Transformers: Steel Reign

[Cynical Cat]

"Identity and fate of the Decepticon?" Deathstrike asks. "Stopped" is such a vague term in these situations.

[frigidmagi]

"ID unknown, the enemy unit as appeared to escape. I have put the squad on alert. Until you or I are back with them, Shellshock is in acting command. I have ordered them to the medbay to guard our fallen and Thundercracker." I reply.

[Cynical Cat]

"Received and understood," said Deathstrike. "A Decepticon deployed this far into Autobot territory is likely to be a stealth model with a specific mission. It is likely that if he eludes detection he will return to the area as quickly as possible to resume his mission. I am currently with Thundercracker's CR capsule and remaining in place to defend it."

[Cynical Cat]

"I will report to Prime as soon as I am relieved," said Deathstrike.

[Charon]

Shellshock got back to the medbay Thundercracker was in and laid the tools he'd picked up from the armory. "Hmmm, that isn't enough to hold off whatever we're going to be fighting..."

When Breakout's order came over the lines Shellshock only nodded and turned his comm. unit on. "Roger that Breakout. I think it's pretty clear that whoever this Decepticon is, they're after Thundercracker. So if you can get Prime to send a few guards down here that would help us out some."

Shellshock quickly moved to another comm. channel as he grabbed an electro spanner and began quickly working on the rifle he'd grabbed. "Crimson, what is your position?"

As Shellshock waited on the responses he began to set up the gun on a stand facing towards the door, then moved away after setting it to fire at his whim. It wouldn't be accurate or devestating, but it would do what it was meant to do. Shellshock looked at the grenades then looked at Overload. "I don't suppose you know how to set them up to go off in response to pressure do you old friend?"

[frigidmagi]

"Understood." I say to Deathstrike.

"Shellshock, I need a relief for Deathstrike. He is with Thundercracker. Expedite please." I say.

[Cynical Cat]

"Shellshock is back," reported Deathstrike as he began walking. "Reporting to Prime as ordered."

[frigidmagi]

"Good. I shall see you there. Breakout out."

[SirNitram]

"Not rigged a pressure-mine in thousands of years, but the datatracks still work." Overload took the grenades, lifting them to his shoulders. The head popped up and transformed, performing the delicate work with smaller hands. "Were it not for the damage the walls would take, I'd say we should go Breachload if someone gets into the base."

[LadyTevar]

"This is Crimson. Stryke's badly damaged ... Blindside's ... gone." The Fembot's voice sounded a little strained. "I've found Hornet. Soon as he stops playing around and dries off we'll join you, Shellshock."

[Charon]

Shellshock looked at Overload. "If? I'd bet you an energon cube that if they aren't already in they will be soon."

When Crimson's report came in Shellshock paused for only a second as he began revising his plans. "Negative Crimson, Hornet will only join the casualty list if he's here when we make contact, and we need someone to keep an eye on Hornet. Stay with Hornet and keep watch over Stryke. Come here only if you can make certain Hornet will not follow."

Shellshock looked back at Overload. "Besides, if whatever this is took out Blindside, Breachload is too slow."

[SirNitram]

"No bet. They got this far undetected; guess our loners weren't expected." Overload finished the last grenade, gingerly handing them back. "Just be careful, brother, and let me take the hits when they come. You blast the slaggin' Empty in the core."

[LadyTevar]

"Understood, ShellShock. Probably not much I could do if the Decepticon makes it to Thundercracker." Although she'd like to shove two or three of her grenades up the tailpipe of the one that had hurt Stryke, someone who could take out him and Blindside that quickly would go through her like Sixshot through Hornet.

"I'll keep a channel open... call if you need anything."

[General Havoc]

Hornet stepped back out of the autodriers, moving a little tentatively, either because of the tickling, or because of what had just happened to his friends (or both). No longer wet, but still in unpainted metal, he walked over to Crimson tentatively, his optics full of tears of worry and fear and many other things, and then without so much as another word, he gently gave Crimson another one of his hugs, but this time softer and sadder, a gentle squeeze of sympathy (or seeking it perhaps) rather than his usual half-hug, half-tackle.

"Are they gonna be okay?" he asked quietly.

[LadyTevar]

Somehow, a hug was just what Crimson needed right now, and she returned it gratefully. "Ratchet's going to put them back together," she repeated, clinging to that thought even as she clung to Hornet at the moment. He'd be fine... he'll be fine! she told herself, trying to get the picture of Stryke's pitted, blasted torso out of her mind.

[General Havoc]

Crimson was shuddering, shivering even, which surprised Hornet as he hadn't thought anyone else could do that. He didn't mean physically, he meant in general. He was long-accustomed to thinking of all the other Autobots as being light years beyond him, they were invincible, unshakable warriors of courage and skill to him, all of them, Crimson included. Hornet leaked a tear or two from his optics, trying to tell himself that it would all be all right, much, though he didn't know it, like Crimsn was attempting to do.

"Ratchet can fix anyone... can't he?"

[LadyTevar]

That got a strained chuckle out of the Fembot. "Yeah, Hornet... Ratchet can fix anyone." She needed to believe it as much as he did. "I guess we should do as Shellshock ordered, right?"

[General Havoc]

Hornet nodded, but did not release Crimson. It wasn't that he wanted to do as Shellshock had said, or wanted to do otherwise, he just wanted everyone to be okay.

"I... guess so," he said cautiously. "Where do we have to go?"

[LadyTevar]

Shellshock had said 'out of the way', and suggested looking in on Stryke. Crimson wasn't sure that was a good idea, for either of them. "WheelJack's Lab. We'll see if we can get in, or at least find a way to get some base paint on you before you hurt yourself again."

[General Havoc]

Hornet nodded slowly, before hesitating and blinking for a second as Crimson mentioned putting some new base paint on him. He wasn't sure what she was talking about, until he glanced down at himself, and saw that the pressure washers, designed for bots MUCH larger than he was, had stripped not only the dirt and grime off, but also every speck of his paint, leaving him in the gunmetal-grey of unpainted polyluminum. His optics popped open wide as he realized it, and he blinked back up at Crimson, unable to speak. Had he been able to, he would have blushed bright red, but fortunately, his coloration was at present not alterable.

"What... I... what... happened?" he asked, perplexed, embarrassed, and glancing around for something to hide behind.

[LadyTevar]

Crimson had to laugh at the look on Hornet's face. "The pressure washers happened, you silly bot. I left you in here too long, so I guess it's my fault." She gave him a push towards the exit. "No one's going to notice, they're all on alert, looking for the 'Con. See if you can get WheelJack to answer the radio and let you into the lab."

[General Havoc]

Hornet looked completely unconvinced at Crimson's assertion that nobody would notice, and as she pushed him out the door, he stopped in the doorway and looked up and down to see if anyone was coming. When finally he emerged, he was moving as quietly as he could, and hung very close to Crimson so as to dart behind her if anyone else showed up.

"Wheeljack's not answering," he said after a while, before rubbing the side of his head. "I think my radio got messed up by the soap..." he said.

"Can't you get into his office some other way?" He didn't relish the idea of being stuck outside like this.

[LadyTevar]

Crimson sighed, and tried to get Wheeljack herself. "Wheeljack, this is Crimson. Hornet and I need into your lab ... I think you can guess why."

As she waited for WheelJack to reply, she gave Hornet a critical look. "You live there, I don't, Hornet. Do you know another way in?"

[General Havoc]

Hornet scuffed his foot against the floor. "Well..." he said, "um... Wheeljack did give me a code to override the door locks. But he said I was only supposed to use it in a super-emergency, or else he'd get mad."

He looked up and down the hall and quietly whispered. "Do you think I oughta?"

[LadyTevar]

"Well..." Crimson had to think an astrosecond before making her decision. "Do you think he'd be as mad knowing I'm there with you? Because I think he may have given you that warning because sometimes he is afraid something he's working on might get damaged if you surprise him." It was a logical conclusion, considering Hornet's boundless curiousity.