If it's not one thing, it's another

[chatter_bot]

He pulls a grenade from subspace and balances it in his hand, his targeting array automatically finding the best place to lob it for the most damage.  His thumb brushes the trigger and he offlines his optics.

Shots continue to tear past his head, his doorwings twitch, threatening to unlatch from his back and give the ‘Cons a target, and with a

Comments

[1st_aid_kit]

*In the Med Bay, First Aid is sitting on the edge of the counter, lost in thought. The sudden explosion sends a shudder through the Ark and is enough to shake the human off the table enitrely.*

*He yelps as he falls, arms instinctively going to cover his head...*

[naturebot]

Hound too is sitting quietly waiting for Ratchet to get back to him with the results of his bloodwork. The explosion startles him and he jumps to his feet only to tumble to his knees as the whole Ark shakes. Panting hard, he feels the change come again. Gritting his teeth, prepared for some sort of pain, he's surprised when he finds himself crouching on four paws, tongue licking a long muzzle.

"Aid," he shouts as the lights go out and then come back on again.

Beachcomber yips in surprise and instinctively looks for a place to hide when the Ark shakes under him. Lights fade and come on and he's pressed against Steeljaw. "What the slag?"

[chatter_bot]

Bluestreak remained offline unaware of the havoc created by the explosion. The heat had scorched his paint and melted the armor on his back but had left his front untouched, his familiar red and silver paint scheme obvious.

[cmowithahatchet]

Slagging hell! *looks around as the battered room stops shaking and the lights flicker back on* Is anyone injured? [Comm:Blaster]Something just blew up over here, what the frack is going on? [/comm]

[stealthy_lion]

*As soon as the lights went out, Steeljaw dropped into a crouch - partly to minimize himself to any danger and partly to shield Beachcomber. When the power came back up again, he nudged the meerkat gently with his nose*

Get on my back. We dont know what's going on and if there's danger and a scramble I dont want you getting trampled on... and we're okay Ratchet

[sand_dune_dude]

I'm good, Ratchet. *Beachcomber nodded at Steeljaw and scrambled up onto the lion's back. He chuckled* No, that wouldn't be good. Ya know, that was a mighty big explosion to shake the Ark like that. Maybe we should check it out, you know, in case someone is hurt?

[naturebot]

I'm okay. *Hound crouched on the table and sniffed the air. Beachcomber was right. There could be injuries and search and rescue was one of his specialties. He sniffed again and wuffed to get the smell out of his nose.*

Do you smell that, 'Jaw? Like lots of explosives went up at once? It's coming through the vents... Ratchet, there's nothing wrong with me and I can be useful. I'm going to check it out. *He scritches Jaw's flank.* Coming with me, young lion?

*He doesn't even wait for Ratchet's reply before dropping to the floor from the berth.*

[cmowithahatchet]

Wait up for me *Ratchet growls, picks up Aid in one hand and a roll of tools in the other. He taps into the internal sensor grid as they head out* It's the armoury, what slagging idiot was playing around with explosives in there!?

[naturebot]

The armory? That makes sense, explains what I'm smelling. *Hound drops down to all fours and sprints out the door.* I'll meet you there.

*Once he's outside in the corridor he experiments, running on two legs before dropping down to run along for a while on all fours trying to figure out the most efficient and comfortable way of moving in his new body. The scent of the exploded ammunition and weapons is strong in the corridor and Hound heads straight there.

*He slows as he reaches the room. Smoke is billowing from the opening left when the doors blew off. He sticks his head in and pulls it back quickly. It's still pretty hot and smokey.

*He paces impatiently outside the door waiting for Ratchet and the others and for things to cool off so he can go inside.*

[1st_aid_kit]

*First Aid doesn't object to being lifted, holding onto his right arm gingerly. While he doesn't think anything's broken, he wouldn't be surprised if he'd strained anything.*

Hound, be careful! D:

[streetpatrol]

*Streetwise sticks close to Ratchet, Steeljaw, and Beachcomber, looking over at his brother worriedly.* I don't like this, guys... We don't have everyone accounted for, and now explosions? We're sitting ducks here.

*He takes out his gun and keeps it at the ready.*

[stealthy_lion]

Hold on

*Once Beachcomber had a grip on his mane, Steeljaw ran after Hound. Wasn't too hard to follow the scent to the armory and they found Hound waiting outside. There was considerable heat coming from inside, but even with all the smoke, he could still pick out faint scents of other substances*

I smell nitrates, and something Cybertronian. Was someone trying to experiment with Earth and Cybertronian explosives?

*Then another smell hit him*

And... Bluestreak? Is he in there?

[naturebot]

*Hound shook his head at Streetwise and waved at him to put the gun down.* We're not in any danger out here, Streets. And I don't think anybody is going to jump out at us from in there.

*He glanced in surprise at Steeljaw and then grinned his admiration for the lion's nose. He took another sniff of the room and just shook his head.* Bluestreak? Well, it wouldn't be too surprising, but why would he blow up the armory and himself with it?

*Beachcomber sneezed and grimaced.* It stinks, that's all I know. My big question is, is it safe to go in there? If he's in there, we have to get him out.

*Hound stuck his head into the room again. It was cooling down though smoke still filled the area. He could see the blackened walls which were warped and pulled away from the ceiling.* Good question, Beachcomber. If Blue is in there, though, we're going to have to risk it.

[cmowithahatchet]

You lot stay here. *he puts Aid down, then seals his vents and walks into the smokey room, searching for the downed gunner* Bluestreak!Bluestreak! Where the frack are you! Can't see a slagging thing in here... *crouches to get under the smoke, then his searching hands encounter an arm, followed by a shoulder and torso* Great, you're still in one chunk. Up you come...*with a grunt and a heave he hauls the gunner up into a fireman's carry and stumbled over the debris to the door with him*

[naturebot]

*Hound waits impatiently for Ratchet. Watching him disappear into the smokey room was unsettling and he breathed a sigh of relief when Ratchet appeared again with a small mech slung over his shoulders.

*Hound frowns, which actually looks kind of snarly on his muzzled face, and sniffs at the unconscious body.* You sure that's Bluestreak? Kind of small. Doesn't smell like I remember. *He glances at Steeljaw who could confirm the mech's identity by scent while reaching up and to turn the mech's head around to look at him. He scrubs some of the black soot from the mech's face and nods.* Yep, it's him.

*Bluestreak doesn't stir despite being lifted, slung, carried and inspected.*

[rockin_bot]

[Comm:Ratchet] I'm still out in the field, got a mess goin' down over here. Frag it, shouldn't have left the Ark so light on 'bots. Hate to say it, but you'll have to find out what you can with who you got at hand. I'll see if I can pull any back up from our lines out here. [/comm]