Transformers: Steel Reign

[General Havoc]

If Hornet thought whatever Wheeljack was doing was demeaning or rude, he gave no sign of it. Instead he looked around the table with wide optics, pausing long enough to grin and wave at Crimson when he came across her, almost as if to say 'Look! I'm at the table with the big kids!'.

Wheeljack too seemed to take it all in stride, glancing at the diagnostic every so often, and once in a while pressing a button or two to bring up more data. Mostly however, Wheeljack was concentrating on the matter at hand. Nobody else seemed to think twice about what he was doing with Hornet.

Then the movie came up showing a monstrous looking Decepticon literally EATING the spark out of another Autobot. Hornet cringed and let out a soft cry as he hid his optics with his hands and cowered behind Wheeljack, who looked none to pleased himself with the sight. No sooner had he done so than he regretted calling attention to himself, and seemed to wilt as he crouched low on the side of the table, debating whether or not to jump down.

[SirNitram]

"Organic." Overload rumbled quietly. He had, in his own way, more experience with humans than most of the Autobots around them. He hadn't interacted with them much, keeping a low-profile in his alt mode for decades, but he knew their fighting spirit. He knew what biological beings would do, given the motivation. That unnerved him. This thing could have that tenacity.. And likely not the accompanying fraility.

"Make sure everyone's as best repaired and refueled as possible. I've seen enough static defenses overrun casually in my time on this world to know Fort Maximal won't fair better than the Maginot." Earth history. It'd be lost on the others.

[Charon]

Shellshock whistled. "I'll keep in mind to not let that psycho get close. You said the Predacons have a good chance of showing too? That's not so good a sign. We should probably focus on taking one of them out of the fight real early, hopefully before they decide to form Predaking. Overload and I should stand a fair chance at doing that." He looked over to his brother, the intent was clear, combine into Breachload, blow the sons of bitches out of the air before they had a chance.

Shellshock went on from there. "Our Western line of defense is almost completed. If they aren't coming from that direction though we'll be in a tight spot. Might want to let Jetfire, Deathstrike, and Hornet draw their attention towards our defenses. Best case scenario, they follow them in and get blown to bits. Most likely scenario, some of the more eager split from the group and become easy pickings for our guns. But as Overload said, static defenses are easily overrun, especially if they have air superiority. So we'll want to be ready for a moving fight ourselves."

[LadyTevar]

Hornet's reaction to the site was a little drastic, but it echoed the mood as Crimson watched the video. If she had been organtic, she'd be nasueated. She didn't realize she'd leaned away from the sight, taking a small step back into Stryke's protective bulk.

But we can't worry about it now...we need to prepare this base for a possible war. I'm open to suggestions Autobots.."

That caused her to step slightly forward again, and spoke softly after Overload and Shellshock. "The TarSands can be rigged to explode easily. We have a hole drilled, all we would need to do is get the pumps running and throw off the choke and pressure lock. The mud won't be able to hold the pressure, and the sidewalls will blow." She looked over to Gridlock and Wideload as she spoke, to see if the two Russians were following her thinking.

[Cynical Cat]

Chimera's habits didn't bother Deathstrike. Dead was dead after all. What did it matter if your laser core was shattered by a fist or breached by a laser or crushed by transmetal teeth? Clearly it mattered to the Autobots, who seemed to have an almost superstitious dread of such "organic" behavior.

Deathstrike had ruled an empire of organics, briefly. And somewhere in their lineage, organics had created the programs that defined Cybertronian personalities. The resemblances and vestigial organic behavior traits made that conclusion unavoidable. The fear that Chimera created was a strength, but the behavior itself was indicative of an exploitable weakness.

[Dark Silver]

"Agreed," Optimus said, as he listened to the suggestions, even as the video of Chimera disappeared. "Jetfire, Hornet and Deathstrike will maintain a aerial patrol while we rest of us finish the defense grid."

Optimus looked to the small fembot, trying to remember her name, before it came to him, "Crimson, you and Gridlock will make preparations to deactivate the nuclear plant, and seal off the tar sands."

"I've got to run a diagnostic on Hornet before he heads out Prime," Wheeljack spoke up.

"Very well, Autobots, you have your orders, move out," Prime said, rising from the seat.

They had a long night's work ahead of them.

[SirNitram]

"Prime." Overload spoke up, remembering to use his 'current' name. It was so hard, sometimes, not to see puny Orion Pax all grown up and kicking ass. But it would be his ass kicked if he used that name, he suspected. "There's all sorts of worries about a guy we found out near a shack after an attack, name of Swiftshot." A gesture is made at the bot in question. "You know him?"

[Dark Silver]

Optimus looked to Overload, then over to the mentioned silver colored Autobot.

He didn't look familiar....but with so many Autobots on Earth, Prime couldn't know every single one. Glancing to Ironhide, who just shrugged in response.

"No....I don't know him. But There's so many Autobots planetside now Overload, even I can't remember every mech. Computer, direct link to Teletran-1."

The C&C was quiet as the computer established the link directly to the Ark's supercomputer.

'Link established' the monotone voice spoke, 'Teletran-1 remote directory - please identify.'

"Optimus Prime - voice match verficiation Echo-Theta-Sigma."

'Accessing......voice print verified.'

The voice through the speakers suddenly changed, to the familiar voice of Teletran-1, "Greetings Optimus Prime."

"Teletran, bring up Ident File - Swiftshot."

"Accessing...Swiftshot. Autobot Warrior. Earth Arrival - 9 decacycles. Last Known Assignment...."

"Halt playback. So Swiftshot.....tell me your story..." Prime said, and waited.

[Charon]

Shellshock had gotten to his feet. He apparently took a great deal of interest in what was going on. His cannon silently loaded a shell, just in case they were right about this.

The old warbot leaned against a far wall, his arms crossed. This could potentially be extremely dangerous, especially with Decepticons just around the corner. If this was a spy, he'd have to be dealt with quickly, but even then a lot of the secrets of the base may have been given away.

[LadyTevar]

Optimus looked to the small fembot, trying to remember her name, before it came to him, "Crimson, you and Gridlock will make preparations to deactivate the nuclear plant, and seal off the tar sands."

Crimson was not surprised that Optimus had to pause a cycle to think of her name. That he did know it made her feel ... special. Acknowledged. When Prime went on to point out that he didn't know every Autobot on-planet, that feeling was doubled.

Now, however, was the matter of Swiftshot. She could stay and listen... but Prime Himself had given her orders. It wouldn't take long to rig the TarSands, but better to get it done now and do it right than to wait for last minute.

She tugged Stryke, getting him to lean a little so she could speak privately to him. "I'm going to go with Gridlock as ordered," she whispered across a private channel. "We'll be at the oil rigs most likely. If it comes up, Hornet has recon feed of where we found Swiftshot ... might be useful."

[B4UTRUST]

Ice pushed himself off the wall he was leaning against. His mind calculated the odds that he'd walk out of this room alive if Prime gave the order to take him down. The odds were decidedly against him. He contemplated making a break for it. He could possibly make it out the door, but he didn't think that the Autobots were that horrible of shots that they all would miss him. Just mot of them would... But it only took one good hit...

"Well, I'll skip a few years from my creation to now, since I'm sure you don't want the gory details of that incident with the Shrikebats of Dromedon.

The group I was with was making reports of the humans' progress in power systems for their military aircraft. We were at one of their installations in the south-east of the United States, Warner Robins. We came under attack by 'cons. They put foot and laser to our tailpipes. During the strike information was overheard indicating a planned assault on this facility. Overhaul, who was in charge, ordered us up here to send warning. He said he was going to get in contact with Autobot command. The rest of us split up after we were followed. I got here. The others didn't. I was attacked. The Autobots assigned here brought me in and fixed me up before releasing me. Then I was put to work helping put the facility together. I think that about covers it.

[Dark Silver]

"Ironhide?"

Prime looked the old red robot sitting to his immediate right, currently his primary adviser and unofficial bodyguard. Since Prowl was put incharge of the regional defense base - Ironhide had become Prime's right hand in security.

"He's telling the truth on the mission Prime, I sent the recon team myself and I saw the report on the destruction of the human airbase...."

"Why didn't you try to get intouch with the local Sector Command or contact the Ark?" Prime asked.

[Cynical Cat]

"He's a lying Decepticon," said Deathstrike coldly. "No one knows him and we have memories that stretch over millions of years. He crosses an entire continent, instead of going to any much easier to reach Autobot bases. He appears just after a Decepticon attacks and disappears. He leaves no tracks. His wounds are moderately serious, but do not threaten his ability to function. The battle site does not show signs of strafing from an aerial Decepticon. The Decepticon only wounds him, but does not finish him. He serves Megatron and he will turn on you. The only question is if he's here long term or short term."

[B4UTRUST]

Ice simply shrugged to Prime's question.
"Overhaul was in charge. He sent me here. I'm sure he had his reasons. You'd have to ask him. Maybe he thought there was a leak in security and didn't want to reveal his information."

Again Ice shrugged.
"Of course that's just a hypothetical guess on my part, not anything I can verify. I'm sure Overhaul can give you a better idea of his reasons whenever you get in contact with him."

Ice glanced over at Deathstrike.
"Well, gee there Sherlock, I'm not sure what to say to that one. Of course if I did want to infiltrate this place I wouldn't have to hide. I could just walk up with my story of woe and treason and say that I quit the 'cons. I wouldn't have to even try to do a song and dance after that story. Con comes out of nowhere and professes his undying loyalty to the Autobots he killed for so long. 'Oh, but I've been such a bad little 'con. But I've seen the light of Primus, I want the salvation of the Matrix. Please, please let me show my sincerity by helping you all out.' Didn't even need a softshoe shuffle..."

[Agent Fisher]

She tugged Stryke, getting him to lean a little so she could speak privately to him. "I'm going to go with Gridlock as ordered," she whispered across a private channel. "We'll be at the oil rigs most likely. If it comes up, Hornet has recon feed of where we found Swiftshot ... might be useful."

The warbot nodded to the fembot. "Take care of yourself, Crim, we don't know when 'Cons are going to show up."

[SirNitram]

"Swifty, put it in neutral or you'll be trying to pry your head from your exhaust pipes, 'Bot or 'Con." Overload rumbled suddenly after the snipe at Deathstryke.

[Dark Silver]

"Well, I reckon theres a easy way to figure this out. Don't you think Prime?"

"Agreed, old friend. Teletran, location of Autobot Overhaul," Prime said to the computer.

"Tracking.....Overhaul cannot be located in Autobot Territories."

"Increase scan perimeters to Global acquisition."

'Processing....Overhaul's energy signiture located in Sector 32-D, African continent," the holoimage which formed over the table was a globe, which quickly zoomed in on what was formerly South Africa, the red dot which glowed on the holomap, was quickly seperated into four, as Teletran's scans managed to locate the autobot energy signitures, and identify them, "near Decepticon settlement New Polyhex."

Optimus looked at the four designations on the holomap, then narrowed his optics, looking towards Black Ice.

"Whoever you are," he said slowly, his laser rifle appearing in his hand, as he leveled it at 'Swiftshot' "either come quietly....or we'll blast you into stasis lock..."

[LadyTevar]

The warbot nodded to the fembot. "Take care of yourself, Crim, we don't know when 'Cons are going to show up."

"That's why I need to get the oil rig set up immediately, Stryke," she answered. She watched the sniping going around the table, but her eyes were drawn back to Optimus, calm and collected at the head of the table. "Let me know what happens, ok?" she finished, patting Stryke on his arm.


Then the reactor mass hit the danger mark; or as her organic friends put it, the waste-product was flung wildly. Four energy signatures ... in Africa. Swiftshot was one of the energy signature labeled ....

Crimson wisely decided to get behind Stryke.

[B4UTRUST]

"Like I'm a threat. My weapons were disabled when I went into the CR chambers, same as Deathstrike over there. So I'm not going anywhere."

[Dark Silver]

Gridlock rose from his chair, leveling his own weapons on Swiftshot, as Prime spoke, and the new suspect responded.

"I take him to energon cell" Gridlock said, moving towards Ice.

[Cynical Cat]

"He's a triple changing assassin," said Deathstrike. "I wouldn't take that bet."

[General Havoc]

Hornet stared back and forth at Swiftshot and Optimus, unable to follow what was being discussed, but becoming increasingly aware that this was going from bad to worse.

And then Optimus pulled out a laser rifle.

Hornet barely had time to blink before Wheeljack, whose grasp on the subject at hand far exceeded Hornet's, stood up quickly from the table and picked Hornet up with one arm. Backing away from the table slowly, keeping a close watch on Swiftshot, Wheeljack glanced at Optimus just for a moment.

"With your permission, Prime," said Wheeljack as he backed to the doorway, careful to keep himself between Swiftshot and Hornet. Wheeljack could survive hits from whatever weapons the con might have on him. Hornet plainly could not.

Wheeljack slammed a button on the door and ducked out of the room, sliding it shut behind him. Only then did he turn to look at Hornet, still balanced in one arm.

"Optimus and the others will handle it," said Wheeljack. "You and I have work to do."

And with that, Wheeljack walked quickly down towards the maintenance bay.

[SirNitram]

"Right. Like anyone still alive in this war thinks 'No weapons that you can see' is 'Harmless'." Overload grunted. "Shellshock, put that down. We're inside. I'd rather not be picked up bits of Ironhide all night."

[LadyTevar]

Wheeljack slammed a button on the door and ducked out of the room, sliding it shut behind him. Only then did he turn to look at Hornet, still balanced in one arm. "Optimus and the others will handle it," said Wheeljack. "You and I have work to do."

And with that, Wheeljack walked quickly down towards the maintenance bay.

Before the door could slide shut, Crimson slipped out of the room as well. If it came to a fight, she would only be in the way. "WheelJack? Wait..."

[B4UTRUST]

"One would assume that the CR scanner would be capable of deactivating all of my weapons, whether they're stored in subspace or not. And here I had so much faith in Cybertronian technology."

Ice put his hands up, quite empty.