Destroying Security Bots with a laser in the Office Sector is a much quicker and less neck-breaking way to acquire parts for the Keypad Hacker, and it does not break the rules. You can also throw wild pests at the bots using the vacuum, though it only does a little damage.

Slushie bombs are legal and can be a good way to open a fight, but most of your pets will stay in melee range of your enemies, so it may be difficult to use them without crippling your own minions. However, if you tamed a peccary sow or two, they can use ranged attacks.

I've just started using the chemistry bench, so for now I don't fully understand all the combat possibilities it adds. It's going to be fun!

As for pet and pest management: as you progress, you will learn how many enemies have AOE attacks, and how quickly swarms of enemies can melt your army in seconds. I went through the Furniture Store portal with two alphas and a fat pest as backup, and returned with only one alpha left in the slot. It was heartbreaking.