Bridge – Command Conference RoomUltra Magnus wrote:“Grimlock, Hot Spot, please, calm down. We can figure this out if everyone just takes a moment to listen. Grimlock, like I said before, you should take some more ‘bots along just in case. We all know how strong your Dinobots are, but does having a few extra mechs really do you so much wrong? Hot Spot, Grimlock, take who you need to, and both of you - remember, this isn’t something for your own personal gain. These are our allies we’re talking about. They’re in unknown territory with Decepticons, so really, more should be better.”
Grimlock looked at
Ultra Magnus with a perplexed expression on his faceplate. “So, wait, is Hot Spot now going, too? Me thought it was just Dinobots going on rescue mission.” The rex-former shook his head in disbelief. Now, not only did he have to take other ‘bots along that would slow him and his team down, but he’d have to deal with Hot Spot and the Protectobots, as well? “Fine! Whatever! If Protectobots going, then that make ten ‘bots total. We don’t need more than that.
Trion also has plenty autotroopers. We be fine.”
Blaster wrote:“Aye, Grimsy! Relax, haha. You gotta have someone coverin’ comms for ya while you’re hacking and slashing!”
Grimlock’s attention was then drawn to the communications specialist’s comment. The Dinobot Commander growled under his breath. Who was this mech to tell him to relax? “Me relax when me good and ready to,” Grimlock began to respond. “Me guess that makes eleven now. Me good to go. Just give the word,
Magnus, and we be on our way.”
Hot Spot wrote:"With all due respect, what this ship needs I doubt being here around Sol-3 will be suffice. Many parts needs replaced since they are only patched up. Supplies are getting limited in some areas. Are we going to set up some sort of factory down on Sol-3 to make whatever we need instead of having a space dock around? I guess we could strip the Trion of whatever we need but doubt Grimlock will let his new toy be touched by anyone outside of his Dinobots.”
“I think you’ve annoyed Grimlock enough for one cycle,
Hot Spot,” Prowl said with a low chuckle. “So, let’s just leave the
Trion alone, shall we? As Magnus said, Grapple might have some supplies and resources he can spare. I won’t know until we have returned to Sol-3. Once there I will head down planetside and see what they have to use to help fix up the
Guardian adequately.”
Optimus Prime’s Hologram wrote:“Prowl, I trust you to arrange some sort of appropriate safeguard against another episode.”
The military strategist turned to face the holographic image of Optimus Prime down in the Brig. “Actually, I already have an idea,
Optimus. The others may not like it, but I think it’s our best option given the circumstances.
Ratchet, can you install a killswitch into Prime’s head that can be remotely activated if he were to have a relapse and attempt to go on another rampage? It wouldn’t be fatal, of course. It would simply shut him down temporarily in order to bring him under control.”
Prowl knew there would be objections to this somewhat radical idea. After all, Megatron used killswitches in his phase sixers just in case they would try to turn on him. It seemed like something that only the Decepticons would do to one of their own. Of course, the black and white was not above utilizing ‘Con tactics if it furthered the Autobot cause. In this case, it would help protect his fellow ‘Bots from being dismantled by their own leader.
As the military strategist awaited a response from
Ratchet, his terminal began to beep as a small light flashed on the keyboard. Prowl glanced down at the panel that was affixed to the tabletop. “Well, it seems we are approaching Sol-3," the prick-bot informed
everyone present. "The
Guardian should make orbit near the
Trion in approximately two breems.”
BrigKup wrote:"Good thinkin', Rallybot. I was wonderin' the same thing back over on the 22.”
Smokescreen followed
Kup as he walked over to one of the terminals outside of Optimus Prime’s cell. The old timer quickly brought up the log files from the Ark that showed Megatron’s movements through the ship until he reached the bounce chamber.
Kup wrote:"Y'see? Didn't even seem interested in our guys over there. Just made bee-line straight for the bounce chamber. Like you, I figured he bounced somewhere specific like a 'Con ship nearby and -bam- we got 'im. Not quite. See those open space coordinates right there? That's where he bounced to. And the 22's scanners didn't pick up anything out of the ordinary. Fragginest thing I've seen in a while."
“That is strange,” the rallybot responded as he watched the surveillance feeds replay in a loop on Kup’s screen. “Megatron seemed less interested in doing any damage to the Ark and more interested in just getting off the ship. You’d think he want to cause as much destruction in his wake as possible before bouncing out. And to just bounce into open space like that is...very weird. He definitely must have been under the influence of something just like Optimus.” Smokescreen stopped as he looked back at Prime who was still in his cell.
Kup wrote:"Yeah. Not a petrorabbit's chance in a cyberfox den. We ever find that ship and decide to board it, we better be sendin' a war party. But we can hope ol' Buckethead did enough damage to his own troops that we can find out where that ship is hidin'. More importantly though, after gettin' you back to prime shape, er, Prime...we gotta shut down the infiltration protocols and get the 'Cons away from this world. There's too many lives at stake down there and they have no idea how much danger they're in.”
“Yeah, it would have to be a really big war party,” Smokescreen added, agreeing with
Kup’s assessment before the old timer moved on to discussing infiltration protocols. “The Decepticons have destroyed so many worlds, I would hate to see this one added to the list. But with Megatron back and Sixshot now in system I fear that the ‘Cons will only accelerate infiltration. We’ll need to act fast in order to stop them.”
Optimus Prime wrote:“I’ve no intention of leaving this world unprotected. If the Decepticons were able to rouse Megatron then it is likely that he is already proceeding with plans to advance the infiltration protocol. Despite what may befall me, we must work tirelessly to foil their plans.”
“Whatever you require of me,
Optimus, I’m here,” Smokescreen said, echoing Kup’s sentiments. The red and blue racer then listened with great interest as Prime turned his attention to the command conference room and inquired about the status of infiltration. The follow-up response from Ultra Magnus provided good news about the destruction of the Decepticons’ undersea base. At least Grimlock and his Dinobots were good for something.
Ratchet wrote:"If the Decepticons advance to Phase Three, we all know what that means. The native casualty list is going on increase. Visibly.”
“We can’t let that happen,” Smokey interjected as he re-entered the cell and stood by Optimus Prime again. The diversion expert then heard Prowl’s idea to implant a killswitch into Prime’s head that would effectively deactivate him if he went crazy again.
“A killswitch?” Smokescreen said a bit surprised at what he was hearing. He shouldn’t have been, though, considering the concept came from Prowl. “Can that be done,
Ratchet, without hurting Optimus?”