|
Post by smokedtoast on Oct 12, 2015 19:47:05 GMT -5
"Artemis. Something strange is going on... Im being locked out, we're losing council members that caused real change. Starscream may have finallly snapped, there was an assassination attempt by someone claiming to be... well... him. We may need more help then we have available. We need your kind of help." Marrowulf knew what she was asking of her friend. There was a reason people were left to think the Maximal Council Elder known as Pantera had died. Nothing to pull her back to this planet, nothing let -him- get his hooks back into her friend. And she was running out of favors to ask without causing suspicion in the council. Howlback had already done so much in finding the hidden labs were still active... She'd put herself in a box when she joined the Neo-Autobot council. At first there was no response. Then came the pings, each showing the ship moving closer and closer. It took some doing, but she was able to use her strings to arrange for it to land in safe territory. Deva Corp was still under the protection of the Predacon Council, one of the few groups not falling for the divide and conquer trick. And it was run by an old collegue of both she and her friend. It would have to be enough.
|
|
|
Post by artemisprime on Oct 12, 2015 19:56:14 GMT -5
Hound had brought the Dawning Light in neutral territory, as per the instructions of the Council.
Neutral territory. Primus, they had tried to avoid that situation.
Disembarking the ramp onto the rudimentary landing port -- the smell of burnt technorganic grass overpowered the avgas -- the tall felinoid Maximal stepped onto terra firma for the first time in over ten stellar cycles.
"Well, the air's clean, the gravity's normal, the ground's solid," Hound stated, following suit.
A dark grey streak ran past, into the field, shrieking happily.
"Sparklings escaping their moorings," Hound added. "What could possibly go wrong?"
"Besides the reason we're back here? To clean up a political mess all over again?" Artemis scoffed, stalking after the noisy sparkling. "Or just release the little hellion in the Chamber hall and see how much damage they could cause...."
|
|
|
Post by striker on Oct 12, 2015 20:04:24 GMT -5
Waiting behind a large rock was a transport, and waiting by that transport was a fairly large-built femme who didn't look -completely- technorganically smooth. There was still something 'blocky' about her, despite the smooth derma-steel and organic altmode, that of a triceratops.
She stood by her transport, watching the Dawning Light land, over her shoulder was resting perhaps the largest gun one could carry and still be considered a "sidearm".
Taking out a small light, she flashed it at the cockpit's window shield in a familiar pattern... one Pantera would recognize. It was Wrecker Code, which meant that she, too, was a Wrecker and knew who was aboard the ship.
[A-L-L_C-L-E-A-R] and [W-E-L-C-O-M-E_H-O-M-E]
Putting the light away, she hefted her gun from her shoulder and cocked it... just in case.
|
|
|
Post by artemisprime on Oct 12, 2015 21:30:25 GMT -5
Better be all clear, Artemis brooded, I'm not in the mood to get into a firefight with my hellion in the open.
"Shouldn't we get a welcome party, Art?" Hound demanded. "I need to know if I should give the others the all clear. Or..." The canid Maximal trailed off.
"All clear." She nodded, keeping her optics trailed on the sparkling, now rolling in the grass, but keeping the ridge where the code came through in her peripheral. "Gonna need a hand rounding up this wildling."
"You're not roping me into that," Hound chuckled, venturing away from the ship with a scanning gaze. "Last time, they bit me." His voice dipped. "We're being watched."
"Yep."
Now the sparkling sat up on their haunches, sniffing the air. "Art?" They questioned, sensing the tension.
"Friend or foe?" Hound demanded.
"Friend," the black felinid answered, gesturing with a patting of her hand in the air. Stay down. The sparkling crouched, belly down, till only their rounded ears peaked over the grass blades. "In theory."
"Well then." Raising his voice, Hound announced, "I am Hound, captain of the Dawning Light. With me is Elder Pantera, formally of the Maximal Council. We are here by request and on peaceful business. Come out and identify yourselves."
|
|
|
Post by striker on Oct 12, 2015 21:44:50 GMT -5
"Not a thing you should be announcing so loudly, not lately anyway" The triceratops femme lumbered forward, passive look on her face, weapon at the ready... but not threatening them, more like she was expecting them to attack her.
"Strike. Head of Security at Deva Corps, currently also it's CEO pro-tem." she snorted, not caring for the position. Instead of a red autobot or maximal symbol, the blue tricera-femme sported a blue wreckers signal.
Once a Wrecker, and all that.
"I'd say welcome back but, well..." Strike rolled her eyes, "... not exactly a grand homecoming considering the current political clim." She nodded to the transport, "Ready when you are. I'm your ride"
|
|
|
Post by artemisprime on Oct 13, 2015 16:58:23 GMT -5
Artemis's hackles rose; Hound picked up on his frontliner's mood and, to Strike, demanded in a low, even, calm tone: "We are a ship of engineers, explorers, and noncombatants; is my crew safe if they are to stay on board, or should they come with us?"
"Bedlam!" Artemis snapped, a "do-not-disobey" order. The sparkling's ears flattened against their head, and, with a rustle, crawled through the grass towards the elder. With a flash of Matrix blue, the sparkling transformed into bipedal mode, a stocky mix of felinoid and ursine features, and climbed into the crook of Artemis's arm, watching the saurian Wrecker with a steady, wary gaze mirroring down to the shape and colour of the elder holding them. As for Artemis, a mech legendary for her protectiveness of sparklings in general, she seemed unconcerned with the one pressing their weight against her shoulder, hands hanging from their side, and even ruffled the fur atop the sparkling's head. It would have been the opportune time for a sniper to attempt a shot.
|
|
|
Post by smokedtoast on Oct 13, 2015 21:06:37 GMT -5
Renegade watched the situation from inside of the Dawning Light, a recent addition to the crew. They had found his stranded craft in space and brought him aboard, surprising the young mech with revelation that Elder Pantera was alive. "Artemis." He muttered correctingly to himself for a moment, looking down at the control panel. There was another spark in the vicinity, on board the craft that their 'friend' was trying to beckon them aboard. "Not picking up too many in the vicinity Mama Cat, she's just got a pilot with her it looks like." He paused for a moment, looking over the readings. "Almost a familiar signature, but I can't place it." He tried to isolate it further with the ship's on-board computers. It soon became mute though as the sound of padded feet came from the direction of the craft. A primarily white with blue and red undertones winged wolf bounded into sight, heading over to Strike. It paused in mid-skid, even as servos turned and nannites shifted into the familiar face of an old friend. Kamikaze looked at Pantera in awe and confusion, but mostly awe. "Pantera?..." He asked, surprised and a little fearful. He walked over slowly, cautiously as if she was a ghost. Which was likely what the young pup had thought with her disappearing 'act' when she left. "I thought you were..." He grew silent, surprised by the bundle in her arms as he looked at Bedlam curiously. "It's been a long time." That he was here instead of Deva might set off some alarms. She had been the CEO of Deva Corp last Artemis had heard... and the other with Kamikaze had mentioned Pro-Tem.
|
|
|
Post by striker on Oct 13, 2015 21:24:21 GMT -5
"Easy Kami" Strike put a heavy hand on the young mech's shoulder, eyeing Hound warily, "Rushing a Wrecker and her entourage is a good way to get slagged if they're on high alert."
To Hound, and Pantera, the dino-femme nodded, "Whoever you got on-board, have'm come with. This may be neutral territory but there's always going to be that one aft-cap. It'd be safer, and more comfortable, in the long run."
|
|
|
Post by artemisprime on Oct 14, 2015 5:08:11 GMT -5
Before Artemis could give Renegade an affirmation, Kami's appearance ... while didn't startle her, did unnerve her. Leaving Cybertropolis -- and eventually, Cybertron -- had been a divorce from the political climate she had no interest being a part of any longer. She had laid the persona of Pantera to rest, a façade she had carried after her first Reformat. She had been gone nearly two decades. What have I missed since I've been gone? Other than the stupid featherduster gone and fragged things up. Again.
Shaking her head, she held out a hand, more towards Hound, a quick gesture. Stand down; they're allies.
Bedlam, fur on end, kept steady observation, climbing higher onto the elder's shoulder, still emitting the rattling growl that was definitely not a purr.
"'Gade, give the all clear. We're disembarking," Hound hailed. "Initiate lock down protocols and exit the ship in rank and file. Our hosts are friendly, but the terrain may not be; prepare accordingly."
As Hound gave the orders to the ship, Artemis's optics never left Kami, a fond smile quirking up the corner of her mouth. "It's all right, Strike. Kami and I go a ways back," she assured. "Get over here, kid, we got a lot to catch up. Gotta warn you, though: this one -- " she reached up, scratching the back of the sparkling's neck; Bedlam's growl ebbed as they leaned into the touch, " -- has a Wrecker's spark."
Upon Artemis's change in tone, the sparkling relaxed, fur settling as they leaned forward, sniffing the air with a chuffing sound. "Got any candy?" they demanded, holding their hand -- thick black claws with a strange, circular array in the centre of the palm -- out to the saurian femme.
"Wrecker's tact, too," Artemis smirked.
|
|
|
Post by striker on Oct 14, 2015 14:18:56 GMT -5
"pft" The saurian femme smirked, "Wreckers have tact" she chuckle wryly.
Nodding to Kami and letting him go, she pat the boy on his back, "go on sparkling" she grinned, "It's safe"
Shouldering her rifle she walked up to the little shoulder-gremlin and pulled out a small box from a hidden hip compartment. With a deft shake, she emptied the box of two little energon goodies into the palm of the sparkling's hand, "Just so long as I don't get in trouble I do" Popping a goodie into her own mouth she chewed, showing the little guy it was okay to eat.
|
|
|
Post by artemisprime on Oct 14, 2015 15:54:28 GMT -5
Bedlam did not wait to see if the candies were safe, shoving both pieces in their mouth. "Thanks," they muttered around the treat, sucking at them noisily. Deeming it safe, they slid down from their perch, jumping the last metre and landing on all fours, into the grass, raising their head just enough to see their optics, now watching Kami intently.
"Target locked," Hound chuckled, maintaining his slow, seemingly lazy circle of the area, optics scanning. To Kami, he warned, "watch it, that one tends to attack ankles."
Things obvious: the sparkling was likely the only one on board, they were favoured, and however casual Hound and Artemis appeared about Bedlam's antics, it wasn't out of neglect.
|
|
|
Post by smokedtoast on Oct 14, 2015 18:30:49 GMT -5
Kami chuckled at the warning, watching bedlam carefully as he made his way over. "Ankles arent nearly as bad as what I grew up with sir. My... twin sister had a nasty habit of hitting you in the nannites. We used to think she was put in mama cat's care in part to piss the screamer off." He responded, still looking unsure of how to take this. While his parents were loving, they also kept to themselves near the oracle. Ripp was not born cybertronian and the chance to 'retire' suited him and his conjunx well. Pantera was the one who made sure the spare room in her home was always open if he needed it. That encouraged him to socialize and spend time with his friends on the surface. He grew distracted in his thoughts as he came closer. Hes almost the perfect target for ankle attack. ******** Renegade smiled at the sight of an old friend. He responded to Hounds command. "Understood Hound, its good to be home." He takes a moment to bask in the moment before opening up communications for shipwide broadcast. "Bag and tag your belongings folks. Weve made planet contact and it looks like weve got a transport over to safe territory. Dont forget anything youre going to want, ships going into lockdown once we exit. Dont mind the scruffball outside either." He looked around at his own belongings as he started packing himself.
|
|
|
Post by striker on Oct 14, 2015 19:14:59 GMT -5
There came a roar from the back of the ship... wait, no, it was just a yawn from a bear-former. Lumbering towards the front Trailcutter grumble, yawning again, "Mrh. We there yet?" he cracked his neck and stretched spine, "What's going on?"
He paused, "... who's the huge blue... that's a femme right?" he optic band seemed to widen upon seeing the Saurian-bot * * * * Strike playfully punched Kami's shoulder, "Don't call me sir, I work for a living" he chuckled.
With a nod, she smiled at Pantera, "Despite what's been happening, and you will get a full sit-rep as we head to Deva Corps, it's good to see someone of your standing return." she grinned, "I've got a few names who's aft needs a swift kick"
|
|
|
Post by artemisprime on Oct 14, 2015 19:46:43 GMT -5
"Heh. 'Mamacat'. Gonna have to remember that one," Hound chuckled.
"Quiet, you," Artemis waved a finger at her CO, before grabbing Kami into a tight hug. "Good to see you again, kid. Hope things haven't been too rough since I've been gone."
Bedlam attempted to resume a growl, but the candies still in their mouth made it sound more like the rasp around one's tongue. They were just about to pounce when they heard the roar. Their new adversary forgotten, Bedlam dug into the dirt to run back to the ship, up the ramp, before tackling the large ursine Maximal. Climbing up to his shoulder, they removed one of the unfinished candies from their mouth and offered it, grass and sod included, to the larger mech.
"Look who rose from the dead," Hound jested. "This is Strike, our contact. We're following her lead back to rendezvous point. Strike, this is third in command and director of security (if one can call it that) of the Dawning Light, Trailcutter. If you can't tell by the resemblance, the other half responsible for the creation of our little hellion."
|
|
|
Post by striker on Oct 14, 2015 20:21:16 GMT -5
"Hey hey, if it isn't my lil sparkling" The big bear nuzzled the lil fuzor-sparkling. Chuckling, he shook his head, "Thanks okay, sweetspark, I think that candy was meant for you alone" he did, however, wipe the crud off of it.
Trailcutter growled, but it was harmless, "Can't help it if i'm a deep sleeper." His optics once again took Strike in, tall, blue, VERY gifted.
"Is that a ... model L337 heavy rifle?" the ursine asked
"Yup" Strike said proudly, blushing a little bit
"Hah. I thought those went out of production after The Great War" Trailcutter barked a laugh
"Oh, they did. I liked it too much, so I bought up what I could so I'd always have spare parts" Strike grinned, "Kinda... my signature weapon"
Trailcutter laughed, "Sounds like you 'Tera" he teased, going over and wrapping an arm around the cat-former. Walking over to Strike, still with Bedlam on his shoulder, he offered his (clean) hand, "Not many bots I kno--you're a Wrecker?"
"Once a Wrecker, Always a Wrecker" Strike smiled knowingly, "Come on, let's get you all aboard. I'm starting to get a little paranoid standing out in the open like this"
"Pft, yeah, you and Mamacat will get along fine" Trailcutter chuckled
Strike just blushed again, chuckling
|
|