((Collab between Letter Bee and Crimmy over Skype))

Following his meeting with the captain, Henry would find himself sitting in another of the ship's rooms, one adjacent to the hangar bay. It had been converted into a makeshift debriefing room sometime ago, and had been often utilised by the Lumen Team as a place to write up battle reports, as well as for any lecturing undergone by either Lydia or Buddy (usually the latter, given his tendency to screw up in battle). Indeed, the Chinese pilot was in fact sitting right next to Henry as of that moment, semi-slouched back into his chair. There was a blank expression on his face, but it was quite clear to anybody that he wasn't exactly ... looking forward to what would occur next.

Across the table from them was Bertrand, who had left his pilot suit behind for the uniform shared by most OSDT members. His arms were once again crossed, but rather than merely professional, this time he seemed actually quite intimidating. His intense blue eyes were staring down Henry and Buddy (although admittedly, more the latter), as if he were sizing them up while pondering on how he could comment upon their performance during the previous battle.

In fact, he was definitely trying to think up what to say, although he was likely also taking his time to make them squirm. Mostly Buddy. Henry wasn't receiving the full impact of Lumen Team's leader's disapproving aura.

"Let us begin," he said finally, baritone voice breaking through the tense atmosphere. "Buddy ... submit a detailed combat report by the end of the day. Do not fail to note every single mistake you made during that engagement. Hopefully you will remember what actions not to undertake [i]this time[/i]."

It seemed that Buddy's consistent fumbles during combat missions was quite a common occurrence, hence why the Lumen Team member seemed to take in his leader's words with an air of 'heard it before'. Not that it kept him from being cowed by Bertrand's tone. While not overly harsh, there was steel in Lumen 1's voice, forged from having to constantly lecture the subordinate.

However, there was something different this time, likely because of Henry's presence. Buddy glanced in the younger pilot's direction for a second, confused as to why he was present, before turning back towards Bertrand.

"Is that all, sir?" asked the Rook pilot, curiosity carrying his tone above whatever cowed one he likely would've possessed had Henry not been beside him.

"Unfortunately, I cannot spare too much time on you," was the curt reply from Lumen 1. "You are dismissed for now, Buddy. However, this session [i]will[/i] be compensated for at a later time."

Bertrand had barely finished his sentence before Buddy had left his seat, immediately rushing out of the door before the Lumen Team's leader could verbalise a single objection to the impatience. Thus it was with a quiet sigh of irritated exasperation that he turned his gaze upon Henry, acknowledging the presence of the former Yukine pilot. While he had seemed quite reluctant to include the boy in the session at first, it was quite clear that he would undertake this request from the captain with the utmost professionalism and competency.

"Yatogami, I have perused through the battle recordings," he began. "Before I comment, however, tell me yourself what mistakes were made."

Henry nodded.

"My first mistake was to engage several enemies at once when the group was already outnumbered. I also overestimated my ability to pull out of every attack, as well as underestimated the capabilities of the enemy. And lastly...I was overconfident, as well as too focused on the end result; defeating the pirates as soon as possible." [i]And getting the observation post built.[/i]

"You also overestimated the capabilities of your own machine. What made you believe that the Yukine could effectively combat so many foes at once?"

"My parents helped work on it, albeit as an advisory part to the development team." The excuse was weak, but Henry had genuinely believed it.

"Respect for your kin's work is admirable, but respect is not equivalent to blind faith."

Bertrand's tone seemed to soften only the slightest, but immediately the steel returned.

"A machine that your parents' developed ... you should have been entirely familiar with all its capabilities. Yet you recklessly charged into the fray without considering the Yukine's fragility. You failed to study the enemy before attacking. Your full-frontal assault was unsophisticated in execution and one that could have been easily countered, even had you known the capabilities of those foes beforehand. It was fortunate that you survived."

He paused for a second, allowing his words to sink in.

"You failed to even consider the presence of your teammates. There was [i]no[/i] communication whatsoever between you and the Paper Tiger adjutants. On the battlefield, your allies can mean the difference between life and death. They are not psychics. They cannot comprehend your actions if you do not speak to them."

"You do not possess the capability to serve as an one-man army. Your tactics, frankly, are in dire need of improvement."

Henry stayed silent, knowing that his next words might be inane and stupid. But, he did comprehend; he knew that he had neglected his allies, a mistake he would never repeat again. Finally, he mustered the courage to speak:

"What would you suggest, sir?"

"God has seen it fitting to keep you in the world of the living to learn from your mistakes," replied Lumen Team's leader. "Educate yourself. Improve yourself in the fields you are weak in. Rely on your comrades. Communicate. Familiarise yourself with tactics. Work on your situational awareness."

Each and every phrase left his mouth like bullets fired from a machine gun.

"Yet these words ... by themselves they are meaningless."

Bertrand's gaze penetrated into the young man's. His blue eyes were hard.

"Words are nothing without action. Learning is nothing without instruction. How fortunate then, that I will take time to provide both."

He gestured towards the door.

"Henry Yatogami, show me your abilities using the simulators. It may not be a real battlefield, but it shall allow me to see if you are truly capable of getting good."

A nod from the nineteen-year old boy; he had an inkling of how he can prove himself, but it would dash his pride.

He would then go towards the simulations, where, he hoped, he would at least have a more varied choice of mechs than the OSDT had in real life.

Unfortunately for Henry, the simulators on the [i]Jannah[/i] were not there to provide variety in mechs, but to provide the pilots a form of training outside of the battlefield. Variety was something found in video games. The combat data utilised originated from the machines assigned to the OSDT vessel, and thus the young pilot would have to select one of those mechs to use. However, from the intense gaze present on Bertrand's face, it was quite clear that there wouldn't be much time given towards the picking of machines.

In fact, there would be no picking at all.

"Choose the OSDT Rook," commanded the Lumen Team's leader as he neared the simulator. "I wish to observe your fighting style. A basic machine will suit that purpose."

Upon entering the simulator, Henry would find that it was an almost one-for-one replica of the standard HFV cockpit, ensuring maximum compatibility amongst pilots of any machine. When all the settings were inputted, the 'surroundings' immediately changed into a simulation of empty space, a void of darkness dotted with miniscule, twinkling lights that were stars. If the young pilot to take hold of the controls, he would be able to move the 'Rook' as if it and the world of the simulator were real.

And hanging a short distance away was a green OSDT Rook, one with three blue streaks present upon a shoulder shield. It waited motionlessly, single eye seemingly watching Henry with a strange intensity.

"Yatogami," said Lumen 1, igniting his beam saber. "Show me your moves."