The planet’s sun began setting by the time I had fixed my rig. The large chunk of machinery had its ignition chamber knocked out of place.

  “Rotate by 20 more degrees.” I told CAB-H, who responded with an acknowledging chirp. The box-like robot was holding one side of the HTV. It was a T-shaped towing vehicle, the wide part being the rear with a Towing winch. While it was designed to hover a few feet above the ground and carry heavy equipment, I had modified it to be a lighter weight and move faster. Of course that meant that its top speed caused the inner works to shake around and sometimes dislodge.

  “No, the other way.” I sighed, sitting back to rest my back. CAB-H beeped enthusiastically in response.

  “Yeah, I know I should be more specific.” I snapped, before realizing I was talking to a machine. “I’ve been out here too long.”

  It was then that the motion sensors I had set around the perimeter beeped. I took out my tablet and saw multiple pings crossing into the area.

  “That’s time. We’ll fish this later.” I told the small robot as it folded into itself, a box on top of wheels as it rolled away to its charging port. I grabbed my gun, checking the shells as well as the rifle ammunition, giving them a quick look over. I also checked my handgun, clicking the revolving belt to check the charged cells for any damage. Being a bandit, I really couldn’t have asked for a better haul for the situation.

  I could, however, ask for a better situation. I think I’ve earned some bitching rights.

  I loaded shells into the shotgun chamber, pumping it to load one in, then loaded a single bullet into the rifle. It could hold four shotgun shells and four rifle rounds, but Ineeded to start conserving. The landmines would help with most of them anyway. I also double-checked my tactical mask’s zoom feature and the body armor I wore under my old worn coat. By the time I climbed up onto my nest, a small tower I made with CAB-H’s help, the bugs were already stepping into the traps.

  The cargo I had salvaged from some crashed military ships had given me plenty of explosives to work with, but only around my camp. Each time the bugs had gotten closer though, I had to make sure that I spread the explosives a little less conspicuously.

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Of course, hiding myself properly from them meant I had to make sure they were killed by the explosives. I clicked the scope of my gun up and peered through, my visor providing a clearer view against the setting sun.

  I saw the chitinous shells of multi-armed humanoids come into view. Their blackish shells flowed with color, their camouflage finally falling. They carried gray energy weapons with them, plasma fused blades and spears. Only a rare few carried ranged blasters, what looked to me like those who were in command.

  I calmed my breathing as I took aim, lowering the scope to the feet of the most centered group. I couldn’t shoot them for fear of discovery.

  But luckily, they weren’t looking for bullets in the dirt.

  I breathed out as I squeezed the trigger, and the night sky lit up. I looked away to let my eyes readjust as I heard bug bits hit the ground. Once my eyes adjusted, I looked around, and saw that one was left alive.

  “For the love of-” I didn’t let myself finish as I climbed down, shouldering my rifle and taking out my pistol. I twirled it in my hand as I approached the insect now trying to crawl away. At a closer look, the ant-like humanoid looked fine, aside from some missing legs. Its wings were also scorched, meaning it could only crawl.

  I knew from experience it would survive. Can’t have that.

  Its mandibles clicked as its eyes met mine, and it reached for a spear lying on the ground.

  “Not today.” I extended my arm and shot it point blank in between the eyes. The familiar sound of an ion discharge rang out and the darkness was illuminated for a brief moment.

  I sighed and sent a signal to CAB-H on my tablet to wake back up. I surveyed the fresh meat I had torn apart when I heard a ping from my motion sensor, just behind me. I barely had time to react as I felt something hit my back and sent me reeling. I barely managed to hold onto my pistol, but before I could sit up to fire I felt a four clawed foot clamp onto my chest, and saw the glow of a plasma weapon charging. I reached out, my hand closing on something that I used to whack the bug’s hand away, but it only whipped another arm out and slammed it into the side of my head. I tried to react but I saw too many stars.

  A sudden crunching, metallic sound filled the air as the weight came off my chest. Something cold grabbed my hand, clamping down on it and lifting me to my feet. I shook my head to clear it, seeing CAB-H pulling a rebar out of the bug corpse.

  “Thanks cabbage. Let’s get to work.” I picked my pistol back up before I heard a chattering noise. I spun around, seeing a bug tapping at a device that began flickering. I took aim and fired at the device, then adjusted and fired again at its head. As the small device fell out of its hands, smoke rose from it.

  “Okay, I think I got it in ti-” I stopped after I felt the ground shake. CAB-H chirped alarmingly, lowering itself to the ground to avoid falling over.

  “Fuck.”