Transformers: Steel Reign

[Charon]

Shellshock nodded to Breakout and took the most dangerous position of the circle where any attacks were most likely to come from, and also that gave him the widest angle to fire from.

"I don't think we're gonna get hit Overload, but it's always good to be careful." Shellshock shifted into his alt-form, accessing his more advanced sensor suite and started watching for incoming.

[rhoenix]

"Brawn, Sideswipe, my squad has this covered, I would appreciate it if you check the perimeter sensors and punched out a patrol to ensure there is no one else coming along to pay us a visit. Which I believe would be wise, even if this is a defection, Thundercracker may have pursuers. Shellshock, Crimson, Blindside 360 formation 100 meters out with Deathstrike at the center, thank you." I say loudly, I need to get everyone busy and not reacting emotionally.

Blindside nodded once, and seemingly melted into his wolf form, racing to his appointed position, using Deathstrike as the center of the radius. He leapt to take the high ground of the designated circle, all his strong senses alert and looking all around him as best he could. Once he was in position and felt reasonably sure the area was clear of intruders, he sent a tight-beam message to Breakout, his voice in wolf form having a strong growling undertone. "Blindside in position. Sweeping for hostile signals now."

[Dark Silver]

Sideswipe looked at Breakout, and walked right into the much younger Autobot's face. They measured nearly the same height, they were optic to optics, and the rage in Sideswipe's optics were barely restrained. It took Brawn getting between the two, fore Sideswipe transformered and peeled off, throwing dust and rock against Deathstrike and the stasis locked Thundercracker.

"He'll calm down Breakout," Brawn said, despite the gruff Master Sargent like exterior, he really was a "old softie" as the humans said, "Better get 'Cracker into the repair bay, he doesn't look shot up, but he will need a energizer recharge."

Brawn holstered his energy pistol, transforming into his 4x4 mode, and rolled off, in much less of a huff then Sideswipe - already calling for his own squad to roll out for a perimeter search - after all, even TELETRAN-One could only do so much.

[General Havoc]

Hornet slowly, and reluctantly, peeked his head out of the little hollow in the top of the tree he had hidden himself in, paying no mind to the squirrel seating imperturbably atop his head. Deathstrike had given him orders to fly air cover. Apparently another Decepticon had come in. Thundercracker!

Hornet knew Thundercracker mostly by reputation and a glimpse or two in the occasional scrap. He had never had to fight Thundercracker directly, for which he was intimately thankful, but now...

He leaped from the tree and transformed in mid-air, blasting off into the sky as fast as his afterburners could take him, fleeing away from Slipstream with all the speed he could muster, flying in full broad daylight view and lighting up every sensor within fifty miles, intentionally, for Slipstream couldn't well shoot him down in public.

... could he?

[frigidmagi]

"Hornet come here please." I ask as gently as I can.

[General Havoc]

Hornet slowly descended and landed nearby, creeping up to the larger Autobot with trepidation, still eyeing Slipstream. "Y...y...yessir?" he asked nervously.

[frigidmagi]

"Are you alright and functional?" I ask. Best to ease into it.

[General Havoc]

Hornet was still furtively glancing around, as though expecting to be shot. "I'm... I'm okay..." he said. "Is it... is it true that Thundercracker just showed up?"

[frigidmagi]

"Yes it is, but he is powered down and can't hurt anyone right now. Is Slipstream bothering you? Did he say or do anything?" I ask.

[General Havoc]

Slipstream was flying right above them! What did Breakout think Hornet could say in his presence?

"N.. n... no!" said Hornet, now actually shaking with fear, and manuvering himself to put Breakout between him and Slipstream. "N... n... not... nothing... nothing happ.. happened..." he said. His optics were filled with tears and his wings trembled enough to be visible, but he shook his head and pretended that everything was all right.

For what would Slipstream do if he didn't?!

[frigidmagi]

"Okay, it's okay, no one is going to hurt you. Why don't you go inside for now, I would like you to practice your traget shooting if you feel up to it and we'll talk about this later. I'm afraid I have to cancel the sky exercise for now." I say patting Hornet on the shoulder trying to project comfort... Pit Damn it Prime I am not skilled in handling children organic or not! He'll talk to Crimson, I'll use her.

A bit of raw rage spikes through my processor as Hornet leaves. What damn fool idea was running through Slipstream empty excuse for a over shiny head? Oh his excuse has better be soo damn good that it looked Primus blessed!

"Okay squad, fall back to the Ark. Shellshock, Crimson and Overload met Deathstrike and myself at the medical bay. Slipstream if I could have a moment of your time." I send out over the radio.

[General Havoc]

"O... okay..." said Hornet nervously, and he tried to smile up at Breakout, and nearly succeeded, before running back into the Ark as quickly as he could, for fear of remaining within Slipstream's line of fire. He took off as quickly as he could into the base, looking for either Wheeljack or Crimson, tears streaming from his optics as he ran.

[Cynical Cat]

Deathstrike headed inside the Ark, walking through its corridors to the CR chambers. The door of the closest one opened with a hiss. He programmed it to neutralize all weapon and flight systems before sealing Thundercracker inside.

[B4UTRUST]

Slipstream had been prepping for another strafing run when another object passed nearby. The sonic blast went off like a bomb, the shockwave knocking Slipstream's systems for a loop, quite literally. He began to spin on multiple axises out of control until his gyrostabilizers came back online.

Scanners stretching out to see just what in the Pits that had been he was shocked to find a 'con signature broadcasting for a second before it had gone offline. He knew it couldn't have been Hornet that did that. A few seconds later Deathstrike called for the endex. He sent a silent acknowledgement to Deathstrike as he started to inbound towards him.

As he neared the group he saw Autobots rushing out to find out what the slag had set off the alarms. That was when Deathstrike sent orders for the patrol. He almost sent another acknowledgement signal but stopped himself when the admonishment came. The thoughts that went through Slipstream's mind were about as kind and favorable as a pissed off human sailor's normal vocabulary was. Which is to say it was both colorful and not at all flattering of Deathstrike, his series off the line, the factory he had been issued from or the general typing of his factory mold.

A month in a CR chamber? That would throw off any planned engagement that required aerial coverage within the squadron, something he doubted that Breakout and Prime both would like. Which almost made it worth it to see if Deathstrike would carry through with it. He was a con, or at least a former one. He probably would. Or at least put enough damage to Slipstream to make it a neccesity instead of a punishment. Still...

And finally Breakout chimed in. He had been waiting for that one. A moment of his time after dismissing witnesses. It didn't take a petrorabbit to figure out what Breakout wanted a moment of his time for. E-credits to energon it concerned the exercise and his methodolgy. And he doubted it would be a discussion over energon and solid fuels.

Circling down to burn off speed he transformed and landed a short distance away from Breakdown.

[frigidmagi]

"Ah there you are Slipstream. I wondering if you could explain something to me. Could you explain just why a fellow member of your squad, a smaller and somewhat weaker member, quakes with fright at the mention of your name?" I ask.

[SirNitram]

"Acknowledged. RTB, heading for med." Overload reported, ancient habits of acknowledging orders starting to rear their heads. The hauler began to turn, rolling back towards the Ark. The trailer disconnected and vanished into the subspace pocket, as the smaller 'bot unfolded upwards and waited for Shellshock, before walking to the medical bay. Now, what would he be wanted there for?

[Charon]

Shellshock rolled after his brother, keeping up with him fairly easily as they followed after Deathstrike. When he went into the CR chamber Shellshock transformed back into his robot form and stepped in. Walking up to the chamber that Thundercracker was in he looked over the Decepticon. He didn't look at Deathstrike but it was clear that he was talking to him.

"So he just stormed in at top speed and then collapsed in front of you after telling you he wanted to defect?"

[Cynical Cat]

"No, he didn't get that many words out before stasis lock," said Deathstrike. "Thundercracker always had doubts, although he isn't or wasn't Autobot material. But he was someone who would have taken a compromise peace if he could get it. So its not completely out of character. But to do so now when the Decepticons have the upper hand . . ." Deathstrike shook his head. "It's Prime's call. But it could be authentic. He isn't Starscream."

[SirNitram]

"He's not a bad 'bot, considering." Overload conceded. "He did his job. I remember him down in the gladiatorial pits, way back." The hauler shrugged slowly. "I wish I knew why I was ordered down here. I haven't seen ol' Thunder since those days, truth be told. I was always off on some mission elsewhere."

[Cynical Cat]

"He was a good comrade in arms," said Deathstrike. "I could always rely on him to cover my attack runs. And then there was that time when Skywarp was hit bad and Trauma decided to ignore my orders."

[Charon]

Shellshock looked back at the tank and nodded as Deathstrike spoke. "I remember him back then. He had some doubts back then, but what could be happening out there that would spook him enough to try to change sides now?"

[SirNitram]

"The war." Overload said simply. "How many worlds did we ruin getting here? Now this one too. And Shockwave's MIA. And Deathstrike is here, not there." A shrug. "Only way to know is to ask. Though I'll be honest, I'm not sure why I'm here. You two know him better. He was just a face in the mine and a foe in the pit to me."

[Cynical Cat]

"I don't know. The Decepticon position is so strong now," said Deathstrike. "But we need him fixed up before we can get an answer."

[Agent Fisher]

Stryke strode down the hall, not really paying attention to where he was going. Next thing he knew, a crying Hornet was running by him. The taller bot stopped.

"Hey, Hornet, are you alright?" The green warbot asked. Sure, Crimson usually dealt with the small bot, but she wasn't around, and would be disappointed with him if he didn't do something.

[General Havoc]

Hornet skidded to a halt as Stryke nearly ran into him (an occupational hazard for him). His tears had been stemmed, but only barely. He hesitated for a few moments like a deer in headlights, before blinking up and down the hallway to see if anything else was coming.

"I'm... I'm okay..." he said, his voice betraying the fact that he really was not.