The base may be temporary at best, since the Autobots look closely for any kind of Decepticon activity on land to avoid this exact situation, but this doesn't mean it's just a hole in the ground.

From the outside, no one would even think there could be a technologically advanced alien structure inside the rocky outcrop. Which is just what they want them to think.

However, it isn't the safety of the base that has Starscream standing uncharacteristically serious, observing Bombshell's work.

Soundwave is at the monitors, working on the control chip with the orders Megatron wants to implement in the robot. But the screens are large, even for Cybertronian standards, and thus they can show the Cassette Carrier's work alongside the original blueprints of the robot and the modified ones the Insecticon designed.

It was mostly by luck that they intercepted Fujiyama's call to the Autobots, but that was more than enough to arouse Megatron's curiosity.

Soundwave's research turned up some… interesting findings.

Doctor Fujiyama is an authority in robotics, ever since he began his career, and the mind behind some of the most interesting and useful advancements… before 1984.

With the Cybertronians' awakening, the United States are now technologically superior with the Autobots' aid, even though Prime has extended his assistance to all countries the USA isn't outright at odds with.

But, apparently, the Decepticons are too much of a danger to leave just to the Autobots. And thus, the Japanese government tasked Fujiyama with their new defense program.

Giant robotic soldiers. Cybertronian-like, and equipped with the most advanced weaponry to be able to stand up to Autobots and Decepticons alike.

To fight fire with fire.

Megatron was positively giddy when he found out about that. He immediately forwarded the blueprints to Bombshell so that the Insection could get to work on improving it, while the rest planned the attack on the conference to steal the prototype.

They had wanted to get it before the presentation began and the Autobots got the area secured, but they had received the information too late for that.

However, the plan had worked without a hitch.

And thus, now they find themselves with a 'female ninja robot' in their grasp.

One that is being modified to be a real menace.

The problem, however, is how little they need to do to accomplish that.

The construction is excellent, the parts neatly aligned and functional. And while the energy circuits and power consumption could be better, exchanging some parts is more than enough to get it ready for what the Decepticons intend.

The programming is also scarily effective.

So effective, in fact, that Soundwave is simply working on the obedience protocols and ally-enemy recognition.

Megatron, of course, loves it. This means they can strike now, when the Autobots are still reeling from their last encounter and dealing with repairs, instead of later, when they will be alert and ready.

Starscream doesn't like it one bit.

Yes, the robot will have its uses—just this once, he hopes—but that doesn't mean he has forgotten why the ninja came to be.

The humans are starting to become dangerous. And seeing how they're the most numerous species, this presents a problem.

A big one, and not just for the Decepticons.

He couldn't care less what happens to the Autobots, but…

The Autobots are predictable. They've been fighting each other for millions of years, they know what to expect and how to react—most of the time.

In comparison, they could have just landed on the planet for how much they know the humans.

If they decided to go over the Autobots, or even to replace them with their armies of 'advanced robots', the result wouldn't be good.

As soon as he's done with the modifications, Soundwave is to search for more of those new defense programs in other countries, so that the Decepticons may get hold of them before they can be put to use.

It makes Starscream uneasy, not knowing whether that is the right choice.

It should, it would leave the humans without their weapons. But what if they lose one, just one, of the modified robots back to them?

They would be handing them even more powerful weapons than they took in the first place.

He isn't sure what's right anymore.

On the one servo, taking this 'Nightbird' and turning it against them could be seen as a warning—you're just giving us more weapons—and thus result in the ending, or halting, of the robot soldier programs.

On the other, it could spur the humans into acting faster, in fear and the innate urge to defend themselves—the Cybertronian can turn our weapons against us, we must destroy them before they can do worse.

He doesn't know what to do.

Starscream knows what he wants to do, they have all data about this doctor Fujiyama and the ones that ordered the robot developed, after all. But attacking them would be a sign that the Decepticons are afraid of their new weapons, and thus would be blatantly telling them that the humans are on the right track.

That is the last thing he wants.

But… what else can he do? Plan some kind of accident, perhaps? Huh, that's… actually a good idea. Japan is prone to earthquakes, so if he got Rumble to collapse a bridge or something when Fujiyama is driving over it… But those things are built with that in mind… Slag, what to do, what to do—

Bombshell is closing the robot's chest compartment, putting everything back.

He's done.

Well, slag. So much thinking, and Starscream has no answer to their predicament yet.

"I love working for you Megatron. Love it," the Insecticon chuckles, taking the chip Soundwave gives him after getting the robot in a sitting position.

And, after the klik it takes to take off the cranium casing to install the chip and put the cover back, it's over.

Nightbird is ready to serve Megatron.

It takes but a moment to bring it online, yellow optics flashing to activation and, with Energon-freezing fluidity, it stands up soundlessly.

The first thing that comes to Starscream's processor is the Autobot's Head of Special Operations.

And that is one slagging scary and deadly mech.

If the robot is half—even a tenth—of what Jazz is, they're going to have a problem.

Because the Decepticons have modified it, yes, but the humans are slagging efficient when it comes to adapting and incorporating what scraps of technology the Autobots hand them.

It may not take them long, if they manage to keep working on the robot soldier projects, to get this Nightbird on their own.

So, as usual, Starscream does what he does best and hides his true emotions—his fear and worry, in this case—under arrogance and mockery.

"It looks like some Earth play puppet," he lets out almost condescendingly as they watch the robot go through some attack stances, still quiet—though, thankfully, not soundless—and efficient-looking.

Next he knows, there's a black fist almost into his faceplate, and he jerks back with a warning snarl of his turbines and his null-rays heating up.

That thing is fast!

"She is not meant to be your sparring partner, Starscream!" Megatron growls, a servo held up being enough to order the robot back into a neutral standing position, and, reluctantly, the Air Commander powers down his weapons and engines. "Looks like this puppet packs a punch… She will be the perfect adversary for the Autobots," the Decepticon leader adds, once more smirking dangerously as he looks over his new tool like a newspark does his first upgrades.

Or, like the earthlings say, like a kid with a new toy.

This is bad. Really bad.

Megatron isn't thinking straight anymore, too blinded with the possibilities the robot represents and what he may use it for, after getting the world energy chip from the Autobots. And that was definitely not part of the original plan.

He even referred to it as 'she', like the humans did!

This won't end well. Ugh, Primus, why does everything have to be so difficult?!

But, as the robot is sent to the Ark to complete its orders—the real orders, the ones that were first conceived with the original plan—Starscream stays quiet.

The world energy chip will be useful, allowing them access to the resources needed to send to Shockwave. He can't, nor won't, oppose that.

As soon as the robot is back, however…

Starscream can feel Thundercracker's and Skywarp's optics on his wings, feel the confusion—and even suspicion—through the Trine bond. He simply closes it and brings his attention back to the feed Laserbeak is retransmitting, flying safely far over the robot as it makes its way towards the crashed ship.

If Megatron doesn't snap out of his deluded and over-excited trance by the time the robot gets the world energy chip, they will have words.


"Prime, can I have a word with you?"

Despite it being a question, no one is fooled that it isn't actually an order—or as much of an order as Prowl would ever give Optimus—but they leave them be.

Serious, the Prime simply nods before they walk out of the Repair Bay and into a deserted meeting room in the next corridor.

The Praxian isn't yet repaired but, with the tweaking back at the conference, he can wait until Ratchet is done with Brawn's and Ironhide's damage. So, despite missing most of the armor on his front, with some weaker and almost plastic-like plates replacing it to avoid getting dirt into his internals, he stands tall in front of his leader.

And unbending.

After half a klik staring into his Prowl's stony faceplate and piercing optics, the Prime fidgets.

It's almost unnoticeable, but with his doorwings tracking the larger mech, it's easy for him to spot it.

That, and the discomfort and uneasiness radiating from his leader.

Optimus was once a dock worker, almost at the bottom of Cybertron's society, but he was content and accepting of his role.

Turning him into a Prime? That turned his whole existence upside down.

He's not only young, in comparison to the rest of his officers, but also too slagging optimistic. And so, this won't be the first—and likely not the last, either—time he gets a lecture from one of his higher ranking mechs.

Prowl gets no satisfaction from this, more like frustration.

"Do you know how many humans died?"

Optimus literally flinches back.

And that would be one of the reasons most Autobots call their Second cold and emotionless.

But he knows, as do the rest of officers, that, sometimes, the only way to get the Prime to listen is to be blunt. Even if that means striking where it hurts Optimus the most.

"I—"

"Blaster just got the report from the cleaning crew. Allow me to forward it to you," Prowl cuts and, an instant later, the Prime flinches again with a pained spike of his field. "Had we been allowed to neutralize Frenzy and Rumble as soon they revealed themselves, that number could have been reduced by 53.8%," he continues, ignoring Optimus' soft whimper for his leader's sake. "And that, in turn, would have meant less damage to the rest of us, increasing the probability of victory to 87.9%. At the very least, we could have avoided the loss of the Nightbird by damaging one, or both, of the Seekers, thus forcing the Decepticons to retreat without the robot."

And Prowl goes silent after that, letting the Prime process the information.

A moment later, he watches him hunch into himself and start to fidget, before he lets his arms and shoulder plates fall limply in defeat with a hydraulic hiss as a sigh.

"I thought the firefight if we engaged the Decepticons would have endangered the humans," Optimus finally whispers, accepting his mistake.

Acknowledging his leader's apology, Prowl relaxes his doorwings and dampens their sensors, so the Prime doesn't feel the pressure of being the focus of all his attention anymore.

"They would have been safer. Mirage cloaked himself as soon as the attack began, and Bluestreak could have disabled them after a moment to get his riffle and position himself. If, of course, the rest of us hadn't taken them out by then," he explains calmly, the coldness of his voice no longer there. "You know there's always the chance of damage to humans when fighting and, in such a tightly packed room with the situation as it was, it was unavoidable. I am your Tactician. You should have let me do my job."

Properly chastised, as evidenced by his optics not looking up from his pedes and his still slumped stance, Optimus nods.

"I… will try."

And Prowl has to smile at that. Exasperatedly, of course. They all know Prime is too caring for his own good.

But, at least, he acknowledges the situation, realizes his mistakes, and vows to try not to repeat them.

Knowing how he is, that's all the Praxian could ask for.

"Thank you," Prowl answers, voice soft and sincere.

And he does mean it.

Optimus is a great leader, lacking all the arrogance and preconceived notions of superiority and 'soldiers are numbers' that the previous Primes did due to his humble origins. As thus, he fights for his mechs instead of using them as pieces in a Quattra game. He listens to his officers too, consults with them, organizes meetings… And while he may not be able to deal with sacrifices for the greater good, he still acknowledges that, sometimes, there's no other way. So, Prowl has permission to organize such events… though not as many as he actually does, he's sure.

But, since Prime always asks not to be told about that unless absolutely necessary—knowing it needs to happen isn't the same as being alright with it, after all—the Tactician sees no problem in preserving some of their leader's 'innocence' by keeping him in the dark.

And neither do the rest of officers.

It's a hard job, balancing Optimus' righteousness and love of life with the cruelness and coldness of war, but Prowl manages.

Jazz helps a lot with that, too.

Prime finally looks up, shoulder plates still slumped but this time in a relaxed state he doesn't allow himself all that often. The soothing slightly darker shade of blue in his optics tells Prowl that he's smiling.

"Any ideas about how to get the Nightbird back?"

"I'm working on it."

Which translates into Blaster's doing some research on Fujiyama and the other scientists so that I know how much damage we need to inflict when we get that robot back.

It's unfortunate Optimus isn't versed in 'Prowl-language'.

As thus, his leader just nods, straightens, and walks away.

Knowing his turn at the Repair Bay hasn't arrived yet, since Ratchet would have contacted him otherwise, the Praxian goes to the laboratory to see how Wheeljack and Perceptor are doing with the sensors that are supposed to go along the metal detectors.

It's 'fine and dandy', as the humans would say, to have a ring of detectors in the entrance and in certain key areas, but the Autobots are also made of metal.

Which is why there are supposed to be sensors to go along with the detectors, so that their signatures are recognized and, this way, they can avoid triggering the alarm every time they come in and out of the Ark.

So far, however, there has been no progress with them. Because of that, only a couple of the less transited corridors are carpeted with the detectors to test them when connected to Teletraan, before they hook the whole ring and overload their computer.

That is the last thing they want, especially in the situation they're in now.

And, not that he would say it out loud, the sensors also serve the purpose of alerting him when Sideswipe finally decides to go to that secret stash Prowl isn't supposed to know about to retrieve some prank material for his next operation.

Let no one say the Doorwinger isn't practical.


UPDATED 28/06/2019: Corrected grammar.


AN: Shōkō: 'Lull, stillness' in Japanese.

Not too much in terms of action, or even advancing in the episode, but some answers were needed, so there you have it. I hope this explains things, but feel free to ask :)

silberstreif: Love them too XD Hope I haven't messed up with this chapter, though...