“All right. All frickin’ right.” Josh sighed. “You guys do realize you’re sending a civilian into a war zone, right?”

“Nobody’s a civilian in this war,” the woman said darkly. “We’re all combatants, whether we know it or not.”

Josh rolled his eyes. “Please, stop,” he deadpanned. “I don’t think I’ll be able to take it if you get any more cheerful.”

The woman snapped her fingers. “That reminds me.” She went to a locker against the wall, opened it, and came back with a gun holstered on a gunbelt. “Here’s your sidearm. Sig-Sauer P226 .357 Tactical. Holds thirteen in the magazine, one up the spout. You’ll find extra ammo in the glove box.”

Josh reached out to take the weapon. “A .357? Against giant robots?”

She shook her head. “You use that on the drivers. But this is a scout mission; ideally you won’t even make contact.” She paused. “You do know how to shoot that thing, right?”

Josh pulled the pistol from the holster and worked the slide. “Sister taught me.” He sighed. “Let’s get this farce on the road.”