Disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue.

Rating: PG-13, may go up later, so far rated for chosen words.

Universe: I'll use the G1 designs AU/ Honorverse. Why not? Happens after book 8, no marriage to Alexander so far.

Is that all? Not sure. Open to suggestions.

Thoughts

The received request from a species of "exhiled freedom fighter" to "land for repairs and restocking" on Grayson, was granted by the Chamber, despite the honest warning of "we're not exactly like you…". After all, how many Protectors have the chance of personally leading a First Contact? The resulting meeting on the designated landing area was a bit… above their expectations, so to speak.

And here I thought that Lady Harrington is tall, thought Protector Benjamin Mayhew.

Organics. Again. Thought Megatron.

Look at those wings! Am so jealous! Crossed the mind of Honor Harrington.

Small. Shrill. Rumored to be a good fighter and pilot. I'll call her "mini-me". Decided Starscream.

Bleek! Thought Nimitz.

Bleek yourself! Replied Soundwave.

Mayhew was the first to recover from the initial shock.

"Greetings and welcome to Grayson! I'm Protector Benjamin Mayhew, leader of his planet."

"Greetings! I'm Lord Protector Megatron, of the Decepticon army." The tall alien replied. "Tell me, is that female by your side, does she happen to go airborn occasionally?"

"Lady Harrington is the admiral of our Starfleet."

"Remarkable. And… is her symbiont, the feral one, by any chance, a telepath?"

As if I'll tell you that, thought Benjamin. Out loud he replied:

"Why don't you ask him by yourself?"

"Amazing. A religious planet, reigned by a Protector, with a telepath and an airborn by his side. Sounds almost like Cybertron." Megatron vented air in almost melancholic way.

"Where's Cybetron, anyway?" Honor asked quietly.

"Too far." Starscream replied.

For a while, both species stared at each other, unsure how to proceed. After all, a first contact with such resemblance is quite hard to think of, unlike shooting random Peeps or molesting minibots.

Finally, Nimitz had enough. He exchanged a couple of thoughts with Soundwave, who in turn sent a minor telepathic suggestion, and the dam of discomfort broke, somewhat shrilly.

"Think you're a good flier? Gimme a dart and I'll have you weeping in a sec!"

"As if! I eat annoying wannabes like you for dinner!"

"So said Cornelia Ransom. And guess where she's now!"

"Well, where?"

"Wherever you go, when an impeller goes on inside your ship."

"Ah, you mean Unicorn's left horn! Want me to kick you all the way there, to say hello?"

"I think I'll kick you!"

"You and what army?"

"The Elysian army."

"Elysian angels, huh? Pluck the feathers and there you have, some decent Seekers."

"Who seek what? A sound thrashing? I can give you one by myself, thank you very much! Or set Harkness on you."

"Who's that? Your groundpounder?"

"Your… engineers', or whatever you have, groundpounder."

"My creator never messed with groundpounders!"

"There we go again."- Megatron muttered. –Starscream does his usual trick.

"Lady Harrington is usually more… tame." Benjamin answered just as quietly, as the rest of the present more or less cheered at the arguing pain. "Say, how about a friendly dinner?" The Protector offered.

"I'll consider that…" The warlord replied. "You know, you're awfully calm, our… appearance considered."

"It's just my luck, as of lately, about dinners and tall aliens. Especially flying ones."

TBC.