Sparky

Codename: ARC-12
Family: Industrial
Type: Flyer
Difficulty: High
Class: Medium
Official description: "A welder robot used for general purpose maintenance and salvage operations, the ARC-12 is actually motivated by productivity, and has a tendency to keep working when there is nothing left to do. ARC-12s have had some reported difficulty with their guidance systems which has been known to cause massive system failures."

Don't let this sparky maniac get too close to your vessel.

Similar to the tubbs or sickle, the sparky bot prefers close-quarters combat in which it turns on its huge electroweapon and proceeds to ignite your ship in a bath of electricity - not something you want to happen, I assure you. Fortunately, though, the sparky is large and, for the most part, sluggish, making it an easy target for your agile ship and heat-seeking weaponry. Like the tailbot, the sparky attempts to sneak up or get behind your craft. Don't let that happen, and the sparky shouldn't provide much of a challenge. Keep it at long range and fend it off with lasers or missiles.

Old Scratch

Codename: OS-114
Family: Industrial
Type: Flyer
Difficulty: Moderate
Class: Medium
Official description: "Developed as an early excavation robot to help clear newly bored mine shafts of loose rock, the OS-114 has outlived its designers, and is one of the oldest robots still employed by PTMC's mining operations."

If the old scratch rubs up against your ship, you'll likely lose some equipment.

An intimidating-looking beast, the old scratch prefers the confusion of close-quarters battling than keeping its distance. With no long-range abilities, the old scratch makes every effort to get as close as possible to the player's ship, then swipes and attacks with its long, dangly claws. Further, and here's the real problem, the old scratch can pull weapons, missiles, shields, and energy right out of your ship. So, not only are you suffering damage, you're also losing weapons. If you're surrounded by several old scratches, don't worry about the weapons you're losing (you can regain them momentarily); instead, concentrate on just getting out of that tense situation before the old scratches pummel you to death. Keep them at bay, using your reverse controls or afterburner and knock them out with laser or missile fire.

Next: Thresher and thief