TOK Chapter1: The Hand that Feeds

[Hoist]

"Well, I don't have any questions", contributed Hardstrike, "The sooner we leave the better, especially if we need to conceal or disarm some of our weapons"

All thoughts about concern on joining the Renegades, about Cryptica became secondary to the mission, as last feeling renewed and having a purpose. He hoped they could pull this mission off, their first official mission for the Renegades, the last thing he wanted was to succumb to more worries. He just hoped when the time came he could make the right choices, the right decisions.

"Just point me in the right direction", Driveby understated flatly, not asking any questions or showing as much eagerness as the others. Not that he wasn't keen, but he just wanted to get out there and get on with it.

[Neo Calrissian]

Incendius nodded.
"Let's do this."
The whole presentation had flown by. He'd a little refreshed since Phasmatis had been out of the picture. He was up for a bit of action at last. He allowed himself a smile. This would be a good way to blow off steam over that creep. He flexed his fingers and nodded to the group his was undertaking the mission with.
"Guess we're gonna get to know each other, huh?"

[Bomblast]

Roadtrain went and stood by Incendius.

"I'd have preferred to get to know you all better before heading out on a mission, but if we're all here, we must be good. Also looks like you're leading this mission, Incendius."

Roadtrain looked at the three group members he didn't really know too well, Incendius, Driveby and Onix. They all looked as though they could handle themselves. He just hoped that they would all be able to work together as a team.

Deadbolt nodded to Roadtrain and Tomboy as he moved over to Hardstrike, Incognito, Metalingus and Hypershot.

"Looks like we've not a nice little bit of sneaky sneaky action ahead of us. Ought to be fun." He said.

Deadbolt was starting to feel like an outsider. From what he's gathered, Hardstrike, Metalingus and Incognito all knew each other, that just left him and the rookie, Hypershot.

"Sooo....Who else is equipped for stealth missions?" Deadbolt asked.

[Highram]

"Pft. I'm more interested in the part where we actually do something. Hope the other guys don't take too long with Stinger." Hypershot said folding his arms.

"But can't do much about that. As for stealth missions, not really. This would be one of my first few field missions actually..." He said the last sentence slowly and quietly, slighty embarressed by his lack of experience.

[Bomblast]

Deadbolt grinned.

"Don't worry, we were all rookies at some point. The two most important things you can remember when on a mission is to stay calm and stay focused. Losing your cool and letting your mind wander always end badly." He said.

Deadbolt had to admit, he liked Hypershot's enthusiasm, but maybe the rookie was a little too eager to see combat.

[Jazzman Crothers]

'All right good. Head over to Hoist's workshop an get suited. Good luck and good hunting and come back alive.'

A pair of guards asked the Renegades to follow them to Hoist's workshop. No teleporting this time, the Renegade were taken down a hallway and on a elevator a few levels down from the control hub. After the new Renegades had left the control hub, the old one took his command chair and looked at the main view screen into deep space. 'So this is what you meant Max, the transition....'

'Sir?' Asked Jobs, one of the technicians who worked in the control hub, over heard Latyrx7's comment.

'Its hard to have to sit and watch when you used to be out there in the field.'

***************

The Renegade were finally lead to a large door and told by the guard that this was the way into Hoist's workshop. The door was closed and locked.

[Hoist]

H-Lab - Hoist's Workshop



At last it was done.

After almost a stellar cycle he finally had things the way he wanted it. Still it would take some getting use to, working inside the great planet-eater's hear, the very monster who almost destroyed Cybertron back in 2005.

With Unicron, Hoist had suffered greatly like most, damaged greatly, fortunate not to end up like Windcharger or Wheeljack, or the unfortunate of the crew of the shuttle. So many losses that day, so many memories buried in destruction and the shrill call of death. Starscream - bearing the power of the Underbase had finished him off, and like wise had almost killed his good friend Grapple. There were some however who would never come back - Smokescreen, Tracks, even poor skids. So many wars, so much carnage and Destruction, but now they had payed for it dearly this time. As he ran his hand over the console it still haunted him - the great charter of the dead: Banshee, Littlebot, even Indelible had come off worse for his agenda with Snap. Not that he still understood that vendetta was all about, but Indelible had payed for it this time - with his life. Not to mention all those who fell before them - Jazzmatic, Stormcloud, Skystreaker, Banshee, Maverick, Wrecka, Morpher - the list wet on and on.. They had lost many numbers over the years, and only now were beginning to rise again once more like a Pheonix with a new generation of Renegades

Powering down the computer console, the huge curved walls oh H-labs reaching far beyond his own height three times over bare a cold and depressing Environment. No Matrix bearing Autobot leader was even allowed near their base of operations - and quite right too. Although the head had been deemed inactive for Eons, the thought of that changing at any time still gave Hoist the creeps, as did the whole base. Now responsible for manufacturing new weapons, Hoist still kept his maintenance routines fully up to date. Yet for all the bad there was the good as well, Jinx and Aqualec had settled down on some off world planet, even Nightshade had gone travelling, Primus knows what kind of scrapes he was getting himself into these days...

And now it was time for the new Generation to sine, Hoist had had his glory days, but could still prove useful with the ongoing situation. He had only briefly seen these new recruits, and just hoped they too were made of sterner stuff...

[Jazzman Crothers]

After the control panel to open the door had been tried, Incognito decided to be the one to knock on the doors.

*KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK*

The knocks actually echoed down the quiet halls, and then it was silent once again. Breaking the tension, the doors slide open to reveal the lab. The sounds of computers working and machines moving greeted the Renegades before they could see the presence of anyone inside.

[Hoist]

Hidden away in a corner Hoist had his welding unit attached in his hand socket. Although they couldn't immediately see the Renegade Commander, the sound of grinding started to drown out the noise of the computers and machines inside the room. Security cameras with automatic laser rifles immediately spun round on the door as the grinding noise continued.

Round the corner the hot orange sparks begin to fly as Hoist carefully welded something on a cold, long metallic table. It was only a small device but very intricate. A huge welding mask covered Hoists' head and facial features as he continued to work. He had plenty of time to prepare these devices, even as far back as the training the new recruits undertook. And it was just as well, he only had a rough idea of ho many new candidates there were, not knowing how many would actually get through the training.

A small droid with tank track and a screen for a head and weedy arms rolled towards the door, it was a small droid and partly rusting. On the screen was the image of Hoist welding away with a touch screen and buttons to the right requesting identification and another to comm Hoist...

The armed security cameras around the room continued to flinch and train in on the new recruits if they even moved slightly...

[Jazzman Crothers]

Computic reached forward and pressed the id buttons, 'Name Computic. Renegade. Function, Communications.' and then pressed the comm for Hoist. 'Commander Hoist? Renegades reporting in.'

[Hoist]

+++ Identity Confirmed +++ reported the droid +++ You an you alone may proceed +++

A similar droid reported to Hoist as his comm link flashed on his arm, The Renegade Commander stopped and de-tached his welding unit replacing it with a hand. "And so it it begins", he uttered to himself. "Computer pan and track.."

+++ Affirmative +++, replied the droid as it communicated in a plain monotone voice to the droid at the front. From the armed security camera an infra-red beam scanned each Renegade and ID'd them once Computric had moved, Each Renegade felt a harmlesss beam pass up and down their body as it scanned them and vocally ID'd them out loud.

+++ You may pass subject to further security clearance. Please check you weapons as you enter and engage safeties on all weapons before proceeding...+++

Frrom around the corner Hoist appeared, "Computric, welcome to H-lab. I trust you are keeping well?"

[Bomblast]

Roadtrain obeyed the droid and removed his weapon, made sure the safety was on, then checked it in. He looked around the lab and let out a low whistle. He was impressed. Certainly looked as if Hoist was doing well from himself. Roadtrain only vaguely remembered Hoist from his time on Earth.

Deadbolt also removed his weapon and checked it in.

"Woah, would you check out the size of this place? Some pretty tasty looking weapons in here, can't wait to get my hands on them."

[Highram]

Hypershot checked his knife was off but left his arm guns as he was sure they wouldn't switch with his hands any time soon. He mumbled angrily about thinking there was no point to having such tight security in such a safe zone, but changed his mind when he saw the amounts of weaponry and explosives sitting around.

[Neo Calrissian]

Incendius smiled bashfully at Roadtrain's observation.
"I'll try my best, Roadtrain. I'd heard a little about you before the Renegades and your exploits on Earth. I'll probably need your experience."
He followed the others to the lab.
+++
Obeying the droid, Incendius reached up his left arm and pulled the safety tight. He ran a quick diagnostic to make sure that the secondary ammo chamber was empty, and that it coudn't misfire at any point. Then he checked his short sword, activated the safety to make sure that it wouldn't ignite. Anyone on the outisde would've thought this looked a little obsessive, but Incendius wasn't a person to take fire casually. Satisfied, he took a quick look around the lab. He whistled softly.
"Whoa... that's alot of weapons. You made all of these?"

[Jazzman Crothers]

'Yes Commander. I've been very well sir.' Computic said. He figured that Latyrx7 and Hoist learn about each Renegade as they had been hand picked by the older Renegades, but he didn't think the two elders would have been rather personal when dealing with the troops. It was very different from how the pack of them were treated by Omnitron. However Computic still had every ounce of respect for the Renegade commanders as he would for all his superiors. Maybe more.

Computic continued. 'My task for the mission doesn't require any further weapon upgrades or changes sir. I shall only require my usual attachment of weapons sir.'

Incognito was close to one of the tables that had a glass cover over a bunch of explosives all laid out. 'That looks like a X2 grenade. Hmm, a EMP charge, a Fire grenade but modified. Don't know what that one is, that green one looks deadly. Oh? Spikes? Very nice.'

Tomboy walked over to a wall full of blasters, ranging from small to medium to extremely large. 'You have quiet a collection here commander. Everything from concealable weapons to big frak-off weapons, aren't you suppose to be just a maintenance bot though?'


*********************

Elsewhere....

Phasmatis was brought to his cell. It was a room about 10 by 10 feet with a bench. It had three walls, each about 4 feet thick of pure metal and no air vents. The forth wall was actually the door way equipped with a force field to hold the captive inside. Phasmatis was facing the door with the guard behind him. He felt his cuffs deactivate and fall to the ground. He was then instructed to proceed forward into the cell.