AN: Sorry for the long wait, school and reality managed to get in the way but, due to popular demand and some people feeding the bunny in secret, you know who you are, this has now got a second chapter.
I still have pretty much no idea where this is heading so if you have any suggestions fire away, not literally though :D
A HUGE thanks to Mmouse15 who have betaed and made this readable. It wouldn't have happened with out you.
He wanted to blame Minefield for Jazz's arrival but the truth was that it was probably his own slagging fault. The reason Jazz was here was because of a mission gone wrong and the fact that their special ops team hadn't headed his advice.
It had all started with a simple infiltration mission. Blaster's cassettes had found what seemed to be a Decepticon recruitment center after having monitored the facility for a couple of weeks. Ironhide had lost his patience and demanded that they, meaning Prowl, do something about it. So there he was planning an infiltration and sabotage mission when Minefield, the special operations commander, walked into his office for an update.
"Prowl. Blaster has informed us that Soundwave will be visiting the center in two weeks and Prime demands that I leave as soon as possible."
"I see, I have finished the basic statistics. You will receive the details when I am done."
"Great, I will see you in a while then."
"Yes now leave my office." Minefield raised an optic ridge at that, but Prowl had always been a little strange so he just left the tactician to his numbers.
It should have gone smoothly, the mission should have been a success. Prowl had spent hours planning the mission and calculating its success.
Prowl had been listening in on the mission the whole time. Everything had been going according to plan, up to a certain point that is. Minefield had gone in undercover, acting as one of the recruits. He had managed to blend in with the others and after having been assigned quarters before going through the compulsory testing, since you had to be compatible with the Decepticon cause, he had started the second phase of the mission. When dusk set he managed to sneak out of his rooms and make his way to the main computer. This is where everything had gone haywire.
While Minefield had been downloading the files Ravage had ambushed him. Apparently Soundwave had arrived earlier than expected and the info Blaster had received was a decoy to lure the Autobots into action. This meant the Minefield was trapped alone in a base filled with Decepticon solders and recruits all of whom were more than willing to prove their worth in the eyes of their second in command.
Soundwave had left Minefield at the mercies of the recruits and took his cassettes and left for Cybertron. Minefield had tried to fight his way out and when he had finally been overwhelmed his solution had been to detonate the bomb he had planted when he had first arrived at the center. The explosion had been massive and if anyone had survived it they were really lucky mechs.
One of Minefields' squad had been in the surveillance room with Prowl when the bomb had gone off. He had immediately raced off to gather the rest of the team and go rescue their leader, ignoring Prowl's commands to stop. When the squad had arrived they had been met with one of the seeker trines lying in ambush. They had not had any chance of survival.
Prowl couldn't understand why had they gone after Minefield. It was illogical. All statistics said that he was dead and that opposing forces would have arrived to check out the happenings at the base since Soundwave had just left. That all added up to no reason to go there, so why had they gone? And the mission, why had Soundwave been there and what had Minefield found on the Decepticon computers? His priorities told him to go and collect the downloaded files from Ratchet and that the uneasy tweak in his computers was from not being able to understand the team's reasoning and the unexpected arrival of Soundwave.
As he made his way to the medical bay his internal communication device received an urgent message from Optimus Prime.
Prowl I am in need of your assistance. Please meet me in my office as soon as you are able.
Prime's energy signature kept prodding his main computer which meant that the "as soon as you are able" really meant immediately.
Optimus Prime, Commander of the Autobots, was going through a stack of data-pads when Prowl knocked on the open door of his office to announce his arrival.
"You requested my presence sir."
"Ah Prowl, yes, yes. Come in and please close the door."
Prowl stepped into the office closing and locking the door behind him. The Commander put down the data-pad he had been reading, leaned forward resting his head on his hands and fixed his second in command with a hard stare.
"As you well know, we have found ourselves lacking a special operations squad after the last battle." he said. "Because of this I have spent the last couple of hours going through the different teams available. I have compiled a list of different options that I believe would serve us better here than where they are currently stationed." The Prime gestured at the pile of data-pads on the desk in front of him. "Now I require your assistance in this decision."
As Prowl reached for the data-pads on Optimus' desk a hand caught his wrist.
"Sir?" he asked giving the other mech a curious glance.
"Nobody blames you Prowl."
"I am afraid I do not understand, sir." he said with a frown.
"Minefield," Optimus' voice was gentle. "There was nothing you could have done." Prowl stiffened at that.
"Yes sir." He had been going through the files countless times since Minefield's demise and had found himself lacking information to form a conclusion. And as for no one blaming him, he had still heard the whispers and seen the glances when he passed some bots in the halls of the headquarters. Prime just smiled.
"Good. Please return with your decision within a day, it's quite urgent after all."
"Of course sir." Prowl said with a nod and proceeded to leave the commander's office and headed for his own. The discussion with his Creator and the data from Minefield had to wait, this was much more important.
Going through the data-pads Optimus had given him, he realized that the teams with most potential had been mostly over looked by Optimus. One thing that the Prime had failed to take into account was the social aspects of the special operations squads, probably because this was not common knowledge. Prowl only knew of it due to hacking their mainframe. But he knew that it was vital that they had a team that could operate with the rest of the base without causing unnecessary strife, since that is one of the most valued talents of a special operations squad. They did not only infiltrate, sabotage and spy on the enemy, but they also serve as a safety precaution for the command, reporting possible traitors, even though Red Alert had that part covered, and preventing corruption among officers.
Taking all this in consideration he had reduced the options down to two teams and was now in the middle of going through their sealed records when Ratchet stepped through the door.
"I used your special access code, youngling. We can talk freely." said the mech before Prowl could utter a sound and approached his Creation.
The special code had been created by Prowl and then subtly added to all of the Autobot systems. When the code was entered into the locks of one of their rooms it caused all other access to be barred and all surveillance was shut down, this ensured him that he and his creator could meet in those roles and not be disturbed. So if his Creator had uses the code it meant he was not here on official business.
"I wanted to make sure you're alright, I know how loosing one of our own can affect you." In truth it wasn't the fact that it was one of their own that had the mech worried, it did make him feel better to think that way though. What had him really concerned was the unexpected way Minefield and his team had died, the fact that most of what happened had gone completely against the statistics. His Creation's computer could not handle such improbabilities without having total havoc wracked upon it.
"I'm fine Creator. But I will be requiring the data from commander Minefield's computers." Ratchet gave him a suspicious glance.
"Of course. But I would still like to take a look at your computer." he said. Prowl nodded and turned his back to him, giving him access to the port in the base of his helm.
Ratchet plugged himself into his Creation and sighed at the data he received. Apparently Prowl had downscaled the problem his computer was having dealing with the failed mission. He had spent a large amount of time sorting through all the numbers and calculations of the mission to see if he had missed anything. He discovered that Prowl's computer was close to overheating from the strain, which would explain his odd behavior. When Prowl's computer began overheating it caused glitches and lagging of the processors, and latent emotion programs started up. As long as Prowl got the data from Minefield he should be alright and fully functioning within the hour. Ratchet started the transfer of the necessary data and reached forward to unplug himself from his Creation when the transfer was complete. But as his fingers graced the connection he stiffened in surprise and anger. He double checked the data before disconnecting himself, turning Prowl around and leveling him with a fierce glare at him.
"You, you, argh." He threw his arms in frustration and let out a growl. He then swiveled around and pointed at Prowl. "You hacked into the medical records." he hissed.
"Yes." Prowl actually had the decency to look ashamed.
"Why?"
"I need the information to make the right selection for the Special ops team." Prowl's proper language was slipping. "Prime wanted me to help him."
"You could have asked me. I would have given you the files."
"But this was easier. 'Sides what does it matter if you'd just have given it to me anyway?" he asked leaning back and crossing his arms and throwing his Creation a venomous look. "Not like it was hard."
"That's not the point. Those records are sealed for a reason. If you need access to them in the future you ask me, understood?" Was the snarled reply.
"Yes Creator, it won't happen again. Promise." was the sullen reply.
"Good, now finish this up so we can get ourselves a new squad." All Ratchet got as an answer was a mumble and when he turned to look at his youngling from the doorway he saw that the other was already back to work. With a small warm and affectionate smile and a breathed chuckle he left Prowl to his own devices.
Optimus Prime looked up as his second in command entered his office holding the stack of data-pads he had collected earlier.
"Ah, Prowl, can I help you?"
"Yes sir, I have returned with a conclusion." Optimus forced a cycle of air through his systems. He knew he would return quickly with his opinion but this was ridiculous.
"Right, the special ops team. So, what do you think?" Prowl approached his desk, put the stack down and then took the topmost one and held it out to the Prime.
"This team would suit us the best sir."
Optimus took the data-pad and looked it over. He did a double take and checked it again. No, it couldn't be, Prowl never made mistakes. Optimus rebooted his optics and checked again, nope it still said the same. He gave Prowl a doubting look and raised an optic ridge.
"This is your decision?"
"Yes sir."
"But, why? This team has very little experience." Prowl knew this would be coming and now he had to convince his commander to choose the team he had picked.
"While they don't have as much experience as the others they have a spot free record and their teamwork is impeccable. And though they are young, their youth will only work in their favor as they are more likely to be underestimated. It will also make it easier to integrate the group into the social networks of the Headquarters. They are overall the best choice for the job."
Prime nodded at this and took another look at the data-pad in front of him. Prowl's reasons were sound and he trusted his second in command
"Well, if you're sure."
"I am sure sir."
"Then I'll see to it Prowl." He said with a smile and started to type the commands to finalize the transfer of the special operations squad. Prowl nodded and left the office, knowing that the right choices had been made.
I suppose I have to keep writing now, but please review and tell me if you like where it's going.
/ / Povlyn