Fandom: Transformers Bayverse/SWAT Kats
Author: Gatekat and Karl Wolfemann
Pairings: Jake Clawson/Chance Furlong
Rating: PG-13
Codes: Crossover, Slash, Furry
Summary: Jazz and Wheeljack work out just how they're going to go undercover in Megakat City.
Notes: Special Ops Wheeljack snagged from fanfiction .net/s/6823615/1/Not_the_Usual_Suspects by Jarakrisafis fanfiction .net/u/1267280/Jarakrisafis
"text" translated Cybertronian.
"text" organic languages
~text~ bond/hardline talk
::text:: comm/radio chatter

Allsparked Aristal 2: Planning an Op

In the rocky mountains overlooking the largest city on a strange, alien world, two Cybertronians sat in quiet companionship, watching the city clean up and begin repairs with an efficiency that spoke of a lot of experience. It wasn't unlike watching their own forces repair a base after a Decepticon attack.

"I should get some samples of that robot," Wheeljack observed, his head-fins flashing in time with his speech, their color the blue-white of intense excitement. "See what the local tech's like. Our initial scans were pretty clearly incomplete."

"The technology range in this city is amazing," Jazz agreed lazily, though he was anything but that in his attention to the goings on far below and beyond them. "I want you to focus on what's around the strongest spark-signature we picked up, the combat-capable one. It was hailed as Turbokat by the local military. We need to know just what its real relation to the local law and military is. Then investigate the other one."

"You want me to scout it out for a while first, or take the direct route if I can get in broadcast range?"

"Scout first," Jazz laughed easily, his silvery finish flashing in the setting sunlight. "I know you want to adopt the little one, but we need to know what's going on before we initiate contact."

"You're the one who talks about getting things done as efficiently as possible," Wheeljack replied with a laugh of his own. "Were you able to track it to a home base? I've got the area, but my scanners weren't up to pinpointing the landing zone. Somewhere near the border between the city and the desert, that much I picked up."

"See the scrap yard," Jazz pointed to the largest one. "From the trajectory when it disappeared, it set down in the middle of it. I expect an underground base, or at least underground recharge chamber. I want to know what his relationship his to the two organics there before you make a move too. That jet may be sparked, but it's not Cybertronian in construction."

"Wouldn't have stayed in jet form through that fight if he was," Wheeljack agreed. "Especially not when he was pulling those other organics out of the helicopter. If you can help me get inside, I can probably take the place of one of the salvage vehicles. Be a good chance to look around when things are quiet, and get to know the area."

Jazz nodded thoughtfully and focused his full sensory suite on the yard. "You want one of their work vehicles or one of the scrap?"

"Work vehicle," Wheeljack said without a second thought. "I'd rather not have to blow my cover to avoid being cannibalized for spare parts. Besides, it'll give me better chances to be around the city without having to appear unusual."

Jazz nodded and stood. "Then lets head down there and see what we're up against to set you up."

"What are you waiting for?" Wheeljack quipped as he jumped down the hill, transforming mid-air and landing with his wheels spinning.

With a grin for his over-energetic friend and cadre-mate Jazz followed him to the wide delta valley floor and towards their destination. With his more advanced ranged sensors Jazz picked out the forms that Wheeljack could choose from and privately decided that the primary tow truck was the best choice, but picked out two other work vehicles as backup in case their on site investigations proved it to be a poor selection.

::I've seen 'Con facilities that had less security than this,:: Wheeljack commed securely as they approached the salvage yard. ::Nothing overt, but I can pick up the sensors. Can you tell if it's safe to shut them down?::

Jazz was silent for a long moment as they slowed their approach.

::Since the natives are sleeping and the sparked jet away, it should be okay,:: Jazz said with a touch of caution as he reached out to tap into the security system that while exceptional by local standards was still sparkling play to the seasoned Ops mech. ::Okay, we're clear. Whoever programmed this has one sideways processor.::

::You'd want to be careful too, if you knew one of two sparks on an organic world,:: Wheeljack pointed out. ::Especially if you were one of the people who helped build the chassis.:: Wheeljack rolled in cautiously, his engine quiet as his scanners swept the area. ::I can tell he's somewhere nearby, sort out where later. Think the tow truck's the best option, though I've got two or three other options in the area we could use when some of the others get here.::

::You think you can make it believable?:: Jazz asked, his own scanners working to take in every detail of the underground facility as well as what was obviously around them. ::If they did build that spark's chassis they probably know their vehicles better than most.::

::I can handle the mechanics without a problem. The modular nature of it might be a little trickier,:: Wheeljack admitted as he got close enough to take in a good detailed scan of the truck. ::Micro-layers of rust on the hookups indicate they don't use those features often through. I can handle the parts, I'll just want to be sure that the scan doesn't put anything critical in the winch framework. If I take that off the existing unit, I should be fine.::

Jazz transformed and nodded. ::All right, you take the form, I'll make the transfer and get rid of the evidence. Just make sure you can transform again afterwards.::

::You do remember who you're talking to, don't you?:: Wheeljack scoffed, transforming back to his bipedal form to remove the winch unit and get a proper scan of the mechanics, his own body rapidly analyzing and shifting joints and hookups where necessary to make the new transformation. His surface colors shifted as well, to the more earth-toned shades of the truck he'd be replacing. He transformed into the new shape, the winch falling into place as he did so.

::I've had more comfortable fits, but I'll be good until we can come clean,:: he told Jazz silently. ::Any sign that the native spark is aware we're here?::

::Nope. It's still flying in the foothills,:: Jazz commed even as he grabbed the real tow truck and began to pull it deep into the savage yard where it could be dismantled and hidden.

::Just be sure you keep the parts close enough together we can find them when they want their real truck back, I'm not looking forward to this being my new career,:: Wheeljack quipped as he settled in to his location.

::I'd never leave you to that,:: he grinned at his friend and occasional partner in crime and sabotage. ::You enjoy being in the field again as much as I'm glad to have you back in Ops?::

::I'll let you know after I've spent six months gathering intel without a chance to tinker with anything,:: Wheeljack chuckled lowly. ::If anything changes on the outside, let me know. I won't be able to keep too close an eye on outside events while I'm working here.::

::I'll keep you as up to date as I can, but I'm off to Sayden Bay in a few rotations,:: Jazz sighed, hating that he had so few agents on such a complex world that he'd had to split everyone up. ::Skyfire's doing the data mining. He'll know more than I do.::

::I'll keep in touch with him too,:: Wheeljack promised. ::You just know how he can be about analysis work; he's a damn good scientist and explorer, but rapid conclusions aren't his strongest suit.::

::True,:: Jazz chuckled as he made short work on breaking down and concealing the original tow truck. ::You know I don't like leaving you alone in an active war zone, and this is a bad one,:: he continued softly, the harmonics of affection, concern and protectiveness rich in his voice.

::Jazz,:: Wheeljack responded seriously. ::It's not like you're leaving me in the middle of Kaon, or even Iacon. It's a war zone, yes, but all evidence points to it being a reasonably safe one. If anything happens, I can handle field repairs until Skyfire could arrange for the evac. This isn't my first field mission, after all. Just watch your bumper, all right? I don't want to have to explain to Prowl why you've gotten banged up while I was having a nice, safe, cushy job posing as a tow truck.::

An affectionate chuckle echoed across the line. ::No one wants that, but I don't want to explain to Skyfire when he goes all Seeker-nuts if you get hurt. Remember last time, just after you two got together? Who knew that shuttle could fight so well.::

::The Terror Twins, if they'd been willing to admit it,:: Wheeljack pointed out. ::I don't think 'poor fighting skills' and 'Seeker' go together at all. Don't worry; I'll calm him down if that ends up happening. Besides, from what we saw earlier they're pretty used to handling Kup's war stories come to life. Any extra changes to the initial plans, given what we've seen? Or should I just leave contact levels to my own discretion based on what happens here?::

::I trust your judgment,:: Jazz smiled over at his long-time friend and occasional mission partner, even though the other mech couldn't see him from the garage he was sitting in.. ::We'll stick to the usual drill. Keep in contact with Skyfire and don't get yourself badly damaged for the sake of your cover. If we end up making contact before the main force and Prime get here, so be it.::

::Will do then. You should probably get going before somebody wakes up inside; I'm picking up that one of the organics is starting to move around.::

::Like anyone's going to catch the Jazz-mech,:: he chuckled, though he did make quicker work of hiding the rest of the tow truck and headed out of the salvage yard on the opposite side as the small building that seemed to be workshop and living quarters for the natives.

It left Wheeljack alone, pretending to be their truck. Though he knew he could comm Jazz or Skyfire, or anyone else on this world, it was in his best interests to avoid that unless all three residents were resting and unlikely to notice his energy grid was a bit more active than normal.

Shortly afterwards, up in the main building, Jake was starting to come around. Chance wasn't in bed with him anymore, and he could hear Blackie starting to come back in from her run around the canyons. Chance was probably getting ready for her post-flight checks.

Instead, he kept a low-level scan running to incrementally familiarize himself with the surroundings. He cut the scan when he picked up one of the organics about to enter the garage area, instead watching as a short, stocky, striped felinoid entered the room.

The organic went to a small computer terminal, bringing up a nearby map and running through it as he sat there in his jeans. He picked up a communicator and activated it.

::Blackie, I'm up and ready for your post-flight. Probably should come in soon, looks like we've got about a half-hour, maybe an hour yet before we get a delivery of scrap from the battle.::

::All right,:: a feminine voice, one that reminded him entirely too much of Chromia, responded. ::Be there in ten. Razor's resting?::

::For now he is,:: the feline in the seat, a tabby according to a quick check of his datafiles on the world from Skyfire, replied easily. ::Any unusual Enforcer activity yet, or have they all gone back to standard cruising patrols?::

::Sharpclaw's and Sunspot's squads are out and about looking for trouble, but everyone else seems to be where they should be,:: Blackie replied. ::At least somebody finally learned that choppers are better at watching the ground than jets.::

::After Feral's almost killed him, he probably felt like he had to prove they were worth the money,:: the tabby joked. ::You know it'd break his heart if the Mayor cut the budget for replacements.::

A mean-spirited sounding snicker came across the comm. ::Not that their jets are any more effective. Now, if they'd invested in a single squadron of Blue Manx, maybe they'd be something other than a distraction we have to rescue, but only if they put the right pilots in them.::

::Please,:: he snorted. ::They've had two Enforcer pilots who could've flown that thing properly. They fired me, and Felina can't handle a full squadron all by herself. Though it would've been fun to try you against her after you were talking. Pity that the one lesson Manx took out of life was not throwing good money after bad, without the lessons about learning how to recognize 'bad' properly. Just don't rebuild Manx Towers for a few years and invest that money in the Blue Manx and the Behemoth - Omega problems cut down by half, easy.::

::Yeah, but not nearly as much fun for us,:: Black snickered as the sound of her incredibly powerful triple engines, engines that Wheeljack was sure couldn't be of this world, became increasingly audible as the black jet approached at full speed.

::Better tone down the engines unless you want to wake up your mother,:: the tabby teased. ::I'll be in the hangar when you get here.::

A snicker replied from the other side, but the roar abruptly dropped to a level that Wheeljack calculated would only just keep the yet airborne. He watched with passive sensors as the tabby shut down the comm line and headed inside while the sparked jet approached.

So the locals had created it... her, to judge by the voice and terms they'd thrown back and forth. Had they done so intentionally, or was this a more complicated situation? Given that there were only two sparks they could detect, it seemed more likely to be a natural development. They'd found a world that was just starting to make the jump from organic life to technological... absolutely fascinating on so many levels. If he hadn't been on a mission, he'd have been tempted to reveal himself and try talking things over; he'd have to do his best not to burn any bridges getting to that point. He particularly wanted to talk with the sparked jet's "mother."

For now though, he had to remain content to watch, listen and carefully scan. The jet came in for a landing and Wheeljack got a good sensor scan of how and where she had disappeared to earlier. It was indeed an underground base and her entrance was a landing ramp. Her approach was slow, relatively quiet, with only one engine of three powered up as she swept in and touched down just below Wheeljack.

He extended his sensors to keep track of her and the tabby in the underground facility, making note of how shielded it was, not just from sensors but from noise and damage. The facility could take a direct hit from almost anything this world had to offer and barely be rattled.

How it could have been built without law enforcement or military involvement was beyond him, but it was pretty clear that the local authorities weren't fond of them, at any rate. And that the feeling was mutual, from what they'd been saying.

When the entrance to the bunker closed, his ability to scan it without turning on his active sensors was pretty well blinded, so he was forced back into focusing his attention upstairs. Several smaller organics in the area, animals to judge by their size and behavior. No signs that there was anybody out here beyond the two he'd already heard mentioned, at least not regularly.

The one sentient there, a kat roughly half the mass of the tabby who's designation is apparently Razor, was deep in recharge with minor damaged. Scrapes, cuts and bruises, but nothing that was likely to interfere with the organic's functioning. Considering what was underground, above ground was disturbingly run down and low-tech.

A convoy of three large vehicles is approaching ... the salvage delivery mentioned earlier. Razor still hasn't moved, but the tabby had come back up to the surface.

The tabby walked past him, heading outside just before the vehicles arrived. The first one backed into the lot slowly, and was starting to unload its contents when the tabby hopped up onto the running board next to the door.

"Drop that on our doorstep, and you'll be poster children for the city offering free dental to salvage haulers," he told the diminutive kat in the driver's seat with a cheerful, mockingly friendly tone in his voice.

The small kat's heart rate spiked; he's afraid of the tabby. Pheromones indicate it's not mutual, but there is something here the tabby fears, though not nearly as much as the small one.

The dumping stopped and the truck moved further into the property, away from the central building, and leaves it's cargo where the tabby indicates before the trucks leave. He walks into the garage and grabs the keys off the wall before he hit a few buttons near them. An automatic winch system in the garage hauled out what looked like the bucket of a small front end loader, moving it into position for the tabby to bolt onto the mounting slots on Wheeljack's new body. With that done, he climbed into the front seat, starting him up and moving him out towards two loads of high-end mechanical debris and one pile of more mundane vehicle parts and debris that might be salvageable.

It was dull, but satisfying work for Wheeljack, as it gave him a chance to get good passive and ultra-low power sensor scans of the technology. It was a varied as they'd first assessed, if not more so. It also have him plenty of personal contact with one of the two organics that he was assigned to understand.