The negotiations went smoothly for the most part. In exchange for the hosta- ahem, valued guests of mine, I gain a large amount of scrap, electronic components, and a guarantee that the Tower tribe will not interfere with me or my future associates as long as it does not endanger them.
When it came to the situation with GW-3N the Cheiften argued that she, as I learned that genders are infact a thing here, should be returned to the tribe since she was still technically a part of it. I disagreed and countered that she chose to stay with me so unless she changes her mind I will not be relinquishing her from my care.
We eventually came to an agreement that if she says that she wishes to remain within my jurisdiction then that is final. If she does infact wishes to leave I am not to stop her and she will leave with the rest of the bots. On that topic, the Cheiften requested that he could bring a team of a dozen guards to escort their fellow tribesmen to safety, sighting the various hostile drones wandering the streets.
Finding this to be acceptable terms, I agree and we set off back to base, although I leave the supplies there for now seeing as I do not have enough drones to ship it all back to base.
For the first few minutes, it was quite awkward between me and the guards as they began to idly chatter with each other as the trip went on.
Overhearing a few bits of random chatter about recent events like a few random sightings of drones and how someone in the tribe was found dating another. Then, a screech rings out from across the sky.
Snapping my attention to the source of the unexpected noise, my eyes soon find purchase on a large flock of around a dozen those bird things swooping down straight for us. "Take cover in the buildings!" I shout out but to my dismay the guards seem to have frozen in fear.
Groaning internally I have my drones form a sacrificial line between the guards and the incoming attackers. While they do this, I shake one of the guards who I assume was their leader, with the whole fancy hat thing. This seemed to disperse the man's stupor as he quickly realized what was happening and immediately ordered his men to make it to the nearest building.
The guards complied with this order without complaint as they burst into the buildings on our right. Following them I pull back my drones as they were about to be hit by the swarm of birds. Unfortunately, it was too late as 3 of the 5 spiders were snatched up and my ant received a few gashes but ultimately made it out. Hearing a cry of pain from behind me, I spot a downed guard being mauled by one of the birds. Before I could finish processing this my body went into motion.
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I rushed forward to the guard and their attacker and proceeded to drop kick the bird in the chest. Not bothering to look at the damage I just inflicted I scoop up the heavily injured guard and bolt to the door. My drones make it in a few seconds before me and the injured guard and I slip in and slam the door shut just as a pair of claws collide with the newly obstructing door.
I breathe a sigh of relief as I see that the rest of the robots made it back safely asides from the few glancing scrape or slashes. Then as if just noticing their mangled comrade I hear a voice from the crowd, "B3N!"
As if having opened the floodgates all the other guards rush over to see what had happened to their compatriots. Another voice calls out "Captain! Do we have any repair kits? B3Ns injured."
"Shit! We were supposed to get a resupply 3 days ago but it was redirected to another squad." The Captain responded with not a little amount of frustration in his voice.
Deciding enough was enough I speak loud enough for everyone to hear, "Don't worry my drones can fix him up." I order my 2 remaining spiders scuttle over to the injured guard and begin reassembling the damaged parts.
There was a great deal of stress in the air as my drones worked, clearly because they felt conflicted about their supposed enemy patching up their fallen comrade. Most of the guards spent their time milling about and creating short-lived chatter. Occasionally one of them would open the door to see if the birds were still outside but every time someone did the birds would swoop down and the door would be swiftly shut.
Deciding to end the current stretch of silence I ask "Hey, do you guys consume anything? I assume you would need power of some sort but I have never seen my drones do anything of the sort." Some of the guards look around at each other, unsure of who should respond.
Finally, one decides to step up and says "We usually hook up to one of the batteries connected to the solar panels every day or two. Wait your drones don't need to do that?" The guard looked perplexed as he asked the question.
"I have never witnessed them do such a thing. The closest I have seen them do anything like that was when they lay down for a few hours before getting back up." I answer back.
Silence reined for the next few hours as we collectively decided that opening the door just aggravated the birds more. Looking back over to the guard, B3N, and I'm happily surprised to see that the repairs are almost complete and that it will only take a dozen or so minutes. I relay the information to the others and they visibly sigh in relief.
Deciding to take a look outside for myself I order my scout rats to check if the birds have gone away yet. Thankfully my scouts report that they have and that it is clear to head back.
After informing the captain that the coast was clear now I carefully open the door and peek out. Seeing no signs of the birds being here asides from the mangled corpses of my spider drones and the bird drone that I kicked.
Giving the 'all clear' the guards and I, decide that we would rather not be outside for very long, and quickly hustle our way over to base camp. Upon arriving back I can clearly see that everything is still in order. My guard drones are still taking out the occasional rat raid, the core has not blown up yet, and the captives have not moved from where I left them.
"Ahh, it's good to be home."