0003: NEW ARRIVALS

[crux_npcs]

Who: New Arrivals, Captain Jack Hollis, Science Captain Urist McEngineer, Graham Baker
Where: Briefing Room
When: Late afternoon
Warnings: None

When awakening, you'll find the area you're in to be very busy. The people in the medical ward are polite and understanding, but firmly refuse to answer questions until the briefing. The same goes for the robots in the hangars. Either given hospital outfits resembling very comfortable pajamas, drone bodies, or their own bodies, they are escorted by polite, unyielding people in red and black uniforms to the briefing room.

The room is large, but not quite large enough for some of the bigger Cybertronians. They've been given drone bodies at least, skinny little things with no real features beyond primitive masks made of paper plates. There's seats for everyone, at least, well-cushioned and comfortable, and the room is pleasantly lit.

A few Security personnel, dressed in their red and black uniforms, stand at ease in the rooms in strategic areas. Three men stand at the head. One is Graham Baker, a slightly nervous-seeming middle-aged man wearing a multi-layered business suit that seems rumpled and oversized. The other two men are dressed in military uniforms, one with the blue undershirt and piping of Command, while the other wears the gold of Science.

[Questions to the NPCs will go in the briefing thread. The rest of the post is there for people to mill about and do whatever with.]

Comments

[staygoldponybot]

[oh, for fuck's sake. it had to be this asshole, didn't it? rev up that schadenfreude, shockwave. sentinel looks like he was dropped into a blender; that ghastly colour scheme is barely visible anymore. the shitty rushed job the fleet engineers only really held him together so he wouldn't die. or, you know, have all his internals fall out.]

Shock- [kzzt-- oops there goes his vocalizer. can't even talk, wow it must be like christmas all up in here for the former senator.

at least he tried?]

[tomemyoutliers]

Internal comms, Sentinel.

( There's a moment or two where he heavily considers just abandoning the head of security there. He'd be justified, wouldn't he? After the Shadowplay, after empurata. His hands tighten into fists and his expression darkens.

Shockwave could just walk away. He could.

But he doesn't. Instead he moves to crouch down by the side of the other bot, not touching him because he's not certain the other bot would even want him to. Which suits him just fine. )

The repairs are barely holding you together. You should be dead.

( Why aren't you dead. )

[staygoldponybot]

[he tries to scowl, but his expression just managed to come out pained. this might be easier if he could stand and rumble angrily. alas.]

I would say luck if you hadn't shown up. I expect you'll be finishing off Megatron's work.

[seriously, hated enemy half dead in front of you... he'd totally do it.]

[tomemyoutliers]

Megatron's work? He's hardly in any position to do this to anyone.

( He's a miner. Also sent off-planet to keep the Senate away from him and to keep Megatron away from the Senate. But back to the topic at hand - )

No, I don't think I will.

[staygoldponybot]

Then if you're not planning on offlining me, perhaps you could do a better repair job. I believe there is much to discuss if you think Megatron is not the one who did this.

[or just leave him to die in peace, either or.]

[tomemyoutliers]

Do a-- I'm not a doctor, Sentinel. ( But he can definitely do a better job - venting a sigh and running his hand across his face in exasperation and disbelief that he's actually going to do this. ) I'll need any number of supplies and a clear working space first.

( And then-- )

I've heard about his writing - he hardly seems the type to take out the head of security.

( Thanks, Orion. Also what would be the point of taking out Sentinel? )

[staygoldponybot]

[you know what he's not going to do while half dead and in such a vulnerable position? tell shockwave he was made prime.]

I'll make a note to tell you at a better time.

[tomemyoutliers]

( probably a wise choice, gj sentinel. )

I believe there's a saying that goes 'no time like the present'. ( okay but focusing on the problem at hand. ) You require more than just what I have on hand - the job our hosts did will take time to undo before I can fix your existing injuries.

[staygoldponybot]

[there's another burst of static. that might've been a sigh.]

If they can pump me full of a synthetic energon potent enough to keep me online, I am sure there will be some way to get the parts needed.

As long as I can stand up without all my internals falling out.

[he can dream, right?]

[tomemyoutliers]

( it's tempting to ask how much of his own energon he lost, but-- it's rather obvious. )

I'm no medic - you won't like what it looks like when I'm done.

( spoilers: he doesn't actually care if sentinel likes it or not. )

[staygoldponybot]

[you sadistic ass.]

I am past petty concerns for looks. Survival is more important.

[tomemyoutliers]

In that case- ( pressing his hands together ) stay there, won't you? I need to find Trailbreaker.

[staygoldponybot]

[he doesn't reply until shockwave is probably out of sight, but..]

Why?

[somewhat worried as to where this is going.]

[tomemyoutliers]

Because we're going to need supplies, and I can't carry everything I'm going to need myself.

( are you excited, sentinel? )

[staygoldponybot]

[NOT IN THE LEAST.]

I see.
I'm sure Proteus would not be adverse to using his particular skillset in aiding you.

[that is, be a manipulative shit to get his head of security back in action.]

[tomemyoutliers]

( sentinel should be very glad he doesn't see shockwave's expression at proteus' name. very very very glad. )

If I wanted Proteus' help I would have asked him already.

( he's going to interact with that bastard when he feels like it, on his own terms. )

[staygoldponybot]

[he wouldn't particularly care.]

I'll be sure to advise him to stay away from you, then.

[tomemyoutliers]

( well does he want someone that angry rummaging around in him? )

Proteus shouldn't need a warning to know that.

[staygoldponybot]

[sentinel is... somewhat confident shockwave won't kill him.]

You underestimate his narcissism.

[tomemyoutliers]

There is only one thing I underestimated about the two of you. That is not it. If he wishes to gloat he'll only have himself to blame for what happens.

( keep believing that, buddy. )

[staygoldponybot]

[sweats loudly!!!]

Fine.

[that's all he's saying on the matter right now, mostly because he could care less about what happens as long as he isn't involved.

even though he knows he'll be roped into it one way or another.]