The Energon Pub

Orbital Bounce Platform

Hound stumbles off the platform, clutching his side where the railgun round has almost torn him open. He looks around at his wounded colleagues, then to Hardhead, being taken away. "Here, Blaster, Eject, lemme help..." With a free hand, Hound grabs a leg of the inert body, and does as best he can to help the Comms specialist and the Cassettebots. Its nowhere near his full strength, but it helps.

Med-bay

Hound struggles with Blaster to get the massive warrior onto the table, then steps back a bit, to give Ratchet and any other medical personel room. "You guys can fix him, right? Its just a matter of reattaching stuff, isn't it?" He makes no move towards the CR chambers, too worried about his fellow Autobot to rest.

Space

High Above the Earth, a lone object sped through the vast void towards the blue planet. From a distance, it could be easily mistaken for a meteor, yet as it came closer. Visible signs of metal could be seen. As it enared Earth, it passed by a new experimental space plane being tested by humans. It took a moment to scan the ship just moments ebfore entering Earth's atmosphere from the far eastern continent. It made it's way over Eurasia, towards the western hemisphere, finally changing its shape into the very craft it scanned upon hitting the clouds. Within moments, it ignited it's afterburners and flew amongst the clouds, approaching speeds rivaled by few transformers, one in particular that it knew.

It opened it's longrange scanners to search for any sign of Autobot activity as it flew by. There was nothing. Indeed, the Autobots had yet to enter the next phase, as it expected. The best things to do for now was to get to a rmeote area and then try contacting the Autobots.

Skies over North America

It flew towards the Rocky Mountains and took to a lower altitude to avoid what radar it could, finally reaching a forested area in the Grand Teton National Park. The craft then transformed into a white robot, tall for its kind. The Autobot, Jetfire, kneeled down, though with care to avoid crushing any indigeonous lifeforms. Luckily, he noted anything in the vacinity had moved away, most likely startled by his sudden arrival.

For a moment, Jetfire looked around. The surroundings were quite pleasant. He was certain that Autobots, such as Beachcomber and Hound, would feel right at home here.

He decided to not get cuaght up in the moment any further and activated his comm, switched to All Available Autobot Frequencies.

>>"Autobot Command, please respond! This is Jetfire. I've arrived and seek entry to your headquarters. I'm ready when you are."<<, he said, now waiting for a quick path to the Autobots base.

Ark 19 - Corridors.

A Black and Red mech walked slowly towards the command center. He was excited, and wanted to enter combat as soon as possible. He he also understood the value of peace, and if that was his mission, so be it. He approached the door of the command center, and opened it.

Command Center.

Goraz entered the command center, and saw Prime and Ironhide talking. He approached them, and heard Ironhide speaking. He heard what the Ol' mech said. "Three mechs in stasis lock. Frag. If something happen to any of those mechs, the 'Cons are going to pay three to one." He then stood there, waiting for someone to speak to him before, after all, he didn't wanted to interrupt his superiors conversation.

OOC: Ember has asked me to take over as Optimus for the time being.

Communications Center

With Blaster and the rest of his brethren in the med-bay, Eject had taken it upon himself to man the communications center. It was an important job, and had the added bonus of allowing him unfettered access to every sports channel on the planet. He had just settled in to the big (for him) chair in front of the comm. array and begun scanning the telecomm signals for appropriate programming when Jetfire’s hail came through.

>>I’m reading you like Harry Caray live from Wrigley Jetfire. Give me an astrosecond and I’ll bounce you to the dugout,<< he transmitted, then tapped in the command sequence that would activate the bounce platform and bring Jetfire aboard.

Command Center

Ironhide glanced over as Goraz approached, then looked back to Prime. “Leakin' lubricants Prime, we got new faces comin’ outta the bulkheads alluva sudden. Where’d you come from Goraz?”

“They may be necessary Ironhide,” Optimus replied gravely, acknowledging Goraz with a slight tilt of the head before turning his attention back to the security chief. “Megatron seems to be pulling more and more Decepticons here, and the reports I’ve gotten from Cybertron are disturbing. Megatron is up to something, and until we know what it is, we’ll just have to be ready for anything.”

“We always are Prime,” Ironhide said.

“I know Ironhide, but still…” Prime’s voice trails off for a moment then strengthens again as he changes the subject. “It appears, despite the casualties, that the mission was a success. The logs show we’ve recovered a substantial amount of energon. Let everyone know how proud I am of them all. I’ll be down to check on the wounded shortly.”

“Will do Prime,” Ironhide drawled, then turned on his heel and headed out of the command center. “C’mon Goraz, we’ll head on down to the cargo bay and check on gettin’ the energon stowed then head down and check on the wounded.”

Goraz heard Ironhide speaking. "From sector Sigma sir. It's a nice place when the 'cons aren't there." He then listed as the two other mechs spoke to each other. "I don't like this. The 'cons are up to something big, and I don't like it." He then listened as Ironhide spoke to him again. "Understood sir, I'm behind you."

But, before he left, he turned to Optimus. "Sir, if you excuse me, I want to say something. You can count with me. Those 'Cons won't know what happened to them. I have fought in many battles, and I know that being reckless will only get you deactivated. I'm not like that. But I do assure you something, as long I'm around, not 'bot will be in trouble. And, if you excuse by ego, I will be always there for anything you may need. That's all." And then, he followed Ironhide.

Med Bay

Ratchet’s and Axle’s attention did not waiver when Prowl had entered the facility. However, once the military strategist greeted the Chief Medical Officer he glanced behind him and offered a grunt in response. Within moments most of the Energon extraction team was either hobbling in under their own power or being carried in. Ratchet finally put down his welder and straightened up. He placed both hands on his lower back and arched it until it finally cracked.

“Ahhh. I’m getting too old for this.”

Axle looked up and flashed his superior a smile before placing his tools down and walking around the med berth to stand next to Ratchet. Letting out a heavy sigh Ratchet moved to the table Hardhead’s body and cranial unit was resting on.

“Well, well, well. He actually lost his head over this mission. Not surprising.”

Ratchet then picked up the cranium and gave it a once over. He then motioned for Axle to take it and have a closer look.

“Eh? Oh, don’t worry, Hound. Hardhead’s gonna be fine. It’s a little more than just reattaching, but it’s nothing we can’t handle. Now head over to a CR chamber and take care of yourself.”

Once Ratchet was sure Hound was satiated he turned his attention to Hardhead’s battered body. His initial exam relieved him as the damage to his chassis was mostly superficial and could be handled by the CR chamber. The area where the cranial unit was separated from the frame was going to need more extensive work, but the whole process would not take as long as some might imagine. Ratchet quickly began the work on the wiring and hoses while Axle did the more delicate work on the cranium.

Orbital Bounce Platform

Jetfire arrived at the Orbital Bounce platform. Much of what balster said in his communication was confusing for him. He had taken time to analyze Eject's vocal patterns back on Cybertron millenia ago so he could get a better comprehension of what he was saying. He had done the same with Blaster as well, though more limited as Blaster would usually break out into loud tunes that would interrupt his work. However, he had no idea what a "Harry Caray", "Wrigley", or a "dugout" was. It had to be some of those Earth terms. However another thing he ntoices was the unusual presence of H2O. He looked around and saw no leaks present but thigns seemed to come into perspective as he spotted the puddle trailing out of the chamber. Jetfire figured that it must have just been in use and perhaps in an underwater environment. He certainly was not one to envy any Autobot being put into such an environment. He walked out of the chamber and traversed the corridors, using a schematic of the ship as a reference to traverse the ship.

As he walked along, he made his way towards what the schematic had to be the Command Center. It was then that he encoutnered a familiar face just exiting the command center, Ironhide.

"Ironhide! It's been far to long old friend." Jetfie said, smiling at the veteran Autobot.

Medbay

Prowl noticed Ironhide not present. Jazz would be waiting to get his arm fixed up. While Prowl would not necessarily need it to keep funcitoning, he figured a few minutes in the CR chamber wouldn't hurt.

He walked on over and stepped into the chamber, deactivating as the chamber closed and began to work on repairing the Strategist.

Med Bay.

"Oh, my arm is killing me." Blackstrike opened his optics, and saw that he was inside a CR chamber, and there were several mechs in the room. He saw Ratchet, Prowl, Jazz and a mech he couldn't recognize. He opened the CR chamber's door, and stepped outside.

When he was outside, he saw Lore-lock,Smokey and Hound. He walked towards Hound. "Hi Hound, what happened? I couldn't do anything else, Skywarp defeated me." He then saw Hardhead's and Brawn's bodies. "Maybe with my help, they wouldn't have been defeated. I'm sorry."

Corridors.

A White and Rech mech slowly walked towards the med bay. "What a beautiful planet." He kept walking, and after a while, he arrived at the Med Bay. He approached the doors, and when he was near enough, they opened.

Med Bay.

Inside, he saw several mechs. He didn't knew most of them, but that didn't matter. He saw Ratchet and Axle working on Hardhead. He approached them. "Ratchet, sir, this is Whitestrike reporting for duty. Is there anything you need me to do?"

Med-Bay

Lore-lock slide out of thew CR chamber just as the new red and white mech walked into the room. "At least I'm not leaking fluids all over the floor anymore. But I see that this skirmish was indeed costly." Thought the grey mech.
He then remarks to Blackstrike, "This was bound to end in any fashion except a painless one, but on the up-side the only major causalities were a few bots in stasis-lock, and not total deactivation. Now I think I will be of most use in a training room, giving the medics some room to work, care to join me?"

Command Center

Optimus was glad the shield on the lower half of his face allowed him to maintain an air of impassivity no matter what he was thinking. He couldn’t help but smile a little at Goraz’s pronouncement, but no one would ever know from looking. Still, it was good that despite all the years of war and hardship there were still ‘bots that earnest and eager. Primus only knew that Optimus himself wasn’t. He’d seen more than his share of the horror of war and the depredations of the Decepticons. He was far from eager to see any more, but he’d never give up - not until the last Decepticon had given up his insane goals of domination, and the galaxy could live free and in peace.

As Goraz turned and left to follow Ironhide, Prime returned his attention to the viewscreen at the command console. He had satellite images in real time depicting the entrance to the Decepticon base at Mt. St. Helens. The Autobot's orbital platforms allowed him to observe the comings and goings at the ‘con base, and at least generally track their bounce beams. By keeping them under constant observation,the Autobots would be able to react much more swiftly to whatever scheme Megatron had in the offing.

Optimus set up an automated sub-routine to alert him of any detectable activity at the enemy compound, then closed out that program. Moments later a pop-up message appeared on his screen alerting him that Jetfire had arrived on base. Since dispatching Wheeljack to Cybertron, the Earth forces had been without a resident tech specialist. Ratchet, Axle, and Whitestrike were quite competent within their own bailiwick, but they were all medics, not builders. So, Jetfire had been summoned, and now he had arrived.

He depressed a button on the control board activating the PA system aboard the ship and said, “Jetfire, report to me at once.”

Corridors

Ironhide pulled up short as Jetfire stepped into the corridor from the bounce platform. “Hey now Jetfire, good to see ya buddy,” Ironhide replied to the massive mech’s hail. “Me and Goraz here were headed down to the cargo hold to check on the energon we just brought back. You wanna tag alo…” Just then Prime’s voice rang out over the PA, calling for Jetfire to report to the command center. “Aw well, nevermind. Guess you got somewhere else to be.”

Ironhide nodded to Jetfire and slipped past him, “Gimmie a holler when you got some free time big-guy. We’ll pop open a few energo-lagers and talk about old times,” he called back over his shoulder then proceeded down to the cargo bay.

The Ark wasn’t a dedicated cargo vessel, but she could carry supplies to outfit a strike team such as this one and keep them supplied for years. The room that Ironhide and Goraz emerged into was cavernous by any description, and still contained stores and supplies that had never been accessed. The compressed energon cubes had been set over to one corner – out of the way, but certainly not secure.

Ironhide strode past them and activated the touch pad on a high-security locker nearby. The door disengaged from the wall with a hiss and slid to the side, revealing a large blast-proof space.

“These things are more stable if we decompress ‘em,” he said as he began the process. Once done, the pink glowing cubes covered a large area of the floor. “Looks like a whole lot more this way don’t it Goraz,” he remarked. “Help me get these things stowed.”

Med-bay

Blaster was more than a little relieved at Ratchet’s pronouncement of Hardhead’s condition. A big grin spread across his face and he stepped into character. “Hey guys, I just have to say great job! We took it to those ‘cons and showed them true Autobot resolve. Mission accomplished. We have a hold full of energon, and nobody’s out for more than a few days. Way. To. Go,” he said addressing all the ‘bots in the med-bay.

“Now I can hang around here and provide some music for the wounded or I can head off and do it in private. Your choice,” he added with a wink. He knew how everyone else felt about his love of earth music. He assumed the reply would be a resounding no – get out.

Corridor

Jetfire modded as Ironhide gave his greeting and passed on to whatever it was he was doing with the Autobot Goraz. However, he was needed by Optimus Prime.

"I'll see if I can afterwards. But first, I'll need a briefing from Prime regarding the current situation." Jetfire replied as he headed towards the Command Center, entering moments later.

Command Center

Jetfire entered and saluted Optimus. There were few Autobots in the service who could stand eye to eye with Optimus, he was one of them.

"Jetfire reporting for duty, Prime. It's an honor to be back under your command once more." he said.

Corridors.

Goraz nodded at Jetfire. He didn't knew the flier much, but he did knew one thing, he was a great mech, one of the best. He wathched as the two mechs talked, but he didn't say anything. When they finished talking, he followed Ironhide.

When they arrived at the place, the best description he could think was a Cavern. They entered, and began their work. He helped Ironhide stowing the energon, and when he finished, he spoke. "I'm done sir. Do you need anything else?"

Medbay

"Thats a relief." Hound grins at Ratchets diagnosis, and then winces at his own injuries, unnoticed until now. "Well, I guess in that case I can go look after myself." The Scout turns to head for a CR chamber, before running into Blackstrike and Lorelock. "Oh, hey. Well, injuries happen, its called a war for a reason. The important thing is that we got everyone back to base saf-"

Hound is interrupted by Blasters big booming announcement, and decides to lets the comms specialist finish before continuing. "Er...What he said. Listen, I'm still kinda untreated, would you mind?". He then limps off to a CR chamber, hoping it might shield him from the cacophony to come...

Medbay.
Strike heard both Lore-lock and Hound's replies. He didn't showed it, but it made him feel better. He was angry that he was so useless, but he decided that it wouldn't happen anymore. Before he could answer, he heard Blaster's yell. Then, Hound went to a CR Chamber. "Yeah, don't worry Hound, get yourself treated." He then looked at Lore-lock. "Yeah, let's go to the training room." He started walking, but he stopped. He had a doubt, and he figured out that Lore-lock could help him.

He approached the mech, but he didn't knew if his question would sound ridiculous. "Eh, Lore-lock, I was wondering something. Do you know how is MecGyver, or something like that?" He then stood there, a little ashamed by his question.

Med Bay

Lore-lock's optics flickered at Blackstrike's question.
"I do know that name, it refers to a fictional human. He is known for having a very unusual thought process. What humans call 'Out-of-the-box', he is rumored to be able to get out of situations that most humans would find troublesome at least, deadly at the worst. It is also said that he can unlock doors with a light bulb. I don't understand how, I prefer to use the appropriate radio key. But we can speak more on him in the training room, unless you'd like for Blaster to try and find a broadcast of this human's exploits."

The scout then leaned on his heels as he waited for his comrade to decide on weapon drills or a pop-culture lesson from Blaster. I do hope he opts not for a lesson from Blaster, I'd rather relive that last battle. The mech thought, while he waited. His thoughts continued, How much energon did we actually manage to secure? I hope my job at stowing the cubes wasn't too slip-shod for whoever landed the task of organizing that cargo bay. Moreover, "will this results of this mission further our quest for an end to this war?" he thought aloud.

Medbay.

'Strike listened carefully what Lore-lock said. "Huh, so that's why they call me MecGyver." He then heard Lore-lock's idea. "Hum, good idea, maybe I should ask him later." And he was serious. Unlike most 'Bots, Blackstrike liked Blaster's nonsense and noise. He didn't knew why, but he did. He then heard the other 'Bot saying something, but he didn't heard enough to understand what he said. "But now, let's go to the training room."

He then walked towards the exit, waiting Lore-lock. "Also, before I forget, thanks for telling me."

Med Bay

Lore-lock nodded to 'Strike and made his exit. "Always glad to help." The grey scout added.
"Now lets go work on our melee skills. I didn't get to use them at the transport shuttle."

Medbay.

Blackstrike gave Lore-lock a simple nod. Then, he left the medbay.

Corridors.

Blackstrike walked with Lore-lock. On his way to the training facility, images from the battle passed through his mind. He remembered everything with perfect detail. How Skywarp defeated him so easily. He needed to improve. He couldn't let his friends down again. After walking for a while, they arrived at the training facility.

Training Facility.

The doors slid open as the duo entered. He approached a console nearby. "So, what do you want to do?"

Training Room

Lore-lock thought for a bit. . .

"How about a mix of targets." He said as he pulled his axe out. "Some long range for your scatter blaster, and some a little more up close for my blade. Should be good for building teamwork and strategy." He then turned up the energon flow to his axe head, which responded by glowing brighter and humming audibly louder, but not so loud as to obstruct speech.

Training Room.

"All right then." Blackstrike said as he pressed some buttons on the console. In front of him appeared some rocks for cover, followed by several 'Cons.

'Strike quickly dashed behind a rock, taking cover from the upcoming damage. He quiclky shot at a 'Con near him. "Come on Lore-lock, you're missing all the fun!!"

Training Room

Lore-lock grinned as the scene materialized. He didn't dash behind a rock however. Instead he charged the nearest 'Con and cleanly severed it's cranial unit."I'm not missing any fun, yet. Just don't let these Decepticreeps get..." He pauses to cut down another 'Con that popped up next to him. "...much closer than that.

Training Room.

Blackstrike saw as Lore-lock slashed some 'Cons. "Nah, don't-" He shot at a 'Con behind the grey mech. "Worry, I got your back." He then stepped out of cover, and sprinted towards another 'Con nearby. When he was near enough, he jumped over him, shooting him in the face at the same time.

He then quiclky sprinted towards another rock, but on his way there, a 'Con shot him in the arm. "Frag. I'm losing points." He then turned to where Lore-lock was. "So, how you doing?. A fraggin 'Con just hit me!!"

Training Room
Lore-lock saw 'Strike take the hit a grabbed out his energy crossbow. He dashed for some cover loosing bolts as he went. But as he ran he too caught a blast in the knee. "By the matrix that smarts. I'm still functioning, but I really need to upgrade this armor of mine." The scout then transformed and raced at one of the 'Cons hoping to sweep it's legs out.

Training Room.

Blackstrike quickly shot at a 'Con that was trying to get near him. "That's what I call A HEADSHOT!!!" He quickly shot at another one, but to his horror, saw as 7 or 8 'Cons approached him.

"Ehhhhh, Lore-lock, I'm going to need some help please!!" He quickly took cover behind a rock, and started shooting, but the range of his Scatter Blaster wasn't long enougn to reach most of them. "Frag!! HURRY UP LORE-LOCK!!!"