Transformers: Steel Reign

[Agent Fisher]

Stryke smiled and whispered to her on a secure channel. "You can sit in my lap if you want." He said. "I could still see over your head probably." He teased her.

He looked around then back to the front. "I think its time for the bad news of the day."

[LadyTevar]

"ha ha ha..." Crimson whispered back privately, managing to elbow him while 'adjusting her position'. "Maybe later we'll go watch the moonrise and you can make that suggestion again."

She looked around the conference room... only 70 Autobots (and Deathstrike) were in the Ark at this point. All of them were making their way in. "Prime's got a plan," Crimson assured Stryke. "That's why we're here."

[B4UTRUST]

Shellshock had glanced at Deathstrike and Slipstream as the doors slammed closed. "He's right you know. And that's coming from me."

"And a lot of good his being right is going to do when Hornet doesn't survive the war," muttered Slipstream as he followed the others to the confrence room.

Once in he leaned back against a wall, crossing his arms and waiting for the briefing to begin.

[Agent Fisher]

Stryke nudged her back. "I'll remember that later." He said, then turned serious. "Someone always have a plan. Doesn't mean it's good. I guess it would be too much to ask you to try and find a safe job in this plan?"

[LadyTevar]

Crimson gave her worried counterpart a gentle smile. "I promise to be more careful, Stryke. But I may not have a say in where I'm sent."

[Cynical Cat]

"I stand by my statement that this argument is inappropriate at this time in place," said Deathstrike. Shellshock's opinions couldn't have mattered less to him. Same for most Autobots. It was clear that at some point during the war the word "Decepticon" had become conjoined with the word "wrong" in the data banks. As a result they reflexively rejected anything that might be in line with the "Decepticon way."

Deathstrike had never made that mistake. The Guardian Robots he had destroyed had been easy, mechanisms with only a rudimentary intelligence relying on brute strength and toughness to carry the day. Was it a surprise that their kind had been virtually annhilated by smaller and weaker Decepticon warriors? In this age combiners filled much the same roll and although their skills and minds greater, they shared much the same weaknesses. Of them, he feared only Predaking who added speed, intellect, and skill to the virtues of power and toughness. The Autobots he respected were the ones like Jazz, Breakout, Ultra Magnus, and Prime. He had always respected their kind, learning from them in victory and defeat.

He doubted that Prime made that mistake either. There was too much mutual respect between Prime and Megatron, a recognition that they were natural leaders and equals that should have been ruling together. "Join me Prime." How many times had Megatron uttered those words?

"Turn away Megatron," had usually been Prime's answer. Both mechanisms so devoted to their dreams that they were willing to kill the one who should naturally be standing at their side. It was tragic. And the Autobots thought Megatron a psychopath, when the evidence to the contrary was right in front of their photoreceptors. Of course, they did not have the benefit of observing Megatron away from the field of battle. Did they believe Starscream survived his rampant ambition based solely on his utility to Megatron? Deathstrike knew better, but that line of thought was for another time.

"Shockwave is our primary concern for the time being. Wheeljack's understanding of biology could also use some work," said the big Decepticon as an after thought. "He could, for example, actually bother to read and comprehend Darwin. Perhaps when he has spent as much time as I have in the company of organics he will better understand the principles he is attempting to duplicate. But that is for latter."

[General Havoc]

Hornet sat crumpled in a heap, curled into a small ball on the floor in the corner of the room as Wheeljack slowly calmed down. Half a minute passed, before the Autobot scientist slowly lifted his hand from the button that had closed the blast doors. With a soft sigh, he turned back around to face Hornet. His tone was calm and collected and somewhat remorseful as he addressed the frightened, quivering little Autobot.

"Well," said Wheeljack, "I should not have done that."

Hornet did not hear what came next, for that instant he could no longer hold his tears back and he burst out into them, crying uncontrollably, and cursing himself for doing so. His vision blurred as Wheeljack walked over and gently crouched down, picking him up and carefully sitting him down on the diagnostic table. Hornet had no idea what Wheeljack was saying to him. He could not hear properly. But Wheeljack's words were calm and soothing, and Slowly, Hornet calmed down as Wheeljack mopped up the excess wiper fluid with a towel and a siphon hose.

"Listen to me," said Wheeljack once Hornet was once more capable of doing so. "Hornet, I want you to listen to me very carefully."

Hornet tried.

"I told you once that there would be those who did not understand you, and did not wish to?" Hornet nodded, and Wheeljack continued. "That... was not how you are supposed to deal with such people. Slipstream... does not understand. He cannot see past his own desire to win the war to understand that not everything revolves around it, or his own idea of what is and is not an Autobot."

"So..." sniffed Hornet, "he... he thinks I'm not... an Autobot?"

"I sincerely doubt that," said Wheeljack. "I imagine he's far more angry with me than you, and if that is the case, by all means, leave it be. He's no doubt afraid that because you're smaller than most, and less well-armored, that you will get hurt easier than the others will, which is a concern I share... if not to the extent of total paralysis, as he appears to."

Hornet blinked in confusion, and Wheeljack sighed and restarted.

"Slipstream is not the only one, as you well know," said Wheeljack. "There are others, Ironhide first and foremost, but not only him. They believe they are doing right by shielding you from the Decepticons, and they may well be right. Primus knows if there was a way... well there isn't so no matter."

"What?" asked Hornet, still confused. Wheeljack sighed again and picked Hornet up as he walked towards the exit of the room.

"You are, potentially, the most important Transformer to exist since Optimus Prime was first built, not because you will wage a war, or lead a revolution or stride across a battlefield slaying your enemies, though... you might do any of those things, but because you are unique. You are the first of what may well be the next step in our evolution, and that makes you very important. I don't want you to let that go to your head, but I also don't want you to forget it. There will be those who understand what you are, and those who don't. Try to be patient with the latter, for they are too short-sighted to see what the future may hold. Try not to... do what I just did. Do you understand?"

Hornet nodded slowly, wiping the fluid from his optics. "I... I think so..." he said. "But... I mean... I don't feel special or... important... I just... I just wanna be like everyone else... like Shellshock and Overload and Stryke and Crimson... not like an insect."

"You are not an insect," said Wheeljack softly, "but you are also not like them. But then neither are they. We're all unique, by virtue of the sparks embedded within us. You're... a bit more unique than the rest, certainly, but that is what makes you so important."

Hornet was silent for a moment or two. "So... what should I do... when they get mad at me for being small or for not wanting to kill the Decepticons?"

Wheeljack shook his head. "Don't do what you think I'd want you to do, Hornet," he said, "do what you think is right, and trust to the spark that the Matrix gave you to do the right thing. Trust the other Autobots, trust Prime and the officers, trust Primus to guide your actions, trust your friends to help you and support you, and trust yourself to know what you need to do, and to do it. Between all of those things, what are a few Decepticons and doubters in your path?"

Hornet smiled nervously. "But what about you?"

"Me?" asked Wheeljack, bemused and taking on a theatrical voice. "Weren't you listening Hornet? I am the evil maniac that built you to suffer! I am the mad scientist whom you must defeat, because I am insane and cruel and twisted! You should fear me!" And with that dramatic pronouncement, Wheeljack punched the combination to release the doors, letting them slide asside as he gently tickled Hornet with one hand to make his point. Hornet laughed and squirmed and lightly hit Wheeljack's shoulder as Wheeljack stepped out of the workshop and slowly walked towards the briefing room where Prime was to reveal his plan.

*------------------------------------------------------------------*

"Shockwave is our primary concern for the time being. Wheeljack's understanding of biology could also use some work," said the big Decepticon as an after thought. "He could, for example, actually bother to read and comprehend Darwin. Perhaps when he has spent as much time as I have in the company of organics he will better understand the principles he is attempting to duplicate. But that is for latter."

"I assume you're refering to natural selection," said Wheeljack from behind Deathstrike, having walked in moments before the Decepticon finished speaking. Hornet was no longer in his arms, having been released to go wandering over towards a free seat in the auditorium. Wheeljack's tone was calm and reasoned once again, no sign of the explosion of anger he had demonstrated a moment ago.

"How typical of the Decepticons," said Wheeljack, shaking his head. "You hear a five minute digest of a principle, and not only do you think you understand it fully, but you assume nobody else does. Here's a suggestion, Deathstrike, since you're going to be spending time with us, read the rest of what Darwin had to say about his theories, because I don't think you really understand what 'survival of the fittest' means. It's all right though, Megatron doesn't get it either. He hears those words and thinks 'may the biggest fusion cannon win'. I assume you think it means the fastest or the best protected or the best armed or best suited for whatever combat you find yourself in..."

He sighed and shook his head, and then placed a hand on Deathstrike's shoulder gently, as though lecturing a young child. "You miss the big picture, Deathstrike, but that's all right. Read the rest of Darwin, especially his essays on the social implications of his theories, and then you might understand what I mean. Hornet doesn't have your firepower or your armor or combat experience, and no doubt those are all useful things... but... he's got something else that nobody else in this room does, not me, not you, not even Prime... and one day, when you've grown up and stopped thinking like a primitive cave-dweller bashing prey on the head with a club... one day you might even learn to appreciate that there is more to 'survival of the fittest' than who has the largest claws."

Wheeljack's face was incapable of smiling, but he softened his optics and patted Deathstrike patronizingly on the shoulder before turning away and taking his seat.

*------------------------------------------------------------------*

Hornet however did not hear any of this discussion, as he made his way over to where Shellshock, Crimson, and Stryke were. Hopping up on an empty seat, he tried to pretend like everything was okay as he stretched as tall as he could and tried to peer over the heads of the other Autobots ahead of him.

On both counts, he failed.

[Cynical Cat]

"So you decided to spy on us while shut in your laboratory during your fit of temper," said Deathstrike. "And, of course, I'm the one who is wrong," he sneered. "I'm the just the stupid Decepticon thug. That I have vorns of experience of living among organics and studying them means nothing. The all wise, all knowing Autobots are automatically correct. What would a Decepticon know about science? I'm just a big dumb thug with a gun.

"Feel free to ignore the fact that for millions of years, Cybertronians have been at war. That is the environment you brought Hornet into. What happens to an organism that is ill suited to its environment Wheeljack? Red herrings and dismissive comparisons with Megatron might work to sideline arguments with Autobots, but it doesn't work with me. Go patronize some other 'bot Wheeljack, or better yet why don't you do something constructive regarding this crisis?"

He turned and walked away. He would serve this cause as long as he was able. He had sworn that oath and would not break it, no matter how little regard they had for him. He could all too vividly remember how bad the alternatives could be. It was likely that wouldn't be too much longer. There was a good chance he would be dead in another fifty cycles, give or take.

[SirNitram]

Overload lowered a hand to Hornet, to offer to lift the little Autobot onto his shoulder so he could see. He spoke softly to the small flier. "Hey little guy.. You sure you're up for this? Can't really pull punches against Shockwave.. Don't want you crossing any lines you aren't ready to yet."

The ancient Autobot hauler was patient, as befitted a being millions of years old. But he also had taken a shine to the little one, and didn't want to see him twisted by the war.. Like so many others had been.

[General Havoc]

"Vreems of experience studying organics," repeated Wheeljack, "but not humans, and not for the sake of understanding them but for the sake of being able to kill them. And don't try to deny that, Deathstrike, I know what sorts of missions Megatron engages in in regards to humans."

"You are talking here about an engineering project years in the making with complexities you do not understand, and you think that your thirty seconds of conversation with Hornet entails you to make windblown pronouncements about who is and is not fit to exist. Yes, I would say that is VERY much like a typical Decepticon in my experience. Anything new is bad, anything different than me is weak and undesirable, anything that isn't overloaded with guns doesn't deserve to exist. I adore how you people call us arrogant when you are the one proporting to make a decision about who does and doesn't deserve to live based on their firepower. You don't know what went into Hornet. You don't know anything about his systems. You've never read his blueprints or seen his schematics. You don't know if he's equipped with an anti-matter missile pod or a thermo-nuclear strike force. You haven't the first idea of how his behavioral algorithms work, or what the fractal encryption does to him. You don't know how his spark functions, what he likes and dislikes, who he is as a person. You've never met, far as I know, a single human, his template, and thus you have no idea of what THEY are like either, and how it is that THEY continue to survive despite their lack of weapons and armor. Those things are all beneath you to ask of or to learn."

"... but you talked with him for thirty seconds, and read the title of a book by Darwin once, so obviously you're the foremost expert on Hornet and his value to the universe as an individual."

Wheeljack shook his head.

"So yes, Deathstrike, as far as this subject is concerned, you are in fact, a big, dumb thug with a gun. You know nothing of the matter you speak of, but because you are a grizzled Decepticon warrior, come to teach the ignorant Autobots about the way of the universe, we're all supposed to drop everything and listen to you. Well I'm not a child Deathstrike, and I've been around the block as many times as you have. Don't lecture me on subjects you know nothing about. When you can come to me and tell me something about Darwin other than the fact that he invented the term 'survival of the fittest', then we will discuss Darwinian evolutionary theory as regards Hornet. Until then, shut your Primus-damned speaker, because all you have been using it for is the same tired aphorisms about how the world is a wicked place and we must all be wicked to survive in it that everyone in this room has heard a thousand times before by a thousand different Decepticons who all prophecied that our weak and feeble morals would get us exterminated within a year."

*------------------------------------------------------------------*

Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Hornet had no idea that Wheeljack was discussing any such thing with Deathstrike. Still unable to get a view of what was going on, Hornet gratefully smiled up at Overload as he lowered a hand, presumably to pick Hornet up so that he could see what was happening. Hornet wasn't sure what Overload meant about crossing lines, but he got the gist of what he was trying to say. To be frank, Hornet hadn't been thinking too much about what was going to happen. He knew of course that there was going to be a battle, and that it was likely to be as unpleasant as the one before, if not more. Thinking about it sent an involuntary shudder down his airframe that he hoped nobody noticed, though likely Overload did. He blinked a few times and then raised his optics to look up at at the giant bot.

"I... just want to help," he said. "I know I'm not..." he lowered his head, "... big enough to do all the stuff you guys can... but... I just wanna try and help make sure everyone else comes out okay." He wasn't sure if he was making any sense or not, but he hoped the larger Autobot would get the idea of what he meant to say.

[SirNitram]

"It's not a matter of big." Overload smiled gently, still keeping his voice down as he lifted Hornet so he could see better. "Guardian Robots are much bigger than me, but they got trashed if the attackers were smart. It's a matter of using what you have. You're lucky; you've got weapons built in." A small grin. "And you're small enough to evade fire. No.. I worry, little guy, about whether you should be here. It's a war. People will die. I suppose I could tell you some lie about how it doesn't matter when we kill, but that's not true. A Decepticon's life is as important as anyone; look at Shellshock. Even Deathstrike, who tried to do good." He shrugs a little bit. "Even the Sentinels.. I could say they don't have a spark, but that'd make me the same as the ones who made me; I was just a machine to do work to them." A slow shake of his head. "War means not just that you might die.. Because who knows, maybe you're willing to go down for whatever makes you fight. But that you might have to kill." A slow sigh.

"Don't ever learn to enjoy that, short-stuff. Even if it's an empty shell with no spark or mind. That path leads to darkness."

[Charon]

Shellshock looked over at the smaller bot. The old warbot's face was grim, not as warm as his fellows. It was always like this when a battle was waiting for them. Overload had, when all was acconted for, been in more battles than Shellshock. But Shellshock was the older bot, and those battles he had been in had been among the most brutal and violent of the series of wars. The old warbot always wondered what familiar face it was this time that he would have to be destroying in the upcoming conflict.

Shaking out of his grim reverie, for fear of what it may do to the young bot that seemed to look up to him among many of the others as well, Shellshock smiled at Hornet. "When I see you Hornet. I see something that is practically one of the organics we are fighting to protect. Many would consider that an insult, or demeaning, even among the Autobots. But they don't know that organics have a heart stronger than almost any 'bot I've met in my millions of years. It's one thing to face death as a 'bot. We're nearly impossible to kill unless you through a lot of punishment into it. But organics, they're fragile, physically. But they'll fight harder and longer than any mighty Decepticon warrior, and still be able to come home to family and friends and be a husband or a wife or a son. They can do what neither side of this conflict can, and do it better. And you're a legacy of that. Remember that."

[General Havoc]

Hornet perched himself on Overload and thought about what he and Shellshock were saying. "I... don't wanna kill anyone," he said after a moment. "Not even a Decepticon. I mean... Jetfire was a Decepticon once, right? And Mirage? And even you Shellshock... And if we'd killed them..."

He shook his head, trying not to conjure more tears up to his optics. "But if... they're gonna kill us... and they won't stop... then... I guess..." he groaned. Why did this have to be so complicated. Why couldn't the Decepticons just leave them all alone?

"I won't let them hurt everyone else," said Hornet after a long moment's pause. "I don't want to kill them... and I don't know if I can or not but... when I shot down Buzzsaw... and I thought he was dead, it felt like... like someone had just come up and tore my spark out with a magnet or something. And I know he wanted to kill me, and that he's not... nice... and that he'd have killed me if he could have without even thinking about it but... still..."

He lowered his head, as though admitting something horrible. "I wish I knew if... Buzzsaw was okay. Even if it meant that I had to fight him again and maybe even kill him for real this time... I just..."

He shook his head. "I don't know what I want to do..."

[Charon]

Shellshock actually grinned as he spoke up. "Good." He savored the no doubt confused look that Hornet gave him for a few moments before explaining himself.

"I can say that it never goes away. Overload and I are older than most of the Autobots in this room combined and we still feel like our Spark is being torn out every time we have to kill." Shellshock sobered up some as he looked from Hornet to his partner Overload and back again, this was not something he shared with everyone. What was it about this little 'bot that was so... contagious.

"A small portion of my memory banks store the faces, and if I can, the names, of those I have killed, organic or 'bot. It's a list that's very very long, and very very depressing. But it reminds me of why I do what I do, and it reminds me that there are always real losses to these battles." Shellshock placed one of his gigantic hands on the smaller bot's head very gently. "When the time comes, you'll know what you need to do. And that's all we can hope for."

[General Havoc]

Hornet lowered his head as Shellshock gently patted him on it, a relief, considering that Shellshock could easily have crushed him with one hand. Still, Hornet didn't flinch away. He trusted that Shellshock wouldn't hurt him. After all, being as small as he was, he sort of had to take that leap of faith with most people.

"I hope I never have a list..." said Hornet quietly, glancing up at Overload and Shellshock. "But... I think I... I'd prefer to have one than to have my friends get killed...". He shook his head and sighed as he sat down and watched for the briefing to begin. "I wish there wasn't a war..." he said finally. "Sometimes... I'll go over to where the human pilots fly their airplanes, and we'll pretend to dogfight with our laser targetters and missile locks, or we'll play air-tag through a canyon or a mountain range. But... real fighting's not like that I guess."

He sighed. "I like fighting better when it's just for fun..."

[Cynical Cat]

"I never said Hornet didn't deserve to live, you fool," said Deathstrike. "Nor do I believe it. Your arguments are dishonest as they are ignorant. You have no idea what my experience with organics is like, although even a cursury amount of research would tell you it dwarfs your own. It is telling that you have chosen to assassinate my character rather than address your failure to match Hornet's capabilities to his environment. In mechanisms that is bad engineering. In organics it is called being selected against."

"I am done with you," said the Decepticon as he walked away. "Hornet at least hates me for what I really am. Save your words for your fellow Autobots. You appear to have plenty of work to do with them."

[LadyTevar]

"There's Deathstrike... he doesn't look happy," Crimson said, frowning. "Someone's been nagging about Decepticons around him again, I'll bet. Ok, *there* is Hornet...," she'd been looking for the teenybot since she walked in. "Overload's got him, looks like he and Shellshock are talking to him."

[Dark Silver]

The last autobot took his seat in the raised seats, as the lights dimmed and a holographic globe appeared next to Prime. The various flashpoints which would normally indicate conflicts going around the globe in their war were not visible. "As you know" Optimus began slowly, letting his voice carry, "A few hours ago, Shockwave made his ultimatum to the humans." The holographic globe disappeared, replaced by a spinning cube, all sides showing the same display - Shockwave's transmission.

"While we knew Shockwave had come to Earth and Megatron has not been seen for most of the past two Earth Months, we were not certain Shockwave had taken over full command. While Megatron was content to drain the planet and keep us held back, Shockwave had made it clear he'll only stop with our subjugation or destruction. We intend to give him neither."

The cube disappeared once more, shifting to a overhead aerial view of the former Fort Maximal, "These are real time images from TELETRAN-1's Skyspy. As you can see, the Decepticons rebuilt Fort Maximal into a heavily fortified base, and we've detected increased space bridge activity coming from the base. What Shockwave has been moving into position we don't know...but here..." the image froze, as Prime pointed to a floating object, hard to see in the vastness of the image. The hologram shifted perspective, zooming in on the form of a grey camo painted MiG "29" - "is something new. While the human MiG-29 is not a threat, we're detecting Cybertronian technology and power signitures coming from the squadron which left Fort Maximal on patrol."

The image zoomed in closer, focusing on the cockpit of the fighter, as the image cleared, it was obviously a human sitting in it, not a holomatter driver. The yellowed flesh of the human was visible even in the flightsuit, "We have confirmation that the Chinese government is co-operating fully with the Decepticons. And are, in fact, assisting them in this new offensive."

"We can no longer hold to our ideals...we will be faced with the fact we will have to face these humans in combat, and cannot hold back against them. they have access to Decepticon technology and have sided with our enemy. This increases their strike capability a great deal, and we cannot afford to waste another astrosecond. Using the information we have now, and the timetable set forth by Shockwave, we are going to do what is nessacry to defend our allies and put a stop to Shockwave's offensive."

The image zoomed out again, showing once more the full size of the Decepticon base, once again moving in real time. "Our plan of assault is simple, a Strike Force will assault Fort Maximal, backed up by our human allies. We beleive Shockwave's big assault will come from there, and by either reclaiming - or destroying it - we will deny him it's use. Over the past several months we've managed to outfit the humans with weaponry which will allow them to stand against the Decepticons, as well as managing to retrofit the United States Air Force's fleet of fighter jets, as well as some of their reconnisance and bomber air craft. The strikeforce will be joined by the Earth Defense Force's 103rd Mechanized Infantry Regiment, and the 202 Wing of the EDC's Aerial Support Unit."

Optimus paused a moment, before continuing; "The following Autobots will be assigned to this strike force, which will be placed under my direct command. Jazz, Hound, Hoist, Afterburner, Slipstream, Grimlock, Slag, Sludge, Snarl, Swoop, Bluestreak, Red Alert, Overload, Shellshock, Breakout, Silvercap, Warpath, Guzzle, Stryke, Deathstrike, Hardhead, Inferno, Jetfire, Silverbolt, Air Raid, Fireflight, Sling Shot, Skydive, Brawn, Sky Shadow, Kup, Powerglide, Perceptor and Phasor."

"Be ready to leave in 2 Earth hours. The rest of you..." Optimus voice would have droned on then, as he gave the rest of the assignments out, the already streched Autobot forces were being redirected, the bulk of Siberia being left barren of Autobot and human presence. Autobots where sent to every major city and location not controlled by Decepticons...the orders all being relayed to every Autobot around the globe.

Thirty minutes later, Prime finished the assignments, and paused, "Are there any questions?"

[Charon]

Shellshock spoke up from the back of the room. "Are we to assume that the Mig's are capable of transforming, beyond just having Cybertronian armor and power sources?" There were other questions, about what to do about the Chinese government after this, but they could wait.

"Prime, I would also like to request that Hornet and Crimson be added to the roster for the assault on Fort Maximal. I believe any more fliers we can get will only be a good thing. Hornet's size, as well as Crimson's, will be an asset to a primarily large sized contingent of Autobots. Additionally, Crimson has knowledge about the area the base is set on as well as experience with prospecting that will be useful in the event of either the necessary destruction of the base or the re-taking of it."

[Dark Silver]

"I will take it under advisement Shellshock. As for the planes....we don't know. Transforming exostructures wouldn't be uncalled for, but I doubt Shockwave would have had the time to build them in any number, even if he put the entire Decepticon production base to work. We can only assume these are standard MiG-29's outfitted with Decepticon technology. Any other questions?"

[Agent Fisher]

Stryke had mentally let out a sigh of relief when he found out that Crimson would not be on the Strike team. But then Shellshock had suggested her coming. He jerked his head over to him and narrowed his eyes. 'Slag, Shock, why couldn't you have left Crimson out of this?' He thought to himself. Thats all he needed, the fembot he cared about to be out there in the thick of it.

[General Havoc]

Hornet listened attentively to the lecture as Optimus spelled out what was to happen. The talk of politics and human nations was beyond him, but he did notice that he and Crimson's names were left off the list of people to be allowed to go. Disappointed that he was to be left behind, Hornet nearly fainted with astonishment when Shellshock of all people actually ASKED for him to be allowed to come. Hornet blinked in shock, as no doubt did several other people, and slowly turned to Shellshock with his optics as wide as dinner plates.

"You... want me to come?" he asked incredulously, barely able to contain his shock. Nobody had EVER asked for Hornet specifically for a mission before, and he truly didn't know what to say. Was this a joke?

[Cynical Cat]

"Prime," said Deathstrike, "direct aid from China involving an attack on North America will widen the war. Do we know if our human allies intend to retaliate with chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons?"

[LadyTevar]

Stryke had mentally let out a sigh of relief when he found out that Crimson would not be on the Strike team. But then Shellshock had suggested her coming. He jerked his head over to him and narrowed his eyes.

"No use glaring at him, Stryke," Crimson sent by private comm. "He's got a point. I do know the area, and I can blow the rig without blowing the nuclear plant."

She replayed the list of names and sighed. "Now I'm the one who'll have to stay at the Ark and worry about you."

[Agent Fisher]

Stryke nudged her. "Don't worry, Crim. I'm strong enough to take care of myself and not important enough that every 'Con will be gunning for me. I'll be fine." He looked down at her. "And everybody on the Convoy knows the area. And I'm sure we at least one of the 'bots going can blow that rig."