After completing 2 of the 4 high-priority reports, Prowl worked on clearing out his queue of several rated normal priority. When it neared time for Jazz to start his shift he pulled up the critical report that he suspected was tied to Jazz's. He looked it over, trying to not think too much about it and let the tac-set work on discarding the tactically-useless notes often scattered inside Wrecker reports. They were especially present when written by Kup or Springer, the former getting caught up in linking everything to an "I remember this one time when…" story and the latter's bluntly opinionated mission notes. This report also kept causing an unpleasant roll in his energon tanks every time he picked it back up because they both co-wrote it.

Their non-essential additions weren't entirely without benefit, but he preferred a substantially more objective approach to linking battles old and new, or consolidating the annotated "lessons learned" information to a final list. The rest of it sometimes ended with a helmache as he felt the occasional emotion seep past his emotion filters. Emotions not identified on the "happiness" spectrum.

He checked Teletraan and found that Optimus had started updating his portion of the Wrecker's report but hadn't yet released it for another's view. ::Prime, do you have a klik?::

::A klik, but not a breem,:: Optimus replied. ::The meeting is still ongoing, but the current topic does not require immediate input from me.::

'Ah, another delay in the bureaucratic needs across the nations?' he pondered. They were wrapping up some activities with NATO on legal standings, while leveling out the bumpy roads of resource purchasing and allocating.

That wasn't a question for a quick comm-exchange. ::Yes, of course I'll keep this short. Regarding report WRKR-2010, I saw you had started working on it but hadn't released it yet. Is it something I require for my portion of the report analysis?::

For almost the rest of the klik there wasn't any response. Then, ::Teletraan's been updated.::

::Thank you. Do you require any support or supplemental materials from me? I can also have someone bring you energon.:: Ever since Prowl's "selfishly unethical actions" caused "egregious security vulnerabilities" that a less compassionate Prime would've listed as cause for dismissal, Prowl tried being extra courteous. Granted, Prime didn't specifically express those exact words as his own, but some of the officers said them to Prime and the words eventually made their way back to him.

The first time he made an offer to help Prime beyond his usual responsibilities had Red Alert panicked that Prowl came back from the near-dead wrong. The second time had the Twins so perturbed they called him a "creepy ghoul" and retreated. Most might find it insulting but Prowl saw the strategic advantage in that reaction. When Prowl didn't have time to waste on disruptions during prep time for Jazz's training mission, he was exceedingly kind to Prime in front of Sunstreaker and Sideswipe. It had the effect he wanted and lasted just long enough.

::If I don't come out in two more joors, please send either Mirage or Bumblebee. Their stealth should keep them from accidently inviting more questions.::

::So noted.:: Prowl closed the line and shifted his attention back to Teletraan.

Prowl read through Prime's response regarding the Wrecker's report, which was mostly related to what Autobot General Army plans he will be implementing and how he wanted Prowl to structure his own plans to meet his intentions. The Wreckers sent one report, although it was more like two they consolidated into one despite regulations. Springer's decision, probably. The report contained information on their current efforts and requesting tactical input, while also requesting new Wreckers additions. Their last battle had permanently deactivated a few teammates, bringing their small numbers lower than the minimum mission critical count.

Due to the leap in quantity for base rotation requests, Prowl required Prime to provide him the information on what he expected for the different fronts so he could look over how his plans might relate to using or staffing the Wreckers. Prowl reviewed the information while keeping Jazz's report in mind. He wasn't certain if Prime had seen the few similarities in the Decepticon activities between Jazz's mission and the Wrecker's report. From the looks of it he hadn't, but then that's what Prime had a Head Tactician, and why Prowl would be running the debrief meeting for Jazz's mission.

He stopped his analysis when he knew Jazz would be starting his half-shift. Nonetheless, he still confirmed. ::Jazz, will you be reporting for duty soon or are you going through with your plans to skip it?::

::Nah, got the a-okay from Percy so I'm all good. Didn't see a reason to fake anything since I haven't my nappin' friend available. Need me?::

::If you would please. I have questions about your report.::

::Well yeah. Can't say it went according to our initial plans, and I know we used some unorthodox means and all. Has the officer meeting for full debrief been scheduled yet?::

::Tentatively. Besides the actual mission changes and observations, I suspect you and I need to review a few related important details first to properly build a debrief meeting agenda.::

Even over the commlink Jazz groaned. ::Anything I should already be mentally preparing myself for?::

::I suspect it links to WRKR-2010.::

::Which one is that again?::

::The most recent report from Springer and Kup.::

::Oh yeah! I liked Kup's little stories in that one. Ya know, if you read them in the right voice they can be fun. Granted, you got to know when to skim and when to dive in, but Kup's been writing reports the same way for so long that it's easy to figure out how he writes.::

Prowl stifled his own groan. ::I suppose. I'll take that under advisement, but it's not what I'm questioning.::

::I never care much for Springer's writing, though,:: Jazz continued. ::The guy's reports read like he's got some disdain for what I do, being in the shadows when his team is more about beating your door down. And you can totally tell he's size-bias when it comes to fights.::

This time Prowl allowed the groan to be vocalized. ::Jazz, if we may move back on to topic?::

::Right, right, right. Let me just swing through the Rec Room for my normal morale checks and I'll be there. Rec Room's helm count is probably low right now, with everyone either on-duty, volunteering, or recharging. I can't believe we waited this long for construction work.::

::Jazz.::

::I can walk and talk, ya know.::

::I'm well aware of your gift of multitasking. Now, if we may...::

::This isn't multitasking,:: Jazz interrupted. ::I do know multitasking, and I know the difference between multitasking and doing a task while your processor runs scripts for the regular stuff. Like how normal walking has its own script so I can focus all I want on talking. Even while chewing on a tough energon goodie and seeing if I can blow bubbles from the more-elastic gelled surfaces.::

::Jazz.:: The chattery side of Jazz after a mission wasn't unusual. Having spent more private time with the mech, Prowl noticed the talkativeness was as much as 38% higher during Jazz's online periods following stressful periods. There two largest increases were also followed by a bad recharge that orn. From that limited correlation data, Prowl suspected that Jazz's recharge after Prowl left wasn't restful. A question to be asked during off-duty conversations.

::It's important to Special Ops to know what can be scripted so it doesn't require your active attention. You ought to know, between tact-activities and why we had that training.::

::JAZZ!:: That chattiness didn't mean he'd allow endless patience for it, especially during duty. Even Bluestreak didn't get endless patience.

::Alright, alright, sheesh. Cranky, aren't you? Maybe next time you'll stay in the berth with me and finish recharge. You get a full recharge, I get one less interruption.::

'So that's your plan,' Prowl belatedly realized. ::I have work, and if I start my shift late then I'll leave late, and I'll have to shorten my orn to be on time for my next shift. That likely means I'll require recharge of the solitary kind.:: He had no intention of recharging alone, but Jazz didn't need to know.

::Funny. I'd say 'let's see you try' but knowing you, you'd follow through just to prove me wrong and call it a lesson. I'm assuming you haven't broken away from work for energon so I'll include a cube for you. See you soon.::

Prowl didn't respond, declining Jazz the opportunity in continuing the conversation. He checked the time and Teletraan for Optimus's location. Upon seeing that it hadn't change, he sent a message to Bumblebee to get Prime energon, attaching Prime's request.

Prowl worked a little longer on the comparison analysis until he heard Jazz's rhythmic knock. He was in the middle of disconnecting his focus from the hardline when Jazz walked into the room. Luckily, Prowl had long mastered the look of awareness despite having limited external input feeds.

"Alright," Jazz started as he sauntered to a guest chair, "what's this about me having something in common with Springer's group?" He slide the cube across the desk and settled into the chair.

"Yes," Prowl began once he was reengaged with the real world, "you mentioned that it looks like the Decepticons are preparing for something related to new intelligence from a non-Earth source. In regards to another set of battle fronts."

Jazz shrugged and then folded his arms asymmetrically across his torso. "Yeah. That's all in there. I took extra good notes. Right?" There was a bit of hesitation in the last word.

"It is," Prowl agreed. "You've excelled throughout your recent reports."

Jazz's small smile doubled and he nodded, before settling against the chair's back, loosely crossing his ankles and easing his crossed arms. "Good. So what do you need from me?"

"I'd like to go through the Wrecker report with you and see what catches your attention as a possible connection to your own report. I believe I've marked all incidents of potential overlap, but it would be best to get that from you. That's what I'll include in the meeting agenda for your debrief."

"Sounds like a plan. So when's it tentatively scheduled?"

"My calculations and trend analysis over your observations gives us over 98% confidence that we'll have at least a two deca-orns before they'll near final stages of any schemes. Given the return state of your team's affairs, I thought tomorrow would be best, a little after mid-shift. That gives us time to talk, and for you to confirm Mirage and Bumblebee have finished their reports."

"Alright, I got time to talk. There's nothing else absolutely totally needing my attention before the official debrief. My team's reports are almost done. I comm'ed them on my way here. Bee is fine and will finish before he 'clocks' off. Raj is doing what he normally does at the end of unwinding after a mission gone way off plan, but promises to have it done by the joor before."

"What exactly is that? What does Mirage do that has him putting reports off so late?"

"Nothing of tactical use," Jazz said with a visor wink. "Don't ask because I'm not giving him up."

"But you've already started."

"Prowl," Jazz called to stop, refusing with a small frown.

"And there's more that goes into tactical planning than the execution of the actual plan. Timing and incorporation of post-mission data is every bit as important. You aren't qualified to make decisions on Tactical's behalf."

"Prowl, no."

"It's important to Tactical to know what can be considered as a regular occurrence in or around a mission so it doesn't impact a tactician's actively-engaged focus. You should know - "

"I see what you're doing! You're turning my words on me to get me to spill!"

Prowl deliberately offered a small smile as a concession. "More like to discourage you from trying that again. Shall we continue with my intended exercise, then?"

They worked through the report, with Prowl skipping "the fluff" parts that he found of no use, regardless of Jazz's opinion of amusement value. As they were finishing their final notes, Prowl received a request from Medbay. A doorwing sharply twitched before he forced it back to neutral. "Medbay is calling."

"Here's hoping it's over nothing?" Jazz's mouth twisted into a sideways displeasure.

The tactician opened the line. ::This is Prowl.::

::Prowl, this is Perceptor.::

::Perceptor, how can I assist? Is there a reason why your using the Medbay commlink instead of your own?::

::I'm calling because of some notes I saw in Ratchet's administrative files. I'm using the Medbay commlink simply to officially mark this conversation took place, in case he protests later.::

::And what is causing you to take preemptive measures for damage control?::

::At a cursory evaluation of the staffing-related files, I found several annotated notes indicating a high frustration, and my educated prediction is that it will hinder the next officer meeting regarding such matters. I know you have an appointment with him today for a routine engine system medical check. Given the magnitude of checks you've already passed previously, I suggest foregoing this one and opting to assist him instead.::

::You want me to suggest skipping a medical check to Ratchet?::

::Of course not. I'll do it. I've worked with Ratchet long enough in and outside of Medbay to know which discussion points have the best chance of getting him to agree with me. Records of this comm. being made will back up my claim I've check with you that 1) you're feeling the same as you typically function on shifts similar to this one, and 2) you've agreed to the appointment change. So do you agree with both accounts?::

Prowl ran a fast systems check. ::My systems check return values within the acceptable range. I have no other issues, and I'm willing to make sure Ratchet doesn't fall behind on his administrative duties.::

::Then I'll make the arrangements. Word of advice: don't say 'fall behind on duties' to Ratchet.::

::Understood.:: Both Prowl and Perceptor closed out their lines simultaneously.

"What's the frown for?" Jazz asked as soon as Prowl's optics turned to him.

Prowl smoothed out the micro negative expression. "I have a meeting with Ratchet that may turn unpleasant, if I don't fully mind his outlook on the subject. Given that Ratchet's clues for impending irritation are his body language instead of actual words, and I am poor at reading all but the most frequent signs, I suspect I'll miss 'minding' something."

Jazz looked at Prowl as his mind latched onto a fragment of that comment. He thoughtfully rubbed the side of his jawline as the idea speedily built itself.

Rather than tell Prowl about the idea, however, he offered different advice until he could investigate its potential later. "Let him do all the talking and if you feel like pushing back or commenting about anything other than the actual administrative work, comm. me first. Get it off your chassis and I'll let you know if it sounds like a solid point to make."

"I don't require a sparkling-sitter, especially over the simple task of talking. My social skills may be lacking, but I'm not completely inept," he replied with a dry drawl, nipping the inside of his cheek towards the end.

"Just try it, okay? I'm just thinking, Ratchet's got the body language a lot like a turbo-fox, metaphorically. Ears pinned back, dentae bared when getting angry."

"I'm sorry, what?" Prowl's back, although already straight, managed to straighten more. "Having been in trouble with him for plenty and I have never seen such things."

"I said metaphorically," the more creatively-colorful mech defended before adding, "and by 'metaphorically' I also mean exaggerating to make a point."

"Metaphors and hyperboles are not the same thing," the more literary-aware mech pointed out.

"Art of storytelling, my mech. Especially when the audience's mental facilities can be totally impaired, be it at a party, distracting a Medbay patient or distressed 'bot, or something else." Jazz smiled at Prowl's raised optic ridge and wrinkled nosebridge, clearly not fully grasping whatever scenario was playing out in his mind about the purpose of Jazz's point. He knew Prowl was trying to latch onto the more analytical side of his explanation, and that was all the more example of why Jazz's idea was worth pursuing.

Still, until then, the TIC had other matters. "We good for now? 'Cause even though this is a half shift, it's now half-over. I haven't actually checked my work queue box, so I may or may not having something to do while I wait for the meeting. That 'I've got nothing to do' is a bit of an assumption."

"There's always something for you to do. I counted 58 reports assigned to you as the start of this shift, and that's only for what's on the traceable servers. I know Blaster has been monitoring your other servers, and while I haven't seen or heard any concerns, his lack of 'I can't believe how quiet it is in XOps' declarations when bringing me reports suggest you have plenty waiting on you. I suppose with your 'office smarts,' you're taking any open-ended or distant deadlines as a sign of no work for now."

"You're just jealous I know how to space-out and level-set my workload to minimize both boredom and burden, without being the bottleneck either."

"Don't even try restarting that debate. If there's nothing you identify as a need to work now, then there's reports waiting on someone in Command to reassign or resolve them. Since Ironhide is out, perhaps you can?"

He flopped in his chair, mostly in good humor. "Aw, that's the last time I say something like that. Better leave now before you add something else."

"Now that you mention it…"

"Bye!" Jazz hopped the chair, half-darted over the desk to steal a brief kiss, and jogged the few paces out the door with a barely finished, "Don't waste my efforts; finish that cube!"

Prowl's optics lingered on the door, the surprise tingling on his lips fading fast. 'As if I'm the one who wastes your efforts,' he muttered, fixating on the easiest part to process Jazz's fast escape.

He considered briefly reassigning some of the improper reports to Jazz just to give the mech something to keep his mind off of whatever was driving him to talk more, but the last time Prowl did that he found out (much later) that Jazz had decided to entertain himself in unregulated and even noncompliant manners.

One specific incident that caught his attention also became infamous on a handful of bases. Prowl had reassigned a number of nuisance reports to Jazz because Prowl could no longer waste time on berating mechs through report rejections. Inside the nuisance pile was a report asking for extra polish on some base had somehow been routed to him. How thatgot routed all the way up to the Autobot SIC Prowl never confirmed, but he suspected an overreaching rubberstamp policy all throughout that particular command chain. He left a tiny Command-internal note when he handed it off.

Jazz finished the report handling by sending it back with fifty digital top layers mocked up to look like close ups of fifty different over-shined mechs, with an animated text on each layer reading, "Shinny enough for you?" After all fifty layers were unlocked and removed, the former taking a while because Jazz converted each layer's lock into riddles regarding regulations, was a rejection tag. Its justification included a half-concealed foreboding explanation about not wasting Autobot General Army Command's efforts because reading was too hard, or the war-front- and base- officers could donate their own polish bottles because they wouldn't need it anymore. At least the bases associated with that war-front seemed to have corrected whatever oversight allowed the error. Still, as a mech known for being almost unrivaled in dedication to rigidly enforcing rules, Prowl couldn't allow Jazz to do that again.

Not through traceable channels, anyways.


A/N:

For anyone wondering about Springer's "size-bias," it's a ref to a scene in All Hail Megatron.