As the could expanded nano-bots quickly attached themselves to various Mecha and started to transmit data over to the IRIS I.  Before long a few of the bots had managed to make their way over to the pirates, revealing their presence to the alien Mecha.  [color=violet]~Primitive lifeforms weapons technology advanced enough to pose a threat.  Communications suggest hostilities shall begin shortly.  Attempted hacking on this unit, Firewall engaged.  Commencing preemptive strike.~[/color]  The artificial intelligence had made its choice, it was time to put down the lifeforms before they had a chance to do even minor damage to their important facilities.

Before the IRIS one could engage however, honor demanded that it broadcast its intentions before engaging hostilities.  To accomplish this task it broadcast a signal to all vessels in the area, the artificial voice was barely distinguishable from a human voice and based on a female template.  [color=violet]"Inhabitants of the Sol System, your interference shall not be tolerated.  This Initial Response Information System orders total extermination."[/color]  The IRIS I then opened fire upon the FireFly which was attempting to hack its systems from afar.  Laser cannons opened up first from its shoulder turrets as the IRIS I quickly retreated back toward its 'home' asteroid, which was now suddenly alive with activity.  The asteroid seemed to just melt away as many machines seemed to just dig out of the rock, as the defense systems were activated.

The robots were obviously a mass production type, shaped somewhat like horseshoe crabs the rather flat machines jumped out into space, splitting into two groups, one toward the [i]XEON III[/i] and the rest toward the most likely location of the pirate fleet.  The crab bots were equipped with powerful pincers for close combat and were equipped with linear pulse canons, meaning they could only shoot straight ahead making it possible to outmaneuver them; however there were a fair amount of them to contend with.

Quickly the pilots of the [i]XEON III[/i] took defensive positions and started to engage the alien machines.  Cannons, lasers, and rockets started the fill the minor asteroid field as battle was joined.