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Welcome Party

I swung around for what seemed like the thousandth time, visor optics clicking and whirring in the silence of my climate-controlled helmet. The hyperspectral view was in constant motion, advanced heuristics controlling the ultra-rapid selection of possible targets. In this relatively quiet environment, the optics were going crazy – suspiciously highlighting and zooming in on every falling rock, every puff of dust.

I turned to check in on my other two squadmates, despite the supersecure tightbeam lasers already tying us together. Point Man shrugged, aiming his weapon into the approaching dust storm. Heavy Weapon waited – calm and steady, automatic cannon spun up and ready to fire.

And of course, the Walker stood in absolute silence; its turret carefully revolving at irregular intervals when it considered a new vector to be more hostile than the last. It was utterly calm, infinitely patient.

I sighed and continued scanning. The dust storm closed in.

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