Familiar numbers and read outs flashed before her HUD as Maki prepared to be launched into combat. As the Hellcat was launched into the blackness of space, Maki hit play on her music player. Might as well fight to a beat. It was a familiar routine, but no battle was the same. As the 7th was launched into combat, they all braced for the initial barrage in that small window where they were vulnerable right after launch. 

[hider=Scream Aim Fire][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5S6KLC2kV8[/youtube][/hider]

No shots came in, and Maki eased a little, immediately scanning for targets. The Hellcat's stealth drive and black paint job made it difficult to spot in space, at least until she started firing or silhouetted herself against something else. She heard McKnight brief Ariana on her first engagement, and pushed all concern for the rookie aside. No time to worry about others for now. She had a job to do. 

[color=00a651]"Alice, let's go with our usual drill. We'll hit them from their flank and I'll engage any who close in on us while you provide long range support."[/color] Maki spoke to her wingman, as she circled around and kept a wary eye on enemy combatants pointing their guns her way. Flying sideways instead of head on towards the enemy allowed them to set up a crossfire, though it was assuming the enemy pilots didn't have the sense to come from above or below. 

Hearing Gerard's cry for help, Maki turned in his direction and quickly spotted the Fenrir firing on him. [color=00a651]"Hunter copies, Guillotine. Engaging bandit on your twelve."[/color] Maki called out her target as she trained her autocannon on it. Coalition MAS were durable to make up for a lack of shielding, but even the best armour had weak spots and Maki didn't need to kill it with the first shot, just get him to stop firing on her squadmate.

The first round slammed right into the Fenrir's head, and Maki was quick to let a few more loose once she knew she had the correct point of aim. The Fenrir pilot turned to see who had fired at him, making her job easier. The next few rounds impacted the sensory devices in the Fenrir's head, effectively blinding it. That didn't stop the bastard from firing blindly in her direction, however. Most of the shots when wide, but there was a saying Maki kept to in combat - the enemy only needs to get lucky once.

[color=00a651]"Scream! Aim! Fire!"[/color] Maki echoed the song playing as she aimed for center mass with her Rapier missiles. A salvo of four headed right for the Fenrir, followed by a five round burst for good measure. There was a brief pause where the Fenrir seemed to tremble from the force of the warheads penetrating, before the explosives detonated. The resulting fireball and confirmation on her sensors told her she had a kill. [color=00a651]"This is Hunter, kill confirmed. You owe me one, Guillotine."[/color] She reported through the comms just as she spotted another Fenrir closing in at top speed after seeing her kill a squadmate. 

[color=00a651]"Fuck me."[/color] She cursed under her breath, when a bunch of yellow spots started appearing from the Fenrir's shoulder and she heard the warning alarm go off in her cockpit. A bright red "Enemy Missile Lock" notice flashed across her screen and she immediately hit the button for countermeasures. Small panels located strategically around the Hellcat opened up and started spraying a cloud of thick gas that would confuse the missile sensors  

At the same time, Maki put the Hellcat into a quick reverse, all weapons aimed at the last position of the Fenrir behind the smoke cloud while looking for its trail emerging from around it. Seconds passed before the cloud of smoke was violently dissipated by the exploding projectiles, and right behind them was the enemy Fenrir. At least this pilot had the sense not to challenge Maki in a long-range gunnery duel. Which was unfortunate for her, since stupidity was a useful weakness to exploit in an enemy.

On the other hand, he seemed to think closing in would save him, or give him an advantage. They had both unleashed their missiles already, and Maki had the advantage of engaging a lot more Fenrirs to know their weaknesses. Her Hellcat would most definitely reload its launchers first. All she had to worry about for the next thirty seconds or so was his main weapon.

[color=00a651]"Alright, let's dance."[/color] She greeted the incoming opponent with menacing grin no one could see.