Outskirts of Aleppo- Warehouse ComplexThrust’s optics blazed bright red as he stepped out of the shuttle. He hadn’t liked waiting his turn as he felt he’d more than proven himself over most of the others, but he bid his time.
I will shine soon enough, he thought, smiling as he allowed himself to image the benefits and rewards that would be heaped upon following this mission. The fleshlings weren’t much of a threat, but they were still the enemy. So Megatron had ordered.
The atmosphere of the planet assaulted his sensors — receptors and scent circuits. The smell was familiar. War. Sweet, glorious war, whose fruit brought rewards upon those brave enough to pick it. This was what he was built for. This was what kept the energon flowing through his circuits. Such rewards that awaited him were beyond even his imagining.
A wicked, sneering smile played across his faceplate at the thought. The fleshlings would be powerless before them. Without the Autobots, there was no reason to fear reprisal or defeat. Oh no, this was perfect.
Finally, an environment I can thrive in. Even the dirtpounders may be able to prove themselves. If they don’t break an axle.A low chuckled came from his vocalizer. “Come,
Dirge,
Nitro Zeus. Let us see what you are capable of.” His voice came out low and intense, and without him even caring his one of his brothers was near or not. Whether they joined him or not wasn’t important. This was his time for glory.
Without hesitating, or remembering they were there in a low key manner, he transformed and fired up his engines. “Megatron wants to secure the area, so I’ll secure the area.”
~~~
Dessicator remained behind in the shuttle, choosing to watch the others leave as he readied himself for what was to come.
Silent and secretive were two words that did
not describe him or his abilities. He was designed to bomb an installation with his artilary, not sneak around in the gloom and pick off tiny enemies. That was work better suited to… well, anyone smaller and less clunky.
Still, had had been given an assignment and he hadn’t failed to deliver yet.
“I miss the asteroids. Quiet, small, simple,” he mumbled as he pushed off from the bulkhead and crossed the mostly empty shuttle. With so few around, he felt his mood brighten to the point he felt confident he could pick take out a fleshling city without a second thought.
Each step brought on the change he’d come to expect and even look forward to as a new mission officially began. His previous anxiety was quickly replaced as he stepped out of the shuttle and took in the various mechs already spreading out, searching for the humans Megatron had ordered them to dispatch. Smiling, he thought he had a fun way of getting to know the planet while fulfilling his orders.
Ducking so he wouldn’t bang his head on the shuttle’s underside, he stepped off the side of the ramp. He found the feel of the concrete beneath him strange, yet pleasant. While not as smooth of comforting as the steel alloy he was used to, its hardened feel seemed the perfect thing to help him focus and zero in on what he needed to do.
He didn’t follow the others, choosing instead a direction few of his fellow ‘Cons had chosen yet and focused his scans there. It didn’t take long for him to pick up a handful of organics that appeared to be in a vehicle he found interesting as it was smaller than what he assumed was a military vehicle. Without a word, he headed In a northwesterly direction.
The storage buildings took up a majority of the area, which only aided him as he walked between two of them. If was… interesting to walk among them. While his head and shoulders stood above them, he was surprised at the sensation of walking among Cybertronian storage containers, like they were there solely for him to rip open and take the contents for himself. Though, he reminded himself, he knew there wasn’t any energon or things that would interest him. He wasn’t a scientist by any stretch, despite his curiosity.
He paused at the sound of a motor and the humming of tires on cement approached his location.
A patrol of some sort? They may have seen our shuttle land. Not liking the idea of being discovered so early, he thought it best to confront them before they could send out a warning. Curious as to how the human technology matched up with Cybertronian, he paused and transformed into his large but cylindrically designed Cybertornian tank and waited.
He only had to wait a few seconds as a jeep turned into the narrow roadway between the buildings where he was waiting. It slowed as it approached him before coming to a complete stop. A human in what looked like a uniform of some sort climbed out and approached him, muttering in whatever language the humans here preferred. He hadn’t bothered to learn what it was called and he didn’t care.
The man stepped forward and rested a tentative hand on Dessicator’s armor, nearly causing the mech to shiver. Only his numerous missions where organics and other beings had come into contact with him kept him from showing his disgust.
Must be an enforcer of some sort. Probably security.The man was smiling as he said something to others as they climbed out of the jeep and approached. They appeared youthful and wore different colored clothes as they approached him, smiling.
Oh no, you are not going to pet me like I’m some… some… Scrap it! Having enough of indulging his curiosity, Dessicator transformed. The four humans froze in wonder and shock as he looked down, studying them. “A shame to waste any ammunition on you, but I can’t chance you getting away. Hope you understand.” He didn’t know if they understood him or not, but he didn’t give them a chance as he aimed his gattling gun and the barrels started turning.
When he was finished, he stepped over the smoking ruins that had been a jeep and continued on.
>>Dessicator here. Four fleshlings and their vehicle eliminated. Continuing northwest to the predassigned boundary, then heading northeast in a sweeping pattern. Dessicator out.<< Ugh, they’re too messy. Should’ve let me bomb the place. ~~~
Amethyst wrote: >>"Really? Aren't the fleshlings a little bigger than whatever was in there?"<<
The reprimand was something he hadn’t expected to come from a lesser experienced mech, but he accepted it, even going so far as to send a look to
Skywarp that said, “This is why you’re a bad influence,” but he kept the thought to himself. His friend would remind him of this soon enough, he was sure of it.
Unlike others, he didn’t hold anything against
Amethyst as she was busy focusing on her part of their assignment, just as he should be.
I was, but why’d I let my processor wander? It was an interesting question, but it was better left for another time. Forcing himself back into warrior mode, he was about to respond to Amethyst when his sensor beeped, showing a larger organic exiting the building through a doorway next to the dumpster.
He turned in time to see the fleshy stop, scream, and turn to run. Without hesitating, Thundercracker aimed and fired his laser at its lowest setting. The flash was brief, too brief to be noticed by anyone not between the buildings. Thundercracker paused as he studied the black spot where the human had been before being vaporized.
So this is our enemy. How fitting. In a low voice, he said, “You should’ve stayed hidden."
Pushing his newfound doubts aside, he turned his attention to the warehouse, redoubling his scans. When nothing registered, he continued along the roadway, shortening his scan so it would be more intensive and less likely to skip over anyone else in hiding.
The sudden roar of an engine caught his attention, but instead of it being one of the human’s craft like he expected, it was Thrust.
Why am I not surprised.