Zwei grimaced slightly. What she had anticipated would surely cripple the target seemed to have been considerably less effective than her forecast had indicated. Despite the system's analysis of the enemy's movement capabilities and probable directional patterns, an instant reversal of its movement path hadn't been in the plan. Consequently, many of her encircling shots found themselves misdirected, and the enemy managed to slip through her attacks without being incapacitated. And, given the recharge time of her rifle, the young super-soldier realized that she couldn't press her attack before the enemy would in turn be able to counter, taking the initiative and forcing her to risk damage to her machine. Unacceptable. In that case, moving to a distance immediately would be the best course of action. However, just as she realized this, her unit's sensors once again detected a missile lock, and countless missile tubes unfolded all across the surface of the enemy machine. A homing attack, it seemed. In that case, distancing herself was no longer a valid plan, either, as the enemy's attack would simply follow her. This pilot, whoever he was, seemed to favor an overwhelmingly offensive attack strategy. In that case, her own prudence would only make her opponent's job easier. In that case, perhaps she could outmaneuver him by failing to act cautiously, taking him by surprise with a sudden offense from which he couldn't escape?
Reasoning thus, Zwei chose not to retreat, instead holding her ground as the enemy opened fire with countless missiles. Unfolding her own machine's wings, she instantly retaliated, quickly targeting each of the incoming projectiles and releasing an equal and counter storm of energy from her wings, scattering a shower of S.E.R. Arcs into the oncoming barrage, detonating almost all of the incoming warheads, which in turn knocked their fellows off-course. Their thrusters would fail them long before they could fully reverse their momentum to come about and strike her, rendering them no longer a threat. Which, in turn, meant that she could charge and take out the enemy while he was still preparing his next-
To her surprise, however, things once again failed to go according to plan. Using the heat signatures of his missiles' thrusters to hide his own presence, and the light of the explosions to conceal his machine, the enemy had, instead of moving for a flank attack as she had expected, charged right through the screen of exploding shots, drawing a pair of beam sabers and launching himself right at her. Zwei only barely had enough time to raise her machine's own Gabriel vibrosword, sweeping it up into the path of the enemy's left saber while at the same time hurling the Suigetsu to the left with all the speed she could muster. The silver and gold giant blurred with emerald light, spinning out of the course of the second saber while at the same time deflecting the first blade as best its pilot could. However, it seemed even this rapid reaction was insufficient. The enemy had somehow, during the brief clash, managed to slide his saber down the edge of Zwei's own weapon, dealing a shallow, precise cut across the Suigetsu's elbow, very nearly disabling the joints of that limb.
I have to disengage! If I let him press the attack, I won't have time to defend myself before he's on top of me again. Realizing this, Zwei poured all available energy into the wings of the Suigetsu, pushing the S.E.R.A.P.H.I.M. Drive to its limits and flinging her graceful machine backward and upward as fast as she could, darting from side to side by banking her wings as she did so to keep the enemy from targeting her once again. Once she'd reached a suitable distance, she stopped, immediately charging the Raphael and preparing to fire again, only to find that the enemy hadn't been interested in pursuing her. Rather, he'd taken the opportunity to dart in the opposite direction, disappearing into the combat. She attempted to target his machine, yet found this to be futile. He had already vanished in the midst of countless other units, making identifying his fleeing mech a pointless attempt. What was worse, the battle was evidently going against them. At this point, she could no longer afford to remain on the battlefield. She had to return to the fleet, deal with the threats to the capital ships, and then complete her primary objective and secure the Suigetsu. And so, reluctantly, she flared power to her wings, and streaked towards where the remaining IHA ships were gathered. Evidently, the entire fleet was now being held at gunpoint by a single unit, something she found hard to believe. And yet, it couldn't be denied that it was most certainly happening. Although she could hear the annoying voice of that naive child in the enemy S.U.M. over the communications channel, Zwei chose to ignore it. He had no idea what he was talking about, did he? No matter what his intentions were, now that the fleet couldn't fire a shot without him systematically destroying them, the UHO would take the opportunity to massacre them wholesale. Those enemy cruisers were already moving into place to cut off their retreat, no matter what concessions the boy offered. If he kept up his little hostage situation, the fleet would surely be immobilized, rendered helpless, and then eradicated, no matter how much he just wanted them to surrender peacefully. The road to hell was paved with good intentions, after all. In any case, that outcome could not be allowed.
"This is Zwei," She said, hailing the mothership, and, more specifically, its captain, directly. "As you know, I have been given the authority to vet my commanding officers, and to determine their competence. In this situation, only an incompetent officer would risk total destruction by remaining in battle even after our objectives have been secured. I trust that you understand this. I would like to request permission to clear the way for our fleet's withdrawal. Do I have your consent to do so?"