Transformers: Steel Reign

[B4UTRUST]

"Good, good...Just get me some energon and I'll be fine. I think."

[LadyTevar]

"You'll need a little more than Energon," Crimson chuckled. "If that was all you needed I'd give you a jolt right now. But you really need a short trip to the CR chamber ... after all you don't want Prime to see you looking like this, do you?" she asked teasingly.

[Agent Fisher]

Stryke came over a hill at top speed, getting a good amount of distance off the ground. He landed and slammed on the breaks, sliding up alongside Crim and Overload, transforming and looking around, keeping watch.

[SirNitram]

"Stryke, a little less immaturity and a little more of the soldier you said you were, please." Overload rumbled onwards. He was at a decent clip of speed, now, but stopping would take some doing.

[Agent Fisher]

Stryke nodded and resumed his alt form, driving alongside the train. His holo looked over at the shot up 'bot, then back to looking around for any other 'cons.

[LadyTevar]

"If it helps," Crimson said as her holoRider watched Stryke's display wryly. "There's no large metallic objects other than the four of us. Either the 'Cons have left, or they've found new ways to hide."

[Dark Silver]

Gridlock looked down at Hornet as the C.R. Chamber was cycling up, placing Deathstrike in what amounted to a healing coma, and the doors hissed as the magna-seal was in place.

The observation port which was level with Deathstrike's face showed the Decepticon illuminated in a dull blue glow, as the chamber's technology and nanobots began to bolster and speed up Deathstrike's own repair systems, and lend outside assistance.

"Is fine, we place him in C.R. Chamber, Prowl sending Jazz and Springer here tomorrow to check on facility, and see about new guest. Come Teeny-bot, is time for drink, you need recharge yes?"

Gridlock made a final quick look over of the chamber, satisfied by the readings it was given, and bent as much as he could, eer so lightly placing his hand on Hornet's shoulder, "Come, to Restspot! Is time for drink."

[General Havoc]

Hornet wasn't entirely sure he liked the look that Gridlock got when dicussing his "drink", but he supposed it couldn't be any worse than the stuff Wheeljack made him take periodically...

"Before we go," he said, "there's another Autobot here. He's hurt, and they're bringing him in to get fixed. He said his name was Swiftshot."

[Dark Silver]

"Is neyt worry, Is plenty of CR Chamber open. They bring him here, put him in, then all relax before unload cargo train."

[B4UTRUST]

Prime. That caught Ice's attention quick, fast, and in a hurry.

"Prime? Prime's coming here," he asked, adding a tiny lilt of excitement to his voice. As any well-meaning motivated, dedicated Autobot would. Megatron would love this... Let the Autobots waste their resources repairing him, then he'd send out a secure signal to Megatron. That, along with a request for a Seeker strike and evidence dispersal. Anything to make the story look good.

[Charon]

Shellshock wandered over to the relay station and found a seat, as uncomfortable as it was sitting in a chair meant for a bot half his size. The old Warbot started checking over the radar station to see if there were any more incoming Decepticons while he kept his own sensors running just in case the facility missed something.

The Giant autobot let his thoughts wander, to the old wars back on Cybertron and the Decepticon tricks that were played. This seemed... familiar somehow, but he couldn't say how. It didn't take long for Shellshock's thoughts to move on again though, to The Great War, the war to end all wars. What a joke that was, though there was much in common between the wars of the Transformers, and the wars of the humans.

Shellshock sighed and shook himself out of his dark reverie.

[LadyTevar]

"Inspection, at first," Crimson said, keeping Swiftshot distracted as Overload crossed the last distance to the base. "But now, there's a Decepticon called Deathstrike that wants amnesty. According to him, he told Megatron he wasn't going to fight this war anymore."

Not far now. She was tempted to ask Overload if they were there yet, but she'd teased him like that during the convoy. His reply had been amusing but blunt.

[SirNitram]

"Yea, the big boss is coming." Overload chuckled. "Not surprising, given the effort put into this place. Just gotta warn the guy we've been made; no doubt Megatron will try to launch some failed assault."

The train pulled up to the base, and lowered the damaged 'Autobot' to the ground. "Honestly, he's used the same old tactics for millions of years. Anyway, enough of my grousing. You need help getting to CR?"

The train unfolded and stood, towering.

[B4UTRUST]

Ice was set down on the ground and with some effort transformed once more. Standing upright he made a visual inspection of himself to ensure nothing else was broken.
"I think I can make it. Just point the way.

"And besides, with Prime here, how could we lose?"

Ice chuckled silently to himself. Prime and a known traitor all in one spot. Megatron would probably have to have his armor cleaned after that sort of news.

[LadyTevar]

"I'll show you... I believe Gridlock said Bay 5." Crimson said, walking off towards the clearly marked Maintenaince bays. She did not want to be around when ShellShock and Overload dressed down Stryke.

[Agent Fisher]

Stryke rolled to a stop, not saying a word. He transformed and debated where he should try to find Deathstrike. 'Odds are he's already in a CR chamber. Kinda hard to kill him easily in there. I've missed my shot for an easy kill.' He thought to himself. Instead of following Crim and the damaged 'Bot, he stood at still, waiting for the old 'Bot to give him a lecture.

[B4UTRUST]

Ice followed Crimson into the maintenance bay, looking around and taking stock of his surroundings. It might be important for him to need to get back here in a hurry. Or out of here.
"Thanks. Hopefully there's not too much wrong with me."

[LadyTevar]

"Other than the big hole in your chestplate, you mean?" Crimson teased. "Don't worry, you will be out impressing us lady-bots soon enough."

She paused by the first CR chamber, stretching up to look inside at the blue-shrouded Deathstrike. "Now he's had it rough," she said quietly, almost respectfully. "I'm surprised he has the Energon to move, considering how he came down...."

[General Havoc]

Hornet nodded to Gridlock. "I hope that they're gonna be okay..." he said as first Shellshock, then Crimson, then Swiftshot, and then finally Stryke rolled into the maintenance bay. Hornet stayed well out of the way of Stryke as he arrived wordlessly with a look that could have penetrated armor. What with Crimson and Shellshock both around, it occured to Hornet that this might be an opportune moment to try and apologize for having blown it. Surely the other two wouldn't let Stryke ACTUALLY kill him...

"Um... Strike?" he stammered nervously as he edged towards the larger Autobot. "I'm... I'm s.. sorry I... b... broke the... the sound barrier." He averted his gaze down to the floor and held his wings behind his back, looking like nothing more than a truant schoolkid. "I won't... I won't do it again." He sneaked a glance up at Strike to see if his apology was having any effect whatsoever. He certainly didn't relish the thought of having to hide behind someone else every time Strike was near. It was bad enough having to do that with Ironhide...

[B4UTRUST]

"And with such an attractive one so close at hand to go after as soon as I'm better. How the matrix blesses me."

Ice, almost twice Crimson's height, peered down into the CR chamber that contained Deathstrike. He did indeed appear worse for the wear, patchwork repairs evident everywhere. The price for any who would leave Megatron's side. Death, or disrepair.

"I'm sure he'll be fine. You can't keep a Decepticon down for long. They're like the human's roaches."

[SirNitram]

"You'd be amazed how well they stay down." Overload smiled in a way that did not reassure. "Well, after you rip their legs off." He added. "I have to talk to Shellshock. Don't blow anything up, it's expensive."

[Agent Fisher]

Stryke looked down at Hornet. "Don't worry about it, kid." He said. "Just next time, don't do it right over my head." He turned and walked outside the bay, after looking back at the chamber holding Deathstrike. He had really missed his chance. Now, when Deathstrike came out of there, he would be healed, plus Prime and probably Ironhide would be here as well. There was no way he could take him down.

He stood outside and merely looked around, waiting for something good to happen.

[LadyTevar]

Swiftshot's comment made Crimson smile. "I was right, you do have smooth lines," she quipped.

As both Swiftshot and Overload made their comments about keeping 'Cons down, Crimson had to shake her head. "I think it's a shame not more of us have stood up and said 'Enough fighting'. But as long as Megatron's in control, I doubt that will happen..." she finished sadly.

She backed away from Deathstrike, and motioned towards another chamber. "Go on.. get repaired. We need to unload the supplies and start getting to work."

[Dark Silver]

As the others rolled in, and Hornet went to go apologize to the Stryke, Gridlock and Wideload turned to face their new associates.

As much as Gridlock wanted his break and a sub-zero degree kelvin energon cube of vodka, he knew he would have to get things settled with them, let them know who was in charge.

"Is shame, comrade, when autobots not behave themselves. Come - time to introduction."

Gridlock, with the slightly smaller Wideload at his side, walked over towards the group, cleared his vocal processor with a loud "hrumph" and eyed them all sternly, as befitting a Russian General.

"Welcome, comrades, to Fort Maximal - Autobot enegon processing and extraction facility and forward command base for this sector of Canada. I am Gridlock, am commander and head engineer of base." the english, while heavily accented, was surprisingly good, "Behind me is Wideload, he is my partner and second in command. We have much work to do, before base is at full operations. Humans assist in contruction, but not do so well as autobots can. We will begin unload of supplies in four breems. am suggesting you get acquainted with quarters and base layout after unloading cargo. You will be here long time dah."

"Now, Teenybot," Gridlock looked down, his voice rather mirthful as his optics locked onto Hornet, "Is time for drink, we have time dah? Infact, all come for drink before work. Is russian tradition."

with that, Gridlock and Wideload started walking t the exit, headed for the Energon Bar which served both humans and Autobots...

[General Havoc]

With a massive sigh of relief, Hornet realized that Stryke wasn't going to shoot him. He was so happy for the reprieve that he nearly lost his balance, and had to steady himself against Shellshock's foot (which was large enough to serve as a wall as far as Hornet was concerned).

As Gridlock introduced them all to the base they were standing in, Hornet wondered idly why exactly Gridlock behaved and spoke like a human Russian. Not that Hornet minded Russians, or indeed any humans. In fact (as Wheeljack had laboriously explained to hum during endless rounds of tests), more than a quarter of Hornet's systems were based off of Russian designs, specifically the MiG-29 "Fulcrum", which next to Hornet's namesake, the F/A-18, represented the largest single human design influence on Hornet, an explanation which interested Hornet not at all, save that he was grateful to Wheeljack for naming him after the American fighter rather than the Russian one, even if the American name led to people making jokes about how he was an insect...

"My name's... Hornet," protested Hornet as Gridlock again called him 'Teenybot'. He wasn't THAT small! He was much larger than any human he'd ever seen after all! True to form however, Hornet quickly forgot his indignation, as Gridlock told him it was traditional to have a drink of some substance called 'Vodka', the name of which he'd heard before, but had always assumed was a human beverage.

"What's... vodka?" asked Hornet, with a puzzled look, following Gridlock towards the Energon Bar.