Thunderdrum - Decepticon Transport Ship

[aphidly]

The grounder huffed hearing the talk of torture and prisoners "It is a waste of resources to keep any target alive longer than they need to be, and we are not complete monsters. I do not see why this even needs to be discussed. We take them out fast and efficiently." it wasnt really the resources that bugged Nexus, not that it wasnt frustrating, but the thought of keeping prisoners just to make their ends more painful did strike a bit of a nerve. If you were ordered to kill someone, dont draw it out, get it over and done with.

Being so lost in thought he hadn't noticed XNA adjusting her path and nearing until her arm was around his, he seemed to jump slightly not expecting it. His helm snapped towards her and only after seeing the bright colors that signified it was in fact XNA and not one of the even less familiar figures he immediately seemed to calm down. 

NeVor began to speak again and the same anxious energy returned to Nexus as he silently tried to forget he was now seemingly surrounded by needlessly violent entities. He felt out of place.

The doors to the command bridge opened and Nexus refocused on the conversation.

[Archivium]

The tour was so far going well, though not enough to ease his nerves. Still, this ship at least looked VASTLY more accommodating than the ones he had to hitch a ride onto previously, so potentially a incremental improvement on his travel experience to look forward to. This was outwardly displayed in a muffled ex-vent, which might not have even been picked up by the rest of the group given he was lagging behind, but he couldn't be more happy about his current position. 

This allowed him to do all the judgmental scowling without little to no consequences, which he focused on the back of each crewmembers' helm in kind: From the latest addition to the group who was adamant about acquiring access to prisoners who he may or may not have even caught the name of, to the ever-imposing owner of this grandiose vessel that Strife couldn't help feeling he should not actually be scowling at... because he got the impression that Thunderdrum was in fact always watching. Then there was those two, why were they even doing that? Extra scowls in their direction were given, at least until the group entered the command room.

"Great," the con finally huffs out, doing his absolute darnedest to appear utterly unimpressed. "I should just get to work then, scoping out maps or, something. Where are we even heading?" 

[Cybiscus]

XNA was a bit surprised to hear how much of a luxury this ship was. She had never once heard of a ship that had this many amenities. Until now, of course. “Strange...the other bases are beginning to appear more…” the femme mumbles as she glances down to her map, raising an optic ridge, “unbecoming.” Now, as the group enters the command post, the femme’s optics immediately begins to scan it slowly. Glancing over the monitors, even zooming her vision onto some. The ones that attract her attention the most were the four monitors that read off various levels and signs. It was rather peculiar, but she dismisses it, blinking once to change her view to normal, as well as glancing to Nexus. Well, there was something that the two didn’t have in common. Now she wasn’t sure if she should mention much of her work as an interrogator. She did think about it, for a moment. But seeing as how passionate he appeared to be when it comes to the subject, XNA responds to him, though her voice low enough for him to hear. “Yes, Nexus, that may be so. But sometimes, we need to take measures to get whatever information we need. Even if we have to be monsters to do it.”

With that, XNA slowly removes her arm from around Nexus’, taking a few steps to the side to give him space. Given by his body language, he might’ve needed it. Picking up NeVor and Strife’s comments, the femme tilts her helm before taking a few steps, turning on her pede once more to face both of them. She gives most of her attention to Strife, for now. “Yes, we will need to start looking for possible areas to begin searching for answers. I will take the time to brief with you once we’re all settled in.” XNA lightly taps her hip strut in thought, peeking up at Thunderdrum for a moment, remembering him mentioning about his need to refuel before. Her gaze flicks to Strife again. “We will pick coordinates to start from before we move out.”

And now, NeVor. She tilts her helm to look her over; finally, her derma set to a neutral expression, “And you are? I don’t remember the commander mentioning you for the mission… Just hanging out?” Her optics begin to dull a little, her posture becoming a little loose. Was it really this tiring to get everything situated before a mission? XNA would rather relax, or even work on a prisoner, in general, to yank information out of them.

[Backbeat]

NeVor gives Nexus a bemused look, she stood near the back of the middle of the group. Just close enough to observe the group, without being the center of attention. But she miss calculated. Got too excited about the prospect of prisoners to work on.

" No appreciation for art."

She crosses her arms and smirks, as another argues for interrogations. As the party disperses, NeVor gives the Decepticon speaking to her a friendly smile, someone who appreciates the art of information gathering deserved some friendliness. The holo-matter projectors around her body glow faintly in their idle. 

" NeVor. Base is out of prisoners. Waiting for word on when my services are needed. Wanted to observe new additions to the fleet. New mission? May I assist? "

Over the course of her talking NeVor had shifted from cold detachment to honest enthusiasm. To point at which her smirk had turned to an actual smile.

[generalbri]

The captain turned to fully face the group, frowning at hearing both NeVor's expensive taste, and Nexus' painfully dull attitude toward Thunderdrum's prisoners. "I interrogate prisoners for information, otherwise I blindly wander around the universe. I will not have you decimating my supply." He glared slightly at NeVor before relaxing to look to XNA, listening first to what she needed to say.

"It will still take the ship a full day to refuel, that this will give us time to figure out what our next move will be; and give me time to assign quarters for everyone--including NeVor IF the commander wishes to assign them to my ship."

Now the captain brought out his datapad, typing away some notes. "Now, quarters. Everyone is seperated, yes? Or are you and Nexus together, XNA?" He gives a dull look. Thunderdrum didn't care one way or another.

[aphidly]

Grumbling something about the more outwardly unstable and violent Decepticon near him Nexus decides its probably in his best interest to attempt to ignore NeVor at least, she wasnt a part of the mission officially, he didnt need to pay attention.

Though his thoughts are drawn away by XNA suddenly slipping her arm from his. Seemingly confused now his doorwings hiked up and he turned his head around frantically trying to locate the colorful frame. Realizing he probably was probably panicking over nothing he huffed and let his posture go back to a more neutral rigid rather than what it had been before.

At least they werent moving now, the grounder crossed his arms and listened to Thunderdrum, without any reaction, at least until the end regarding quarters. His helm tilted to the side, "Why would I room with XNA? I'm confused?"

[Praefectus]

After his brief visit to explore the base and specifically the infirmary, he knew for a fact Crescent Fortress was no place for his kind-They were all medics, yes. But their concern about his processor and saying that something was "wrong" with him made him suspect he wouldn't be able to get away with his normal routine...Plus even if he didn't spend too much time in the transport ship, it felt like his home now. Plus it wasn't like their leader would see the questionable things he can do there now, right? He somewhat doubted the crew had issues with him doing a bit of interrogating of his own alongside keeping them healthy-After all, he needed to expand his horizons, violent horizons! So if he had any doubts about staying in the ship, they were long gone, there was a lot more of action there or at least he wouldn't be bothered about his own methods of taking care of his patients. "Hah, they never understand!" It was easier for him to believe they were the weird ones instead of himself, after all if a whole other group was fine with his presence then there was nothing wrong with the way he acted! Considering Decay was a mess of corpses, his body was far from quiet, with all the loud clanking of those plates bumping against each other, and the clicking of his gadgets flailing around like chains, with a mess of needles, blades and tools tapping each other with each step he gave. From that distance it was easy to assume there were two people moving towards the ship based on how quick each thud followed the other, but the reason behind that were those four pedes the large medic had going, giving him a spider like look along with those eight red optics he had. The moment he heard some different voices, his interest sparked in a matter of seconds. "Ah, guests!" His slow and casual walking turned into a frenetic tapping towards the source of those voices, until he stopped near the captain and a bunch of Decepticons he didn't get the pleasure of meeting before. "So many guests, what a pleasant surprise!" The medic clapped his servos together, and even if there was no mouth to be seen, it was easy to feel the weird spider-like 'Con was grinning at the sight of those interesting chassis, and he didn't hesitate on talking about them either. "So many interesting designs here! Are they going to work in the ship perhaps? I really would love to learn more about them...Heheh, yes." He rubbed his digits together pondering just how far he could go, and the experiments he could try on them.

Personal space wasn't something Decay really cared about, which became all too obvious with that large glowing optic of his extending itself forward from his arm, with a cable connecting it for a brief inspection on the strangers. With that blinking optic almost bumping against NeVor's face, it began to glance around, checking every single detail on her form while the medic gave slow nods as if taking notes on her current condition. "Oh, how rude of me! Decay is the name, I am the ship's medic, so you will be seeing this face often if you aren't careful. But I am sure you all  are capable of fighting well." He made sure to add emphasis to that with an arm moving from his back and pointing a single digit towards his faceplate. "Mmhm, these designs...Yes, fascinating!" Soon enough that glowing eye was pointed towards Nexus, but this time it remained a lot more of time on his masked faceplate. "Ooho, what do we have here?" Slowly the bulky mech moved closer to stand right in front of him, only to suddenly fling one of those many bladed cables towards his helm, making it stop before it could poke his faceplate to test his reaction, if he would even notice that. "Ahh, something to examine later...Yes. Perhaps an upgrade is required, heeheh!" That same curious optic moved once more to inspect Strife instead, with a few curious blinks here and there as if he was taking pictures before pulling backwards once more. "It will be nice to have so many new FACES in the ship!" And finally there was the most curious of them all-There was something odd about her presence, perhaps she tried to be all professional about her work or carried a rank that forced her to behave as such...But honestly? Didn't matter for him, if she was going to join them she was going to receive the same medical treatment as the others. " I take it none of you went through a proper inspection before arriving here, riiiight? " As he said that, only his head spun backwards staring at Thunderdrum hoping for an answer that meant examining every single one of them. His head turned back to face XNA, with that glowing optic still examining her form with those large servos tapping together in eagerness. "Another fascinating chassis! I take it you made a few changes on it? I don't have his type of structure in my memory, just something close to the style..." Soon enough one of those back arms moved forward, resting a servo right on her shoulder while he continued to speak. "Such proud stance too! What is your designation?"

[Backbeat]

NeVor nods graciously to Thunderdrum.


" Of course. "


That would be when the medic got too close for comfort. Swatting the eye away from her with one of her arms. That would be when NeVor heard him babble about medical check ups. She smirks, then quickly shifts to a more friendly smile. NeVor, steps forward. The various holo-projectors around her hands glow as she materializes a holo-matter construct that forms into a data pad. 

" We live in dangerous times. Decay was it? Only the apex predators thrive. " 

She adds, with a bemused look. 

" Although it seems hobbyists do as well. " 

[Archivium]

Strife turned to the femme when she addressed him, only be told it will take time to get started on their task. "Great. I guess I'll find something to do until then," he grumbles, pulling his tablet free finally so he could begin fiddling with the thing, attempted to search through the directory for someplace to where he could swing his swords about; hopefully in relative seclusion. 

When the ship's captain mentions arranging quarters for the squad, he doesn't quite look up from the data pad but he'd chime in. "Yes. Separate, in fact, as far from the rest as possible. I'd very much not like to be disturbed by them. Ever." Was he even in any sort of position to make such a request, much less in the presence of his fellow squad-mates? 

Then the doctor arrived, and that was enough to get his attention, if only to make the mech go stone-still while the horrifically constructed 'con made his way through the group to conduct his inspections. Thankfully, it would seem his strategy did the trick, and Decay did not linger on the stubby mech for long before moving onto the next poor subject in the line. Clouded optics may have eased out of their scowling squint in that moment, but they'd return to their 'natural' state soon enough as he took a few quiet steps back and away from the group, trying to slip out from the rest while they were preoccupied so he could head off and find what he assumed was a training room he had pinpointed on the map. Picking a direction he assumed was correct, the monochrome tinted mech turned to leave without so much as another word spoken.

[Cybiscus]

Her optics remain on NeVor for a moment, taking in her features- mainly the holos she had garnered around her frame. She listens to what the femme had to say, and indeed, she doesn’t remember Fauxwing ever mentioning this femme in particular. There was a tap on her hip strut once more, finally making her response, “We will see if we are in need of your assistance. For now, I wouldn’t wander too far from the fortress. Who knows how our dear commander would react.~” A purr vibrates from her chest, soon letting her helm tilt to glance up to Thunderdrum. The inquiry relating to quarter assignments makes her blink once. Sure, she didn’t mind rooming with someone, but him mentioning Nexus specifically makes her raise an optic ridge. Not that she was confused- she has roomed with others in the past before. However, the speculating look that she was giving the captain hardly matches with the confusion Nexus had said as a response. XNA’s then glances to Strife when he pipes up to make his own request. She was almost shocked by his reaction. Almost. It made sense; actually, she can’t blame him from wanting his own room...even with how snappy he was about it. To many, they would prefer not to room with any strangers after all.

XNA soon opens her mouth, about to speak before she was interrupted by the sound of heavy, multiple steps scuttling into the room they were all in. She turns her helm to see what the commotion was about, instead, she was met with a hulking mass of parts and copious amounts of limbs. Decay’s frame flies into her view and past where she was standing, her optic ridges rising slowly while her pink optics brighten up with color. The femme was utterly speechless, gazing upon the mech’s frame with her own tensing up. Trying to process what she was seeing, her optics remain glued onto the talkative mech while he crawls around to each one of her teammates. All of the different parts and limbs mashed together to create the individual known as Decay...it almost revolted her. There was no harmony between any of them, all of the details were in chaos. By zooming in only a little, she could see that nearly every plate of armor was scraping against one another, making her optics narrow as the only indication of a wince.

The femme stood in place as Decay made his way over to her, those bright optics of her staring right up at him while craning her helm back just a bit. She remains standing still, besides that one comment about her “frame’s design”, that made her servo twitch. XNA was almost tempted to swat the mech’s servo away as soon as it rests on her shoulder, but she compels herself mentally. Once the medic was finished with his spiel, she forces a smile through her derma, tilting her helm with a slight squint of her optics, “Aren’t you a charming mech...my name is XNA, a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Decay.~” Her servo raises slowly to her shoulder, plucking the limb off of her to give a firm handshake to the mech. To which she immediately lets it go, “I cannot speak for anyone else here, but it had been a while since I’ve had a check-up.” Not that I would want your type looking over my chassis. That’s what she could have said afterward, but she had enough manners to not doubt someone’s capabilities of doing their job right off the bat.

Casually taking one step away from Decay, XNA’s attention shoots towards Strife as soon as he begins making his way out of the room. One of her optics twitches once, not able to say anything towards him before he was out of sight. Guess she would have to find him to discuss plans some other time. Perhaps, for now, everyone needs their own deserved rest from such a big day. With a soft vent, the femme looks at Thunderdrum again, finally saying what she was going to say before the bustling medic dropped in. “I believe we all would like to have our own quarters if that wouldn’t be any trouble.”

[aphidly]

Generalbri asked to be skipped//

"Let us hope that the Commander doesn't see it fit for someone uninvited on the mission to join us then," Nexus muttered quietly though his attention was quickly turned towards the thuds of someone heavier moving about, his helm moved to track the noise and he noticed the vague shape of the medic who was already commenting on their builds. He shook his helm and turned back to Thunderdrum awaiting further instruction, at least until the dark mass moved in front of him. He stands completely still, somewhat unaware of the inspection going on, though still assuming the mech was ogling him. Though, when he spoke idly to himself about 'later examination' and 'upgrade' the blades that lined his shields did blink to life in a warning of violence.

The medic moved away, he hoped he got the message, but based on the next things he said, he doubted it. Thankfully it seemed the medic had other places to be, more soldiers to creep out. The grounder let his weapons deactivate and seemed to relax slightly, flicking his doorwings to get a sense of where everyone was. "I agree that individual rooms would be preferable, however if the space isn't available, I see no harm in sharing."

[generalbri]

(( throwing in a reply so everyone isn’t stuck

Decay’s arrival pulled Thunderdrum’s attention away, keeping an optic on the medic as he moved around inspecting them. He shook his helm, “Not this time, Decay. If they need medical attention or wish to be inspected, then they may come to you.”

He then addressed to XNA, hearing the rest of the group’s opinions as well on shared quarters. “Separate quarters it is. That is no problem." His optics flickered before speaking again. “Your datapad will show you where your rooms are located. Then those doors will sync to your signature so only you can access the room. I will go ahead and leave you all to it. Feel free to explore what is available in the map and get adjusted. We will meet at a later time.”

The captain then looked to XNA, “I would like to speak to you in private, but you can have time to investigate your quarters and the map as well.”

Thunderdrum did take notice of NeVor again and growled. “Go report to the commander and ask if you are needed on my ship. Otherwise, stay off. I do not wish to carry a stowaway when we fly off for our mission.”

[Backbeat]

NeVor nods, doing a half bow as she steps back. She was displeased... But she knew who she could take it out on.

"As you wish."

NeVor takes her leave, walking into an airlock and transforming into her jet mode, flying back to the Decepticon fortress.

[Cybiscus]

Adjusting herself by clearing her vocals, the femme straightens her back some more, tapping a sharp claw against one of her hip struts. Perhaps she will have the joy of meeting the rest of the crew over time. Surely they will all be just as unique as the medic on board. Though, there have been some elegant looking frames that she had seen so far throughout touring the ship. And speaking of…

Her optics gradually pull back towards Thunderdrum once he starts speaking to her, the pink hues bright from underneath her visor. Pleased to hear that at least her team will be comfortable by having their own space, she nods approvingly. However, the request to speak with her alone causes her to raise an optic ridge. At first, she thought the invitation was quite strange, but after some consideration, she relaxes over the idea. Probably just going to be some additional ground rules when it comes to being on this vessel. As she was about to make her response, her frame flinches briefly from the static coming from her comm. XNA listens in for a moment until it seems like a fiery spark twinkling within her optics. The excitement was beginning to well up, and she does her best to keep that hidden when she finally speaks.

“Of course, I will be looking forward to our meeting. Though that might have to wait a bit longer than what you’ve anticipated, I have something to attend to before our departure. Which won’t take long, I assure you.” The femme purrs, bowing her helm gratuitously to Thunderdrum, “I appreciate your hospitality.” Taking a couple of steps towards Nexus’ side, she places her servo tenderly onto his shoulder, to not startle him from where her previous position was. “Take the time to get settled in, won’t you?” With a quick motion of her other servo, she stows the map away and continues out of the room, making haste to return to the Fortress.