Extract from book 5 - "Belatu Cadros":
Bird marched directly over to a strange looking metal robot that was patiently waiting on the tarmac outside the barracks. It resembled a squat metallic ant, with six sturdy legs and a head that was crammed with sensors that could swivel around. It had been painted in desert camouflage to match the local terrain and was about the same size as a horse but shorter and wider. On top and underneath the body there were compartments into which the troopers began stuffing their heavy kit bags. The acronym A.N.T. stood for Automotive Naval Transport and the boffins that designed it had obviously thought the name apt for the six-legged robot.
Bird stood before the head of the robot and stared straight into its forward sensors. Across its head were the numbers two-seven-four, painted in bold white across its armour-plated covering.
‘Ant two-seven-four.’
The robot lifted its head up to focus on Bird. It seemed strangely lifelike.
‘I am Lieutenant Paul Bird and you are now assigned to my squad, authorisation code delta zulu bravo five three. Imprint confirm.’
The A.N.T. answered him in a rather pleasant computerised female voice. ‘Confirmed, Lieutenant Bird.’
‘You will now accept orders only from myself and Sub-Lieutenant Trenchard.’
Trenchard looked up from where he was handing supplies to the other troopers as they packed the bottom compartment with food and water.
‘Sub-Lieutenant Josiah Trenchard. Authorisation code foxtrot alpha charlie seven zero. Imprint confirm.’
‘Confirmed, Sub-Lieutenant Trent-art…’
Bird laughed at the pronunciation of Trenchard’s name.
‘Piece of crap!’ Trenchard exclaimed. ‘The voice recognition on these things is rubbish.’
Bird held his cuff-link next to the forward scanner on the A.N.T. ‘Transferring coordinates of our destination. Save mission data and prepare forward scanning mode.’
‘Data saved. Scanning mode activated. Awaiting further commands.’
Bird looked up. ‘Everyone ready?’
‘Aye Sir!’ chorused the squad as Bowman-Smith slammed the lid shut on the top storage compartment.
‘Lead on two-seven-four,’ Bird ordered.
With a jerk, the A.N.T. began to move forwards. It moved in an unnervingly realistic way, its legs working rhythmically in a wave and its head continually scanning left and right ahead for danger.
‘Please set required pace,’ the A.N.T. said.
‘Easy march two-seven-four. No need to wear ourselves out, we have plenty of time to reach the overnight camping area.’
