Hate to tell you this, but that's a quirk every unit has since BA. It goes so far that they even move back, to group around artillery.
I don't hate to tell that when I tested that, it didnt work so if there were light unit with artillers, also worked only with sentinels.
But only if there were heavy unit, shredders with 3 new arts. So kind protecting them only. Not so simple feature. And with sentinels it didnt help to protect even themselves. Quite a work to test how they really work. If know then maybe there is way to use that feature somehow. But if I find it I wont tell such old stories
But maybe it has been so before also exactly same way. Hate to not know
...
New test, now with 6 sentinels and 2 rogues, machine side 2 shredders,3 hovers, 3 art
And exactly as he told, hovers still couldnt reach rogues by next round.
That way rogues will sure be left alone
Testing more as I use those fight with flee after 7 done to farm 40 unit recurring
Anyway something else to do now same time
Test3; Now I had myself light and shredder, artillers protected themselves so that I could use shredders or light units against them-
So even sometimes machine side work defensive way, not only stupid rush attack
But lot to test more to find secret perfect set to use and win EVERYBOOODY
I bet there is such....
Test4: My set same as previous but machine side has no shreddes... and hovers come close so all can kill them. Shredder is the one to protect..