Living With Autobots.

Chapter Eleven.

"If this it to be a fair treaty, then both the Autobots and the Decepticons should be given the same rights!" Sam said firmly, but not loudly, looking the general who had just addressed the gathering in the eye. Optimus pinched his nasal bridge between his thumb and forefinger, unconsciously mimicking frustrated parents, guardians, and superiors over the world. It was true, Optimus mused, that Sam was acting as a Tactical Officer for the Decepticon side, but, the Prime thought, was he taking his duties too seriously? He looked at Sam's flushed face and alert posture and wondered if the boy was enjoying this.

"The Decepticons attacked the first SOCCENT base, and then our soldiers with no provocation!" the general pointed out. "Do you expect us to welcome, with open arms and no guarantee, a group who have shown us once, and have suggested several times, that humans are no friends of theirs?"

Sam turned back to Starscream, who was representing the Decepticon Air Forces, and Barricade, who had pestered, connived, and threatened himself into the position of Ground Force Commander, much to Starscream's disgust.

"The General raises the point that you are asking him to allow the same access to supplies and weaponry to a group that have shown total disregard for the American people, or indeed all humanity, in the past," Sam explained. He turned to regard Starscream. "The Autobots allied with the humans against you, so the General considers such a request, to allow free range to those he has recently fought, unwise, and that's being polite." He paused, before adding "If the circumstances were reversed, would you trust the Autobots, knowing they had broken their word before. Would you not exercise caution?"

"Yes, you are correct, there is no shame in being cautious on either side," the Seeker said. "But how can we be sure that we are not being sidelined, that we are not being given misinformation, or that the Autobots are not holding out on us?"

"Because, for a start, I will not hold out on you," Sam stated. "Having lived with you, I can assure the Military that anything you tell them, if accompanied with correct grammar and body language, is sincere." He paused before continuing. "Or if, indeed, it is not."

Sam saw, from the corner of his eye, Starscream beginning to puff up with indignation, but before the annoyed Seeker could say anything, the General spoke.

"If you can assure us that they are being truthful, we can send the Decepticons a transcript of any meetings, just with the names of important people, places, code words, and weapon types and names left out," the General offered.

"Well, yes, that is understandable, even if we have learned earlier how your weapons work, and have ascertained that our projectiles, both personal and long range, are far superior to anything you have at your disposal," Starscream said, with a languor that Sam could see only incensed the human General.

"That's another thing," the human General said. "You seem to expect us to give up all or secrets with no material or intelligence return for us. Why won't you share your weapons technology with us?"

Starscream opened his mouth to speak, but Optimus beat him to it.

"Because, General, your species are too like our own. You are as warlike as we were. We had to learn how to build our weapons the long hard way, and even then, the cost in Cybertronian life, and non-Cybertronian life, was too high. How would we know that weaponry given to you by us would not be used unjustly, and possibly end up being used against Autobot and Decepticon alike?"

"But no, we wouldn't do that!" the General blustered.

"Bullshit!" Sam replied, then bowed in apology to the General. "I mean no disrespect, but a wise man once said that once a new weapon has been found, it will be used at least once, and I believe in the truth of this man's statement. Optimus is right, we are a warlike race. It is true that we might find the same weaponry ourselves, but perhaps using the time to find it ourselves will give us a bit of discipline when it comes to using it, in time." Before he could draw breath to continue, Optimus interjected.

"Perhaps you and your armed forces of today would not, but once discovered, knowledge cannot be undone. "Who could say that in ten, a hundred, four hundred years, one of your descendents would feel the same?" He paused. "No, I agree with Sam, to learn the secret of our weapons, you must do so in your own time, or be wiser than our own race, who destroyed our whole world with the fruits of our research." It was the first time, Sam reflected, that he had ever heard Optimus being bitter.

"Well, yes, okay, let's leave the subject of weapons until another time," the General said, obviously hoping to change Optimus' mind later. "But I still need to ask, what will we, the American people get, for agreeing to this truce and allowing you to let us languish in technological inferiority?" He sat up. "What about propulsion technology, I'm sure with some blueprints of engines and the chemical or nuclear formula of the fuel, you'd have the men at NASA's eternal thanks."

"Because such technology can be adapted for use in weapons, as I am sure you are aware, General," Optimus said with a small chuckle to defuse his chiding words. "However, I believe Ratchet and the Decepticon medic may be able to work with your researchers and doctors to help come up with medical procedures and compounds that may benefit all of your kind." He smiled gently at the General, who had suddenly lost his bluster. "Technological advantages beyond those with military applications can be offered."

"Anyway, wouldn't any truce be beneficial to you?" Sam asked. "Let's face it, you're gonna suffer losses against the Decepticons any time you fight, just as people are lost in any conflict. Possibly more would be lost against the Decepticons due to their superior firepower and their tough armour." He paused, then continued. "Why send more young American men and woman into battle, when some of them will die, when you could avoid the necessity, avoid their deaths, by calling a truce?"

"Well, yes, but – " The General was cut off by Starscream.

"Well yes but what? Do you expect us to give up everything, especially when this is just the beginning of a truce? Would you not yourself pass information only once you've learned to trust another, which takes time? You must understand that the standards you apply to yourselves also apply to us. We have come to you offering peace. Why not start with a truce, so we can all get together to talk like the civilised beings we are, rather than all this…this secrecy and barbed words, this…this…" Starscream seemed to run out of words then, and glanced at Sam for help.

"Cloak and dagger?" Sam suggested.

"Yes, rather than this 'cloak and dagger', why not just arrange the truce, we can sort out details later, we've offered medical knowledge, yet you want more right away? Perhaps we could offer advice on materials for armour, or find a way to help ease your fuel issues by showing you new ways to utilise existing materials you currently do not utilise for this purpose?" Starscream said.

"General, permission to speak?" Major Lennox, who had so far remained quiet, whispered to the General. The General looked at him, and nodded his approval. The Major stood, and addressed the representatives of all three groups.

"May I suggest a compromise?" he asked. "I know that everyone is suspicious of everyone else, so why not call a truce, and sweeten the deal with a small sample of what we all have to offer?" He looked at Starscream, Sam, and Barricade. "Maybe the Decepticons, with the humans' agreement, can have some of the equality they crave, perhaps humanity can give them fuel, acknowledge their opinions and allow them legality for a time, so they do not have to skulk about under the radar, can buy or barter or commission services they require. Open a choice few air bases and army bases where they can refuel, relax, perhaps get to know some of their human counterparts." He stopped, and looked next at Optimus, Ironhide, and Ratchet, who represented the Autobots.

"The Autobots could perhaps be given the chance to engage in separate discussions with the Decepticons on matters that do not involve us. Perhaps their medics can exchange information that concerns them all, perhaps their Leaders can discuss both groups' co-operation, debate and agree what they will and will not accept from the other, and what they would need, on both sides."

Then he turned to face his own General, and the Presidential aide who had promised that copies of his record of the meeting would be sent to the Autobots, Decepticons and Humans around the table, as well as to the President and various relevant departments and all the different factions who might later get into power, plus to all relevant civilian organisations and groups who might need to be informed.

"Perhaps in return for fuel and safety at certain installations, we could ask for one medical technique against one specific disease, and maybe some pointers towards an altermative power source we are not yet using," he said. Lifting his hand to stop protests from the human side of the table, he raised his voice. "Both the Autobots and the Decepticons cannot give us their technology for leaving the planet for fear of it being misused, but perhaps either side could obtain raw materials from, say, asteroids, and bring it here for refinement, in return for neccessary goods and a percentage of the refined substance they bring."

Lennox looked at the Decepticons, and the moment he saw Starscream rising to his feet, looking outraged, he realised he had said something wrong.

"We swore when we rose up that we would never be sent into the mines again!" the Decepticon leader said shrilly. "What you are suggesting – that is the slavery we swore we would never accept again!" he screeched. Half of the two other sides were up by now, but it was Optimus who silenced everybody as he stood up and bellowed "Silence! Please allow me to speak!"

Sam too was trying to calm Starscream, and it took him begging to get the Seeker to at least listen to what Optimus had to say, but Starscream thankfully thought that would do no harm, and the various sides settled down. When he knew he had their attention, Optimus Prime spoke.

"I believe that what Major Lennox was suggesting that we all, Autobot and Decepticon, if we so choose, could mine asteroids. As the humans are short of raw materials we Cybertronians, gaining it from them whether we buy it or simply take it, will also have a shortage of certain resources. If we agreed with the humans a fair share of the processed product – say fifty per cent – I would volunteer to do a proportion of the mining myself. I suggest that if this offer is accepted, the choice of whether to go up and mine should be an individual and voluntary decision, that no resentment be held against any individual who chooses not to participate in the mining."

He paused. "On Cybertron, some who were forced into the mines suffered terrible consequences from which they, and sometimes their families, never recovered. Some were so unsuited to the task that they went insane, and as well as attacking others in their madness, they often killed themselves."

Starscream knew that Optimus was referring to Seekers, without actually stating it was often Seekers, for which Starscream was grateful. He didn't want the humans to find another weakness against him, but this way was a safeguard that would not give the game away. He surprised himself by raising his hand and saying "I accept. Let us have a ceasefire, so we can discuss our needs and desires in more detail." Sam was swift to raise his hand in agreement, and after a slight hesitation, Barricade raised his hand as well.

Optimus too raised his hand after a quick glance at Ratchet and Ironhide, and this time it was Ratchet who raised his hand quickly to join the Prime's, while Ironhide was the uncertain one, finally raising his hand with a bately-heard growl.

Lennox raised his hand in agreement for the humans, and the General and aide were quick to join him.

"May I suggest that we all disperse for now, we can work out the details after a break," Optimus said. "There are various beverages available for the humans, and they have provided air fuel and petrol and diesel for those who travel on the ground. Ratchet has donated several tanks of standard grade energon, and a more limited supply of his prized high-grade."

Once the Autobots and humans had left, Starscream put his hands out for Sam, and then turned to Barricade.

"Why were you so slow to put your hand up? Was something they said giving you cause for concern? If so, I should know, so we can raise it at their next round of talks."

Barricade grinned toothily. "No, nothing gave me cause for concern." His mouth gaped wider as the frontliner smiled, and then mimicked a human gesture, flicking one optic-shutter closed and then open in a fair approximation of a wink.

"As the humans might say, I just wanted to make them sweat a little."