Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers. And that's probably not a good thing if you like happy endings. Decepticons RULE!
Family Affair
Prologue
Cadence Barrick
"You've got to be kidding me!" Starscream roared in anger. Not in the millions of years that he had been online had he ever wanted to see the day that had reared its ugly head. The fact was the Decepticons needed supplies badly if they were going to even have the energy to finish their new found 'home'. They had taken over a huge abandoned farm shed that had enough room to cover all of the 'Cons currently present and there was also enough room for three more. However they had to do a bit of excavating in order to fit all of the other necessary rooms but once finished it would probably be a makeshift equivalent of an actual headquarters instead of just a temporary base of operations. Unlike the Autobots who got free support from the fleshings that inhabited this lousy planet, the Decepticons were the enemy so they of course couldn't just expect the Humans to lend out a hand or the funds that they so desperately needed. Never had their new leader, Starscream, expected to have to turn to those pathetic meat bags for help. But as it stood, they really had no other choice since the world was on high alert for them. So as a last resort, each one of them had to find a job and work amongst the disgusting organics.
The brown jet sighed heavily as he held the bridge of his smell receptors as he sensed a headache threatening to interrupt his processor. 'Desperate time call for desperate measures, I suppose,' Starscream thought to himself with a grimace as he leaned forward to flick the switch to the intercom system. "All Decepticons! Report to the briefing room immediately!"
He closed the communication line and went to the designated area to wait for the others to file in. Soon the rest of them began to saunter into the room. Among the group was Soundwave along with the only cassettes he had left; Rumble, Ravage, and Laserbeak; Starscream's own wing mates, Skywarp and Thundercracker, the newly repaired Blackout who was still rather miffed at the loss of his drone, Scorponok, and of course, Barricade. They all looked at him as they waited for him to start talking. Skywarp of course was never good with awkward silence, "So… What's with the all-call? We goin' on a raid? Are we gonna kick some Auto-aft?"
"If only it were that simple. We are facing a very critical problem and it must be resolved if we are to continue as a faction. I myself am reluctant to accept the information that I have been presented by Soundwave but as the new leader I must face the facts. So here they are," Starscream paused a moment to let it all sink in before he continued, "As you know, we are in dire need of supplies if we are to complete the construction of this base as well as keep a steady supply of energy to remain functioning. But you also know that we absolutely must maintain our low profile status. This means no more raids… however if you wish to get shot you do so at your own risk. Those who wish to remain without any further damage to your hulls, the only way we will be able to get these necessities is to start getting a steady income. I am ordering you to find a job on this miserable excuse for a habitable plain of existence."
As expected, there was an instant wave of protests from everyone except from Soundwave who already knew that this was going to happen, "So we basically have to go crawling on our bellies to those insignificant worms," Blackout challenged with a growl of irritation.
"Who said they had to know who they were paying?" Starscream lifted an optical ridge, "Do you not have a holoform? Have you forgotten your ability to hack into their primitive firewalls and simply slip in undetected?"
"It's not going to be that simple and you know it," the Pave Low rebutted, "The insects already know of our existence and will have learned to be wary of us."
"Do you have any better suggestions? Preferably ones that don't involve being shot at because as it stands we are running quite low on energon," Starscream countered as he was beginning to grow impatient with the bickering.
The chopper opened his mouth to give a response but closed it when he couldn't think of a good one. "Besides, you missed the point entirely. I never said that you had to get along with the Humans or even give a slag about them at all. The point that I am trying to emphasize is that all of you need to get some kind of work in order to help with funds so that our faction does not deteriorate just because of a lack of energy," Starscream corrected the Pave Low.
Though many of the others had protests none of them voiced it because they knew that unfortunately, Starscream was right. "Well, I'm covered. All I got to do is register with the Tranquility Police Department and I'm set. I don't know about the rest of you though," Barricade piped up with a smug look on his face.
Thundercracker yawned widely, "I know for a fact that I'm not giving up my alt-mode so I guess it's going to be off to the military for me. These things may not be the best piece of technology I've ever scanned but I could be worse off."
Starscream cleared his intake loudly, which quickly pulled everyone's attention to the front, "What the frag are you all waiting for? Did I not tell you all to get jobs? I don't want to see head or aft of anyone unless you've found work! Do I make myself clear?" Starscream barked as he activated his rifles, "Anyone who fails at this will deal with me. Now get out of my sight!"
There was a quick chorus of, "yes, sir!' before everyone scrambled for the exit. Starscream deactivated his rifles with a heavy sigh and went back to his quarters to look for himself.