifle in her hand, a scope attached atop it. It only took her another brief moment to properly sight in for the man cackling on the ship. Calculating the distance, drop, and the wind—helped a little by a push from her wind materia, she sniped at Valon mid speech just as Miina made her own attack. 

“Piss off! I’m first, motherfucker!”

With a crack, a materia-boosted shot snapped right for Valon as he continued to gloat.