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Iacon, formerly the Hub Capital, now the home of the Autobot Army and the most populous and well-defended stronghold of that faction.

Following Megatron's ambush on Moon Alpha and the taking of the Tagan Heights by the Decepticons, the Autobots are attempting to regain the momentum in the Cybertronian Civil War. Optimus Prime and Fortress Maximus formulate plans to strike back, while the return of Grimlock has led to the resurrection of the Lightning Strike Coalition. Jazz and Mirage are trying to unravel mysterious advances in Decepticon military technology, while Ultra Magnus prepares his unit to travel to distant Planet AC488 to battle Decepticon infiltration. Other Autobots ready themselves for coming battles and recover from previous ones.

Autobase Prime: Western Gate

Hotspot stood at the western entrance of the mighty fortress known as Autobase Prime. His arms folded over his chest and his left foot tapping against the natural surface of the planet with distinct impatience. The time was almost up for his Protectobot team, he was sort of glad he gave them three breems but originally he did not expect that they would require the entire time allotment. Thus he waited resisting the urge to tap on the communicator to bellow into the mic and put the fear of Primus into his teammates, such an act wouldn't solve anything.

Blades was probably still loading up the parts and scanners required for the mission objective, First Aid was finishing repairs to some one and then getting his tools. Thus both had an excuse for their delay, Streetwise and Groove on the otherhand... all they had to do was grab some energon, reload their clips and be here to move out. Hotspot stopped his foot tapping and looked at his chronometer and then resumed the impatient gestures.

"What can be taking those bots so blasted long? We should have been out of here cycles ago." Hotspot muttered to himself only stopping as he witnessed the over energized member of the Throttlebot team emerge from the gateway.

Iacon City

It had been a long time since Jetfire had been in his quaters in Iacon, but his recent return to Cybertron from Earth had not been one devoid of ideas.

As he moved towards Optimus Prime's Office, Jetfire hoped the idea he had would work. If it did, it could give the Autobots a new turning point in the war.

He reached Optimus Prime's Office and knocked on the door, hoping that Optimus was in.

Western Gate, Autobase Prime

"Good morning, Protectorbot-in-Chief!" Chase said seeing Hotspot, "Where are you off to and is there anything I can do to help you? I'm sure you can find a use for me, more use than I would be here at any rate,"

Hanger Bay

Searchlight arrived at the hanger bay an awaited the rest of the team that would be going on this assignment.

Autobase Prime: Western Gate

Hotspot scratched at the back of his head briefly as he looked down at the scout Throttlebot. He was fairly decently stocked in that department with Groove, should he ever show. Still it was nice to see some one as eager as he to actually want to get back into this war in some capacity. With a fluid motion that would suprise any who did not know the Protectobot, Hotspot skimmed through his scanner, looked through his processed mission peremeters and finally began to come to a final conclusion as to the small bot's request.

"I see no reason why you can come along for the ride Chase. Not going to be all that exciting, a simple observation station establishing... nothing more than that." Hotspot returned his data pad to a chest compartment and looked over at the various paths his team would soon appear from. "I suppose you'll be able to augment Groove's scouting processes. Though I warn you, I don't need another unfocused autobot along for the ride."

Autobase Prime: Ark Berths

Landfill finally emerged from the various abandoned hallways in his hauler form. In his bed was several tons of supplies, energon and ammunition. His initial visit had for the most part driven away many of the transport mechs into hiding, and for the life of him he could not figure out why that was. Perhaps there were more important needs for them to attend to and with his arrival figured he would be able to get the loading of Ark 13 completed faster.

So Landfill did not question their disappearances and instead picked up where they left off. He had already loaded many pieces of heavy equipment, scanners, a CR chamber, and several computer pieces into the ship's massive hold. There were about three to five more trips to be made with the original loading crew, but Landfill managed to get it almost completed with in the first two hauls. His treads finally touched down onto the metal gangplank propelling him into the cargo hold. Once inside he pulled to a side designated to the load and carefully unloaded his bed. With a satisfactory thump he returned to robot form and began moving crates of energon and tools into position.

Autobase Prime Western Gate

Streetwise was late. He knew that his commander would not be happy with him for keeping things up. As he came out he noticed Hotspot looking impatient. The mission was the only thing probably on his mind. He could not blame him. As he came marching out he stood a few steps away from Hotspot, and said "Sorry for the delay sir. It won't happen again." He then turned to Chase and said "Agreeable to see you again Chase." He then left it at that and waited for the rest of the Protectobots to show up.

Autobase Prime Hangerbay

Repugnus took up station near a pile of crates. He wanted action and if he waited around here long enough eventually he would be noticed by someone. Maybe even the Dinobots, but he did not hold his breath. He looked around and saw that the reaking bot from the command center was moving things along for the mission that Magnus and company were going to go on. If no one noticed soon he was going to take a transport on his own and do his thing.

Autobase Prime Command Center

Scoop had left the station he was manning and was standing in front of monitors observing the others get ready for their respected missions. He was making sure everything was running smoothly for them. He then looked at a readout screen and saw that they all would be ready to go on their missions soon. He said outloud to any commander that was in the Command Center "Everything is running smoothly according to reports for the different teams departures." He then went back to his station and brought up the security grid. Never could be to careful.

Autobase Prime- Command Center

Road Rage looked around from her radar console. It was really quiet all of a sudden it seemed.

She waited for orders, maybe a body to guard.
Someone who wanted her wisdom, maybe? At least she hoped her wisdom was worth seeking. Her advisory role is well earned so far.
She took some time to appraise herself of things via a neighboring console to gain information so she could advise a lot better. She couldn't get the most recent information that wasn't logged into the computers, but hopefully it wouldn't be necessary.

She almost felt like she were just sitting on her hands. While a more technical minded person would find this good work, she just can't handle some of the more complex sensors.
It was a bit frusterating.

Autobase Prime: Western Gate

"As usual..." First Aid transformed in front of Chase, Hot Spot and Streetwise, he'd been keeping out of site until the first Protectobot besides Hot Spot arrived. He didn't know why he bothered, it may have been because he didn't want to get stuck with Hot Spot alone, or he didn't want to seem too eager to go out on some routine mission.

"...Every one's late. We should always schedule these things 10 minutes before we actually really have to be here." First Aid then turned toward Hotspot, "Or is that what you already did this time?"

Autobase Prime: Intelligence office

Jazz stood for a moment, still not quite clear one one of the details of the new Decepticon warrior type Mirage told him about, "So this new thing the Decepticons came up with... is it like a type of reverse combiner? What advantage is that over a standard one?" Jazz knew this was probably a technology that would end up being some trouble, but maybe it was the standard trouble they could handle.

Autobase Prime - Ark Berths

Between his datapads and his own internal calculations, it was almost a breem before Perceptor came out of his reverie. He was now fully up to date on all off-world procedures and past missions up to his security clearance, and was ready to put what he had learned into action.

Moving past Bumblebee, Swerve, Searchlight and Windcharger, barely even noticing them now, Perceptor moved around to where Landfill was loading the cargo bay.

"Landfill, I.....Oh, my, what an unusual and unpalatable olfactory sensation....I need to make sure you'll load on the needed set of additional spare parts in case of....ughff....in case we need to perform a reformat as part of the mission. We may need to radically change our body layouts in order to *kaff* to properly fit in with whatever lifeforms we may find there. Here is...a list of what we should have on standby." Perceptor handed a datapad to Landfill, worried that the unidentified smell seemed to be getting stronger, for whatever reason...

(OOC: Sorry for the wait, my internet was stuffing up)

Autobase Prime - Western Gate
"Sorry about the wait, sir" Groove said as walked to Hotspot, who was looking very impatient. Groove didn't hurry anything, he just took it easy. "Is Blades here yet?" he asked Streetwise.

Autobase Prime ~ Ark 13

Windcharger sat waiting as patiently as possible for the briefing to start. He looked about him and saw Bumblebee, Swerve, and Searchlightwaiting as well. They looked a bit antsy as well. He scratched his nose module as his nasal receptors picked up a smell emanating from the Ark cargo bay. He stood up to investigate.

"Does anyone else smell that? That can't be good."

He moved toward the back of the shuttle and opened the bay door. The smell hit him full on like a blast from Megatron's fusion cannon powered by a black hole.

"Aww hexagonal nuts! That's horrible. Landfill, is that you back there!?"

He tried to peer past the heavy equipment that had been loaded there without getting too close to the source of the smell. Satisfied that it was indeed Lanfill the smelly hauler back there, he returned to his seat on the Ark carefully closing the cargo bay to ensure proper seal. As Windcharger looked about for something to stuff in the cracks to keep the smell out he overheard Perceptor mention the possible need to alter their bodies on this new planet they were going to. Swiftly opening the door to the cargo bay, Windcharger revealed his eavesdropping to Perceptor.

"What did you say Perceptor? Something about changing our body layouts? What planet are we going to anyway? Can you make me taller? Uh... I hope I don't get an ugly new alt mode or anything. If we get new bodies can you fix Landfill's smell?"

Now Perceptor had done it. He set Windchargers neural pathways ablaze with endless possibilities. It would take a gargantuan effort to calm him down at point. This was just the type of mission he loved. Going offworld to see new things. Never knowing what to expect next was jsut the kind of atmospehere that Windcharger dealt with well. One quick decision to deal with whatever was thrown at him. The thought made him smile his big goofy grin. His excitment barely contained now caused an involuntary twitch of his digits.

I wonder what we're gonoing to see. It doesn't even matter what our mission is now. That'll be the proton icing on the enrgon cake. I'm getting a new look too. I bet Brawn will be jealous.

Autobase Prime - Ark Berths

"Please, not so many questions Windcharger." Perceptor turned to the new arrival, noting that the smell seemed to be receding. "The Counter-Infiltration Response Protocols are rather complex, and need to be handled carefully, but I'll let you know what I can. The modifications I described will almost certainly apply to Alternative Modes only, with the bare minimum changes to Robot Mode to accomodate them. Also the scanning systems are quite exhaustive so assuming the planet has the appropriate diversity of life-forms and mechanical features, we should have little problem finding an alt mode that requires minimal changes. Sorry, Windcharger, but I doubt you'll grow by any more than a Micross or two. You might even shrink slightly."

Autobase Prime ~ Ark 13

"Sorry Perceptor I'm just a bit excited about going on an off world mission," Windcharger said in complete earnestness. "It's not often an Autobot like me gets to take one of these trips. I bet it's a real important mission, otherwise you and Bumblebee wouldn't be here. Am I right?"

Windcharger looked to Perceptor with inquisitive optics, hoping that the scientist's reaction would betray a vital clue to the nature of the upcoming mission. On one hand he truly believed that the presence of Bumblebee and Perceptor meant something big. On the other, he wasn't sure he was the type of Autobot that would be chosen for an important mission.

At least this should give me a chance to show Prime what I'm made of. Even if it's not that important of a mission, I'm going to do my best to help the team.

Windcharger smiled at the thought of his resolve. Wondering when they would be moving out, he decided to help things along as best as he could.

"Perceptor, I guess everything's looked after in the cargo bay. Do you need a hand with anything?"

Autobase Prime ~ Med Bay

Brawn lay on the bed as Ratchet finished checking him out for a faulty diode relay in his periphery sensory computer. Satisfied that he was in top shape and having recieved updates from Ratchet on all the happenings around the Autobot headquarters, he decided to go down to the hangar bay to say goodbye to his longtime friends Bumblebee and Windcharger. Getting up off the bed and stretching his cervo motors, he thanked Ratchet and with a wave walked out into the corridor and transformed to head to the hangar bay.

Autobase Prime ~ Ark 13

Arriving in the hangar bay, Brawn found that most of the preparations for the away party's mission were complete. Transforming, he went toward the gangplank to the ark and poked his head inside.

"Hey guys! Just came down to wish you luck. I guess you don't need any muscle or I'd be going with you," He said in his usual gruff but joking tone.

Walking inside he headed toward Bumblebee. Shaking hands with his friend he said, "Take good care of yourself little buddy. When you get back, you can tell me all about how much you needed a tough ol' bot like me."

Brawn was fond of Bumblebee. Initially they had a rocky relationship. Brawn had originally thought of the little yellow Autobot as a wimp, but after serving in combat with him for many years he learned to appreciate his courage and tenacity despite his size. Now, Brawn would gladly give his life to save his friend. He hoped that Bumblebee knew this because his macho streak kept him from ever talking about it. Nonetheless, he was sure that they had an understanding of one another.

Releasing Bumblebee's hand, Brawn asked, "Do you guys even know where you're going yet? Ratchet was shy on the details."

Autobase Prime - Armory

As he finished loading the six anti-aircraft missiles into his shoulder-mounted launcher, Sunstreaker regarded Bluestreak with a quizzical optic.

"You were at Tagan, right?" he asked. "What went down over there?" He affected his usual cocky-as-Pit grin as he continued. "Me and Siders would've rode in to save the day, but we were a little busy on Moon Alpha."

I bet things would've been a little different with us there. The golden warrior's thoughts drifted to the strange Decepticon that Sideswipe had battled, and a murderous rage began to bubble in his primary fuel pump. Him and all his look-alikes. I can't wait to get back in the field and have another crack at him. I'll do more than scar up his faceplate the next time...

Realizing that his optics had narrowed and were quite nearly glowing with anger, Sunstreaker made an effort to soften his features somewhat as he awaited Bluestreak's comments on the battle in the Heights.



Autobase Prime - Prime's Ready Room

As he and Fortress Maximus continued to discuss and debate strategy, Optimus Prime and the general found themselves interrupted by the chime of the door control. Someone was attempted to enter the Ready Room. Normally Prime would have ignored the unscheduled visitor.

If I let every Autobot in the faction air his questions, concerns, hopes, and fears to me every time he feels the need, I'd never get anything done...I'd be a great therapist, but a terrible leader. He recalled Sentinel Prime, his immediate predecessor. A great and noble spark...he had a habit of keeping his door open to every Autobot, too. Listening, comforting, sermonizing. But when he opened that door to Megatron... It had been his destruction. A war required a general, not a shepherd or a psychologist.

Still, Jetfire would be admitted; Prime had a task for him. He pressed a button on the large table and the door whooshed open to allow the scientist's entrance.

"Jetifire," Prime said. "It is good to see you fully functional. I have a task that requires your attention at the Great Observatory."



Autobase Prime - Intelligence Office

"Less like a combiner and more like..." Mirage pondered Jazz's questions for a moment. "Armor, of a kind. Do you remember the Apex technology that was tried during the bad old days?"

The spymaster was referring to external armor systems developed during the Golden Age. They had proved somewhat useful against masses of lesser foes such as disgruntled laborers, but much less effective against more powerful Transformers. The technology had long been abandoned, its bulk and size making it too unwieldy and slow to be effective on the battlefield.

"Roadblock was employing something vaguely similar, but it enclosed his robot form completely and had a sort of organic appearance," he continued. "Very unpleasant at which to look. It seemed to have none of the awkwardness of Apex technology, either. It moved quickly and with impressive agility. Even more disturbingly, Roadblock was able to exit the armor and control it remotely while fighting on his own. It appeared quite as powerful a foe as Roadblock himself."

Mirage paused for a moment. "Roadbuster encountered what I believe to be the third component. It was a large, non-transformable assault vehicle, large enough to contain the 'shell' with Roadblock inside it. The vehicle likewise operated remotely from Roadblock, and carried firepower and armor heavy enough to send Roadbuster into stasis lock."

The spy crossed his arms over his chestplate. "Altogther...quite a nasty package."

Autobase Prime - Prime's Ready Room

Jetfire bowed his head to Prime.

"Thank you, Optimus," he said. In all his years following his desertion to the Autobots, Prime had always treated him like any other Autobot and not like a deserter or a traitor.

"The Great Observatory? Truly an interesting destination to visit, but first, I wish to talk to you about something."

He placed a small datapad on Prime's table.

"I've been working on some calculations and theories, I think I may have an idea which could help give us an advantage in reclaiming Tagan and other parts of Cybertron. I think I may have been able to isolate the cyber-impulse that controls our transformation process. I know we impliment such designs crudely into some of equipment for POW's, but only on a crude, small scale. If I could properly refine this, I may be able to create an electrical jamming field that could inhibit any Transformations in an area where this field was in effect."

He looked at Prime, trying to judge any sort of reaction.

"Transformations give both sides a subtle advantage in a combat situation. Flight modes have an advantage over robot forms or certain vehicular modes, tank modes can advantage over car forms and so on, but if we knew before hand that we were heading into an area where we couldn't transform, we could give ourselves an advantage. We could use it to take Tagan back."

He gestured at the datapad.

"It's all here, if you wish to look at it."

Autobase Prime - Corridors

Panzer was bored.

Simply bored out of his processor.

He needed action, excitement, something to go boom or something. He tried again on his comm link, hoping to find even the simplest task.

<<Anybot need some help or somethin'? I can't do much technical stuff, but I'm pretty strong. Reply if you're interested.>>

He was a bot of action, not some leisure afficiando. He then felt surprised he even knew that word.

Autobase Prime - Prime's Ready Room

As Jetfire outlined his plan to somehow fiddle with the Decepticons' ability to transform, Optimus Prime smiled sardonically behind his mouthplate. Sometimes it seems that grand stratagems are like waste output valves - everybody has one. Still, Jetfire's ideas tended to be better than most. He had earned his reputation as a gifted scientist. Nevertheless, Prime had bigger things in mind for Jetfire. He would address the idea, however.

"I have to ask, Jetfire: would you rather face Scorponok in his robot mode, or in his alternate mode? Would he be any less lethal?" Prime shook his head module to accentuate his point. "Personally, I'd prefer not to face him at all. But if I had to, I don't think it would make a great deal of difference to me whether he could transform or not."

There was no denying that perhaps, against lesser Transformers, depriving them use of their alternate modes could provide some benefit. But the more powerful Decepticons would likely be little impacted by such a tactic. Prime was not being brutal or crass in his comment. Rather, an effective leader needed to be able to differentiate between good ideas and useful ideas. The difference was often very fine and difficult to find.

At the same time, good soldiers needed to know how to hear "no" from their commanders without taking it too personally. In a faction made up largely of artisans, artists, doctors, and other civilians...that can be a difficult trait to cultivate. Prime knew that well, but he knew Jetfire well enough to know that the scientist would hardly be crushed by having one of his ideas denied fruition. Primus knows he's brought more than a few to their logical end, to great benefit for our faction.

"I need your optics and logic processor on another task right now," he began to outline the task he had in mind for Jetfire. "Cybertron is running out of energy. Naturally occuring energon is becoming more and more scarce. Even the deposits in the Tagan Heights are dwindling, mere trickles compared to the massive fuel flow that the mines there produced in the past. The last calculations from Perceptor showed that we're approaching the levels we saw just before the Great Shutdown."

It was grim news, yet very nearly common knowledge to most Transformers with a bit of scientific savvy. Prime continued.

"We need to seize the initiative. The Decepticons have probably already taken a step toward their own energy independence by preparing an infiltration mission to AC488, where you were until recently," he said. "We need to find our own source of energy, and quickly. That's why I'm sending you to the Great Observatory. We need to find our own AC488."

He picked up a datapad and passed it to Jetfire. "The telescopes and scanning batteries of the Great Observatory are largely untouched despite all the vorns of war, and should be more than enough to find what we're looking for. The parameters are broad. I have only one requirement other than that the planet has plentiful energy resources: the planet must not have any sentient life form dwelling on it."

Prime shook his head module. "I won't jeopardize another sentient race with our war. It's unpleasant enough to contemplate exploiting another planet for its energy resources, and you can be quite sure I don't intend to use the kind of technologies that will deplete the planet completely, like the mining colonies of the Golden Age did."

He sighed slightly. "But it's come down to the choice of either finding a new source of energy and defeating the Decepticons, or staying put and losing the war. And if we chose the latter...we may as well quit now and let the Decepticons have Cybertron, AC488, and all the other planets that strike their fancy."

Prime's optics shone with resolve. "Do you understand your mission, Jetfire?"

Autobase Prime – Hanger Bay

A bit surprised at first, Bumblebee feigned a smile until he realized who had grasped his hand. Brawn was a great Bot, and more importantly he was a great friend. Smiling broadly Bumblebee gripped Brawn’s hand tighter.

“I’ll do my best. And I’ll definitely tell Prime we could have used you as well.”

The final question asked perplexed the minibot. He had been called to the hanger bay, but no one had briefed them about what the mission entailed. Placing a hand behind his head, the yellow mech fished for an answer.

“Honestly, Brawn, I have no clue of what kind of mission this is. I can only presume that we’ll be briefed on it soon. I hope.

_________________________________________________________

Autobase Prime – Armory

Racing through the narrow corridors, Sideswipe made it to the armory where his twin was entertaining the motor-mouth. Poor Sunny. I have to save Bluestreak before Sunny blows his head off.

Transforming back to his robot form Sideswipe skidded to a stop next to Bluestreak. The red warrior placed an arm around the neck of the gunner and smiled at his golden brother.

“So, are ya gonna answer Sunny’s question or what?”

Autobase Prime- Command Center

Road Rage replied to Panzer's call for something to do. Something she could empathize with. >>Road Rage here. There's monitors that could be manned in the command station to keep an eye out for any Decepticon activity in Iacon.<< She had a feeling that wasn't what he wanted to hear. It wasn't what she wanted to hear, but she does what's necessary. She sugar coats it a little. >>It being in the command room, odds are any news will hit here first, and it'll be good to be on hand, I think.<<
After a thoughtful pause >>I'm sure there's training rooms around, too.<< But it was clear that she didn't think highly of the latter option, herself.

She has faith that she wouldn't be overlooked when the fighting started. It's well known she's a combatant.

Autobase Prime – Armory

Having just armed up, Bluestreak adjusted his two shoulder-mounted rocket launchers. He now felt whole again with his guns back where they belong. A gunner without his guns was like, well, Sunstreaker without his ego!

Speaking of the golden wonder, Sunstreaker wanted to know what went down in the Heights. Bluestreak considered his question for a moment. Usually, he had a lot to say, but he was almost embarrassed to admit that he didn’t really know that much. After all, he was knocked into stasis lock by an explosion early on and his memory circuits were a little rattled.

Still, Bluestreak was about to reply to Sunny’s question when, out-of-nowhere, Sideswipe appeared next to him and placed his arm around the gunner’s neck. The red twin asked him if he would answer his brother’s question.

“I was just about to, Sideswipe,” Bluestreak replied. “Although, there’s not much to tell, I’m afraid. I was knocked into stasis lock early on by an explosion. I think Trailbreaker saved my circuits from permanent deactivation. He was the last bot I remember seeing before my optics went dark. Then I woke up in a CR chamber back in the medbay.” Bluestreak paused a moment, his expression turning more serious, before continuing. “What I do know is that the Decepticons used some kind of new drone technology. I don’t know what they were exactly, but it was tough for me to get a lock on them, and I’m usually a pretty good shot. The Decepticons had a great advantage over us. Otherwise, we would not have lost the Heights.”

Autobase Prime – Command Center

The Femme Commander had been monitoring the channels used by the Autobots when she heard the communiqué between Road Rage and Panzer. Sighing slightly she opened a link to both mechs. Once Bumblebee had left the Command Center there was an empty terminal, and another not being monitored.

>>Panzer. I want you in the Command Center. There are two terminals awaiting a couple of good data processors. Now I know that you are not, by trade, a data processor, but we need every mech performing every duty. So Panzer, report to the Command Center and take a monitor.<<

Elita then turned to Road Rage and addressed him as well. “You too Road Rage.”

Autobase Prime - Ark Berths

"Any mission which takes us off-planet is important, Windcharger, the energon required is quite considerable, and in this time of conservation it represents a grave need for a mission like this." Perceptor then cast his mind back to the last extrapolations he had done on Cybertron's remaining energon resources, and realised, his initial excitement past, that this mission would be a terrific investment in energon, one the planet itself, let alone the Autobots, could ill afford. It seems likely this won't be a simple scientific excursion at all, but something vital to the war as a whole. Perceptor tried not to let his growing concern show.

"I would not consider your abilities inadequate for a task such as this Windcharger, minibots like yourself and Bumblebee are intrinsic parts of a mission like this, as there are so many tasks a larger mechanism simply cannot perform that will be vital. Right now, I think Landfill can handle the cargo loading, but later on there will many important duties for you. And for all of us."

This is becoming more and more worrisome as time progresses. I do hope we get a clearer picture soon, or else my imagination will make me glitch...

Autobase Prime ~ Ark 13

Brawn was surprised that the off-world party had yet to be briefed on their mission. Was Optimus Prime trying to keep it secret, or was there no chance to tell them yet? Either way it was none of Brawn's business and he wasn't the type of Autobot to pry into business unrelated to him. That sounded more like something a brainiac like Perceptor would do.

"Ah well. Who is leading the mission? Brain-bot over there?"

He pointed his thumb toward Perceptor who was conversing with Windcharger. Brawn was concerned that there was a serious lack of muscle with all these minibots going on the mission. Not that he thought they couldn't handle themselves, but if he were there he could at least keep an eye on his friends. All these thoughts he had about the well being of the Autobots he cared about were difficult for him to express. He covered it up by talking tough and keeping conversations relatively short. Rambling on like Bluestreak just wasn't his style.

(OOC ~ Work + Christmas + Board Crash = Bleh, no time for RPG Apologies to everyone)IC

Autobase Prime ~ Ark 13

Striding with purpose into the Hangar, once more adorned with his trademark blue armor, Ultra Magnus wasted no time in making his way to the Ark, and all those present awaiting a mission briefing. Looking round, it seemed that all of the members of the Iacon deployment were present, only the Nova Cronum detachment of The Aerialbots and Broadside had yet to arrive. Noting that he'd already wasted enough time with his trip to the medbay, the City Commander decided to brief those present, and fill in the others en route to AC488.

Stopping atop the boarding ramp, Magnus turned to look at his team "Quite an... eclectic group Prime's assigned to me..." He mused to himself "...At least we should have all the bases covered, whatever awaits us" The City Commander concluded, before addressing those present "OK Autobots, all those assigned under my command, apologies for my lateness, if you would please make your way onboard for the mission briefing, all those not assigned to the mission roster, please vacate the area" Ultra Magnus finished before turning and heading in to the Ark.

---------------------------------
Autobase Prime ~ Command Center

"Mirage! Hey Mirage! I got those Battle ROM's you wanted.." Roadbuster shouted as he entered the Command Center "..Mirage?" "You do know there are better ways to communicate than shouting when you enter a room don't you?" Trailbreaker replied to the Wrecker, moving back to a standing position and approaching the imposing orange 'Bot "..Maybe, but they're not nearly as much fun" Roadbuster replied, clamping a hand down on the black 'Bots shoulder in greeting.

"..Yeah, you're probably right. So anyway, what do you want with our friendly neighbourhood pompousity officer?" Trailbreaker continued "..Oh, he just wanted my battle ROM's from the Tagan mess, something to do with new 'Con drones and Roadblock splitting himself in 3, any idea where he is?" The Wrecker inquired, slowly edging closer to his boredom threshold "He's over in the Intelligence Office having a little alone time with Jazz.." Trailbreaker replied, thumbing in the direction of the room "..If you want, I'll pass these onto him when he's finished, save you waiting around for him?"

Roadbuster just grinned and handed over his battle ROM's "You're an absolute legend 'Breaker, I owe you one.." "..One?! More like 100" The Defensive Strategist joked, taking the ROM's from the outstretched hand of the Wrecker before returning to his seat at his console, allowing Roadbuster to turn and make his way out of the Command Center and head for the Training Facilities, saluting Elita One as he went.