(Untitled)

[due_caution]

Red Alert had briefly considered tagging along with Kitten Prime and Company, if only to make sure Rodimus stayed safe and out of trouble, but thought better of it after contemplation. Right now, at a glance, who would even know that the small orange Terran cat is the Autobot Prime, unless someone draws undue attention to him

Comments

Re: Columbia: FARC Encampment

[dirty_halfdozen]

//Leaving Drath's holdings with any semblance of strength merely allows him the chance to rebuild and attack you again and again,// Onslaught says. //As for Galvatron, I rather think that telling our mercurial leader that we formed a temporary business arrangement with the Autobots would be unwise at best and potentially fatal at worst.//

He pauses to review the list of materials sent. //The raw materials you offer are adequate compensation, but I must add two more things to your list. First, a shuttle. Blast Off is capable of making the trip but I see no need to exhaust a member of my team unnecessarily. We don't need anything fancy, but it should be fully spaceworthy.//

Another pause, during which Onslaught looks over at the tools of his trade -- his four brothers variously lounging about the camp. //As for the second thing -- I want a promise of asylum. Not now. But at some point in the future, perhaps, my brothers and I will need a bolt hole and I want the Autobots' promise that we will be able to seek shelter with them should we need it. A strange request, true, but I'm sure you'll agree that recent events have been more than a little strange. Do you agree to my terms?"

Spys 'r' Us

[stupidityinblue]

Duskwing drifts into the room, invisible and intangible. He's about in time to pick up a number of interesting things: Frostbite is bargaining with someone over the comm, though Duskwing can't make out what either one is saying too well; Red Alert is Not Happy, and Drath isn't dead. Duskwing thinks it was very helpful of Frostbite to write that down for him, but--

Drath isn't dead. This is bad. Very bad.

...because Not-Dead Drath might do it again.

And why are they watching Daniel's house?

Unfortunately, Duskwing still isn't aware that Frostbite can sense his presence.

Re: Spys 'r' Us

[stupidityinblue]

Duskwing fades into sight and looks at Frostbite with a puzzled frown.

"You can see?"

Re: Spys 'r' Us

[stupidityinblue]

Duskwing stares blankly at Frostbite for a long moment.

"Wha-? I don't get it. I didn't touch you." He frowns. "I'm not--" The ghost Seeker waves two clenched fingers around in a gesture of frustation. "Dunno how to say it. We're not.. 'connected', see? I could figure it if you were my old wingmate or somethin', but you ain't, I don't mean nothin' to youse, you shouldn't oughta... feel me."

He scowls; a thought occurs to him. "Can you feel the others?"

Re: Spys 'r' Us

[dirty_halfdozen]

//Talk it over with my teammates? I want you to note that you were the one who told me to bring Swindle into these negotiations.// Onslaught chuckles, stopping when he hears Duskwing's "You can see?"

He continues, filing the information away as simply confirming his suspicion that the conversation itself was not entirely secured. Of course the Autobots would be listening in, it's what he'd be doing under the circumstances.

//Anyone recognize that voice?// Onslaught asks over a secured channel of his own.

The responses vary, from Blast Off's //No//, Vortex and Swindle's chorused //Nope// and Brawl's snort //Sounds like just another flyboy t'me.//

//Interesting,// Onslaught says. //Now, the Autobot's offer. I fully intend to accept it.//

//Are you crazy, Ons?// Swindle asks. //She says she'll help us unofficially, but you know how well that worked out last time.//

//This time, it will be different,// Onslaught says, reassuringly.. //The Autobots have come to us; they clearly don't care what we do, so long as their task is completed.//

//And what happens when we're done with the Autobots' 'task'?// Blast Off asks.

//That depends,// Onslaught says. //For now, it is enough that we get our ship and our promised haven.//

Opening a channel to Frostbite. //On behalf of my team, I accept your offer. Though, I warn you, should you go back on your promise of sanctuary, recordings of these negotiations -- as well as our own confessions -- will be handed over to the various news agencies of the galaxy. Swindle can look extremely contrite when he wants to. We await word of where we shall pick up our payment.//

Re: Spys 'r' Us

[due_caution]

He'd begun to feel that faint edginess again, just a vague restlessness and discomfort that Red had immediately attributed to dealing directly with the Combaticons, when Frostbite had turned away and almost seemed to call Duskwing into existance. That makes Red pause, a flicker of faint despair rushing through his CPU.

How is he to maintain any kind of security if Duskwing, and presumably any other ghosts of any persuasion running about, can pop in and evesdrop with impunity?

Duskwing's confused question grabs Red's interest, however. He, too, would like to understand how Frostbite knew Duskwing was present. Perhaps it is a skill that Red Alert can develop as well. He looks at her curiously until Onslaught's transmission reaches them.

Damnit. Red Alert had been expecting as much from the double-dealing Combaticons. He hadn't wanted to deal directly with them for exactly that reason, as the potential for blackmail was just too huge a temptation to dangle before the Decepticons and not have them make a grab for it. As much as he would like to nix the whole deal right now, the damage has been done. May as well get the benefit from it. He's dreading, however, what they are opening themselves up for with even the nebulous and sketchy offer of a "haven".

Red bites back his unflattering observation about the Combaticon leader and his troops, and waits for Frsotbite's answers - to both Onslaught and Duskwing. As much as Red would like to ask Duskwing why he'd been there, his questions will have to wait; he's already got a pretty good idea that flooding the ghost with too many questions, or too complex questions, will be an exercise in futility.

Re: Spys 'r' Us

[dirty_halfdozen]

Onslaught chuckles. //Yes, yes, if we cross you, you'll inform Galvatron of our mercenary ways -- I suppose it's too much to ask you to trust me when I say that we have no intention of violating our agreement unless we have no other choice. When it is prudent, we can and will remain bought. We follow the First Rule.//

//Don't get caught,// murmurs Swindle over their private channel, as his brothers chorus their agreement.

//As for you having our payment ready quickly, I have no objections. We will begin preparations to depart our present location. Do you have any leads for us? If not, we'll work with what we can to find Drath's holdings, but any information you might have for us to start with would be a help and I would see it as a gesture of good faith.//

Reply to Frostbite

[stupidityinblue]

Duskwing looks at Frostbite blankly for a bit.

"Whaddaya spyin' on Daniel for?" he finally growls.

Re: Reply to Frostbite

[stupidityinblue]

Duskwing's optics narrow and glow a deeper red. It suddenly seems dimmer in the office, almost foggy. There's a elusive smell of acid-etched metal in the air, so faint as to be dismissed as imagination.

"Not good," he growls, "not good at all. Bad. Drath might do it again. The Air Commander's got to know about this!"

Duskwing vanishes in a swirl of dark fog and a flash of light.

Re: Reply to Frostbite

[due_caution]

Red Alert is already typing away furiously at his console. Screw the whole arrangement. Drath is still alive out there, and tried to use Spike against them before, anyway. Red dispatches orders to place the entire Witwicky family under tight guard to prevent Drath from getting anyone near them again until the devious human is in custody again. Meanwhile, they need to speak to Spike and get a better statement he's ordering that the Ambassador be escorted in to the Security office. Even if the Ambassador's tests reveal that he is, indeed, the real Spike, they need a better statement about everything Spike can thell them anyway.

And if he is not... Red doesn't plan on letting him slip through their fingers.

"It already is ugly," Red Alert replies in a tight growl, sending out the final order. "I'm picking up Spike now, regardless of the tests. We'll need him in custody either way."