Thunderdrum - Decepticon Transport Ship

[ripwave]

The muted sound of rotors folding out immediately indicate the minicon's intent to launch himself forward. Shortly thereafter, he finds his new perch upon Thunderdrum's shoulder kibble and proceeds to plunk down, crossing one leg over the other. Given their too-many joints and the wings mounted on the sides of his thighs, they come off as looking awkward, tangled and more gangling than usual. "Attacked by what? Base this big's actually having their aft pipes tugged by the 'Bots? Or local wildlife? I'm having trouble deciding which's funnier." Ripwave splayed his pedetips, then leaned forward, bracing himself on his palms.

"What's got you so bothered anyway?" The tiny teal Decepticon regarded Thunderdrum with dimming optics. "Like you said, if Frill-Face spills anything, we can just leave. So what gives?"

[generalbri]

Noticing the others stance, Thunderdrum stood still, letting Ripwave perch on his large shoulder. He didn’t mind one bit, Ripwave was one of his smallest of the crew. He made his way out to the hall, heading to a map room. “An outpost I meant to say, on another small moon. Didn’t know if the attackers were Bots or Neutrals.”

He entered the room, bringing up an updated map that was finally given to him moments ago through communications.

The purple mech frowned, now fully looking at how large the area was. “There are much more outposts and moons in this colony. And command wanted me here due to the sheer amount of moons and possible information to acquire. If word spread around that this colony had a metrotitan, they would prepare a large scale attack.” Grumbling as he rubbed his optics, he leaned on the console. “If I ran, we could lose a colony. Make me look bad at command.”

Red optics look to Ripwave, “and I might be worrying to much. I just need my best to keep a more watchful eye out. I’ll inform the others too. You might get more opportunities though.” Then a smirk.

[ripwave]

"Or it'll make your new boss look bad at handling her assets," Ripwave points out. "I think we want to assume she doesn't wanna look bad. Not by the way she carries herself." So someone was around snooping on the two commanders--at least during their interludes in the halls. This time, the minicon's optics were firmly affixed to the display in front of them. Much of this information was necessary if he was to do his own job effectively, so he studied each slide, zoom, and shift Thunderdrum accessed while they spoke. "She blathers, and Autobots do swarm, it'll be because she blathered. If you leave, it'd, euuuuh..."

Ripwave trails off in thought, craning his helm back. "If you leave, you do it to protect the Decepticons' most dangerous secret this side of the galaxy." Credit where it was due. He was trying to reasonably assure Thunderdrum of the necessity of his choice. Ripwave abruptly lifts one long index digit. "And before you say, 'Oh no, silly minicon, if I run then we lose the outpost and the Autobots won't be dead and it won't be a secret anymore!' to which I say, 'If you fight back, they know no matter the outcome; if you don't, they're running scared on rumors with no proof because a metrotitan didn't show up to defend the outpost'.

"So... yeah, sure, okay, high command miiiight be just a little upset if they lost this big depot, and maybe you could have done something about it. But is that maybe worth losing this base and you?" Ripwave allowed that question to hang in the air briefly before continuing with a half-sparked flourish of the servo. "In summary, Fauxwing would be a numpty to let that info spread carelessly. So don't worry about it--do what you gotta do, and I'll keep that audial tuned."

[generalbri]

Ripwave was smart, and use to how the metrotitan worked.
And this made Thunderdrum more thankful than ever. The captain dimmed his optics, letting Rip’s words sink in. His frame relaxing. Ripwave could tell the attachment loosen under him.

“You are right. I’m getting ahead of myself.” Now a genuine smile graced his faceplates, looking to his scout. “Thank you, Ripwave. Another clear mind helps. We will wait and see what happens. But yes, just keep a sharper look out.”

Now fiddling with the map again, he zoomed in on the outpost that had been attacked. “This.. was attacked by someone.” Peering at it closely, Thunderdrum grumbled. “And it’s an asteroid. Wasn’t able to tell until I received this updated map. Looks like a mining facility too. Doubt there is much left to salvage though.”

[ripwave]

"Of course I'm right, when'm I not?" If Ripwave had the face to grin, he certainly would be. An absolute slag-eating one. His optics promptly followed Thunderdrum's attention back to the screen and the outpost in question. "Should we check just to be sure? Whoever attacked might not've salvaged everything. Especially if it weren't a big enough crew to be identified." He pauses, then adds, "Can we check it out? Or does Fragwing have you on a short leash?"

[generalbri]

The reply made the captain release a snort. “You wish you were always right.” He studied the map a little longer, then stood up again and shut down the map.

“I’m stuck on that leash. I’m waiting for the next order. I mentioned to her at wanted to help investigate this. Or to at least excavate it to make sure there are no more resources to be found.”

Thunderdrum headed for the door, pausing a moment. “I’ll head back to the hanger, watch the local soldiers and see if the Commander finally sends someone my way. Hoping sooner than later.” He frowned, looking to see if Ripwave wanted off and would help him if he needed.

Then he would head back to the platform, standing at the hanger door to take a closer look around with arms folded in front of him. Thunderdrum couldn’t use his tendrils out here right now. He literally was just sitting here. He didn’t like that one bit right now.

[ripwave]

Ripwave stood but refused the assistance. No surprise there. Friends as they may be, the minicon was not one that sought to be handled in any capacity. So he hopped off, transforming midair to fly a little ways ahead of Thunderdrum. By the way he swayed to and fro in the air, there was clear deliberation in what he wanted to do. A new base was practically teeming with rich opportunities for snooping and exploration. Temptation pricked at his wiring but...

"I'll join you in a cycle, see what I can't find." Ripwave twisted around to face the snout of his alt-mod towards his commander, rotors angled so that he drifted backwards. "I told Hardscope I'd fill him in first before I, and I'm definitely quoting this from the source, 'Disappear for Primus knows how long on your new-world-jaunt'." He ex-vents. "I go comms-silent one time," he mutters, not at all sounding terribly upset over the matter, and turns again to take off down the hall.

[generalbri]

Following the now airborne flyer, Thunderdrum made his way down the hallway. "Yes, make sure to keep tabs this time. I do not know when we will be taking off. I very much hope sooner than later." Chuckling as he murmured to Ripwave, "Hardscope is probably getting ansty. We've been on the ship for quite a while."

He gave a wave to the smaller one, "Go ahead and check out the hanger. Maybe you'll spot something." And he let the other go off to do his thing.

[generalbri]

A small team boarded the ship through the main hanger, the purple quadruped following behind. As they entered, the mech paused at a wall to open the panel, collecting a datapad for each, handing them over. "You'll need these, they can collapse. They have a full map of the ship so you don't get lost. If you happen to lose it in some way.. just knock on the walls."

He didn't elaborate on the sentence, starting to walk down the hall where they really couldn't tell where it led to. If and when they did loop at the map in the datapads, they could see this hallway head straight for a bit, then suddenly split and go other directions. The map downright looked confusing.

[Backbeat]

NeVor lets out a sigh as she looks thru the map. No access to the prisoners, words do not describe how much air have been let out of her metaphorical sails. She looks at the tour guide, then looks back at the map.

" Interesting layout. Assume a good story?"

[aphidly]

Upon entering the ship Nexus decided to stick to XNA's side, especially after hearing that they could get lost with only a map to guide them. He looks over to XNA and just hopes she doesnt abandon him to die in this ship.

As he walks with the group he does his best to look at the map, but at this point he is sure that even if he could see well that he would have no clue what was on it. Nexus looks over to XNA again helplessly.

[Archivium]

Even if he was the first to enter the ship, Strife would not get very far once he was on board. Coming to a sudden halt, the monochrome mech allowed the others pass- especially the towering guide who offered him a datapad, which he took obediently, before promptly tucking it under a limb without so much as glancing down at the screen filled with useful information the moment Thunderdrum had moved ahead of him. The rest of the group received a brief but typical scowl while he stood there before he took up his preferred position at the rear, shoulder plates hunched and helm ducked with clouded optics shifting from one side of the corridor to the other. 

He'd keep his audials mostly tuned into the conversations taking place in front of him while he continued to scope out the immediate area, looking as tense as ever and doing a poor job of hiding it.

[Cybiscus]

“Well, she never did say how they should be disposed of. So I say as long as they’re dead in the end, it’s free game~” XNA’s voice rang throughout the entrance to the ship as she responds. With confident strides, the femme travels up the ramp and into the ship, walking just behind Strife before she took the lead. Of course, she stops to take one of the maps that were handed out respectively, glancing it over with careful optics. She follows the paralleled lines that form the halls, taking note of the intricate details.

After she was satisfied, her helm lifts up to take in the hallway before her, following behind Thunderdrum as he led the group, sticking around the right side of him, though keeping a safe distance away from his legs. It would be embarrassing to smack right into one of them on the first day aboard. XNA now takes the time to glance around to her group mates, casually enough that it couldn’t make them uncomfortable. The nervous Nexus, The bitter Strife, and the eccentric NeVor - she had no idea who that was.

Each of them shows body language that she perceives as antsy. It must have been strange for them to wander around a ship of this size, not knowing what was around the corner, or what takes place in it. To all of them, including XNA, this was unknown territory. For the greater good of the team, XNA would have to put aside her own concerns for now and step up to the plate some more. Her optics pass over Nexus once more, blinking once as she notices that his blank face was looking towards her, and he was staying close. With a shrug, the femme shifts her path to move closer to the mech, extending her arm out to the side to lock around his own. She intended to reassure him, and hopefully, it does. She looks down to the map once more, raising an optic ridge just a tad as she speaks up.

“So, what do we have access to, exactly? I’m sure that we will all respect you and your ship,” her gaze shoots towards NeVor briefly before she looks forward again, “I will make sure we all do. Have to start building trust between all of us now~”

[generalbri]

Leading further along, Thunderdrum’s optics had slightly dimmed to take care of something elsewhere in the ship. Then XNA spoke up, pulling him back and he glanced over with bright optics again. “I always strive for trust in my ranks. We take care of each other. But yes, you’ll have access to the majority of the rooms. Prisoners in the future, too.” He glanced back at NeVor before continuing to the group.

“The maps also have gps. Because of all the features and special rooms in the ship, you’ll find a whole list so you can search. You’ll get time to view it more later as I need to refuel first before we depart.”

They soon paused by a large open door, the label by it at eye level reading “Lounge 12B”. The captain pointed in with a thumb. “To keep a positive crew, there are several recreational rooms including lounges, sparring rooms, and even a racetrack that converts into a flyer obstacle course or even a concert hall.”

Moving on, the purple mech moved down more halls, answering any questions. They then finally reached a double door that opened as they moved close and revealed a large command post. There was the main console up high for the captain, then beyond it were a team of eradicons typing away at their consoles. Up higher above then were 8 large screens. The top were showing maps and various information. The bottom four were different; showing various signature levels and health information. He wasn’t going to bring it up though unless one of them understood the signs. “This is the command room of the ship. If you are trying to find me, I’m usually here.”

[Backbeat]

NeVor speaks up with manic grin.

" Trust is good. Yes. Prisoners are better. Trust doesn't scream when mind snaps. "

She cracks her hands together and looks at everyone. She eyes her guide, then the rest of the tour group.  

" The ship is good too. Like it. Well lived. Sign that crew loyal. "