[CENTER][i][b][color=f6989d]HIBIKI[/color] & [color=6ecff6]SHIZUKA[/color][/b][/i][/CENTER]

[color=f6989d]"Indeed. It is such a pity that we are enemies. If that could change... It would be the greatest wish anyone could have."[/color] Hibiki said quietly to herself. She knew what she was saying could be taken as conspiracy against the Machina, so she made sure to not say it loudly. But for them to be allies against the demons would be great. For all three to come to some sort of peace would be perfect. But such wishful thinking wasn't needed here on the field of battle. The angel, Gwynn, made it clear that this was an alliance of convenience. She implied that she wouldn't even want to be saved if she should fall. Hibiki wondered if she should try to go out of her way to ensure Gwynn's survival or respect her decision. Surely they couldn't always be enemies?

Aqua Regia made an announcement over the intercoms warning against the other Machinas from entering the cargo hold. The announcement made Hibiki uncomfortable, which would have been easy to see on her face if she wasn't wearing her armor. She knew the Machina were ruthless, and Hibiki did her best to keep her hands clean of their more dirty business. She's fought and killed demons, angels, and occasionally traitors. But in this instance if any of her allies did get to the cargo hold due to the demons, Hibiki would have no choice but to gun them down. It wasn't as if her weapons had a nonlethal function. Additionally, Aqua Regis wanted her and Shizuka to help protect Gwynn as well as cover for Aqua as she charged her weapons. 

[color=f6989d]"Copy."[/color] 

[color=6ecff6]"Copy."[/color]

There weren't any more words to be said. Hibiki bowed her head towards Gwynn and moved to her defensive position. She'd have a clean line of sight on the battelfield while also giving her good cover against ranged enemies. Shizuka stood by Gwynn's side, armed with Diana's sword and Gwynn's shield. Unlike Hibiki, Shizuka said nothing, not even a greeting. She was more focused on the demons coming into the hall.

Finally, the demons arrived.

Sure enough the first wave were the Machina's own soldiers, however their were obviously corrupted by the demons. Pulsating flesh growing from their body, dark energy sparking from their wounds, and the hellish noise coming from their mouths made it easy for the Machinas to know these were no longer their allies. They came through Hibiki's trapped entrance, triggering the bombs and turrets. The other entrance Hibiki kept a close eye on, and when enemies spilled through there she had her rifle ready to gun them down. As long as the enemy continued coming through those two entrances Hibiki was certain they could hold them off.

Trouble occurred, however, when a new entrance was made. [i]From the ceiling[/i]. Bypassing the traps that Hibiki had set up, the corrupted machinas began dropping behind the defensive line right towards Gwynn, Shizuka, and Aqua Regis. Hibiki was already preoccupied trying to deal with the demons pouring from the main two entrances, though she did at least send her repair drones to try to patch up the hole in the ceiling before they were overwhelmed. Fortunately for Hibiki, Shizuka did not hesitate when demons started to attack her. Blocking the claw of one massive hellbeast, Shizuka slashed her blade through the monster's shin, causing it to kneel. With a quick spin she decapitated the kneeling demon and jumped towards Aqua, to ensure no demons interrupted her.