Transformers: Alone and Unafraid

[Cynical Cat]

"Acknowledged," replied Deathstrike. "Moving in to dock." Retro thrusters fired, killing velocity as the Cybertronian ship glided toward the massive structure of steel and plastic. Another tap of the maneuvering thrusters and it docked smoothly. This is a good ship, Deathstrike thought. It is good that I know her like again before I die.

[Lys]

Blastcap disliked space bridge travel. It always felt like she lost two or three weeks of time... somehow. All her internal time keeping devices, the clock cycles in her processing units, her memories, they all indicated that the translation was instantaneous. Yet there was that a nagging feeling in her spark of unkept time having passed by. She could not resist the urge to run diagnostic after diagnostic trying to find the problem, but as always everything was running optimally. Eventually she just gave up and took to observing the military installations in the system.

When the Ringed Planet came in sight, she finally spoke. "I blew up one of those once," she said to none in particular. "Actually more than once, but this system reminds me of one in specific." She closed her purple eyes briefly, while going over fond old memory. "In an entire sector the galaxy they sometimes speak in awed tones of a cataclysmic battle, one of the greatest ever seen. The stubborn and unbreakable resolve of the defenders, and the sheer might of their fortresses; the elan and determination of the attackers, and the awesome fire power they brought with them. It is the stuff legends, a myth almost, a tale so great that many scholars believe it to be an exaggeration of the true events. They don't suspect that the true tale is even grander. I should tell it sometime, if any will hear, the story of the Last Siege of Stalinvast."

Blascap fell silent for a few moments, and her relaxed posture indicated she did not expect any to take her up on the offer just now. There were more pressing matters. As drew closer to the the Ring she moved to a console and activated it to look into the feed from the ship's passive scanners. "I don't think this system has come under serious attack, or that least the ring hasn't. Just from a glance I can see subtle flaws in the arrangement of the point defence and the armour plating. Though I'd have to look at it from the inside to know for sure. Not a major design flaw, just the sort of thing that you don't know is a problem until it becomes one in battle. For instance the..." she trailed off, and if any were looking at the small face in Blastcap's massive frame they would have seen something like a frown. "Oh, that isn't actually... and they... huh. That is quite clever," she said, looking up. "Not quite as clever as they probably think it is, but a neat trick nevertheless. Perhaps learned in a battle on another system. I definitely want to talk to their engineers. I must enlighten them in lessons learned in countless wars and uncountable battles. Their eyes will open in amazement and wonder."

[rhoenix]

Flying in a much larger ship, where he himself was not the pilot or navigator was still somewhat disquieting to Farshot. He kept it to himself, but feeling the ship move and turn, its engines firing at various levels, made him itch to be the one flying.

Despite this, he was well aware of the conversations around him. He glanced at Blastcap after her announcement, and then looked back to the windows, shaking his head. "Sounds like you're working on your sales pitch already."

[frigidmagi]

The ship dock with a shuddering clunk that could felt through the deckplates. The ship was to large to simply park in a hanger and as such had to maneuver to match up with docking tubes and connections. Airlocks opened, barely big enough to accommodate Deathstrike.

[Cynical Cat]

Deathstrike disengaged himself from the command throne and made his way to the airlock. Stooping, the Decepticon warrior began to cross.

[LadyTevar]

Shimmer fell in behind Deathstrike. Unlike the Decepticon flier, she was small enough to walk through without ducking, although she felt it was a bit tight. She was sure the other Cybertronians would have the same feeling.

As she walked, she recalled what intel they had on the leaders of the FWA. While it was not a given that the leaders themselves would be there, Shimmer wanted to have as much info on hand as possible.

[General Havoc]

Cavalier had kept more or less out of sight since his... conversation with Deathstrike. Some of the reasons for that were obvious and some were less so. Partly it was because he did not care to subject himself to more company when every exposure thereto recently had filled him with the inescapable urge to fire tank shells through someone's chassis. Between Deathstrike, Grindstone, and Blastcap, he was uncertain as to the structural integrity of his own temper, and did not want yet another incident, either before or just after they arrived. Even Cavalier wasn't enough of an idiot diplomatically to forget the importance of a first impression, and splattering someone's processor all over the walls just before meeting their new "allies" was not likely to generate the proper impression.

As such, it wasn't until just before they docked with the mining station (or whatever it was), that Cavalier made an appearance. When he did, it was not on the command bridge, a place where he felt nothing good could come of his presence at the present time, but at the airlock. He arrived there, just as Deathstrike and Shimmer were on their way over, Deathstrike needing to stoop in order to cross. Cavalier was roughly Deathstrike's size, and would need to do the same. This, at least, he was used to. Some organic races were larger than Cybertronians, but damn few.

"You gonna need heavy escort in there?" asked Cavalier as neutrally as he could. Like it or not, this was Deathstrike's show, and he would choreograph it however he wanted. Cavalier was well aware that he was not the most subtly-built thing in the galaxy, not with an eight foot sword at his side and plate armor layered all over his frame. Still, organics were nothing new to him, and this would not be his first first-contact. Nor his tenth.

Still, whatever Cavalier might have thought about it, it was up to Deathstrike. He just wished he could think of a way for that to be okay by him.

[Cynical Cat]

"Need?" replied Deathstrike. "No. I do not object to your presence should you desire to be there."

[rhoenix]

Though he wouldn't admit it readily if asked, Farshot's relief was still subtly visible from how quickly he made his way to the airlock once the docking procedure was completed.

He looked somewhat curiously at those there already, but gave Deathstrike, Shimmer, and Cavalier each a nod of respect before turning back to Deathstrike. "Unless you have objections Deathstrike, I would also accompany you."

[Cynical Cat]

"I have none," Deathstrike replied.

[frigidmagi]

The Cybertronians emerged into a large hanger like space, filled with representives and troops of the 4 species. Blue furred Adenuii in halo-combat armor stood alongside Lamia marines, who while shorter then the slender Adenuii made a squat imposing presence in their own armor. A group of Trea were dressed in what appeared to be an arrangement of strips of cloths, while the pale 3 eyed Hamura in jumpsuits fitted for void work stood behind them.

As the bots entered there was a rustling, almost sigh, more of a collective exhaling of breath as the bots emerged, their footsteps echoing loudly with the impact of metal on metal. Some could notice the wavering in the Trea and Adenuii as they swayed but slightly back from the appearance of the Cybertronians. Cavalier's and Deathstirke being the largest and most openly made for war had the greatest impact. The Lamia through refused to give any sign of discomfort, while the Hamura looked towards each other blinking rapidly.

A Trea stepped forward, he was missing an arm and scarred. The Trea were not a furred specis like the Adenuii having light body hair and color patterned skin. This one's skin was heavy marred by scars. He stood upright and unbowed however.

"I am System Commander Father Dai. I welcome you, our new allies and Representative of the League of Free Sapients to Front Command." He said simply.

[Lys]

At the threshold next to the airlock, Blastcap's face plate snapped shut, her chainguns swung forward above her shoulders, and her tail hung menacingly above her head like a scorpion's. She hung in that manner, looking threatening and dangerous, for a couple of seconds. Then her visor snapped open, her guns swung back to rest behind her, and her tail relaxed and swung freely behind her. She wasn't here to play the fearsome mercenary, there were no employers to impress or intimidate. She was here to help these people, and for now that meant reassuring them that this batch of Cybertronians were on their side.

She stooped under the low airlock and went outside, a few steps behind the others. Reflexively, she took note of the positions of her comrades, the honour guard, the delegation, and assumed a rear guard position. There wasn't anything threatening about it, just the mark of an old veteran, of someone who always expected battle.

[Cynical Cat]

"Thank you for the welcome System Commander," replied the Decepticon warrior. "I am Deathstrike, leader of the Expeditionary Force. With me are Farshot, Cavalier, Blastcap, and Shimmer. I can understand that the presence of Cybertronians might make your people uncomfortable, given your situation."

[frigidmagi]

"You are the first we have seen who have not come guns blazing, if you will forgive my bluntness. Many of us have already seen combat against the Empire and those who haven't have lost someone who went. Discomfort however is of no account. We will bare it if it means victory and the liberation of our enslaved worlds and kin, Force Commander Deathstrike. But I ramble. Please join myself and the others, the outer ring of the station is large enough for you to move around I believe, we will remain in it for the purposes of our meeting." The System Commander replied and guestured behind him.

[LadyTevar]

Shimmer said nothing, as this was Commander to Commander, but she took in everything.

The reactions of the Trea was expected, they had been the first and hardest hit. The System Commander himself had survived at least one vicious battle. (Father? is that a ruling title for their people, a religious title, or a translation glitch? Not enough info, research later.) The basic intel had suggested the Trea wanted to take the battle to the GDE immediately, so having one as commander would make talking the FWA into waiting for better ships and supplies difficult.

The Adenuii had also backed up at the sight, so they too had seen a 'Con, or saw the recordings of an attack. As the species with the largest population in the FWA, the Adenuii would in theory have a larger say in political decisions, but Shimmer wasn't going to trust any theory untested. They were also the ones to see the danger the GDE posed, even before their own worlds were hit.

The Lamia were the warriors, and showed a face of discipline when Deathstrike strode in. Again, basic intel was all she had, but it said the Lamia were pack hunters, and threw themselves into battle with a seeming love for it.
Rather like Cavalier, to think of it. Shimmer made a mental note to suggest he be posted to them. Battle lust had uses, after all.

The last species, the Hamura, were the ones that Shimmer was most interested in. Like Cybertronians, the Hamura had lost their homeworld and lived as nomads. Their ships were probably the FWA's main source of space transport and habitats, and also the FWA's leading experts in ship technology. Shimmer was sure if she checked, this ring complex would prove to be built by the Hamura.

It was a pity the inner rings of the complex would be too small for her to explore. She would have to get her information second-hand, but she trusted the Expeditionary Force's bevy of Intel officers would be thorough. Shimmer now just had to find who was in charge of FWA's Intel and see how good they were.

For the moment, however, Shimmer simply followed Deathstrike's lead and kept silent until she asked to speak. Like the crowd with the System Commander, Shimmer was just another functionary for the moment.

[Cynical Cat]

"Thank you System Commander," replied Deathstrike. "I am somewhat concerned about your statement that we are the first you have seen that haven't come guns blazing. Our species is very good at stealth and infiltration missions. Was the statement metaphorical or have you not encountered any infiltrators? Because if you have not, there is a greater than ninety three percent chance that a number of crucial institutions are badly compromised."

[rhoenix]

Farshot was also silent, simply observing everything around him - the patterns in which the various beings moved, getting to know these different peoples that he was going to be allied with, while also listening to the functionaries.

A subprocess had also been initiated to thoroughly map this place using his passive sensors, and another was already creating a database with details about the various species found here, and all details as Farshot learned them.

With all of this, it was not his place to speak with the various dignitaries encountered, though he did nod when introduced. Serving as Deathstrike's escort as he was currently, his role was not diplomacy. Instead, he would observe, and learn.

[LadyTevar]

Oh scrap... Deathstrike would have to bring that fact up bluntly. Shimmer had wanted to speak to their Intel first, see how many intrusions had been detected, and got permission run the most updated versions of anti-virals developed to counter GDE computer hacks. Primus help them if they didn't have AI in the first place; basic computers would be defenseless

Actual physical infiltration would be among the worst-case scenarios. Another would be suborning a native, which would be harder to track down. Shimmer hoped it wouldn't come to that. Still, her full attention was now on the reactions of System Commander Father Dai and his functionaries. It would say much about how badly their Intel needed overhauled.

[frigidmagi]

"Thank you System Commander," replied Deathstrike. "I am somewhat concerned about your statement that we are the first you have seen that haven't come guns blazing. Our species is very good at stealth and infiltration missions. Was the statement metaphorical or have you not encountered any infiltrators? Because if you have not, there is a greater than ninety three percent chance that a number of crucial institutions are badly compromised."

"We have had experience with biological infiltrators, often altered to seem Adenuii. We have started using DNA and biometric security measures to ensure identities. We have yet to see any Cybertronian smaller then 4 meters, are there such individuals?" The System Commander asked.

[Cynical Cat]

"There are," said Deathstrike. "The probability of their deployment approaches unity. We can assist you with detecting and terminating Minicon units, but we must now assume you have been compromised."

[Lys]

"Deathstrike," Blastcap spoke up from the back, her voice grave, "If their critical institutions have been compromised by Minicons infiltrators, then this facility is probably compromised. If this facility is compromised, then the Empire's agents know we're here. If they know we're here, they're bound to know that the Expedition Commander and System Commander are in this room, right now. I don't know how clever these Minicons are, but if I were one of them? This room would be exploding. There won't be a better chance to keep this alliance from happening."

Her visor snapped shut, "I suggest we sweep the surroundings, immediately."

[Cynical Cat]

"You are quite correct Blastcap," replied Deathstrike calmly. "The ring is, however, a very large construct and anticipating the time and place of our arrival would be almost impossible. Panic is unwarranted but it you are quite correct, it is a serious concern. Take whatever measures you deem appropriate. You as well Shimmer. Farshot, deploy smartfog."

[Lys]

"Panic is death, caution is life. I haven't died yet," Blastcap said flatly.

A number of panels opened in her hulking, armoured form, and six small robots came out. Three spider-like drones climbed down her legs and skittered unto the floor. Three hovering drones floated out and zoomed up into the air. "These are semi-autonomous extensions of myself," she said out loud so the organics could clearly hear. "They can go where I cannot, and are fully equipped for explosive ordnance detection and disposal. Father Dai, if you would get together six sweeper teams to assist them, my little minions will clear the area around our position. A plan of this sector of the Ring would also be helpful."

[LadyTevar]

"Understood, Deathstrike," Shimmer replied, activating her full sensors for a complete preliminary sweep, even as she squirted a message back to the ship to alert the agents she had been working with. She started by scanning the armoured men in the room with the small detector she took from her upper arm. How better to infiltrate than by seeming like just another tool on a belt?

"System Commander Father Dai, as Deatahstrike has said, there are units we call Minicons, some of which match the Lamia in size and ferocity." The statement was meant as the warning it sounded. If the briefings Shimmer had from Breakout were correct, it was a fair comparison.

"They are often used for infiltration and other covert activities," Shimmer added, "but they are never considered full Decepticons. Too tiny and weak, even by their own fraction's views." Also, sometimes too dumb not to protest over the insults she'd just thrown, but Shimmer knew not all of them would. Only if they got lucky would a Minicon pop up that easily.

[Cynical Cat]

"The last is incorrect," replied Deathstrike. "Megatron considered Laserbeak one of his most valuable warriors and with good reason."