Chapter 1: The Veldin Campaign
Thing about us in the Galactic Army Rangers, we're robots. We're mass-produced, pre-programmed, packaged, addressed, and shipped to wherever the Solana Interstellar Federation needs us. Me and the guys in the 75th Regiment, we were out on patrol in Rimspace, a nice quiet posting. Next thing you know, we get distress calls from some small colony world on the edge of galactic space, screaming that some bug-eyed aliens have landed by the hundreds and are attacking everything that moves.
We thought it was just a minor skirmish, maybe some raiders looking to harass some poor folks. No one could have known it was the beginning of the biggest war in recent memory.
According to the engineers of the Elitria Cyber-Robotics Manufacturing Company, a standard H-series Galactic Ranger is a capable, well-equipped killing machine from the moment it leaves the assembly line, willing to lay down artificial life and limb for the people of Solana.
It's bull. Nothing can prepare a person, organic, inorganic, or otherwise for a war.
The entire 75th regiment landed on the planet and in less than 36 hours, we were at half strength, a good portion of our number reduced to slag and spare parts. Requests for emergency reinforcements to Central Command were met with terse orders to hold out while more troops were mobilized in neighboring systems.
We were running low on troops, ammo, and had no air support or proper intel to speak of. It looked like the 75th would be one big heap of scrap before anyone would be able to reach us.
I was part of a squad moving through the area around some place called Kyzil Plateau where the 'Noids had established a firm foothold. We had to march single file through a narrow rock passage when the ambush came: One-Eyes by the dozen started crawling in out of nowhere followed by a couple of mechs that opened up with their heavy lasers.
The Sergeant was hit first (though technically he was the Sergeant only because he had been designated so since the entire Regiment had been built at the same time), HK-1441, HD-1139, and HD-2662 went down next, cut down by laser fire. The rest of us pulled a run-and-gun, trying to get out of the deathtrap passageway and into the open where we could fight in formation. We lost two more by the time we got into a small opening and then more mechs started lumbering into the opening from the other side.
We were pinned down by their crossfire when suddenly, a small yellow blur streaked by us. It jumped what must have been five cubits into the air and slammed the nearest mech with something silver that glimmered in the sunlight. The quarter-ton mech crumbled like an Aridian sandcookie and promptly exploded into a cloud of sparks and flame. Before the mech blew, the blur had already moved to the next mech. When the mech opened up with its guns, the blur ducked and rolled until it came up right next to its legs. With one swing, the legs were literally taken out from under the mech and its upper portion fell to the ground with a clatter.
When the blur raised its weapon to strike again, I got a good look at it. I thought my optical receptors had failed. I turned to HF-2887 and I said:
"Is that a wrench?"
Corporal HF-5055, 8th Battalion, 75th Regiment, Galactic Army Rangers
Author's Notes: So here it is! The first of what will hopefully be many contributions to the R&C Universe. Hope you enjoy and please feel free to Read and Review!