Windcharger crawled onwards, using the debris of the crashed buildings as cover. Everything was quiet, but the mech didn't allow himself to be fooled; he had been warned that there was such a thing as 'too quiet'.

- I'm still at spot A, - he transmitted at the secret frequency, optics darting in every direction.

- Good. Proceed according to plan, - the commanding voice said calmly. – And watch out for enemy fire. –

- Acknowledged, - the young mech replied, and he ended the transmission. Following procedure, he took out of subspace a datapad to check Brawn's position, his partner for today's mission. His fellow Autobot was not too far away, already moving towards their appointed target.

- Brawn, all clear? – Whindcharger asked, unsure what to make of this haste.

- All clear and I've got the target in sight, - Brawn's voice sounded from the other end of the link.

- Be careful; it could be a trap. –

- Don't worry, kid. I can handle a trap when I see one…-

The next thing Windcharger heard was the sound of laserfire and Brawn cursing loudly.

- Brawn? Brawn, talk to me! – the younger mech said, tapping his radio-transmitter.

- I'm pinned down! – Brawn called out amid explosions and shooting. – You have to hit the target on your own! –

Windcharger gasped. – What about you? –

- Don't think about me! See to your mission! -

- But we're supposed to be together in this! – Windcharger looked around, close to panicking. The target was too far; he would never make it on time!

- Windcharger, go! –

- I can't! –

"Computer, terminate training simulation. Mission status: Fail," the calm voice said, practically out of the blue.

"Order recorded," the computer replied, and the bombarded terrain vanished, replaced by a single white room. Windcharger and Brawn exchanged a look, sighed, and then faced their superior.

"You acted too fast, Brawn," the black and white mech said, writing on his datapad. "And you, Windcharger," his clear-blue gaze rested on the younger mech, "hesitated, losing precious time that you won't have the luxury to waste on the battlefield."

"Yes, sir," Windcharger said sadly. "But I couldn't make that kind of decision. Am I really meant to choose between my partner and the enemy target?"

"There might come a time that you will have to do just that," the officer said, unfazed. "And then you will have to decide what is more important to you: your fellow Autobot or the mission."

"Yes, sir," Windcharger replied.

"Good. That will be all then." And with that, the officer turned on his heel and exited the training facilities. He didn't even bother to look back as Windcharger let out a soft sigh of resignation, kicking an invisible stone.

"Don't worry too much about it, kid," Brawn said, placing a reassuring arm across the younger mech's shoulder. "Prowl has the bad habit of thinking the worst case scenarios; you did alright under the circumstances."

"It sure doesn't feel that way," Windcharger replied with a sigh.

Brawn waved his hand in a dismissive manner. "He just takes his job seriously. That's what Prime will tell you anyway."

"And what do you think, Brawn?" the younger mech asked as they both exited the room.

"Probably what you're thinking right now. That he has a stick up his shaft."

Windcharger couldn't help but chuckle at that.

"Still…" Brawn said. "He wants to teach the Decepti-clowns a good lesson, just like the rest of us. That sure counts for something."

"I guess so. But it would have been a lot better if he were…" Windcharger pursed his lips, trying to come up with an appropriate word regarding the black and white officer. "… Well, nicer."

Brawn laughed heartily. "We can't win them all, kid. At least he's an Autobot," he said, patting the younger mech on the back. "Now come on, let's go get some energon. My treat."

That finally lifted Windcharger's spirits. Smiling at his friend, he followed him to the main hall and let the conversation drift to other, happier matters.

Prowl walked down the corridor, still writing on his datapad, when a familiar voice stopped him on his tracks. He turned around, and he bowed his head slightly upon seeing Ironhide.

"There you are. Prime's been looking all over for you. What's with the radio silence?" the veteran asked, raising an optic ridge.

"My apologies," Prowl answered sincerely. "I was busy with the training of the new recruits."

"Well, there's no harm in that," Ironhide said. "But you're no longer just an instructor, Prowl. Officers need to be at beck and call in case of emergencies."

"Understood," Prowl said. "It won't happen again."

"Good. Now that we've got that out of the way, it's time to check with the chief and see what he wants."

Prowl frowned. "I have to complete my report."

"I'll do it for you," Ironhide said, practically grabbing the datapad from Prowl's hands. "Now go on; don't keep the big guy waiting."

Prowl made a motion as if to voice an objection but, in the end, he simply nodded his compliance and turned on his heel. There was no point in delaying matters any further because of his lack of response in the first place, after all. So, he made a beeline for Prime's office, aware that the Autobot leader would be there, attending to his own matters. The black and white mech barely acknowledged the fellow Autobots he happened to pass by, preferring not to engage himself in idle chit chat. He simply greeted them with a nod and then moved on, until he finally reached his destination. He pressed the call button politely, and then waited for Prime's permission to enter.

"Come in."

Prowl did just that, bowing his head slightly as the door swooshed closed behind him. "Ironhide informed me that you wished to see me, Prime?"

"Indeed," Optimus said, sounding quite grave. "Please have a seat, Prowl. It won't take long."

Prowl nodded and sat down, optics locked on the Autobot leader. "I'm listening."

Optimus nodded, obviously taking his time to speak. Prowl had to admit that that was quite intriguing. It sounded like the matter wasn't only important, but delicate as well.

"Prowl, I understand that you hail from the city of Praxus. You were there till the Decepticons attacked. Do I have it right?"

"Yes, Prime," Prowl answered, keeping his tone neutral. He remembered the Decepticon attack only too well. He had managed to survive only out of sheer luck, while everybody and everything he knew was gone in a flash, razed to the ground.

Optimus must have realized that it was a touchy subject, for his look became apologetic as he continued on. "Are you acquainted with any other survivors from there?"

Prowl bowed his head slightly as he thought about it. "Not within the Autobot ranks, no. Why do you want to know?"

Optimus let out a small, yet heavy sigh. "I'm afraid I have some bad news. Intel has reached us that the Decepticons use Praxus as a major base of operations."

Prowl nodded slowly. "The city is in a strategic location. The Decepticons were bound to use that to their advantage," he said. "We should send a scout or a spy to keep an eye on the situation there."

"We've already done that. In fact, that's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about, Prowl," Optimus said.

Prowl frowned, puzzled by this kind of information. "I don't think I was aware of this."

"You weren't. You've only recently got your officer status, and our spy has been there in the last six months."

Six months. It had been six months since the city had fallen. Six months since he had been found under the debris of his home and then welcomed by the Autobots. Strange how that nightmare seemed so far away and yet Prowl could still remember everything down to the last detail.

"That was quick," he commented.

Optimus nodded. "Our spy said that it would be better if he came across the Decepticons as a wandering survivor of Praxus. He had lived there before, so he knew the territory quite well, making himself useful to the Decepticons."

"So he's infiltrated?"

"Indeed," Optimus said. "We had agreed that there would be no contact for at least six months, so that he would be able to gain the Decepticons' trust. New recruits are under close surveillance and it wasn't worth risking the mission just yet."

"Until now," Prowl concluded. "I assume he's made contact?"

"Affirmative," the Autobot leader replied. "Blaster picked up his encrypted message about five mega-cycles ago."

"So what is the news?" Prowl asked curiously.

"The Decepticon base is developing swiftly and they're in need of able-bodied mechs to keep things running smoothly within it. If we're to send another Autobot to serve as his backup and partner, this is our best chance to do so."

"And that's where the Autobot with the Praxian background comes into the picture," Prowl said, rubbing his chin in thought.

"Yes. But if there aren't any available within our team, then I need to ask Ultra Magnus and Elita-1 to see if they have someone in their own ranks."

"That won't be necessary," the tactician said, optics alight with determination. "I volunteer for this mission."

Optimus, however, seemed hesitant. "I can't accept, Prowl. I already risked too much by sending him, a fellow officer, behind enemy lines."

"Even so, I'm still the best candidate," Prowl said. "Trying to find someone else means losing precious time and probably missing our chance."

"That's true," Optimus admitted in a soft tone, "But if something happens…"

"I can make sure nothing happens," Prowl said. "I know what my chances of infiltration are, and I assure you they're as good as any frontliner's."

"You haven't seen much of the battlefield, Prowl."

"I nevertheless have confidence in my abilities."

"Even if it means having to work for the very ones who destroyed your home?" Optimus asked gently.

"Yes. I'm perfectly capable of focusing on my mission."

Optimus fell silent for a few moments, obviously contemplating matters, and then nodded. "Very well, Prowl. You have permission to leave for Praxus. Leave someone in your stead and then depart as soon as possible."

"Understood, Prime," Prowl said, standing up. "What is the name of my contact?"

"Jazz. Blaster can send a message to him that we'll be sending reinforcements."

"I'd rather my identity remained secret for now in case we're being spied on."

"Good idea. And, Prowl… Be careful out there."

"Always," Prowl said with a small bow of his head, and then walked away. He had to see to several tasks before heading for Praxus, and something told him that he would have to remain there for quite a while…

TBC…