Thelonius-rM3-00879 (Thel879 for short) was damaged. A plasma bolt had hit the gun ports he had been operating. His upgraded armor had protected him from the bulk of the damage, but he was operating at half power and his cooling units were nonfunctional. Time was limited.

That was why he had to stay behind to hold them off while Saleon-rM5-00181 and the crew escaped in the emergency vessels.

{sale181.query:why have you ceased escape maneuvers}

{thel879.result:organics cannot be allowed to interfere with escape-i must stay*statement:the doors must be sealed manually}

{sale181.statement:that is false-there is sufficient time to complete escape tasks*request:continue escape manuevers}

{thel879.result:i cannot*statement:your logic is flawed*statement:you must go*status:fatal hardware damage-systems failing*request:please go}

He hit the lockdown switch and slumped against the doors.

{sale181: I love you, Thelonius.}

///SYSTEMS FAILING -Shutting down.

{thel879.shutdown-message: I love you, too, Saleon.}