Planning Manuveurs

Planning Maneuvers

Optimus heard a rap on his office door. Looking up, he nodded for the mech to enter. He was slightly surprised when Demolisher walked in.

"Um, Prime sir. Are you ready to go?" the mech asked. He shifted nervously from foot to foot, still not sure about how to act around his new Commander.

Prime cocked his head in curiosity, as far as he knew there was nothing but paperwork on his schedule today. "Go where Demolisher?" he asked.

"Well, uh, the valley where we're planning at." Demolisher looked down at the ground, he hoped Prime wouldn't get angry that he'd apparently forgotten the appointment.

"What valley? And just what are we planning?" Optimus narrowed his amber optics, for he knew he'd never heard of this on his schedule!

Demolisher was now getting a little anxious; if this was Megatron, he'd have been pounded to the floor by now! Since the Alliance was still fairly new, he still wasn't sure what to expect out of his new leader. "Um, sir, the.. um.. maneuvers," he stammered. His engines revved slightly at the anticipated angry response.

Now Prime was absolutely certain there must have been some kind of screw up! "What maneuvers? I've never heard of this at all," he declared. Holding out his hand, he demanded the paperwork that the nervous Decepticon was holding.

The nervous mech fumbled with some paperwork, and handed it to Prime. "Well.. um.. sir.. You signed the agreement that this 'show' would be a joint thing between the Commands. And.. um.. signed that you'd personally command our side.. um.. sir!" His coolant fans came on, as his internal temperature skyrocketed with his anxiety over this screw up.

Optimus glanced through the paperwork. Sure enough, he'd signed everything the way that Demolisher said. Silently berating himself for not bothering to read the darned thing, he realized he was stuck doing it. For Optimus Prime never backed out of anything he'd said he'd do!

Sighing internally, he nodded to Demolisher to lead the way, and followed the mech out of Cybertron's Command Center.

--

"You know, if we came in at a forty-five degree approach, then rolled and banked hard starboard, it'd look freagin' cool!" Thundercracker said. Leaning over Raptor, he motioned at the points that he thought the second squadron should roll then bank. He made sure to rub his leg against the femme's as he did it. Cutting a coy glance at Skywarp, he silently challenged his wing mate to top it.

Raptor rubbed her chin in thought, completely ignoring the fact that these two Seekers seemed to be playing a subtle game to try and 'catch her optics'. She looked up over the expansive valley. Trying to picture the maneuver in her Meta, she could see the blue Seeker's point. "I like the approach idea, but what about rolling and then going vertical for a thousand. After which, go into a loop, meeting the other squad at the apex?"

"Hmm, chance we might stall trying to vertical that fast," Skywarp mumbled. Standing on Raptor's other side; he leaned over the map, his wing rubbing lightly across her side. His optics locked with Thundercracker's as he enjoyed the other male Seeker's narrowed optics in silent reply to his 'move'. The two of them had been playing this coy game for weeks now, both of them trying to position themselves to get the 'favor' of the Earth Mech Commander. Whoever caught her optic, could very well become the most influential Decepticon around. And have access to Earth Mech Commands' immense wealth and political influence. Courting the single femme, was truly the easiest way for a con to increase his rank and power.

They all looked back at the map, discussing various ideas and maneuvers. Both males,

were still trying to think of new subtle moves, to 'out flirt' the other.

"Sorry I'm a little late," Optimus said as he and Demolisher strolled up to the group of Seekers.

All of the Seekers looked up as one, expressions of surprise on their faces.

"What are you two doing here?" Thundercracker asked. He narrowed his red optics as he looked at Raptor's 'roommate'. Since the Decepticon Seeker merely considered the ground mech as potential competition for the femme he was trying to get 'closer' to.

Demolisher looked from Seeker to Seeker, "Well, uh, that's what the request you sent us wanted." His core temperature again started to rise, for after the obvious confusion on Prime's part back at the Command Center – he really didn't want to deal with another screw up. It was too nerve racking!

Raptor and Skywarp exchanged a bemused glance. "I thought this was just an aerial show," Skywarp asked her. His optics also narrowed slightly as he studied Prime, his thoughts running along similar lines as his wing mate's.

She shrugged, "So did I." She reached her hand out toward the two ground mechs, motioning for them to hand her the paperwork. Glancing through it, she began to mutter something about daughters under her breath.

Handing it back to Prime, she smiled. "Well, I guess we'll need to assign a couple squads of mobile artillery units to this show."

The two male Seekers exchanged a wary glance, not likely this development in the least.

"Mobile artillery – for what?" Thundercracker demanded to know. His intakes fluxed in irritation at both the ground mechs interruption and the fact that the Seekers might have to now share the spotlight with them.

"For the 6 inch mortar rounds of fireworks," Raptor explained. She was still grinning inside, having recognized the paperwork as having originated from Blacktop's office. For a femme so young – the bitch was indeed conniving!

Skywarp's optics narrowed suspiciously. Did they really expect them to fly with fireworks going off all around them!? This was outrageous to say the least! "Fireworks! Why in Vector Sigma would we have fireworks!?"

Raptor chuckled, "Because, that's apparently the request we sent to Cybertron Command." She could picture Blacktop snickering all the way back to her quarters after sending that particular request out. Granted, Raptor thought she should be a little ticked, but something about this entire situation made it hysterical. Especially the looks on the two flirtatious male Seeker's faces when Optimus had walked up, now that had truly been a Kodak moment!

"You mean; you didn't know about this?" Optimus queried. His amber optics narrowed at his room mate, for she seemed to think this whole srew up was funny for some reason.

His room mate shot him a look, "Nope, but I guarantee that certain daughters of yours knew about this." She loved it when that black daughter of his, pulled a stunt on the mech. To see him backpedal was hysterical.

Why did she always call them 'his daughters' when they caused trouble, and 'her daughters' when they didn't?! Optimus would never understand it! "So you didn't send this request out?" he asked incredulously.

"Nope," she simply said. Her grin showing him that she wasn't going to let him live down the fact that he didn't check with her to confirm.

"But we've already prepaid for the order," he said. A sinking feeling in his core told him that he was now busted for not reading paperwork before signing it. That damned black daughter of his was a smart little aft!

The femme shrugged, "Guess we'll modify our plans then." It didn't really bother her much to go back through the entire planning process again. In fact, it would be humorous to see how these two Seekers would change their 'subtle' physical flirting techniques – with her room mate there. She knew they considered the big ground mech as possible competition; which was all the more hysterical in itself, since she knew he was gay.

The other Cybertronians were shifting unneasily as they listened to the two Commanders discuss the unauthorized change in plans. The two male Seekers not liking the fact that they'd have to share the spotlight with ground mechs, and Demolisher expecting one or the other of the Commanders to blow a fuse over the intentional mix-up! Yet, both Prime and Raptor seemed to be taking it in stride.

Optimus sighed; his daughters were forever getting him into situations like this! Walking over to the map spread over the table, he glanced at what the Seekers had been discussing. "So, how many Seeker squads are involved?"

They all turned back to the map, now discussing how to choreograph the maneuvers of the Seekers with each other; but also doing the same with an equal number of mobile light infantry units.

Standing across the table from the three Seekers, Optimus noted how sleek and well-matched the three flyers were. Even though Raptor was a dull-painted stealth Seeker, she seemed to fit right in with the brighter colored males. All of them had the same characteristic sleekness of aerodynamic fighter designs.

Yes, the interest those two male Seekers had in her, was primarily due to her high rank. For Decepticons held position and power, as more desirable to any other characteristic in a potential mate. And for them this would be the easiest way to increase their own rank. They could care less if she was rather plain looking physically. This blatant interest in his room mate was so obvious to Prime's optics. Especially, now that the two males were giving him looks of evaluation as they made sure to stay on either side of the Earth Commander. He knew they hadn't been thrilled when he had moved in with her, for now he was considered as 'possible competition' in their quest for power.

He considered warning her about these two particular Seekers. But, he was merely her room mate, so was it truly his place to tell her who to date?

But, as the months passed and the pain from Jetfire's infidelity began to fade, Optimus had caught himself thinking about the femme more-and-more. She seemed to match him in both intelligence and maturity. These traits held more value in his optics than any position or appearance. He could also tell that she'd be the type that a mech could count on to be faithful.

Internally, he sighed. Yes, none of the quality unbonded Seekers would ever look at a bulky ground mech like him. So who was he kidding, that Raptor might consider ever looking at him as more than a mere friend? She had position and power, and all the sleek and handsome Decepticon Seekers would happily court her. Simply because of her title, she could have any Seeker she wanted.

No, Optimus was merely an average looking ground mech. The only thing Raptor would ever consider him – was as a friend…He was certain of that.

--

Raptor smiled across the table at her room mate. Though the debate over maneuvers was fairly intense amongst the five of them, she couldn't help but glance his way. He was so intelligent and strong, the power obvious in the very way he was built. But as she had watched the depression lift from him these last few months, she had seen the gentle spark within.

Yes, if Prime had a fault; it was that he gave his all to everyone and believed that they'd give the same in return. He wanted to believe the good in everyone. This was why he'd been hurt so deeply by Jetfire.

Now, as she watched him interact with Demolisher, she could see his innate ability to lead. To give others the confidence they needed. The Decepticon was feeding off this encouragement, so unlike what he'd had under Megatron's command. His crimson optics were beginning to get a look of idolization as he talked with the Autobot.

Yes, Demolisher wasn't the brightest mech on the block. But he was loyal once he gave you his oath. And like Prime, the Decepticon had a similar physical strength and power - being a ground Mech. Yes, Demolisher was a decent mech, providing he ever caught Prime's optics.

Raptor sighed; yes she had caught herself thinking more and more about Optimus. But she was just a Seeker. Not built for anything but speed, endurance and maneuverability. She had no strength and power like the tough ground mechs. And worst of all, she was a femme. There was no uncertainty in her mind about Prime's sole interest being in strong male mechs.

The only thing Prime would ever consider her – was as merely a friend. Raptor was certain of that.

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