Spoiler (click to show/hide):
Your DEX Roll:------------------ 18 + 2 = 20(3 Damage)
Enemy troops:----------------- 19 (4 Damage, 2 to you, 2 to troops)
Your troops:-------------------- 16 (4 Damage)
Your STR Roll:------------------ 11
Your HP: 9/12
Your troops: 12/16
Enemy troops: 1/20
The dog fight continues at a blistering pace, and to your frustration it seems the more loses your unknown attackers take the more fervent and desperate they get in their offence. Your troops take a few more loses, but use their experimental cores well to transfer mana in between them to make sure those who need it the most have some magic to burn for their shields. You purse your lips a little though as a dose of concentrated fire takes out one of your men in a fiery explosion, but Fritz dives downward to catch the smoking form of his body. There was a good chance he was still alive really as shields, even when breaking, absorb a ton of force. However when so high in the air, a KO becomes almost certain death when one hits the ground.
You of course however make sure to repay them for every lose, and repay them with interest. Your troops make a push through the remaining enemies, splitting them half and breaking right chasing a chosen four and overwhelming them. You in the meantime take the split from the left, trailing tight behind them and picking them off, one by one, until only one remains. As it just so happens, on this one you spot an extra bulky backpack, where you spot a single antennae sticking out. More interesting yet though is when you spot the strange collection of gear on him. Scratch that.
Her. You notice a plume of raven hair behind her as she jukes to avoid your shots, her gear an odd mix of Federation, American, and even Empire makes.
Whatever her hear though, in the end it is inferior to your experimental core an armour, which allows you far greater speed. You whirl ahead, ducking into clouds and going around her as you draw your sword. She loses track of you, but soon sees you again as you cut her off with your blade drawn. She tries to hit the brakes and bring her weapon up, but she can't bleed the speed quick enough, so instead tries to smash you with your rifle. When she tries you get a look at some surprised, and frankly rather pretty, green eyes, but only for a moment as you lean back and dodge her rifles's butt. In response you swing your sword, slicing through her shield before slicing again but downward at her lev boot. You don't slice flesh, but there is a shower of colorful sparks as you damage the boot. You meet her eyes again, wide with shock, and the next moment she begins to fall to earth, her ability to fly gone as she sinks like a ship.