“And as you can see the most recent chemical attack on the colony world of Seb in the Detron system, The Detron system locked in a four month struggle with our own Colonial Front and the Separatist front, in the video taken from one of or now deceased and valiant marines who sadly lost her life in the chemical attack we take you life to or front line reporter A…” the voice of the new broadcaster faded into the back ground as the ship shook for a second. A hundred or so Colonial Front Marines were checking their gear and cargo crates in the bay of the ship.

          “Make sure those bindings are secure.”

          “Yes Sergeant.”

          “You, there private get that rifle secured we don’t need any misfires on a landing run.”

          “Yes Sergeant, Sorry Sergeant.”

The Sergeant moved through the bay of the ship making his way through the crowd of Marines. He was barking orders left and right as he moved about. The clanking of boots on metal filled the bay as the Marines moved about, two Naval officers leaned over the railing on the catwalk above them.

“How you think this lot will do in that meat grinder.”

“Too be honest I’m more interested in those two over there.” The officer pointed to a young man sitting on a crate in the far back of the bay he was clearly smaller than the other Marines, though with his armor on you couldn’t see his face or his skin color. But there was a distinctive difference between his armor and the normal marines, on his left shoulder plate was a gold engraving of the earth surrounded by the words in Latin inter astra volare which meant to soar among the stars and on his right shoulder was a symbol of the unified government of earths founding houses an engraved silver wolf siting and howling surrounded by the crescent moon with the wolf’s head topped with a crown the emblem of House Nova of Cordinia a country founded in the the year 2626 and House Nova was considered royalty amongst its households, the young man couldn’t have been more then sixteen with pale skin and shoulder length reddish brown hair tied back in a short pony tail his eyes where ice blue and his jaw line slightly chiseled with a bit of brown stubble where the makings of a beard had started to grown. This was Erick Vos Nova third son of Richard Vos Nova of the House Nova, sixteen and the youngest officer to graduated from the united earth military officer academy sent to the frontiers on his first command an arrangement his father had made in order to paint not just his household but the united government to look good in the Colonial Fronts eyes a total pr move if every seen, Erick had just spent the last four months traveling through dark space from the Milky Way Galaxy to the Cerberus Galaxy and was now being sent to his first combat deployment. But what the officers where really interested in wasn’t the young man from earth but his companion that stood next to him.

          Next to Erick was a six foot two metallic robot its metal bone like structure covered in intricate plate mail type pieces if one was to look at this humanoid machine they would say in height and build it looked like an average man in peak physical condition minus the exposed motorized golden joints that allowed it to move its body was shaped to appear human in every way expect for the face which was a flat curved metal plate with six light similar to that of a six on a dice. The color of its main body was an off shade of moss green with an outline of gold. This was one of hundreds of what was originally the united governments mechanized infantry originally created in the year 2775 but at some point, they became fully sentient beings that called themselves Automen and formed their own ruling body. Automen where full sentient in every way and could form attachments as well as understand emotions.

          “I do not understand why these Colonial front Naval officers insist on staring at you young Erick, its as if they have never seen a noble from earth before.” The six lights that made up the Automens eyes light up with every word it spoke its voice like an old British houseman.

          “It’s not me they are staring at James. You have to remember the colonist have never seen an Automen you’re a complete mystery to them.” Ericks voice was a low tenor as it cracked slightly. He cleared his throat as he put his helmet on snapping the seals shut.

          “Strange I am used to receiving stares from humans in the Milky Way, but I have served your family since before your father was born, is this the reason your brothers often refer to me as the old man of the house.” James turned and tilted his head in a very robotic way.

          “Why I remember the day you were born young Erick it was a hot day for mid fall your father and older brothers were out on official business when your mother went into labor your grandfather ordered that I and my counter parts A17 and Alica carry your mother to the hospital, as me and my fellow Automen would not need aid or rest in the task, it was also the day your grandfather gave me the task of being your personal caretaker and tutor.” James’s head twitched back and forth as he spoke as if recalling the memory in his artificial brain.

          “If I remember correctly James wasn’t Alica the one in charge of my medical wellbeing when I was a baby.” Erick checked his assault rifle the loading the magazine and chambering around.

          “I will have you know that even as a front-line infantry model I was programmed with a full understanding of human medical needs from the age of ten and older.” James made a sound similar to a scoff as he checked his own equipment.

          “But yes, it is true that as a medical model Alica was more suited to nursing and the upbringing of a child though the actual nursing was left to your mother.” James quickly turned checking that Ericks pack was secured and fastened to his back.

          The lights of the well deck changed to a dim red as a voice came over the intercom in a gurgled cracking pitch.

          “All units prepare for orbital entry, repeat all units prepare for orbital entry, medical staff and field units make ready for immediate disembarkation upon landing at the designated drop zone, all combat units be advised combat around the colonial hub is at a minimum but fighting on the outskirts have increased to threat level gamma and separatist armor has been spotted in marked areas.”

          Suddenly the dropship shook violently, one of the sailors above on one of the catwalks falling and landing hard onto the floor of the well-deck an alarm began to blare loudly as the intercom came back on.

          “ALL UNIT’S BRACE FOR IMPACT, I REPEAT BRACE FOR IMPACT HEAVY ENEMY ANIT AIR FIRE INBOUND!” The intercom cut off as the dropship shook again several marines where the white and red cross of field medics rushed over to the man who had fallen from the catwalk. The other marines quickly moved out of the way and found an empty crew seat to strap into as the ship began to shake not just from entering the orbit, but the heavy enemy flack exploded around the ship just outside the hull. Another violent shake of the ship this time a hole punched into the hull as several unlucky marines were struck by shrapnel. James the Automen placed himself between Erick and the flaying pieces of metal one small piece sticking into one of Jame’s shoulder plates.

          “James! Are you alright.” Erick stood up but was quickly forced into a crew seat and strapped in by his robotic guardian.

          “Do not worry about me young Erick remember I am an infantry model Automen something like this is nothing a simple repair.” James clipped the harness around Erick keeping his metallic body between James and the rest of the welldeck in the event more shrapnel came through the hull of the dropship. As the ship leveled out from its orbital drop a few pieces of piping fell in the center of the welldeck luckily everyone had already moved from that area and a few cables let off electrical sparks. Even the shaking from the anti-air fire had seemed to die down.

          “Attention all units we are now inside the planetary orbit of Seb, and below the enemies anti-air fire make final preparations for landing.” The intercom cut off again as the marines in the well deck unstrapped themselves from the seat’s sergeants barking orders to move the wounded as soon as the doors opened.

          “It would appear that the danger has passed for now young Erick.” James moved aside, allowing Erick to remove the harness, keeping him in his seat and standing up doing a quick scan to ensure his master and charge was unharmed.