The ship salvaging had been delayed a full week thanks to Stormstrike's little virus meltdown. Stealthblade looked at his now normally functioning brother, extremely relived he was all right now.
Stealth, come on stop it. You've been gushing over me for the past week, at least try to keep your thoughts to yourself. Stormstrike whined silently.
Sorry, sorry. You just worry your brother sometimes.
Stormstrike just rolled his optics, and then the second meeting attempt began. Before Optimus Prime could divide up the groups though, Stormstrike raised his hand.
"Yes Stormstrike?" Optimus Prime seemed unsure of the elite for once.
"Um, yeah, what I said earlier about not wanting to go to the North Pole, it still stands."
Stealthblade let out a groan and smacked his brother atop the helm.
"Owe, hey what was that for?" Stormstrike rubbed the spot.
Stealthblade shook his head, heaving a loud sigh, rewarding him with a chuckle from Stormstrike. Well, with his brother back to normal, it meant he'd have to deal with his usual immaturity again.
"I am not immature!" Stormstrike exclaimed, making nearly all the Autobots in the room burst out laughing.
Stormstrike rolled his optics, seeing he wasn't going to win.
"Okay Stormstrike, you won't be going to the North Pole." Optimus Prime assured, getting a relived sag from the elite soldier.
"Thank you Sir."
"Instead, you shall accompany Stealthblade, Breakshift, Plasmagrade, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker, Loosevalve, and Ratchet into the mountains to retrieve the craft the landed there."
Ratchet let out a groan as he heard he was on the same team as Loosevalve.
"Prowl will be leading your team as well." Optimus Prime added, looking at his second in command, who simply nodded.
"Going to the North Pole will be Chain, Spincycle, Pulse, Dawncatcher, Bumblebee, Doubleedge and Torrent, as well as myself. Are there any questions?" Optimus glanced around the now silent room.
"Sir, what if the ship proves damaged beyond repair?" Loosevalve's yellow green optics were wide with concern.
"Hopefully, we won't have to worry about that." Optimus Prime sighed, making Stealthblade realize he had no backup plan.
A few worried glances were exchanged through the 'bots, but no one dared say anything.
"All right then, Autobots, roll out." Optimus Prime ordered.
Stealthblade swiftly obeyed, and followed his team towards the mountains, Prowl leading the way. According to the other 'bots, Prowl's alt mode was relatively new, considering he couldn't very well blend in as a Datsun like he used to. His Lotus Exige alt was a major upgrade, and he seemed to still be getting used to the power behind the form.
They arrived in the mountains shortly, this being Stealthblade's first time being here. He quickly spied the half buried craft, slightly amazed no humans had stumbled across it.
"Stealthblade, Stormstrike, make a perimeter sweep to ensure we won't be discovered." Prowl sharply ordered through their comms.
"Yes Sir." Stealthblade and Stormstrike replied in unison, and peeled away from the others.
Stealthblade made sure he missed nothing as he swept around the area, but only picked up a few animals.
"All clear over here Prowl." Stealthblade spoke through his comm.
He did a quick roll before heading back for the Autobots, a pleased feeling passing through him from being able to fly. He didn't often get the chance to enjoy this ability. He saw Stormstrike flying in as well, obviously having completed his sweep as well.
The two siblings landed unnaturally quietly beside the busily working mechs, and immediately joined in. It was tough gritty work, but thanks to their large team, they managed to uncover the space vehicle in a few hours, a job that would have taken humans weeks.
"Hey Stealth." Stormstrike spoke up as he approached the black mech.
"Yeah?" Stealthblade turned to meet his brother's optics.
Suddenly Stormstrike glomped Stealthblade with a large fist full of mud, right in the face plate. Stealthblade sputtered as some of the wet earth dripped into his intakes, and he viciously wiped the crud off of his visor.
"Hey!" Stealthblade yowled.
Stormstrike burst into a fit of laughter, making Stealthblade ball up a fist full of mud of his own.
"Oh shit." Stormstrike muttered as Stealthblade flung the material at his face, hitting him dead center.
Sideswipe looked up from his work, a grin alighting his mischievous face plate. He scooped up his own ball of mud, and turned his bright optics to Prowl, who had yet to notice the escalating ruckus. Stealthblade and Stormstrike watched in shock as the red mech flung the filth at Prowl, striking him on the side of the head.
At first Prowl just froze, like he didn't know how to react. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker cackled loudly together, Stormstrike quickly joining in. Breakshift and Plasmagrade couldn't hold back there laughter for long, and Stealthblade desperately suppressed his own laughter. Prowl slowly wiped the mud from his helm, and proceeded to form the earth in his hands, recreating its balled form. He marched slowly over to Sideswipe, who looked rather confused while his brother continued laughing. Before the speed demon could react Prowl shoved the mud into his slightly agape mouth, making him reel back onto his aft and sputter. Loosevalve finally joined in with the laughter, and an amused smile actually lit up on Ratchet's face plate, a rare sight.
Sideswipe glared at his laughing twin, and spit some of the wet mud at his face plate, striking his cheek.
Sunstreaker's light demeanor completely disappeared, and he suddenly scooped up a massive mound of mud, dumping it on top of his prankster brother. Stealthblade was surprised he had touched the mud at all. Sideswipe shook off the mud like a dog, splattering all within range. The mud fight then turned into an all out mud war, Prowl actually competitively joining in.
Stealthblade tackled his brother, making them slide across the now mud covered ground. Despite his now completely mud covered front, Stormstrike only laughed, and wiped a grimy hand across Stealthblade's heat sensors, making him reel back.
Sideswipe and Sunstreaker had once again teamed up, both now thoroughly covered in brown filth, and pelted anybody that moved with their mud balls. Ratchet stayed out of it, just leaning up against the hull, until a stray shot splattered across his shoulder. Everyone seemed to freeze, waiting for a Ratchet outburst that seemed sure to happen. The medic coolly stared down all the mud covered mechs, including Prowl, the one that had actually hit him. Slowly he scooped up and formed a rather slimy looking ball of mud, and before the tactician could react struck him across the face plate with it.
Prowl shook away the material fiercely, and then the onslaught suddenly continued, laughter intermixed with unhappy cries. Ratchet dove behind Loosevalve, using the combat engineer like a shield.
Plasmagrade nabbed Breakshift, and easily lifted the smaller bot off the ground, and then proceeded to chuck him into the cool mass of mud at his feet, spraying a few Autobots within range. Stormstrike threw Stealthblade a look, and the stealth soldier quickly read his mind.
Before Plasmagrade could react, the brothers pinned the weapons specialist in place, and he struggled wildly.
"Hey, no fair!" He strained.
Breakshift crawled back to his feet, grinning wickedly at the trapped mech. He quickly began to volley mud chunks at the helpless mech, which only made him struggle harder. Stormstrike suddenly lost his footing on the slippery mud, and fell on his aft in a less than graceful manner. Plasmagrade kicked mud into his armored face, making him sputter as some entered his intakes. Stealthblade laughed, backing away from the two before they could turn on him.
"Ewe, you guys are all dirty!" A small voice suddenly captured their attention, making the mud war stop.
Stealthblade spun around to see Montana, sitting inside of Lightarch's gleaming alt. A dark gleam lit up in Breakshift's optics at seeing the mud free dune buggy, but Stormstrike wacked him atop the helm before he could pelt the little 'bot.
"Well, anyways..." Montana held back a snicker as she realized both Prowl and Ratchet were filthy as well. "Aero just wanted to know how progress was coming. He couldn't get a signal from you guys so far in the mountains."
Stealthblade flared out his spikes, freeing himself of some of the now drying mud on his frame.
"Uh, we managed to free the ship. We've just got to get it back to base now." Stealthblade glanced back at the others uncertainly, getting a few shrugs and nods.
"Okay then, go on back to base Archy, I'll make sure they stop goofing off." Montana said to her golden companion as she hopped out of his frame.
"R-right." Lightarch hastily replied, and quickly zoomed back off towards their base.
"All right you guys, back to work!" Montana laughed, but only got moans from the Autobots surrounding her.
Prowl attempted to free himself of some of the mud caking his body, but failed miserably. Montana took note of this, and scrunched her nose in disgust.
"I'm riding home in Stealthblade. He's got the least mud on his cockpit."
Sunstreaker made a face as he saw just how filthy he really was, and Sideswipe clapped him on the back affectionately.
"Ah don't worry Sunny, that'll wash right off." The twin chuckled.
"Sides." Sunstreaker grumbled.
"Hmm?"
"Go frag yourself." He spat, shoving his brother down into the muddy ground.
His twin only laughed as Breakshift helped the taller mech back to his feet. Then the team went back to work, only a bit more light 'sparked' than before.