“We have visual on the Insurgent camp Overwatch discovered, Sir.” Controller 138 stated.


    “Very well,” the Commander of Green Zone 115 looked into the screen to see what the Ground Units were seeing.


    Unlike the common new construction and carefully manicured plant life of the Green Zone, the Atlas Ground Combat Drones moved through wild tangles of wild grape vines and thick bushes. A filthy clearing opened in front of the AGCDs. A wooden fence with fuzzy green coating ran around a ramshackle yard with various plants climbing thin wooden structures. In the distance, there were ground birds scratching and making a racket in an area covered in their own feces.


    “How vulgar,” the Commander sneered. “Obviously this is an insurgent camp. See how they maintain those filthy birds? Those were responsible for the second and third Pandemics.”


    Controller 138 brought up a different AGCD view to show the other side of the camp where large brown beasts were laying in a deep pit of fouled filth. “Sir! Those are swine, aren’t they? Weren’t they the beasts that brought about the fourth Plague? There are horned beasts that are further back, but I don’t recognize them… they look like cows almost, but they aren’t black and white, and they have shaggy hair.”


    “Yes, those are cows,” the Commander stated drily. “They are a different breed from the type that have been given proper therapy to reduce their carbon emissions. I believe that we have found more than an insurgent camp. This is probably one of the extremists from before the unification. I would assume that they are raising diseased beasts solely to keep the Plagues continuing. This is now highest priority. They probably have hounds also, the biological kind, so when we move, we will need to move quickly so as to reduce the damage to our AGCDs. Most insurgents still have weapons, and we will not be sent replacements this month.”


    “Acknowledged, Sir” Controller 138 responded. “Sir, should I prepare any Wildcat units? Our training says that-“


    “Unnecessary, wasting resources will negatively impact our Credit Score. Use the allocated units to exterminate those filthy pests before they spread either disease or misinformation among our Human Resources.”


    A few hours were spent by the Drones observing the Extremists. More buildings were observed, catalogued, and planned for. A few insurgents were seen moving among the beasts and collecting things from different plants. Around dusk the AGCDs began to move in. Railguns fired with near silent snaps as they were directed to purge the beasts in the clearing. Controller 138 directed his drones carefully closer to the habitation unit, which was made from layers of dark brown bricks. Their only thought was how ugly the old construction looked when compared to the smooth concrete and metals found in the walled Green Zone. As the AGCDs closed in, Controller 138 heard the sharp, staccato barking of bio-hounds. As they turned the drones the view came upon a large tan and black beast lunging out from under a raised deck and slamming into one of AGCDs they didn’t currently have direct control over. Surprisingly, the beast was able to rip out a large cluster of the Drone’s wiring, rendering it inoperable before the rest of the Unit riddled the beast full of flechettes. Controller 138 cursed as the door to the hovel burst open and a large-bodied Insurgent with a bushy beard launched themself out onto the deck with a primitive “shot-gun” in it’s disgustingly hairy hands. Surprisingly, it was able to fire the device three times before the AGCDs were able to take the Insurgent down. Another AGCD was shredded by the weapon’s first two blasts and the third peeled some of the polymer plating off another.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    “The Commander is going to be so pissed…” Controller 138 grumbled to themselves. “Two drones and only one insurgent down.”


    They directed their remaining six Drones in to the brick hab unit, spraying anything that moved. There appeared to be at least ten insurgents hiding in this one unit, all of which were armed and firing at the AGCDs once they cleared the doorway. Surprisingly, even the small Insurgent children were firing on the Unit with smaller caliber rifles. Screams and bangs were near constantly coming through their speakers. This group of insurgents were far better armed than most groups they had dealt with previously. Two more of their AGCDs were destroyed in exchange for taking out four of the Insurgents. Two of the small ones and one each of the adults. Blood sprayed across the gathered group. A grey bearded Insurgent roared and it’s black weapon increased it’s rate of fire and began cutting into the AGCDs line as the elderly Insurgent played the rapid fire horizontally across them. Controller 138 ordered their Drones to play fire from both sides across the room towards the exposed old man- Insurgent. They are Insurgents. The metal spray tore through furniture periodically sending up gouts of gore even as more Drones fell under the blasts from the few remaining Insurgents. Controller 138 saw the strained face as the flechettes finally punched into the decrepit Insurgents belly. As the muscles tore open and it’s entrails slithered out, the Insurgent dropped it’s steaming weapon and staggered towards the last operable AGCD. It fell forward onto the damaged drone.


    “You Fuckers. That was my family. Who ever is controlling this. Hear me. I will hunt your masters. No power protects them. In the name of Almighty God, I will see them to Hell.” Then the last living insurgent drew a blade from it’s belt and drove it straight into the AGCDs power cell. Blue Arcs of electricity travelled up it’s arm and smoke began pouring from its mouth and nose. Controller 138’s screen was filled with the grimacing face of the burning Insurgent. It’s eyes locked on to theirs as though there was no screen separating them. 138 gagged and vomited as the old man’s eyes boiled away in front of them. The screen shrank and went black as the last dregs of power drained from the AGCD.


    “FUCK!” David shouted, sitting up abruptly in the dark, gripping his left wrist as the burning sensation began to fade. The door burst open and a tiny, familiar woman snapped on the bedroom light.


    “Davey, what has gotten into you? It’s 2 in the morning.” His mother demanded; eyes narrowed. His mother who had been dead for nearly a decade. David succumbed back to darkness.