(Please see all previous disclaimers)
As Optimus headed back to his office at the original base with Ironhide, Mirage was heading to one of the other bases with Jumper, Bee and all the precious little sparklings as well as any items that Mirage knew he would need from his original quarters. Mirage didn't like this, but he knew with the cons being around and having discovered the original base site, this was necessary to protect the young sparklings and those who had chosen not to fight or were unable to fight. Mirage's only solace was that Bee and Jumper were with him as he moved.
"Mirage, you have been quiet" Bee suddenly stated softly to Mirage.
"I don't want anyone to hear us as we move, for the walls could still house enemy audios" Mirage quietly replied. At that, even bee remained silent until they reached their destination. It took only a bit longer. Mirage was glad that all of the sparklings slept as they moved.
The bots that had been assigned to this base soon saw Mirage arrive and that was when they knew that things were getting serious. "Mirage, sir" Jazz stated, "why have you come?"
"I have come here as it is no longer safe in the original base for me and my sparklings. I will tell you all gathered here that while I am here or at any of the other two bases, you are free to come see me if I am not already previously engaged with something" Mirage informed those gathered around him.
"We can come to you?" a young femme asked.
"Yes, just like the Prime, all are welcome to see me and speak to me. Just be aware that my friends and guardians will still remain to protect myself and the precious sparklings my mate and I have" Mirage told them. The others acknowledged what Mirage had said and then led him and his entourage to the place that had been created for the Prime and his family in this base. Mirage could only smile. "Thank you all for creating this welcoming place."
The bots at the base were glad to see that Mirage was such a down to earth bot. Bee and Jumper even noticed that the others were respectful of Mirage, though Bee wasn't going to let that prevent him from screening every bot in the base every time they came to approach Mirage.
Meanwhile, back at the original base that had been uncovered by the cons, Optimus was in a meeting with Ironhide and a few others including Prowl, whose family would also be like the Prime's moving around but not allowed back to the original base. "We must be prepared, for now that our base has been discovered by the cons, Megatron's attacks on us will be relentless and used to draw us out in hopes of slaughtering us and taking the others for whatever nefarious purpose that Megatron wishes to use them for" Optimus stated.
"We have many strong, healthy, and capable mechs and femmes ready to fight and protect those who can't fight or choose not to fight" Ironhide revealed.
"Femmes too?" Optimus asked, having been unaware of the arrival of a new group of Autobot femmes having come to join the fight.
"Yes, Prime. You see, just yesterday while out on patrol, one of our spy bots spotted the group of femmes that were trying to fight and survive. HE was able to convince them to come here and help our cause. They are just as battle hardened as any of the mechs we have here" Prowl revealed.
"AS I have said before, those who choose to fight and wish to fight will be allowed to fight" Optimus stated, not caring if the bot was mech or femme, only caring if they wanted to fight or not.
Prowl was relieved and relayed the message to the commander of the group of femmes who had recently joined. And with that comm, she soon came to the meeting. Her name was Firestar and she was no-nonsense when it came to fighting. It didn't take long for her to arrive. "I was called to come" she stated in her no-nonsense tone.
"Yes, you were, Firestar. Prime, may I introduce Firestar, as she is the commander of the group of femmes that joined us yesterday" Prowl stated, introducing the femme.
"Welcome, Firestar. Glad to have you join us" Optimus stated, welcoming the femme commander.
"My troops and I wish to fight and destroy this evil that has overtaken our planet" Firestar answered.
"We welcome your assistance in helping to return Cybertron into the planet it once was" Optimus stated, showing that he really was a good Prime, as several Primes before him had only been welcoming of mech fighters.
Firestar was a bit surprised, but didn't let it show. "You would allow femme fighters to fight, sir?" she asked, having heard of Primes and other mechs who would refuse to allow femmes to fight.
"Any bot who chooses to fight and wishes to fight for our freedom is welcome to help us fight for that freedom. I don't care if they are mech or femme. I just don't want a bot who feels guilt tripped or forced into fighting to be fighting" Optimus answered truthfully.
"then we will proudly fight along side of you sir" Firestar answered.
"Welcome to the team" Ironhide added and soon they began to make their plans.
