Quoted By:
As you are working, the drone takes up position right outside the gap in the wall, centering itself - halfway between the ceiling and the floor, halfway between the walls - then pivoting so that one of its eyes is locked right on you. The light from its eye is blazing straight at you, but the tint on your helmet visor is already active on account of your torch. Still, having it just a few cubits away, twitching and shuddering as you try to focus on your work ... to be entirely honest, it is pretty unnerving. At any point, it could hurtle itself at you - and though there is the remains of the wall between you, you have to assume that the razor wire has some play to it. Now, enough to get through the wall and around your suit as you kneel on the floor? Probably not. But with a hostile drone staring right at you, <span class="mu-i">probably</span> is not reassuring. And that is setting aside the risk of it getting one of its legs into the room. Though they clearly are not intended as weapons, they are fairly substantial looking, and that guillotine drop this thing performed on that wrapper or whatever demonstrated that when this thing attacks it uses all of its legs in tandem - throwing as much force as it can must at its target.
Figuring that you have nothing to lose at this point, you switch your radio back to an open band, set the broadcast to directional, and ping the drone. The feedback you get on your end strongly indicates that there is at least a receiver, buried somewhere in that bale. Now, the question is what is that receiver configured for? If it is inputs from a console, panel or remote control, then you are out of luck. But, if it was configured to receive and interpret verbal commands, then you might be able to 'talk' to the drone. Keeping your set on directional, so the rest of the wreckers hopefully aren't able to hear you, you start talking as you work through the strut.
"Shut down."
The drone does not shut down. Instead it shudders violently as ever, its legs twitching back and forth, constantly correcting. As you continue your cut through the spear, you try again, figuring that it might be a specific phrase.
"Power down."
That doesn't do it.
"Stand down."
Neither does that.
"Stand by."
The drone is still convulsing and still staring at you. You try different variations of a different phrase.
"Safe mode."
But the results are the same.
"Sleep mode."
You wonder if any of the other wreckers are hearing this, even with the directional broadcast.
"Maintenance mode."
If they are they must be thinking you have lost your mind.
"Go fuck yourself."
They are probably right.
