400 mechs in totals received a very simple instruction from Commander Melkor.
"Smash the Rust Grinders into pieces as fast as possible!" He transmitted to every Avatar mech pilot. "Don't hold back. This is a demonstration to the clan patriarch and everyone else that we are the strongest mech force in the Larkinson Clan. Do us proud!"
Ten mech companies soared straight past the asteroids and into the zone occupied by a large pirate fleet.
The forward scouts of the Rust Grinders may have missed the approach of the sneaky Flagrant Vandal scout mechs, but the strong energy signatures of so many mechs flying closer couldn't be missed!
Even before the golden reflection of the Avatar mechs reached the optical sensors of the pirate scout mechs, the main pirate fleet already received enough warning!
"Damnit, who are these guys?!"
"I don't care if you're sleepy! Hop into your mech as fast as possible and fend off those pretty boys!"
The Rust Grinders could not possibly miss the underlying message behind the bold advance of the Avatars. Their battle-scarred carriers hastily deployed pirate mech after pirate mech.
Commander Veron Upander deployed in person as well. His powerful cannoneer emerged into space with a huge cannon mounted on its right shoulder.
Once the Avatar mechs came into visual range, the confidence of the Rust Grinders already sunk. Even the most ignorant pirate could tell that these mechs and the people piloting them were strong!
It was unfortunate that there was no way to run from the approaching aggressors. Without any forewarning from their scouts, it was too late for their ships to begin accelerating away!
Even as Commander Upander desperately hailed the incoming mechs in order to negotiate a deal, the imposing Avatar mech companies showed no sign of slowing down.
Each of the Avatar mech pilots had already received their orders. No one was allowed to talk to the pirates!
"ARRRGHH! So be it, then!" Upander cursed! "Do you think the Rust Grinders are that easy to bully? Let me show you what I've been relying on to survive all of these years!"
The pirate commander's mech flew back towards the broadside of his flagship and entered a strange bunker.
Multiple bunkers had been installed on the surface of the large vessel. Various cannon-wielding mechs had already moved into place.
Subsequently, something very astonishing happened.
Large connectors extended from the interior of every bunker. They each began to slot into a port built into the rear armor of every cannoneer mech.
A huge amount of power began to pour into the power systems of the mechs. Soon enough, the oversized cannons mounted onto the shoulders of the mechs began to fire an enormously powerful volley of thick laser beams!
When those lasers raked past the Avatars mechs, the Larkinsons all reacted with surprise!
Ves and some of the other assistants in the design lab gasped as they observed the half-dozen laser beams raining down on the advancing Avatar mech companies.
"Wait! That's illegal!"
Hardly anyone could believe at first that the pirates had actually violated one of the most important taboos of human civilization.
Yet the truth was right in front of them. The sensors precisely captured what went on at the pirate flagship.
"The power level of those laser beams exceeds that of third-class artillery mechs!" Someone shouted. "Unless we're being fired upon by second-class mechs, it's likely the Rust Grinders have illegally modified one of their starships!"
The laser beams already inflicted serious damage to some of the Avatar mechs that had the misfortune of eating those laser beams head-on. Owing to their premium construction, the mechs with thicker armor managed to remain functional, but the same could not be said for the lighter mechs!
"We've already suffered casualties! Three mechs have already been downed with at least twelve more suffering debilitating damage. It's not just the power of those laser beams that's a problem, but also their firing rate!"
Once the cannoneer mechs completely hooked up their systems to a starship, their offensive capabilities had reached an entirely different level!
Ves knew he had fallen into his own trap of sorts. He had underestimated the Nyxian pirates.
The Avatars soon mustered up a response. They shifted their formations so that the Bright Warriors took the lead.
Once those powerful laser beams rained on the Bright Warriors, their Breyer alloy resisted the attacks with hardly any sign of damage!
The losses rapidly subsided after that, but the attacks still struck a number of Avatar mechs that weren't entirely able to take cover behind the Bright Warriors.
"Take out those cannoneer mechs as fast as possible, Joshua!" Commander Melkor ordered.
"With pleasure, sir!"
The Quint and a half-dozen lance-wielding Bright Warriors accelerated ahead of the main group and began to charge against the distant Rust Grinders!