The enemy had numbers and they had tactical acumen. This was going to look like a fierce battle. Henry Yatogami smiled; he was not going to disappoint. These Rooks were much faster, and he presumed, stronger than the usual pirate...rabble that came the OSDT's way. The Bradleys would probably be the same. And their tactics ensured that they filled the spaces above and below.

[i]Wait for them to come close enough, then countercharge.[/i] That was simple, deceptively so, but the alternative was to use Sword Shroud as a makeshift bunker, and while that would be flattering to Husham, it would not wreak maximum havoc to the enemy. And so, taking up his Assault Rifle, Henry fired once the swarm of pirates made contact, presumably dispersing to further envelop the ship and the team.

As expected, it did nothing except add to the chaos of light and ordnance - there was no sound in space unless you stimulated it using unecessary equipment - but that was enough for Henry, as he zigzagged, spiralled, and deliberately travelled erratically, trying to reach the Rooks so he can cut through them with his beam saber; hopefully, the improvements to the enemy mechs didn't include additional beam treatment.

Nevertheless, his tactics would amount to making several cuts and slashes at an enemy, then withdrawing to a relatively empty patch of space, then cutting again, kicking out at any enemy that came close. Every part of his mech was a weapon; legs, arms, elbows, and the head. Trying as hard to be as confusing as possible, the only pattern discrened was the fact that he was eager for engagement, as well as his taking care not to conduct any attack that would lead to immediate death, even to an enemy.

As he kicked a Rook's gun away from him, cut off another one's sensors with a swift dash of his blade, then deliberately rammed another mech that blocked off his way of escape, Henry thought about his parents and their goals.

[i]Who knows how many civilizations there probably are in the wider cosmos?[/i] Henry's father, Hiroki, was saying. [i]It had been calculated that it is unlikely for Humanity to be the first technologically-advanced civilization, even before the millions-old Alien ship was found. Who knows how many Alien Empires there are out there...and if we can live with them or not.[/i] His grave face, whose eyes were lowered, would then sigh. [i]Whatever happens, calculations alone must ensure that Earth doesn't grow complacent.[/i]

[i]Alien Signals, Henry! Signals coming from outer space![/i] Maria Yatogami, Henry's mother, was smiling, her red hair, tied in a bun, bouncing in joy. [i]Whether we can live with them or not doesn't matter; what matters is that we're not alone! All we need to do is build that extra observation post, and we can -[/i]

"We will build that observation post!" Henry found himself shouting as, growing braver, he moved to engage one of the Bradleys in a straight duel, his beam saber deactivated until the last moment, when he would turn it on so he can hack at the enemy with swings that were wild and furious, before jumping backwards, hoping that his enemy was disoriented, and launching his one-use micromissile swarm, forcing the Bradley to either retreat or face ordnance. He would then jump up, in order to allow the other friendly mechs to fire.

"Is that all you can do?!" To Henry, it would seem that the enemy ranks were getting closer and more tightly packed, and he should probably jump back to where his allies were, soon. 

And so that's what he did, rolling upwards, cutting at the waist of a Rook blocking his way, and trying to make his way back to where Sword Shroud was, in order to draw his Assault Rifle again and begin firing from cover again. 

[i]Mom, Dad, or should I say Okaa-sama and Oto-San?[/i] thought Henry, [i]I will build you your observation station, I will capture or destroy these pirates, and I will fulfill your dreams - no, [b]our[/b] dreams! Because I believe in you, because I believe in the existence of Aliens, hostile or not. Because I believe in Humanity's best interests![/i]

"So you Pirates - come at me!" Henry shouted, deciding to turn back and resume hit-and run strikes at the enemy forces...