As soon as the dropship landed, and the doors of the welldeck dropped dozens of marine squads marched out in a formation at a double time pace separating to report to their assigned sectors as this happened wounded soldiers and civilians were led onto the dropship one man wearing a doctor’s coat shouting over top of everyone.

          “Inform the pilot that we are commandeering the ship as a medical transport and need to get these people up to the flotilla now we have critical wounded and level three plasma burns on some patients and don’t have the facilities to treat them down here.” The doctor yelled out.

          Erick looked around at the chaos of what was once probably one of the colonies most beautiful arears the landing pads of the colony hub converted into mass field hospitals the massive three story building in front turned into a fortified military command base several positioned fortified with deployable barricades and quickly assembled watch towers with colonial marines inside them, medics and local doctors rushing back and forth several people in nurses uniforms trying to help as best they could, Erick could hear children crying in all directions as military officers tried to keep people calm. One of the civilian-type spacecraft, a cargo freighter taking off as hundreds of people crowd around waiting for it to return to take them to safety as well. Erick was shoved aside as a group of marines rushed past him.

          “Move it scrub get to your unit!” one of them shouted. Erick knew what he meant by scrub. It was a term he had heard a lot of the older marines call the younger ones by context he figured it was a term that meant newbie or rookie or something along that line. Suddenly a captain was standing in front of him, Erick quickly saluted and snapped to attention.

          “Sir Sub-Commander Nova reporting for assignment sir.” Ericks voice cracked a little as he suddenly spoke to the captain.

          “Sub-Commander Nova hmm.” The captain held out a hand one of his lieutenants quickly handing him a data pad. And the captain began to look through it using his fingers to scroll the screen.

          “Ah yes the teenager from the home world, according to this your to be assigned to platoon Foxtrot under lieutenant Smith, I will give a word of warning Sub-Commander you are stepping into some shoes that Foxtrot would rather leave unfilled their last commander died in the line of duty one of the first casualties here on Seb actually so I suggest you prove yourself and quickly. The captain gave Erick the data pad and a stern look.

          “Do not worry Captain Ava young Erick will make a fine officer.” James started as he walked up carrying a box of ammunition in one hand.

          “What the hell is that thing.” One of Captain Ava’s lieutenants drew his side arm and went to aim at Jame’s, who’s combat programming kicked in the Automen quickly grabbed and yanked the gun from the man’s hand and crushed it with his robotic strength. The six lights that made up his face turning red as he positioned himself between Erick and the man who drew the gun.

          “YOU WILL STAND DOWN THIS MINIUTE LIEUTENANT WHEELHOUSE THAT IS A DIRECT ORDER.” Captain Ava’s voice carried despite his age the older captain clearly still held authority in his ranks. He quickly turned to face Erick and James, James’s stepping between the two as his main priority was the safety of Erick.

          “I apologizes for my lieutenant’s actions not many of us in the Cerberus Galaxy have seen an Automen let alone interacted with one, I hope you will not hold it against him.” Captain Ava quickly bowed his head slightly. The lights on James’ faces returning to their normal blue.

          “That is quite alright captain I was aware of the issues I would face upon my arrival, but my priority is the safety of my master and charge I will ensure his safety above all others.” James mechanical body seemed to relax slightly as he addressed the captain the smooth tone of his simulated British accent seemed to off put the captain.

          “Well despite that unfortunately Lieutenant Smith and Foxtrot platoon are currently not in the HQ they were sent out earlier this morning to evacuate a distract of the city we believe the separatists are planning to advance upon, there is a convoy headed that way to fortify the bridge you can either take a ride with them or wait here Sub-commander Nova.” Captain Ava said as he began to walk away.

          “Understood, Sir.” Erick gave the captain another quick salute as he walked away, Erick turned to James a little unsure of what to do next.

          “What do you think James should we go join the platoon or wait here?” Ericks voice cracked again yet again showing his youth.

          “The best option would be to follow your assigned orders as an infantry model my programming is to follow all orders provided to me by my commanding officer, you young Erick, but in this situation my primary objective is to protect you so I will follow your command no matter what you chose to do sir.” James placed a hand on Ericks shoulder patting him slightly his metal hand ringing against the plate of armor on Ericks shoulder.

          “Alright well let’s get going I guess either way we are sure to see fighting at some point and I think it would be best if I try to earn my place like the captain said.” Erick grabbed his kit and rifle from the ground and began to walk towards the direction of the HQ assuming that’s where the convoy would be preparing to leave.

          “A good observation young Erick, your father would be most pleased to hear you taking to military command so readily.” James followed behind, turning into a full 180 like it was nothing due to his mechanical body despite its human-like build.

          “By the way James why are you carrying a box of ammunition with you. You didn’t have it when we got off the drop ship.” Erick pointed out as they walked through the chaotic camp trying not to run into anyone as they did.

          “Ah I was handed the box shortly after disembarking I then used my connection to the data base to see what your assignment was and assessed that it would be useful to have extra ammo with use upon arrival at your unit’s location.” James held up the box of ammo as they walked, his heavy plate designed feet sinking into the mud with each step.

          After a short drive through the abandoned city streets, Erick saw many families, colonists and colonial marines moving about the streets. The marines were evacuating people from houses and apartments, blocking off ally ways and setting up defensive positions while the colonists were loaded onto trucks or began walking towards the direction of the colony hub to seek safety and evacuation from the planet. Some marines having to stop and order some people to leave things behind like one woman demanding they load her kitchen ware onto the truck, or another man who refused to leave unless he could take his piano with him. The truck came to a stop at a bridge that crossed over a wide river. The bridge was easily wide enough to accommodate the truck but the order of this group of marines was to fortify this side of the river in an attempt to slow down the separatist forces. As Erick and James got out of the truck the driver shouted at them from the front.

          “You can find your platoon on the other side of the river and up the road, good luck scrub.” She waved from the driver’s seat as she pulled the truck forward so the other marines in the back could get out and start unloading the fortifications packed inside the truck. Erick and James began to walk, crossing the bridge and heading up the road, as they did, they saw a family and a few other colonists heading back to the way they came, a few of them being carried on stretchers and some bandaged up. The sound of distant gun fire could be heard up the road and throughout the city it was clear to both Erick and James that they were getting closer to the front lines now but they weren’t sure how close, could the separatists have already broken through the colonies outer defenses, Captain Ava did say that they believed the separatist were moving to take this distract of the city.

          After a few more minutes of walking Erick and James rounded a corner, James quickly stepping in front of Erick as three bullets bounced off his metallic body, James using one hand pushed Erick carefully down a staircase that led to an entry way of an apartment building while drawing the rifle from his back with the other. The blue lights on James’s face turning red.

          “Priority threat detected assessing situation.” The programmed and trained infantry party of James’s Automen side clearly showing in this instant as he had entered combat for the first time in possible a century since his construction.

          “That’s right your separatist scum get off our colony now or else you will be facing the Colonial Marines Fire Foxes.” The voice was loud and demanding, followed by the whoops and hollering of at least two other people. Erick was furious that he now realized it was his own allies that just shot at him quickly moved up the stairs, James moved in front of him rifle at the ready but still acting as a shield for Erick.

          “You idiots, are you blind we are on your side!” Ericks voice cracked as he yelled again showing how young he was his fist shaking as he tried to keep his temper in check.

          “You fucking idiot I told you there was no way the separatist where behind us and you nearly shot one of our own.” The voice speaking now was a feminine in naturae as she slapped the man who fired upside the back of his head only really hitting his helmet.

          ” Sorry Sergeant we were just being careful with everything going on.” The man apologized and back away as the female sergeant stared him down.

          “You two get your asses over here now, as this moron just showed you its not safe to be in the open.” The female sergeant shouted at Erick and James. James red lights quickly turned blue as the threat was taken care of. As Erick and James approached, they could see the patch on the marine’s armor that show cased a fox made of fire chasing its tail and the words foxtrot sown around it. They had found their assigned unit alright, and boy was it one hell of an introduction. As Erick approached the female sergeant, she removed her helmet revealing he shoulder length brown hair sun kissed skin and deep brown eyes.

          “Sorry about that kid Sergeant Amaya Garcia, you a messenger or something we didn’t get any reports about the seps blocking coms or anything.”

          “No Sergeant Garcia I am was actually looking for your platoon I have been assigned to be your new Sub-Commander.” Erick handed the data pad he had from Captain Ava, giving the details of his assignment. Sergeant Garcia began to look it over; upon closer inspection Erick could tell the sergeant was in her mid-twenties at least.

          “I see, so you’re the one taking over for Green after what happened, listen kid I know you are technically my superior here, but a lot of us in Foxtrot new Sub-commander Green since basic training so I hope you know they aren’t going to warm up to you that easy some of them may never even warm up to you.” Sergeant Garcia looked Erick up and down to assess his response.