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Post by Skyfire on Jan 23, 2024 6:45:19 GMT
Characters Appearing: Skyfire, Autobots Location (s): Woods between Autobot City & Witwicky Timeline: Before the Event Threads Plot Summary: Skyfire has been building a new jail on the Moon for Decepticons - and now he's working on the second part of that plan, a new (short-range) space bridge.
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Post by Skyfire on Jan 23, 2024 7:16:01 GMT
Skyfire stood in a clearing among the dense woods of Earth, well within his range from both Autobot City and Witwicky. He knew that the final steps of this plan would require acting the information he'd gathered at the North Pole, but for the moment, he could operate quietly. Optimus Prime knew what his goals were, and had approved them. As much as he wanted to return to Cybertron, or maybe just to deep space, this was more important. Certainly, he could fly to the Moon and back. He'd done so many times, and had begun to do it regularly again. Feeling his solar cells charge outside of atmosphere was a sensation he had forgotten, and how sorely he'd missed it. The Autobots were workers, scientists, and explorers - and occasionally warriors. They had not been built to live in secrecy. They also had not been meant to live alongside these small biotic beings.
He had no problem with most of them, of course. He even liked a lot of the human people. But at the end of the day, he had a built-in purpose. That purpose was to explore. To continue discovering new things, and constantly explore. He was now also a builder, settling down in ways he never had - but each time he constructed a new part of his prison, he learned something else. And it was now time to learn and build this.
The massive metal bars were closely aligned, and any Autobot would recognize this base structure; a tracker which might have once followed Cybertron's moon to give a quick transit to Moon Base 1. It was set on a course to follow Earth's moon, and could, if charged correctly, move prisoners, or their wardens, back and forth between the two rocky bodies of the Terran subsystem.
Having gotten the beginnings of his construction into place, the large-bodied jet stood back, wiping his hands with a rag. "Well, I know I'm not competing for Grapple's job any time soon, but it's not my worst effort!"
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Post by Duke on Jan 23, 2024 17:33:10 GMT
Duke walked over to the massive space bridge that Skyfire was constructing. As Optimus's inside man for GHOST, Duke had been instructed to get familiar with the architect of Optimus's new prison.
He saw Skyfire putting down the start of what would hopefully prove to be a solid foundation.
"You know I think I met Grapple once," Duke noted walking up "He was nice but a bit arrogant."
"So you're Skyfire huh? Name's Conrad Hauser, but you can call me Duke."
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Post by Skyfire on Jan 23, 2024 19:14:55 GMT
Skyfire didn't recognize this militaristic human. The bearing of a warrior was obvious, even across the boundaries between their species. Duke was a fighter, that was his purpose - but what he fought for, that would be a challenge to figure out. The fact that a brief scan of the man told him that the equipment he was carrying was mostly developed by G.H.O.S.T. was worrisome So was the fact that he had weapons that could make him a genuine threat to their race, if he turned against them.
Still, the comment about Grapple's demeanor wasn't wrong at all. He nodded at the much smaller man with an amused expression. "He can be somewhat full of himself, yes. On the other hand, he's earned it - his work is impeccable, and has been for many megacycles."
He knelt down and extended his hand to Duke. "I suppose my reputation must have preceded me, 'Duke'. So you have me at a bit of a disadvantage; what brought an agent of G.H.O.S.T. out here?"
Skyfire's optics locked onto the man, scanning him and running the data against a fairly remarkable database of human behavior and physical response. Duke didn't seem like he was worried, or carried any of the common indicators of a person accustomed to lies or fabrication. That was a positive.
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Post by Duke on Jan 24, 2024 18:37:56 GMT
Duke gave Skyfire a reassuring gesture.
"Don't worry. I'm not with Croft." he said, "I've been working with Optimus with his plan to change things for the Transformers on Earth."
Duke inspected the Space Bridge Skyfire was working on.
"So this is it? The space bridge that's gonna take prisoners to the moon?"
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Post by Skyfire on Jan 25, 2024 0:06:16 GMT
Skyfire nodded at the man's assertion that he was working with Optimus, rather than Agent Croft. He couldn't independently verify that information on-the-fly, and that meant he had to tread with a bit of caution. At the same time, the man at least seemed to believe what he was saying. That was hopeful. "That is good to hear. I'm glad that we still have human allies, even in the face of adversity from your own species. The initial message of G.H.O.S.T., as it was presented to our people, was a positive one. We likely could not have survived peacefully without human aid; inclusive of the Decepticons. Perhaps with Optimus' new plan and forcing a more decisive conclusion to the Great War, we will be able to move forward on this world - and others."
He looked over toward his handiwork and nodded. "It's the starting framework, yes. There is still construction to be done, and the power source will need to be installed. I am confident that those challenges will be overcome shortly."
He didn't mention to Duke what the proper power source for a Space Bridge was. Yes, they could use energon cubes, if they wanted to drain them. But a properly sectioned crystal was the preferred method. After all, it was only Seekers - or former Seekers - that knew such things existed on Earth at all.
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Post by Duke on Jan 30, 2024 1:52:14 GMT
Duke nodded solemnly.
"I heard about the stories you know? About when our kind first made contact with yours." he said, "Everyone was scared and afraid, but one man, Joe Colton, was brave enough to reach out to you. Without him making that first step our people never would have been allies."
"Do you need me to cue up some help for you? I got some contacts that might be able to."
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Post by Skyfire on Jan 30, 2024 14:30:23 GMT
Skyfire nodded at the comment about Colton - he was a good soldier, and had been influential in building the military bridges between Autobots and NATO / US military forces. The large bot hadn't met him (or other soldiers) much, but he fully trusted Optimus to handle the situation. "Indeed. I've only met Colton a few times, but Prime speaks highly of him. I have associated more with civilians and scientists of your species, rather than your soldiers. Being a scientist myself, I find that preferable."
He thought for a moment about the offer for assistance, and opened up the holographic display from his arm panel. It was obvious he was genuinely considering the offer from the soldier, but wasn't going to speak until he had a clear answer. He soon found a way to ensure that Duke was working with Prime, and to get genuine assistance from him. "Actually, yes. If you can set up remote surveillance - preferably via satellite - and ensure that any of the rogue Decepticons do not attempt to interfere with this Space Bridge while it is unattended. While I have some alarm systems ready to be put in place, there may be some Decepticons who can evade me."
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