Ultra Magnus had arrived outside AA-00's quarters precisely when they were scheduled for their break. He then proceeded to stand there for almost half a sub-cycle, alone in the hallway, as he waited for AA-00 to actually show up.

Magnus looked down at the datapad in his servos, going over some notes he'd made for himself. The Vehicon had only scheduled three and a half sub-cycles for recharging in the first place, and now it was down to only three. It was bad enough that they didn't show up on time for meetings, but they couldn't even manage to be punctual for their own time off? Magnus fervently scanned the short lines of text on his screen, trying to push out any ideas in his processor about chastising AA-00 for their unhealthy work habits... As much as he wanted to, he knew it really would not help the situation at hand.

As he continued looking over his datapad, he finally heard someone approaching. Magnus looked up just in time to see a lone Vehicon come around the corner towards him. It wasn't AA-00. No, judging by the frame type, this appeared to be one of the servant class Vehicons. Probably a miner. And once she spotted Ultra Magnus up ahead she stopped dead in her tracks.

After a moment of them just staring at each other, Magnus finally spoke up. "Are you here to see AA-00 as well?"

At hearing his voice, the miner's optical visor flared slightly and they almost seemed to flinch. "No I... I was just... I mean y-yes. Yes I was b-but uh..." she stammered, pulling her optics away from the Autobot and locking them firmly on the floor. "I... I'll just see them later."

Suspicious.

The Vehicon quickly turned to go back they way she came, but Ultra Magnus' voice stopped her. "What is your designation?" he called out.

Looking back, she seemed to hesitate before finally replying, "I'm PA-01."

Magnus noticed the hesitation. "What is it you intended to speak with AA-00 about, PA-01?" he asked.

"Th...there's um... There's just... It's mining stuff. I don't know..." She was shifting her weight anxiously, and her vision wandered along the rivets in the floor around Magnus' pedes as she desperately avoided meeting his gaze. Which meant she didn't notice when Ultra Magnus narrowed his optics.

Even more suspicious.

"You don't know?" He repeated, his vocalizer took on a darker tone.

PA-01 immediately stopped shifting around and froze. "I... I..." she stammered quietly. Finally, after ventilating heavily for a moment, she looked up into Ultra Magnus' face. "I-just-wanted-to-ask-AA-00-about-the-extra-mining-equipment-my-units-were-promised-and-haven't-gotten-yet-but-they-aren't-here-and-they-told-us-not-to-talk-to-you-Autobots-so-I'm-just-gonna-go-okay-bye!" She spoke so fast Magnus almost didn't understand her, but before he had time to ask any more questions, she turned and bolted back around the corner like her spark depended on it. Which left Magnus alone to ponder over the encounter.

He was particularly troubled by the very last thing she had mentioned. AA-00 instructed the Vehicons to not even speak to the Autobots? Why was that? Was it possible they were planning something? AA-00 was in charge of so many operations; could one or more of them be utilized to scheme against the Autobots? What if "mining equipment" was some sort of code word? What if they were gearing up to destroy the Autobots once and for all and claim Cybertron in the name of the Decepticons?!

Just as Magnus' processor was really starting to delve into all the possible ways that the Vehicons could be plotting the demise of the Autobots, he heard a few voices approaching from the other direction. He looked back around and saw AA-00 and three other Vehicons round the far corner of the hall and head towards him. AA-00 was focused down on their datapad, as usual, and the three Vehicons appeared to all be vying for their attention and speaking over one another.

Finally, one of the the Vehicons looked up and spotted Magnus. He froze in his place, stopping the one behind him as well, catching the attention of the third who looked up, saw Magnus, and froze as well.

For a moment, AA-00 continued forward without the three. But apparently, the sudden silence caught their attention better than their combined voices could, and they looked back around at the Vehicons. Seeing they'd stopped, AA-00 followed their stares down the hall and finally laid optics on Magnus, standing just across from the door to their quarters.

There was a noticeable twitch of sorts in AA-00's wings; whether it was from being startled or irritated Magnus couldn't tell. They only looked at Magnus for a moment, then quickly turned back to the Vehicons and motioned for them to leave.

One of them, another silver eradicon glanced quickly back and forth between AA-00 and Magnus before leaning in and saying something Magnus couldn't quite make out. However, he did hear AA-00 respond with, "I'll be fine. Just go."

After hesitating for another moment, the Eradicon, along with the other two Vehicons, turned and hurried back down the hallway. AA-00 only turned to face Magnus after they had rounded the corner and were out of sight.

"Ultra Magnus." AA-00 stated his name as they approached, stopping just out of reach of the enforcer. "Is there some reason you're standing outside my quarters or is this just a coincidence?"

Magnus straightened his posture as much as he could, trying to look formal. This was to be a friendly conversation. He would be as diplomatic as possible.

"I wanted to speak with you again about matters concerning the Autobots working with the Vehicons." he recited it just as he'd practiced. "I believe you are making a mistake by not including us in the organization of-"

"I think I made my opinion on that quite clear earlier." AA-00 interrupted him and turned away, moving towards the keypad next to their door. "Not that I expect you 'Bots to care about my opinion..." they grumbled quietly as they pressed in their passcode.

"AA-00 you must reconsider." Careful not to sound too demanding. "Perhaps if you were to give the Autobots small Vehicon teams as a sort of trial period. We would be able to-" Ultra Magnus stopped short as AA-00's door slid open to reveal their quarters. Ugh. He couldn't help but wince as he looked into the room.

Amidst what Ultra Magnus assumed was a desk and a berth, there were stacks upon stacks of boxes; some still tightly sealed, some opened with the contents strewn out around them. Stray datasticks and binders obscured most of the desk with no discernible organization. Innumerable datapads were piled up all around the room and many more were simply littered across the floor. Worst of all, there appeared to be one chosen corner dedicated to empty energon containers. Stacks of cubes (mostly empty, but some still with a bit left) and their broken bits climbed high up the wall in a treacherous tower that, at any moment, looked as though it might collapse and engulf the small room in a torrent of plastic and energon dregs.

AA-00 glanced back when Ultra Magnus cut himself off and caught him staring into the mess of their room. "Don't look at me like that. I know it's a disaster." they huffed, stepping inside. "All of my files were moved from my quarters on the Nemesis and there's not really enough room."

"You... might be better off throwing all of that out." it was all he could think to say.

"I can't just throw out my files!" AA-00 actually sounded offended at the suggestion. "Documentation is important, you know. Even if it is disorganized... It's not as though I have any spare time to unpack or clean!"

Part of Magnus recognized this as an excellent way to jump back into the conversation, but another part of him wasn't quite done with staring on in horror at the clutter of AA-00's living space. How could they even stand to be in this mess? It was appalling!

"Now if you'll excuse me. I only have so long before I have to get back to work, so..." AA-00 was reaching up to the keypad to close their door again.

Oh no!

"Wait!" Magnus thrust his hand forward as the door started sliding shut. The panels quickly jumped back to prevent closing on him, and he stepped forward into the doorway. "AA-00, please allow me to-"

"What do you think you're doing?!" AA-00 cut him off. "Get out!"

"You must at least listen to me!" Ultra Magnus was beginning to get frustrated with the Vehicon's attitude.

"No, I really mustn't." Their wings fluttered angrily and they pressed their servo on the keypad. "And if you have even the slightest shred of respect for me or what I do then you'll stop questioning how I do it!"

"This is not about you, AA-00. It's about all of us. About Cybertron." he said, trying to regain the calm tone he'd started out with. It wasn't easy. "We have the opportunity to come together and work on restoring our planet, not as separate factions, but as fellow Cybertronians."

AA-00's wings lowered slightly as Magnus spoke but they said nothing. At least it was some sort of response... and the gesture appeared to be one of understanding. Magnus continued. "I realize it will be difficult to integrate our two factions, but doing so is crucial to maintaining the peace and ensuring the future of our planet."

The Vehicon lowered their gaze to the keypad, letting out a quiet murmur that sounded like some sort of acknowledgement. Good. That was progress... but Ultra Magnus still had that tiny suspicion in the back of his processor. The suspicion that perhaps these Vehicons were not as interested in maintaining the peace as the Autobots were... Perhaps he could put that to the test right now.

Keeping a close watch on AA-00 to gage their reaction, Magnus continued, "I'm glad you agree. Because if we don't settle this, it is possible another conflict could arise between us. And you don't want that. Do you?"

"WHAT?!" AA-00's response was immediate. Their wings shot up, their whole frame stiffening and their optics flashing brightly.

Magnus suddenly found himself being shoved out into the corridor by the smaller 'Con and stumbling back into the opposite wall. He had certainly been expecting some sort of reaction but he hadn't expected this! He wasn't sure what to make of it. Did this violent reaction mean he was on to something? That AA-00 was planning to overthrow the Autobots? As he regained his bearings, AA-00 was on him again, pressing a sharp digit right into his chassis.

"Don't think you can threaten me like that, Magnus!" they spat out his name like an insult. "and don't you DAREthreaten my Vehicons!I won't stand for it!"

A threat? Oh no. AA-00 had taken it completely the wrong way! Magnus lifted his servos, trying to make a calming sort of gesture, but AA-00 jumped back as he did. "No! No, that wasn't a threat, I only meant-"

"Oh I understand exactly what you meant, and I'm through listening to you." AA-00 turned, storming back into their room.

"Please let me explain! I didn't mean that we Autobotswould take action against you, just that-"

"Of course, because the Autobots would never hurt a Vehicon." AA-00's vocalizer was dripping I sarcasm as they looked back from their doorway. "You know what the worst part is? I think you actually believe that."

It took a moment for Magnus to really comprehend what AA-00 was saying. "Th... The Autobots don't wish harm on anyone. That includes you Vehicons!" he insisted.

"Right. Well, when I believe that, you can have all the Vehicon workers you like." AA-00 placed their servo on the keypad again. "But until then, I'm going to protect my Vehicons. And that means keeping them far away from you." With that their door slid shut.

Ultra Magnus stood there in the hallway for awhile, just feeling rather dumbfounded. It was surprising how many conversations with AA-00 ended with him in this state of bewilderment. Finally, he turned and headed off down the hallway, his processor still in a cloud of confusion.

What in the world made AA-00 think the Autobots were dangerous? They were Autobots, after all. If there were to be a new conflict, then obviously it would be the Decepticons who would initiate it! He had thought that point would have been obvious, even to AA-00... apparently not. And he thought they had done so well being amicable towards the Decepticons since the rebuilding effort began. What could have made AA-00 think they wanted to hurt the Vehicons?

Although that hadn't gone the way he had hoped, or even prepared for, at least he had discovered a motive behind AA-00's exclusion: they didn't trust the Autobots to be around the Vehicons. Now he just needed to convince them that... that what? They weren't going to go on mass-murdering sprees when they were assigned teams to work with? How did that need to be proved? The very notion was ridiculous!

Reaching a junction in the hallway, Magnus paused for a moment to consider where he was going. Then he turned and headed towards the medical bay. Apparently AA-00 trusted their medic enough to assign him his own Vehicons, despite him technically switching sides... Perhaps he could persuade his Vehicons to offer some insight into their leader's perspective. He just hoped Knockout was in a sharing mood.