[ WP ] Some time in the future war is fought completely autonomously by machines . A densely populated city has become a war-zone , but the robots are programmed so well to avoid harming civilians that the humans living their can go about their lives completely ignoring the constant fighting around them

As I exited my house that morning, I could n't help but shake my head at the view. *And this used to be such a good neighborhood, too*. I took a sip of coffee as I watched the sentry tanks roll past on the street, and sighed at the way Dan almost had to slow down to avoid hitting one as he pulled out of his driveway. *What an inconvenience. I hope he files a Complaint against that one*, I thought to myself. *In fact, maybe I should submit one too, on his behalf. Just to make sure*. 
 
 I juggled my coffee mug hand to hand as I searched my pockets for my car keys, doing my best to ignore the massive anti-air model as it thundered across my lawn, searching in vain for a target to fire at which did n't run the risk of endangering the Overseers that hovered overhead. I frowned at the scuff marks it left in the grass - a few months ago that hunk of metal would've been scrapped for doing even less damage to a human's property. But apparently the war was really heating up, and congress had just pushed through a new set of bills upping the limits on collateral damage. *Fucking morons*, I thought morosely. *Just because THEY do n't live in the middle of a goddamn war zone, they have no idea what it's like for the rest of us*. The cleaner drones would n't be around to replace the damaged sod for at *least* another two hours. I could almost feel the property value draining away. 
 
 I was about to hop into my car when a couple of robots, entwined in combat, landed heavily in the middle of the road in front of my house. As they hammered away at each other I kept a close eye on the asphalt beneath them - if they did significant damage to the road it would be grounds for a Complaint, and might even get me out of a day of work. I could n't be expected to drive to work through dangerous conditions, which a pothole certainly qualified as. After all, humans are unique, superior, and we could n't be risked if there was the chance of danger. 
 
 The loud **crack! ** and sudden stinging sensation in my hand startled me out of my reverie. My loud curse was instinctive, as I stared in shock at the shattered pieces of my ceramic travel mug, now lying on the driveway. *That- what-* My thoughts returned in a rush as I suddenly realized... *I'd been damaged! * 
 
 A sudden stillness descended on the world around me at almost the same time as my realization, as all nearby robotic activity came to an abrupt halt. Into the stillness descended the Overseers, stepping lightly out of their personal anti-grav units as they reached the ground in front of me. The man approached me as his partner - a much younger woman, probably straight out of Education - hustled across the street to where the two robots I had noticed earlier stood frozen, still locked in a parody of combat. 
 
 `` Sir, have you been damaged?'' The Overlord's voice was calm, soothing, but I was n't in the mood to be soothed. I held up my trembling hand so that the Overseer could clearly see the slice - *nearly a quarter-inch long! * 
 
 `` Damaged? Damaged?!'' I dimly noted that my voice had risen to a near shriek, but it was all just so overwhelming. `` I might lose my hand!'' I caught sight of my broken mug and pointed accusingly. `` And my property! I demand to - I... I feel...'' 
 
 I feel... wet? I looked down, and could only mewl in horror at the sight of the coffee stain spreading across the front of my beautiful dress shirt. I could feel tears prickling my eyes, and I might have fallen if the second Overlord had n't suddenly been there to support me. She grabbed my hand in hers, examining it briefly before letting it drop to my side again, and turning to her partner. 
 
 `` A mild laceration - no lasting damage'' she reported firmly. I started to feel anger, pushing away my fear and confusion. *Mild? I'd show her mild. This had gone far beyond a Complaint now*. 
 
 `` What happened? Who was the perpetrator?'' I barely recognized my own voice. So powerful, so forceful! I could n't help but preen a little in the face of my own commanding presence. The older Overseer sighed, but fiddled with his control bracelet. Across the street one of the robots straightened, disentangling himself from his combat partner and moved to kneel on the grass in front of me. 
 
 The woman Overseer snapped to attention. *Definitely straight out of Education, this one*. `` It appears that you were struck by a stray bolt, sir, wrenched from this robot during battle and launched by the violence of his engagement''. 
 
 I had to admit that the forcefulness of her report was somewhat intimidating, but I stared her down. `` This seems like a clear cut case of Improper Maintenance to me, Overseer''. Her face stayed stony but her lips thinned angrily, and it was her partner who spoke up. 
 
 `` I would have to agree, sir. This robot failed to properly maintain himself, which resulted in harm to a human''. The Overseer sighed heavily, but finally reluctantly continued. `` As the injured party, it is of course your right to decide this robot's fate''. 
 
 I looked at him in confusion. *Was n't it obvious? * But as neither Overlord spoke up for several long moments, I realized that I would have to state it anyways. `` For an infraction of this size, only the robot's destruction would suffice''. 
 
 I did n't think it was possible, but the woman Overlord straightened even further to attention, somehow finding another few inches to add to her height. `` Such a punishment is within your rights. But this robot is of a model valuable to the war effort, and it would be a help to our cause if you would reconsider''. Her partner avoided my surprised glance by studiously examining his fingernails, and I was left to simply shake my head. What cause could compare to that of human safety? She would learn eventually. 
 
 `` Shall we get on with it then?'' I said, finally. `` This has been a very long morning for me, and I still have to get to a hospital before I can go in to the office''. 
 
 The male Overlord sighed again, but began tapping at his control bracelet. Within moments, a strange hum became audible as the Overlord removed the inhibitors ensuring proper electrical levels throughout the robot's body. 
 
 The robot took a long time to die, shrieking shrilly as the electrical surge slowly burned out its processors. I spent the time trying to calculate whether the ceramic shards from my coffee mug lying in the driveway constituted enough of a hazard to driving that I would be able to requisition an anti-grav unit for my trip to the hospital. As the minutes passed, I felt the pride welling up inside me. Despite the horrors I had been through in the last hour, I had handled myself well, and had even removed a dangerous menace from the streets! That robot would never harm another human. 
 
 After all, humans are unique. We ca n't be built, we ca n't be replaced. We must be protected at all costs. There is no robot who is, or ever will be, as valuable - as irreplaceable - as the lowliest human. 
 
 Even if they are just as intelligent.
