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The uncontested presence of Valheimian regulars –and especially an airship—felt more like a blow to Éliane than actually getting hit. Intellectually, she knew that the radio silence from Solitude, combined with the betrayal from Loki meant that the command, control, communications and intelligence of her country was deep compromised. Seeing it in the form of her enemies conducting operations like this was nearly too much, especially knowing what they were likely trying to do. 

She had her gunblade out within moments, a first shot already cracking out moments after leaving its sheathe to fell an offending Valheimian soldier. Around her, the Kirins were already springing into action. For a frustrating moment, Esben flanked hard around the action by himself, but she quickly understood what he was trying to do. 

“I’m following you in!” she announced, firing off another shot before she took an accelerated, bounding leap, courtesy of her replacement wind materia. The pink-haired Skaelan slashed out and kicked aside a man that had put himself between her and her path, blood spraying as her blade found its mark. Another bullet found its way into the back of a soldier that had turned and aimed at her fellow countryman. For good measure, she stabbed that soldier in the back too.

Indeed, it didn’t take long for Éliane to catch up to Esben. As he fired at whatever officer was atop the hill, she immediately scanned the vicinity, clearing out an remaining soldiers in the area with cracks from her gunblade. There weren’t any words needed; as if by sleight of hand, a hand grenade appeared in her free hand even as she joined Esben in firing at the offending foreigner. Without ceremony, she lobbed it at the airship, aiming for maximum disruption. Hopefully it was all enough.