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Gifford National Park Military Base

Kowalski arrived at the front gates of the base, stopping at the front gate. He simply showed the guards on duty his clearance and continued inside. From what he had been told, the Decepticon that he was reporting to was inside the hangar nearest the mountain. The facsimile parked his car and stepped out into the evening air, headed directly for the hangar his superior was residing within.

Darkfire was waiting patiently for the facsimile to arrive after Psychout's notice. She had sent some time learning about these humans' physiognomy. The assassin found it fascinating. She always preferred to know her enemy before engaging the enemy. She now knew how much pressure to apply to snap bone or simply render unconscious. There would be no mistake of accidentally killing one of them. Suddenly, Darkfire became aware of approaching footsteps. No need to send out her avatar. She would simply observe.

As Kowalski entered the hangar, he looked at all of the aircraft within. Spotting the F-22 Raptor that was the assassin's alternate form, Kowalski approached Darkfire. He sent her a short tranmission, identifying him as a facsimile and not another human. Darkfire gazed down at the facsimile charged to her, then opened a brief communique with Psychout.

>>"The facsimile has arrived, Psychout. Ready to move to the old base on your mark."<<

Gifford Park National Park Military base

Crueljaw was keeping himself busy his holo avatar checking the underside of his Humvee mode.

He wasn’t registering any damage under there but he preferred to check it with his own optics the sound of an engine brought his attention to the approaching vehicle catching note of the purple symbol branded on the frame. The newcomer identified himself as Landgrab and let out a deep rumbling that was almost a human equivalent to a belly laugh. “No I’m not the runt he’ll be arriving shortly” another snigger emanated from the hummer as he emphasised shortly. The facsimile arrived carrying the tiny Psychout his diminutive colleague started jabbering about some human called Aladdin and his cave as soon as he was placed on the passenger seat in Crueljaws cab.

“did you take a sip of tainted energon or did you get a power spike through your processor units. Who in the name of the pit is Aladdin and why do I want to get into his cave unless it’s to cave his puny skull in? I thought we were grave robbing?”

He then remembered Landgrab “oh yeah this is Landgrab just happened to appear on earth by us apparently sent by Shockers himself” Crueljaw explained with a hint of sarcasm. He started his engine and prepared to move off

“Where we going now boss?”

Gifford Park National Park Military base

Psychout was....well, he was little, wasn't he? That was the first sentiment that worked its way through Landgrab's mind. But that fact certainly didn't make him any more inclined to not do what he was told. In his experience, officers generally got put in their jobs for many reasons beyond Landgrab's understanding or care. He just followed orders. It made his life easier. And, he was still alive after all. There were many in the Decepticon ranks since the war first broke out that could no longer make the same claim.

Landrab pulled up a physical scan of the avatar that had been put in place on his behalf and cross-referenced it with the others. Nothing out of place, really, except for that haircut it was sporting. He'd need to get that changed.

"Orders. Right. Uh, just support and resource provision, it looks to me. Nothing really specific on my activation readout out here. Just a location and some signature scans that match up with you guys'. So....yeah. Don't think Shockwave hand-picked me or anythin'. Just knowin' how he works, my performance record matched up enough with whatever directive protocols you guys needed to get done down here. And, bam, here I am."

Gifford Park National Park Team Midget Military base. Nightfall

After being unceremoniously dumped back into Crueljaws cab by the facsimile taxi-service Psychout took advantage of the tinted windows and reverted back to his robot mode, stretching himself out as he did so. He set the comms to include all 4 of the team. "Well, that's one problem solved. These meatmokeys have no idea of what happened here last time, despite the gigantic mechanical aliens trampling the area flat for 10 square miles. It would appear that whoever we have in the top brass covering this up really knows their job, or the locals have drank the Kool-Aid. There were a few files I still have to work on, but we have plenty of time for that later, but currently these shaved apes are to be considered 'clueless'."

He checked his internal chronometer, and the skies above, then cross referenced it with the shift schedule. It was now dark and the night watch has taken up their posts, they wouldn't be disturbed now. He open Crueljaws drivers door and jumped down to the ground, heading towards the aircraft hangars. If he thought he was small compared to Crueljaw, he was tiny next to the new arrival. Shockwaves humour always was subtle he chuckled.
"You can transform to robot modes now if you want, we're out of sight - but no lights!"

He walked towards his newest soldier on the way to the hangar. "Looks like you arrived just in time then Landgrab." Psych stopped and appraised the large platform. "You're well equipped, I like that. I assume you come with digging and hoisting rigs? Better hope you do, you've got 2 hours to drill us a nice new entrance here, the smallest you can make it so we can all fit inside - and 'Jaws has put on a few tonnes since the old days..." he pointed towards a section of rock Darkfire had identified as a potential entrance on her recon sweeps earlier "I doubt you've been dirtside before but it'll just be some weak carbon-based mineral or other and won't take long to drill. Get on it, and call me when you're done. Darkfire will enter first on point and Vindicator and Crueljaws will back her up and ensure nothing bad is waiting for us in there. Now get moving!"

Psych was on a roll now, he had just had a good few hours to formulate his strategy whilst playing cyber-tetris with the native computer technologies child-like encryption systems. He issued the next round of orders as he walked, keen to get everything done in the narrow window they had before dawn.

"Vindicator, you're the only person who has been here before. I need a schematic of the layout along with the rough location of the CR chambers, command bunkers and armouries and - most importantly - I need an alternate way out in case this place is pulled down on us again. Make sure Darkfire has a copy and then go and help Landgrab shift some rubble." Vin had stopped for a second, unnoticed by Psychout. The last time he had been here he had ended up with his head dipped in lava and he put a hand to his temple and remembered Mal Practice's experimental procedure to fix the damage. He did not want to go over that again, and didn't know if it was that or the makeshift repairs on his neurals but just couldn't quite recall the old layout. Still he had a few moments, if only he still had some of those drugs Mal gave Contemptor, Haxtl-something? He removed the triple grade Energon bottle from an arm cavity and took a swig, which seemed to help. A bit.

Unaware of Vindicators psychological crisis, Psychout moved on. "Darkfire, once Landgrab gets started, I have the first target for your Fleshling. An illegal weapons trader in the deep web is claiming to have discovered an 'alien ray gun' and trying to sell it on to the highest bidder. He is attracting too much attention. From the description its only a crappy mini-bot pistol which must have been lost in the battle here when Megatron collapsed the base. Send Kowalski to make this idiot disappear, retrieve the weapon and get the identity of the bidders - one of them is ours anyway but a most are not, anything on their tech levels that could haver been derived from Cybertronian needs recording. I've traced this guy to a private security compound about 60 miles from here. Brief him quickly though, you're on point when Landgrabs finished digging us an entrance."

Lastly he addressed his old ally, "Crueljaw, whilst they are busy getting us in, I've got something I want you to help me check out over here" as he continued towards the aircraft hangar...

Migetsville, military base gifford park

As soon as the diminutive Leader of their madcap crew jumped out Crueljaw heard those words he liked he was able to roam around in robot mode. He activated his transformation sequence. He ignored the jibe about gaining a few tons as he stood up right his hydraulics wheezing slightly as he stretched his arms out. This was what he hated about grey ops no fighting just a lot of sitting around in a suitable covert mode watching and utilising the holo avatars.

The servos in his neck groaned in protest as he looked around the prolonged stay in his alternate mode wasn’t great so soon after his defrosting from stasis. His lone red optic narrowed as he heard his diminutive commander ask for his help.

The bodyguard fell into step alongside Psychout he didn’t reduce his steps just slowed his pace. “You want me to do protoforms steps so you can keep up?” Crueljaw enquired making a not so subtle jibe at the miniature cassette. “I mean I could tow one of these trailers if you want to get their quicker or just throw you like a hex nut. So what’s the big deal about this place I mean apart from some cretin blowing it some when into the next millennia?” the aircraft hanger was looming in front of the decepticon who realised that he was going to have to duck to these hangers where for fighters not the huge freight planes. “I really hope you’re not going to try joyriding like on Ryza I remember you jacking that alien fighter took that bunch of seekers 6 breems to get you out of the air”

Gifford Park National Park Team Midget Military Base

Darkfire studied her facsimile curiously. Taking what she had learned from Psychout's information packet, the assassin could assess her facsimile and compare it to the average human. However, she did not have the leisure of time for testing her fleshling. "You have an assignment. Approximately 60 miles from our present location is a private security compound where a illegal weapons trader will be residing. He has discovered one of our weapons. Your mission is to recover the weapon and make this human disappear. Obtain the identity of the bidders and record their technology levels. Note anything that could be even slightly perceived as Cybertronian. Lastly, leave no traces. Understood?"

Kowalski nodded to his newest superior.

"Dismissed." As Kowalski left the hangar, Darkfire transformed back into her robot form and followed behind, taking care not to squish the facsimile. Ducking as she exited the hangar, Darkfire looked around. She noted Crueljaw and Psychout's approach and moved aside, keeping near Kowalski. Kowalski soon reached his parked car and got inside, heading off to accomplish his mission. Darkfire looked after her facsimile for a moment then glanced around for the only Decepticon that she did not recognize, Landgrab.

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Kowalski settled in his seat for a long drive. He looked over to the passenger seat, where the case holding his sniper rifle rested. He carried his pistol equipped with a silencer on his person at all time. In the trunk of the car, hidden under a false panel, were a number of other arms and devices necessary for any contract killer. Tearing down the dark road, Kowalski felt a ghost of a smile touch his lips. He loved his job.

Gifford National Park Military base

Landgrab listened to the little one speak. Unlike most other Decepticons, however, Landgrab's face did not betray any sort of embarrassment that one might feel by being ordered around by someone of such physically inferior stature. He took the orders with the same level of acceptance as if he were being addressed by Megatron himself. Or some other similarly-sized Decepticon.

Of course, they wouldn't be getting orders from Megatron from here on out, would they? Landgrab was still having a tough time adjusting to that. He wasn't "warborn". He could still remember a time in their species before Megatron had risen to the position he had. Even so, that had been a slaggin' long time ago. Going forward, things could never hope to be the same. Time would tell if that would be better for Landgrab's ongoing survival odds, or worse.

"Drillin'. Easy 'nough," Landgrab said, reversing his vehicle mode some before heading off to the area that Psychout had indicated. He wasn't an all-purpose and adaptive Constructicon or anything, but he could carry out basic jobs like this without any problem. His equipment wasn't the most up-to-date, either, but he'd make due. Retrieving the necessary drilling attachment, Landgrab began to plow forward in to the terran minerals.

Priority-4 transmission from Shockwave to Psychout

>>"Satisfactory. Imperative: identify any human personnel present that are ideally positioned for facsimile replacement process and initiate process on-site. Declarative: terran natives are operating too close to the remnants of a full-scale Decepticon fortress. Any breach of the infiltration protocols is not to be allowed at this stage. All present Decepticon operatives--confirmed. Advise further upon objective completion. End transmission."<<

Inside the Military base, foot of Mt. St Helens.

Psychout chuckled at Crueljaws mention of Ryza, he'd almost forgotten how much fun the real adventures we're after being couped up for so long and despite himself, he was even starting to enjoy it here. "Heh, bet that's the biggest repair bill Starscream's had to pay off so far..." He looked around at the tiny human structures as he walked towards the Hangar Darkfire had just exited and stopped as the three of them met.

"Ok, Darkfire, as I said earlier, you'll be the lead. It is highly suspected that humans have been in here in some form or another, they wouldn't have just left it - especially with seismic activity like this - however nothing has been discovered over their global network that would indicate they found anything of value yet. My current guess is that haven't been able to get the machinery in to enter the underground sections or they are too stupid to know what they have got. It's also possible that they already have a position set up underground and will be expecting us, but it's as unlikely as a Prime not dying every 5 years. If you do encounter anything, bring up CJ who will be behind you and deal with it however you see fit. Landgrab and myself are your backup, just remember we need a route big enough for 'grab to follow. Oh, hang on..."

Psychout was in mid briefing when Shockwave's reply arrived. He looked up at Crueljaw. "Looks like we may as well get used to the coffee here, we're going to be here for a while."
"Shockwave has ordered us to swap out the personnel we need to establish a staging post, assume control of maintaining the Infiltration Protocols and clear the humans out of the immediate area. That makes the Facsimile-pods our priority once we get inside and I'll see what I can do about getting them fixed up and reactivated. Vindicator will have to remain outside on the base to oversee operations until the rest of the Facsimiles arrive then, probably for the best considering..."

He motioned to both his troops and then towards the mountain. "Any human teams you find in there is fair game for a stompin', but if you can try and avoid squashing a couple so I can interrogate them afterwards it would be helpful. I've not detected any broadcasts from inside, but I'll be monitoring and anything that does will scramble pretty easily."

He looked over towards Landgrab who had already made a massive dent in the mountainside in the short time he had been working, and was nearly done. Impressive stuff. "Arm up, we move out presently. 'Grab and I will follow you in when you give the all clear." Then, without another word be took off and began to fly towards the nearly completed dig site - Darkfire and Crueljaw could easily keep up and it was time to get moving, he had wasted enough on these humans as it was.

Midgetsville Gifford Park National Park Military base

Crueljaw’s attempts to stifle his chuckles it made him sound like a constipated bull as he heard Psychout’s mention of Starscream’s Seeker repair bill. He’d seen that bill and it was considerable “could be worse you could be paying for the Predacons lunch” Crueljaw’s switched his view to image intensifier mode that improved his vision considerably as he turned slightly to Darkfire “you made it in one piece then...” the surly Decepticon was interrupted by the jabbering of Psychout who started outlining the next part of their operation. Crueljaw took the time to look up and the blue sky with the white fluffy things had turned various shades from dark blue to black with twinkling stars that made him long to be somewhere other than the mud ball he was currently stuck on.

His attention was turned back to Psychout as he was mentioned as being the back up for Darkfire as she explored the interior of the ruined base but something made Psychout pause the bodyguard looked at Darkfire. “Yeah cause we’re gonna find Necrobots running around in there trying to eat your central processors or a spark eater just too keep it interesting” it was then that his right hip locker opened from this the bodyguard retrieved his shotgun from it. The locker hissed as it slid shut again “I like to keep this handy for those close encounters” as he spoke he patted his shotgun.

He then heard Psychout start jabbering on about the mission and something about getting used to the coffee. Then some more about the mission and the fact any humans inside the base where fair game but a couple had to be left alive for interrogation. As Psychout floated off towards the mountainside where Landgrab was digging the lumbering Crueljaw followed as swiftly as he could “so do the live ones have to have all their appendages still attached? Would you accept mildly squashed ones also what if we find the tunnels within the new entrance collapsed you want us to excavate or alternate our route?”