The battlefield was a gruesome sight. No sooner had our bot been raised to the surface than we had been attacked by a group of 10 aliens and 10 robots. The aliens' lower bodies were like three-toed horses, and their upper half was like a humanoid version of a lizard, so basically, three-toed lizard centaurs. The other teams were in similar situations. There were human corpses and robot parts all over the place. Still, our people pushed onward. We aimed at the aliens instead of the robots. The information we had gathered had made it clear we should do so.

The team with my large bot started heading towards an area where there were more enemies, as most of the large bot teams were supposed to. Half our people blanketed the surface while the other half helped kill enemies wherever they popped up in too large of groups. As we killed more and more enemies, switched out teams, and fought more, we saw more corpses, saw the women and children of our enemies thrust into battle and beg for their lives. Unfortunately, we had no time for pity. Their kind had attacked us.

As more and more of us died in battle, I started to see that we had no chance on our own. During the battle, I ordered everyone to take anyone who tried to surrender on the battlefield to the nearest underground bunker to get any wounds treated, to eat, and to recover to fighting ability under guard, then use their brain implants to control as many robots as we could scavenge together for them to fight with. Any enemy spaceships still in working order would be piloted by them and we would have a final chance to win.

As things stood, our future looked bleak. However, with our enemy betraying itself, we might have a slight chance of survival. Since my people trusted me, even with their doubts of this plan, they trusted the intent behind it and followed orders. By now, a full day had gone past. The team's sleeping in our cockpit were woken up and switched out for the ones who had been working all day, including me. We ate some quick rations, strapped ourselves into our seats, and got to sleep, knowing that if anything that needed our help we would be awoken.

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When I woke up, I hastily checked the battlefield reports. There were a lot of questions regarding my new “Alien Protection Program,” Most of the aliens refused to help us until they were promised a place among the humans as equals on earth. They did stand down though. As the answer to those questions, I told them that I would guarantee their place on our planet if they helped save it. I also added that all of those who fought on our side and died would be given a memorial on each continent of the world. That way, they wouldn’t be afraid to die without being remembered, just like us.

Our robot shook. The shield over the front of the head shattered. It was an explosion. It hit everyone inside with full force. When I opened my eyes, the whole robot was shattered. Parts were falling off everywhere. Arms and legs were on the ground away from us. Everyone else on my robot had died. Luckily, my mission control tablet was still intact. There were several reports flagged red of explosions on the larger bots. Most of the crews were dead. Only a couple had survived to send me the messages.

I sent back orders to get into smaller bots if they could find them, or get to a bunker. I did the same. I got into a speedboat, praying for the person who died in it. I zoomed into battle on the wheels on the feet. An alien was rampaging nearby and I went to the battle. I couldn’t do much but hinder it. Without the large robot, the smaller ones were all but useless. Most of our heavy artillery robots that were in the area were dismantled. The aliens seemed to be playing tactics too.

Every time I was knocked down, I got back up again and launched myself at the alien. Eventually, I could no longer move. Out of energy, I was pushed out of the speedboat and lay on top of it. I closed my eyes as the alien raised his axe over his head and put his energy gun in a holster on his belt. The final blow was coming. I waited. I heard a clang. I opened my eyes. There were little silver things hitting the enemy. One was also blocking the axe. It looked like… a feather?