Episode 2 - Instruments of Construction

[Onix Solo]

Scrapper sat underneath a light in the construction zone. It was the middle of the night, and for the last month he had let humans drive him around and use him for construction. It was all he had left. Scrapper transformed and picked up a barrel of oil popping it open and sat down under the light, leaning on a stack of girders.

Scrapper: "This's for you, Mix."

Scrapper took a big swig of the oil and relaxed against the girders. He was about to drift off when headlight suddenly shined on him and an engine fired up. A truck drove into the construction zone and stopped in front of Scrapper. Scrapper sprang up and looked around in panic, ready to run but the truck transformed and stepped into the light.

Scrapper: "MIX! Is that'chu"

Mixmaster: "Yeah, it's me Scrappa."

Scrapper: "Where have ya been, Mix pal? I've looked everywhere. I'd given up on findin' ya"

Mixmaster: "That's not important right now, Scrappa. The boss wants to talk to ya. He's waitin' for us right now. Follow me."

Mixmaster transformed and headed out of the construction site. Scrapper scratched his head and transformed, following out a few second later.
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The Autobots stood in the main hub of their Headquarters. It had been a week since their arrival and they were finally getting settled in. Ratchet had Beachcomber sitting in a chair as he used some tools on Beachcombers forearm. Beachcomber squirmed as Ratchet worked.

Beachcomber: "You sure this is, like, necessary. I'm a pacifist, I don't believe in weapons."

Tapout: "We're a bit short on numbers and ever bot counts. You at least need the stingers in case of self defense."

Beachcomber nodded then squirmed again as Ratchet fiddled with the stinger upgrades. It only took a few more minutes and Beachcomber was fitted with a set of stingers.

Ratchet: "For now they stay on civilian setting until he has proper training. Otherwise your are all set."

A female robot walked into the room with the others and everyone turned to see who it was. Ratchet walked over to the new comer and went to introduce her

Ratchet: "This is Wildfire. I requested her from the space bridge team on the moon. They are a small operation and this was all they could spare for the moment. Until they get the bridge completed and we can make contact with Cybertron, this will have to do."

Tapout: "Welcome to our team Wildfire. Glad to have you. Ratchet, I'd like to have a meeting. Me, you, Punch and Arcee. Hot Shot and Tracks, take Beachcomber to the range and get him used to his new stingers and why don't you take Wildfire with you."

Hot Shot: "Yes sir!"

OOC: So, right now we are just mingling and what not. The HQ consists of the hangar, the control room (room they started in), the range, crew quarters, commons room, and prowl's room (Ratchet had it left alone to preserve his memory)

[Hoist]

It had been a week since they received their new alt modes to stay here on Earth and Tracks was still tinkering with his. On his way over to HQ, he hadn't liked any of the alternate modes available. It wasn't until a classic cars parade through the city that the lights came on and he found his perfect vehicle - an old 84' Trans-Am.

Sitting in the hangar bay he finished the final adjustments to his vehicle mode combining a way to use his hover mode whilst in this new form. In his robot mode, behind each wheel covering his shoulder joint; he now sported two tiny white wings with a red stripe on the edge. Although still blue, his alt mode now sported a nifty flame design on the bonnet. He hoped the adjustments, aided by Ratchet, would work and that he could hover in his alt mode, as he had yet to try them out...

[Onix Solo]

Hot Shot walked up to Tracks and eyed up the wings

Hot Shot: "Nice. Prime want's us to show Beachcomber how to use his newly acquired stingers, and get to know the femebot that just flew in. Coming to the range with us? We can all use some target practice and a little fun, being we've been cramped up in here for a week."

[WildFire]

It hadn't taken long for WildFire to find her alt mode, she had

immediatley liked the Su-47 Berkut jets flying around. It had

taken a few test flights around the base to get used to it, but

she got the hang of it. She headed towards the range to meet

and get to know the others.

[Hoist]

"Sure, I need to test out these bad boys anyway", remarked Tracks standing up from the metallic crate where he was sat, "Not that I don't doubt the work of Ratchet, but you should never discount the possibility."

[Bomblast]

Punch was checking out his new body panels that came about from his new alt mode. To him, it was one of the best looking Earth vehicles out there, and the engine made a damn fine noise. He looked up when he heard Tapout's orders.

"Sure thing, Prime." Punch said, as he stood and stretched out a couple of his joints.

[Onix Solo]

Hot Shot: "Then lets get over to the range. I think Wildfire headed straight there, and I already sent Beachcomber there."

Hot Shot waved Tracks to come along and headed over to the range. Hot Shot entered the range where Beachcomber stood, transforming his stingers in and out.

Hot Shot: "I see you've gotten used to deploying the stingers. Ready to learn how to shoot them?"

Beachcomber: "You sure that this is really necessary? I've never shot anything before."
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The control room was now devoid of most of the team except Tapout, Punch, Ratchet and Arcee.

Tapout: "Now that we are all situated and settled in, I wanted to get briefed on what we know about the Decepticons and if there are any Decepticons left here on earth that weren't brought back with Megatron."

[WildFire]

WildFire was reassembling her Blaster when the others stepped

in. "Hey." She said.

[Onix Solo]

Hot Shot walked up to Wildfire and extended his hand.

Hot Shot: "I'm Hot Shot. That guy over there is my man Tracks, and that is Beachcomber, who, I guess is our mechanic and local rookie. Finally, Tracks get to be above someone in rank."

Hot Shot laughed
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Ratchet: "Well, we aren't sure how many Decepticons are in hiding on Earth, which is why we are working in setting up a presence to deter them. Unfortunately, I'm afraid that Megatron's reemergence might make them come out of hiding."

Arcee: "We know at least one of the Starscream seeker clones are still present on Earth. We never could find evidence of Dirtboss or Mixmasters demise, and Scrapper vanished into hiding after his help with Soundwave, of whom which we can only assume survived with his minions as well. We've not had headway on the outcome of Blackarachnia or Waspinator either."

Tapout's mouth sat opened at the list, eyes a little wider than normal

Tapout: "That's a big list for just those we have tabs on.......But it could work in our advantage. Punch here isn't one of my gaurds, he is covert op's, we were going to get him in with the Decepticons and see what he could find out. If we don't know all the Decepticons out there in hiding, perhaps Megatron doesn't either. Punch, show them what you can do."
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Mixwaster and Scrapper pulled up to an old Warehouse. Mixmaster transformed, as did Scapper, and opened the door. They both walked through and Mixmaster closed the door back behind them. Mixmaster pointed across the room and Scrapper gazed off into the distance. He saw what appeared to be a desk and walked up to it. The chair behind it spun around and Dirtboss sat in it with his hand clasped together.

Dirtboss: "We'd been lookin' for ya for a while, Scrapper. The final part of my plan."

Scrapper looked around a bit nervous, Mixmaster walked up behind him, a bit close.

Scrapper: "You're lookin' good, Boss. I tried finding the both of ya, I did. Where have you been?"

Dirtboss: "That ain't important anymore, Scrapper. Are you ready to help us get what we deserve? Because even if you aren't, you ain't got much of a choice."

Mixmaster placed a firm hand on Scrappers shoulder and Dirtboss laughed. Scrapper swallowed hard.

[Bomblast]

Punch smiled and began to transform. His head retracted into his body and his arms turned into legs and his legs into arms. Another head extended from his body and his Autobot insignia flipped over revealing a Decepticon one.

"Say hello to Counter-Punch" He said, his voice now deeper and more menacing. "Been a while since I had to use this disguise. Might take me a little to get into the right mind-set."

[Onix Solo]

Ratchet and Arcee took a step back as Punch transformed into Counter-Punch

Ratchet: "That is.....definitely not something you see everyday. Only person I've ever known with the ability was Shockwave. Never knew there were Autobots with that talent."

Tapout: "So here is what I'm thinking. Counter-Punch here makes contact with the Decepticons as an informant, feeding them information while trying to get some back. I'd doubt that the 'Cons will just let him in right away, but once he builds their trust we can get an operative with access to their base and plans. The only problem now is finding the way to establish contact. What do you think Punch?"

[Bomblast]

Counter-Punch addressed Ratchet first.

"Sadly none of us knew about Shockwave either. Luckily, I bypassed Longarm Prime and reported directly to the Magnus. Had I needed to report to Longarm, I probably wouldn't be here right now."

With that, he transformed back into Punch.

"As for contacting the Decepticons, I'm not sure. Never had to go and look for them myself. I've always known where they would be. The Starscream clone will probably be too difficult to track down. Blackarachnia and Waspinator will be hard to find as well. That leaves Dirtboss, Mixmaster and Scrapper. If their favourite haunts are known, I could have a look in those areas and see if I can find a trace of them. I should look in those places alone though, so I can transform into Counter-Punch and pretend to be a Decepticon looking for allies."

[Onix Solo]

Arcee frowned

Arcee: "Unfortunately, these lone Decepticons functioned separate from Megatron's outfit. I don't know how much help it would be to track them down. I'd bank that our best chance would be having Counter-Punch cause some trouble and catch some attention. Megatron might be on the look out for recruits to rally to his cause."

Ratchet: "Or we can use some of the old Decepticons frequencies to see if the 'Con's are still keeping tabs on them. If Punch plays as an Early Decepticon deserter before we had cracked down on the Decepticons communications it would make sense for him to use a channel know to Autobots. Many Decepticons left before that time."

[Bomblast]

Punch folded his arms and thought for a moment.

"I think I prefer Arcee's plan. It seems the most likely to attract the attention of Megatron or any of the others. Although I'm not so sure the Humans would appreciate me...Sorry...Counter-Punch....trashing their city. Unless we find a district that is about to be demolished or something."

[WildFire]

WildFire shook HotShot's hand. "Nice to meet ya. Pretty safe to

say you guys are down here for target practice?" She laughed.