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part ially functional.  This unit is requires repair but is functional . ”
    “Good,” Joshua replied. 
    There was a message ping from Dr. Chan.  It was just a simple text.  “ ON WAY TO RENDEZVOUS.  EXCELLENT WORK!  NO MORE SCRATCHES ON X-14 OR I TAKE AWAY THE KEYS.  MEET YOU THERE. ”  He took a nother look at the message.  No more scratches?  He’d hit her up for extra insurance coverage next time.  If he knew the doctor, she would probably be studying the damage right away to see how they could improve things.   Joshua then turned his attention to the tactical display and saw the survivors of Bravo Company pulling themselves together.   He started walking in their direction to see if he could help.
    As he emerged from the woods, he could see the medics treating a few wounded tankers, and a half dozen wounded infantry.   No t many tankers had survived their tanks exploding.  All the soldiers, even the medics, stopped what they were doing for at least a few seconds to stare that the big robot.
    “Anyone ever tell you your camouflage sucks,” a male voice cut in on his com-net.  He looked to find the source, and the head of the HARM mimicked his motion.  “ I’m on the tank t o your left,” the voice spoke again.  Looking down, he saw Captain Ericson looking up at him from on top of the surviving tank where he was using the radio.  He had been conferring with Lieutenant Nguyen about their next moves.
    “Good save back there,” Ericson spoke again. “Could have used you earlier.  Lost a lot of good men and women today.”
    “Sorry about that,” Joshua replied, some tension showing in his voice. 
    “I know.  Not you r fault.”  Ericson replied sympathetically , “didn’t mean for it to come out that way.  General’s orders.  I probably would have done the same thing to save those people.  I’m sick of them butchering civilians too.”
    “Thanks,” Joshua replied.
    “Looks like you took some damage too.”  Ericson then joked, “that nice yellow paint job of yours is a little scratched up.”  He then turned to a couple of his men nearby.  “You guys think this guy thin ks he’s a bulldozer or dump truck ?”
    The men laughed, despite the situation they had just come out of.
    “Yeah, the paint job could’ve been better,” Joshua replied.
    “Anyhow, thanks for drawing those spiders off.  We owe you one.”
    “Wish I could’ve done more.” Joshua sincerely wished he could have arrived even a few minutes earlier.
    “That’s war,” Ericson replied.  “We kicked their ass and that’s what counts right now.”  Pausing for a moment he then continued. “I’m Captain Will Ericson, by the way.”
    “Lieutenant Joshua Scott,” Joshua replied. “You guys did great.  Anything I can do right now for you?”
    “No.  Medivacs are on the way and we’re pulling out back to the second defensive line. I just got off the horn from General Garcia and I think you’ll be getting a call pretty quick .  They’re impressed with what you did.   That big robot of yours packs quite a wallop.   It’ll be a different war once we get more of them. ”
    “ Yeah, these HARMs will even the playing field,” Joshua concurred.  “ Okay then.  X- 14 is heading out.”
    “Take care.” Ericson saluted him and turned back to Lieutenant Nguyen .
    Joshua selected the waypoint for the rendezvous and began heading to it .   He had heard rumours that the move to Site B was going to be big.  They would be flying clear across the country and then north to Canada.   The Newt presence was supposed to be under control there.
     
    END

Author’s Note:
     
    This short story was written to introduce the world of Exocrisis Blue.  In HARM, m ankind is fighting a desperate action to keep the invading aliens at bay, to keep from being exterminated, and to keep our homes.  Giant, h umanoid robot , fighting machines called HARMs turn the tide against the invaders. The HARMs are piloted