Transformers: World War II

[Agent Fisher]

MisFire smiled down at Hornet. "It's fine, Hornet, you can go with her if you want." She said, then looked to Overload and Deathstrike.

"Well, what do you need me to do?" She asked, glancing around the base.

[General Havoc]

Hornet blinked a couple of times in seeming confusion. "Me?" he asked, more puzzled than anything. Even leaving his origins aside, one of the few things that the Autobots back in the States had found out about Hornet was that it was highly ill-advised to let him near any equipment more fragile than he was. It wasn't suspicion, it was lengthy experience. Hornet wasn't clumsy so much as accident-prone.

Still, Stephanie seemed to be entirely genuine (not that he could tell the difference, especially where humans were concerned), and Misfire, whom (for better or worse) he regarded as trustworthy, was saying it was all right. He glanced at Overload for a second. Overload at least claimed that he didn't care who built Hornet as long as he was here to help, which was certainly all that Hornet had ever asked for. Slowly, a cautious smile spread back over his face.

"Um... sure!" he chirped, all smiles once more, though the windshield wiper fluid smeared down his sides and into the dirt was still damp. He gave Misfire one more tight squeeze, then hopped over to Stephanie before hesitating and glancing around.

"What er... what should I do?"

[Charon]

The Jeep eventually caught up to Pathfinder and Hunter called out. "Hey Pathfinder! I want to have a chat with you. Pull over."

[LadyTevar]

The tank seemed to sigh without a word, then pulled off the road, just outside the port base where they were unloading the cargo. He spoke one last taunt over the Autobot-only comm line. "I know you're there, BreakOut. You're too late, Overload kicked Blitzwing's tailpipe for you already!"

With that, Pathfinder's turrent turned towards the Jeep and Hunter, as if 'looking' in that direction. "You got a game for tonight, Hunter?" The Joes were used to the gun-turrent looking their way by now, although the first few times Pathfinder had 'answered' by swinging a loaded cannon their way had been spooky.

[Charon]

Hunter hopped out of the Jeep and walked straight towards the small tank.

"Let's get one thing straight, and let's get one thing straight right now. If you ever talk like that to any of the men, bot or not, on this base again, I will personally load you up with dynamite and detonate it. This is a war. We don't have time for your bullshit and sabotaging of morale. You're a soldier, you follow orders and you keep your opinions to yourself." Hunter was staring, un-intimidated, at the turret.

"I trust we won't have to have this discussion again."

[LadyTevar]

"Yes sir, no sir, anything you say sir."

It would have sounded better if Pathfinder's voice hadn't been so insolent, or if the cannon hadn't done an impression of rolling eyes. "Just remember this, Hunter -- That thing isn't an Autobot. It claims not to be a Decepticon, and I'll accept Deathstrike's word there. But whatever that little imposter is, it's here for a reason."

The gun turrent turned away from Hunter. "I'll do my job, and I'll keep my mouth shut around your Soldiers to protect their morale," the sarcasm was nearly visible.

Pathfinder's treads started to move the small tank forward, towards the road again. "Now I've got a friend to tease, so I'll just go be a good little fetch-and-carry-bot." The tanks path would take him well clear of Hunter and the Jeep. "Just remember the best time to try placing demolitions is when I'm shut down for maintenance. Trying it while I'm awake would be a bad idea." That little advice was surprisingly cheerful.

[Charon]

It was very clear that if Hunter had had a MAW, he'd have shoved it down the turret of the insolent Autobrat.

"You know. For a machine that's been supposedly at war for thousands of years you are the worst soldier I have ever seen. You think I believe half of the bullshit you spew on a daily basis? No. But I keep my damn mouth shut and I give you the benefit of the doubt because if I don't we're all going to die here. You think half the guys here like working with 30 foot tall machines? Fuck no. Those first few missions we were half sure you were gonna turn on us and kill us in a heartbeat. Hell, some of the guys still aren't sure that you're gonna turn on us some day. So don't you dare go around proclaiming that you're above suspicion but some other bots are. You may constantly insult bots like Deathstrike for being a former Decepticon, but at least he covers our backs and we know damn well that he'll die fighting with us. He isn't some fucking glory hound with delusions of grandeur!"

The last bit was shouted at the slowly retreating Pathfinder and Hunter took a few deep breaths, looking over at the driver of the Jeep, who just nodded at him. Hunter sighed and got back in the Jeep.

[LadyTevar]

The tank stopped rolling, although the cannon didn't rotate this time. "Whatever made you think we were soldiers, Hunter," Pathfinder answered quietly. "I wasn't. Very few Autobots were. Even Prime was just a minor data-clerk working for the Senate." At least, that was the story that Pathfinder had heard from Overload, who was old enough to have known.

"That's because the Decepticons -were- our soldiers, our Military Bots, our Police Bots." Bitterness touched Pathfinder's voice. "So, no, I'm not a soldier, Hunter. But I'm not going to turn on my allies either."

[General Havoc]

"Well if Pathfinder's the worst soldier you've ever seen, then I guess I need to work at it some more. I won't countenance two arrogant slag-heaped sonsofbitches walkin' around this place. Lord knows that this war can't handle another one of me."

Cavalier was approaching at a slow roll, and oddly enough, his voice sounded calm and pleased. There was a nasty-looking dent hammered into his turret that had not been there before, but he seemed to take no notice of it.

"If you're lookin' for glory hounds with delusions of grandeur, Hunter," he said as he rolled up alongside the jeep, "then it's best you point that piece in the proper direction, wouldn't you say?"

"That bastard back there has done things you wouldn't believe if I told you. Pits, I wouldn't believe 'em if I hadn't seen some of them done. And he'll tell you bout 'em himself if you ever go ask him. He's proud of them. And you all might think you've got him leashed now, but... truth is that there's no leash ever was built that can muffle that one."

"Pits, you can think whatever you want about me, or about Pathfinder there. You ain't wrong about it. I'm a primadonna and a blowhard, I'll admit that any day. Never was much of one for discipline and all that. Just pointin' me at the other guy and gettin' out of the way is usually enough for me. Anything past that's above my pay grade. As to him," he gestured with his main barrel at Pathfinder, "soldier or not he's been at this a lot longer'n you'd believe, and he doesn't even talk half as much hot air as I do, so I'd say that makes him a stone professional."

He chuckled a metallic chuckle before sobering up slightly.

"But," said Cavalier, "We both know which side we're on. And it ain't the side that's done what Deathstrike does. I know from where you're sittin' there's nothing to choose between Autobots and Decepticons. We're all just big hulking war machines, and one can kill you just as quick as the other. But one of these days, you all are gonna learn that there is a difference, and it ain't a small one."

His turret elevated slightly. "I just hope we can knock the 'cons off of this planet before they get a chance to show you all what that difference is."

[Charon]

Hunter snorted. "Like that's a fucking excuse. I worked as a damn store clerk before I joined the forces. They turned me into a soldier in 6 months. If you want to survive this war like some of us are expecting to, you'd better shape up and start becoming a soldier."

When Cavalier came in, Hunter groaned. It wasn't bad enough he'd had to deal with Pathfinder, now the reckless insubordinate Cavalier had shown up. "What, you think the bad guys have hold over all the bad shit that gets done? How many people did you kill in that first battle we had here Cavalier? How many more have you killed since then? Yeah they were soldiers, but you think they always will be?"

"Deathstrike has done bad shit but at least I know he isn't gonna go off on some damn fool mission to show off how badass he is and get me and my buddies killed along with himself. I'm not questioning your loyalty to your cause, I'm making sure that you aren't gonna do something stupid and get all of us killed."

[LadyTevar]

"Then maybe you humans have something over us, if you can so easily change your programming," Pathfinder stated simply. "Nice dent, Cavalier. Overload or Deathstrike?"

[General Havoc]

Cavalier laughed. "Deathstrike," he said. "Turned my damn fool back on him. He gets that one free."

He turned his turret back towards Hunter. "One hundred and seven, plus or minus fourteen," he said. "That's how many Germans I killed in that first fight. And thirty-eight since then plus or minus six. And there's more to come. I don't know if I'm gonna take civilians out too or not. I know that if I do, Optimus Prime'll nail my metal tailpipe to the wall, and he'll be right to. I know that if I do it'll be by mistake, because I screwed something up or did the wrong thing at the wrong time. I know that if I do it'll be something I get to live with for the rest of time."

"If you're actually gonna sit there and tell me that's the same thing as burning a city of ten million sentient beings because it was in your way, or because you felt like it... then son, you'd best go back to shopkeeping, because you're in the wrong line of work. I've saved through my actions the lives of more civilians than you will ever meet in your life if you live to be three hundred and twelve, and probably nearly as many other soldiers. I cut the legs out from under Onslaught's little attack and managed to get his personal attention doing so in the middle of the fight. He comes after us again, I'm gonna do it again. You don't like the way I do what I do? That's fine. Primus knows you ain't the only one. But don't tell me who I'm gonna get killed son, because I've been doin' this a lot longer than you."

Cavalier laughed. "Besides, if I get you killed, just who am I supposed to brag to?" he said. "I've got a thousand ways to show off how... er... what's that term? How 'Badass' I am? And none of 'em involve killing all the witnesses."

[LadyTevar]

"Shut up Cavalier," Pathfinder said quietly. "Brag another time."

At this moment, Pathfinder didn't want to think of how many humans he killed, because it made him think of the humans he'd landed on after Brawl's sonic attack. Yes, those humans were already dead from Brawl's attack as well, yet Pathfinder still felt ... unclean ... after picking sentient flesh out of his actuators. The shudder at that memory made his cannon wobble for a moment.

"Cybertronians can survive a lot of damage -- I've survived being half-slagged by Deathstrike. But organics ... humans ... I don't like fighting your people, Hunter. I'll do it, but I don't like it. You're all too fragile."

Which might explain why Pathfinder never shifted forms when there were no Decepticons on the field, and why he targeted the armored vehicles, not the infantry. "If the Decepticons had not made this their fight, we'd have stayed in the Ark and not aided any side."

[frigidmagi]

Did someone hear that Blitzwing was in town and came to play?

The radio slashes through the silence of the cargo hold. Pathfinder. For a recon bot he is deeply noisy. Herds of large herbivores are quieter at times. Still he is good at his job if someone makes him focus. Runthrough could do it. Primus, I miss my headhunters...

I consider not answering. It would drive Pathfinder wild to suffer the silent treatment for a few nanoseconds. I chuckle at the idea, I once nearly drove him mad by refusing to speak to him for several lunar cycles.

"I know you're there, BreakOut. You're too late, Overload kicked Blitzwing's tailpipe for you already!"

That changes my mind... Blitzwing. I know Overload, we never served together for very long but I respect him deeply. He'll make a good XO.
Still, it tweaks me that Overload has had to clean up what is rightfully my mess. I reply.

"Hello Pathfinder. Is this your idea of sneakiness? Have my two fliers already arrived?"

[Cynical Cat]

"Why don't you stay with me and talk," Stephanie said to Hornet. "Give me your opinion on stuff. I have a lot to learn about Cybertronians. Deathstrike will do any muscle work. He is the big 'bot, after all."

[LadyTevar]

"Hello Pathfinder. Is this your idea of sneakiness? Have my two fliers already arrived?"

The nicest thing about being a robot? You can have two totally separate conversations at the same time, without the other overhearing. Still, there was something more ... subdued ... about Pathfinder's response over the Private Comm. "At least I'm in Alt-Mode. We've had to smack Cavalier around a couple times to remind him. But yeah, your Fliers have arrived. Why Prime wanted that little imposter here I'd pay good Energon cred to know."

[frigidmagi]

"At least I'm in Alt-Mode. We've had to smack Cavalier around a couple times to remind him. But yeah, your Fliers have arrived. Why Prime wanted that little imposter here I'd pay good Energon cred to know."

The little imposter comment takes me by surprise. Then I realize that he's speaking of Hornet.

"What's this? Surely you're not frightened of Hornet are you? I didn't realize he would seem so intimating to you. Well, no worries, I'm sure I can protect you from him if he should snap. Is Overload nearby?" I reply, keeping my tone light. This is going to be a problem. I can only imagine what's been going on with Deathstrike...

[SirNitram]

"I'm here, preparing my report for you, don't worry." Overload broadcast. "Good news, bad news, and never enough spare parts and ammunition, so war like usual."

[LadyTevar]

"Funny, I thought this was a Private Channel," Pathfinder quipped to Overload, sounding a little more of his normal self. "Care to tell us what Cavalier said to Deathstrike to get that dent in his armor?" Yes, he knew now that both Overload and Breakout were able to listen in. Pathfinder didn't really care. "And are you putting the fliers under Deathstrike?"

[General Havoc]

Hornet didn't understand, but then he was used to that. This was a little weirder than normal though. Nobody, not even the scientists back at Oak Ridge, had ever actually asked Hornet's opinion on anything before. They might have tried to occasionally wheedle out a view or two of his for the sake of running some test, and of course he had never hesitated from telling anyone what he was thinking. Hornet wore his spark on his wing, as the saying went.

He smiled and trotted over to Stephanie. "Um... sure!" he chirped pleasantly. He glanced up at Deathstrike, just for a second, if only to ensure that he wasn't about to get stepped on. "I um..." he said nervously, "I don't know a whole lot about Cybertronians. I can't really remember anything from before the woods." He lowered his head slightly. "All I really know about the others is what they told me at Oak Ridge..."

[frigidmagi]

"I'm here, preparing my report for you, don't worry." Overload broadcast. "Good news, bad news, and never enough spare parts and ammunition, so war like usual."

I wonder if anyone will ever be able to set up a good logistical chain? After a few seconds I sadly decide it unlikely (78.54% against).

"Thank you Overload. I will report as soon as I am unloaded." I say and I cannot repress a bit of annoyance at the thought of my means of exit from the boat. I have been through this before, but frankly I find being hoisted by a crane or other means of loading/unloading to be a little humiliating. It is not fitting for a Cybertronian war machine to be tossed about like so much baggage. I am not mere cargo.

Care to tell us what Cavalier said to Deathstrike to get that dent in his armor?" Yes, he knew now that both Overload and Breakout were able to listen in. Pathfinder didn't really care. "And are you putting the fliers under Deathstrike?"

Fighting amongst themselves already? It is a good thing I didn't take that bet against Sideswipe. Losing would have been embarrassing.

"We have a grand total of 3 Cybertronians who can perform flight operations and all of them do different functions. A flight commander may not be necessary at this point." Is all I say.

I leave off the point that Deathstrike is frankly the better warrior and leader, but it is likely no one would listen to him. I want to speak to him before I make any decisions about him anyways. It is odd that he hasn't rushed to Megatron's side. He is as loyal to his creator has I am to mine. The report on him was garbled. I am fairly sure he is not a spy (70.97% likely). He is ill suited for such a role and it is a waste of his abilities. Like myself Deathstrike is uncompromisingly designed for direct combat and battle. It would be like a human using a cannon to plow his fields. Also for him to be plant by Megatron would require Megatron to develop the ability to see thousands of Vorns into the future. Surely if he had that he could have managed some kind of victory by now?

[Cynical Cat]

"Well, I don't know that much myself," said Stephanie. "All I know I learned from studying the big guy over here. So why don't we go through the stuff together and teach each other? And if we don't know something, we'll ask Deathstrike. Sort of like a game."

[LadyTevar]

"Ok, now I've got to be at the ship," Pathfinder said both over the comm and aloud. "They're unloading Breakout." For Cavalier and himself, that was all that needed to be said, as the only way out of the cargo hold was via crane. Pathfinder had loved it. Cavalier had laughed over it. Breakout? Oh yes, Pathfinder was getting his good humor back at the thought of the mil-bot swaying in the breeze as the crane hoisted him up.

"Come on, Hunter, you Joes don't want to miss this. Besides, you can meet one of the few -soldiers- we have." The last comment was a definite shot at Hunter's insults. Of course, with Breakout and Overload here, there would be a bit more discipline amongst the Autobots -- Breakout liked Order.

Which was why Pathfinder was going to enjoy Breakout's temporary discomfort as much as possible. The 'bot was a bit too uptight at times so Pathfinder did prank him once in a while, but nothing like he did to Cavalier on a regular basis. Breakout, like Ironhide and Prowl, got their positions by being good at what they did and having the respect of the Autobots around them. Any prank on Breakout would be a once-in-a-Vorn event set up with care, planning, and with the caveat that it did not cause more than a temporary hurt pride for falling for the trick.

Pathfinder wondered if Breakout still remembered the LAST prank ....

[Cynical Cat]

"Breakout?" Deathstrike said. "Here?" The Autobots had mentioned the possibility that he might be coming, but he hadn't believed they were serious.

"Who is Breakout?" Stephanie asked.

"A great Autobot warrior," replied Deathstrike. Once they had been equals. Now his honor and his body were in tatters. He had made his choices, had wavered, and had fallen.

"Is there something between you two?" Stephanie asked.

"We have faced each other on the battlefield," Deathstrike replied. "He occupied a position with Prime equivalent to mine with Megatron. There was, for my part, a feeling of respect and kinship."

"And on his?"

"We spoke with weapons, not words," said Deathstrike. "We shall soon see."

[Charon]

Hunter had bitten back a reply to Cavalier's comment. The Autobot had made some valid points, others could be argued, but this wasn't the place to do so. He'd made his point as clear as he could, though he doubted the arrogant Pathfinder would pay any heed to it.

When Pathfinder spoke up about an actual Autobot soldier, Hunter wasn't expecting to be impressed at all. After all, he'd been told these Autobots were supposed to be soldiers.

"It can't be that much more impressive than what I've already seen." Hunter shrugged and started to slowly make his way over to the crane.