In which Alison meets some new COTA recruits, and starts a new project.

It was a relief to have the tension lifted from my shoulders as the rest of the weekend, then the next week passed. Miles shipped in from Beale in the afternoon with The rest of the month passed in such a way as to make me think of the old adage, "March comes in like a lion, and goes out like a lamb." True, that was supposed to reference the seasons, but I found it quite fitting to the events of my life in the first half of the month compared to the second. No relationship drama, no 'Con attacks, no near death experiences. Aside from a couple trips off base by the Bots as Celebration prep, nothing exciting happened at all. I was glad of it, though, I needed a breather.

The first week of April, Optimus and I used our lessons to review our plans for when the international agents arrived on Saturday. With luck, the agents would be good folk, easy to work with and accepting. However, we couldn't be guaranteed that, so we prepared for any eventuality.

That morning, I got ready in my uniform, with Mikaela helping me with my hair, since even after months of Ella working with me on it, I still couldn't french braid to save my life. "So, any tips or advice you guys wanna spill?" I asked when she finished wrapping the bun, looking from Bee to her.

"Nope, sorry," Mikaela said, squeezing my shoulders. "Just follow the plan you and OP made, and you'll be good."

"Honestly, you're making a bigger deal of it than it really is," Bee said. "These guys aren't going to undermine everything, I am one hundred percent confident on that."

"Right." I took a deep breath. "Instead I gotta make sure Galloway doesn't try to yank the rug from under my feet."

"What power does he have?" Mikaela asked. "Okay, official liaison, has the president's ear, but you know who else does? Keller and Moreshower. Those two won't let him run roughshod over COTA, especially with the way you, Will and everyone have been running us. So settle your nerves, nothing bad is gonna happen."

"And if it does, we could just kill him," Bee added casually.

I blinked at him a moment, then snorted and shook my head with a smile. "While I'm sure there is a way we could cover up his murder, I'd rather the devil I know versus the devil I don't. And yeah, you're right, 'Kaela. The guys just amps me up, why do you think I spar with Asami every time after he leaves?"

"Maybe this month, Mikaela and I can calm you down without you needing to get beat up."

"That's just going to do the opposite, Bee and you know it!"

"I do." And he grinned even as I tossed a pillow from the futon at him.

The chat did calm me down, and I was cool as a cucumber when the plane carrying Galloway and the agents taxied up to HQ at a quarter 'til nine. As usual, Optimus and Will were waiting with me, but today we also had the rest of COTA Command and Epps at our backs, the 'Bots using their holos for the moment while their root modes were inside.

"Welcome back, Mr. Galloway," I said, shaking his hand when he reached us.

"Thank you for having me," he said, shaking Will and Optimus's hands, before motioning to the five men and one woman who stepped off the plane after him. "We are all eager to get settled in and take care of business."

"Of course." I held my hand out to the first man and he shook it. Once I, OP and Will had gone down the line and made quick introductions of the others, we led the way back into HQ for our monthly report, so the agents could get a look into how COTA was managed. On Galloway's insistence since the February meeting, we held it in the conference room, though it was a little cramped with an additional six people. We ended up with half the 'Bots standing, and it was still a squeeze to get around the table.

"I welcome everyone and call this meeting to order." I tapped my gavel ball and sat down. "Before we get into base business, perhaps our new agents could tell us a little about themselves?"

The agents looked between each other, then the first man stood, one who I recognized from his files and pre-Jump. "Captain Richard Graham of the British SAS, ma'am. Graduated officers school four years ago, was immediately assigned to the SAS. I've served in Afghanistan, Qatar and most recently Iraq before being tapped to come here. I'm honored to be here." He sat back down.

The woman stood next. "Dr. Kaminari Ishihara, of the JSDF. I graduated top of my class at MIT with PhDs in physics and engineering, my area of expertise is in cybernetic motivation. My country believes that, even with the restriction on weapons technology, we could still learn and advance with the Autobots' help." She gave a short bow to Wheeljack. "I look forward to working with you, Wheeljack-hakase."

Wheeljack smiled and bowed back. "And I with you, Ishihara-hakase."

Dr. Ishihara sat down, and the next man stood. The remaining agents were Major Nicholas Tosetti of Italy, Captain Ramundo Pervades of Peru, Major Carlos Turner of Australia and Captain Daniel Klonowski of Russia. Upon hearing the name, I remembered the note that had caught my attention when I first read his file, and I couldn't help a small smile. That was giving me an idea I'd have to run by the Inner Circle later.

Of course, fully planning and implementing said idea would have to wait, as we had our usual monthly reports to get through.

"Things have been quiet since the Decpeticon's attack on Beale," Will said. "Of the eighty four injured, seventy-four have returned to base, though two dozen will be on light duty for some time. With that reduction in our effective strength, we have requested that another fifty soldiers be brought into COTA."

"Yes, General Moreshower informed me," Galloway said. "It is taking some time to find and vet that many soldiers."

"Perhaps you could reach out to our foreign allies," I suggested, smiling sweetly. "I'm sure they will be willing to send us more of their people."

Galloway didn't quite glare, but the wish to was evident. We both knew what I just did. If I knew one thing about politics, it's that the US would want to keep the Autobots in their back pocket as long as possible, which they could only do if they were our main benefactor. So it was either get hustling on those fifty troops, or let other countries have a shot at helping out.

"Even after the hits we took in Beale, morale is high," Will said. "Everyone is excited for the Sacred Marriage Celebration planned for the twentieth, even as the 'Bots are being tight lipped about the specifics."

"You are invited to attend," Optimus said. "As well as General Moreshower and Secretary Keller."

"I will inform them," Galloway said. "This celebration is one of your holidays?"

"It is. As you are sharing yours with us, it's only fitting we share some of ours."

"Anything to report, Lindsey?" I asked, closing that topic for now.

The rest of the meeting went well, our financial status being stable, Lindsey and Jazz had gotten The-Real-Effing-Deal shut down for good, and the Bots had no issues aside from the parts missing from medbay. Galloway left before lunch, not happy but not openly antagonistic.

That afternoon, I brought up my idea to Asami, Simmons, and Barricade (Arcee was on medbay duty and couldn't spare a moment). They raised a few points I hadn't considered, but after adjusting those, they agreed the plan was good, though it required Simmons to go off base for a week, searching through the caches for the right files. Luckily, since COTA had basically absorbed S7, and I had named Simmons their head, he had gotten even the director's clearance documents to stash away.

The next Sunday, after a week of school, work, and a trip prom dress shopping with Mikaela, Ella, Mom and Aunt Starry, I spent my afternoon after training with Asami speaking with each of the agents in my office. Officially, it was to see how they were settling into base, as well as go over anything in particular from their files. The talks with Graham, Tosetti, Pervades and Turner went about as I expected, just an overview of their military history and getting some personal information. Dr. Ishihara was more interesting, partly cause she brought with her some schematics she had been working on, such as a close range EMP gun, and some ideas for a body armor. I jokingly asked if she'd been inspired by the Iron Man movie coming out next month, and when she admitted it, I told her I'd have Wheeljack give her access to the Spark III armor project.

Klonowski was the last, and I welcomed him into the office with a smile. "Please, have a seat, Captain."

"Thank you, Director." He sat, and though he hid it well, I could sense he was a bit nervous, his left index fingers tapping his right as he laced his hands together. He was probably around twenty five years and five-ten in height, with close cut brown hair, brown eyes, and an oval face. Other than that and his accent, which was not overly noticeable, he was fairly nondescript, no awesome scars or odd birthmarks that were visible.

"This is just a talk to see how you are settling into base," I assured him. "And since I want an honest opinion here, you have permission to speak freely. This whole conversation is strictly off the record, and will not affect your standing in COTA in anyway."

"Well, it's certainly an adjustment and an experience, ma'am. I've known about ERLs - cybertronians - for a couple years, but I never expected to actually see one in person. Now I'm living among them. But they're all quite nice, even if the Chevrolet twins can be…."

"Abrasive?" I suggested.

"That's a word for it. But, yes, overall, it's been good. If it will stay that way, well, we'll see."

"I'm glad you feel that way. Now, there was something from your file I wanted to discuss."

"What is it?" Klonowski looked a bit nervous, but I didn't comfort him. Instead I glanced down at his file, which was open on my desk, even though I had already memorized it before he came in.

"I noticed that you were a part of a program called Spetnaz Prostranstvo, which from what I understand is the Russian version of Sector Seven, correct."

"Yes. I was only in for two years, and I'm still sworn to the organization, so I'm not going to spill their secrets."

"I am not asking that. What I am curious about is this little note your superior left." I rested a finger on the line and made a small show of reading over it. "'Klonowski has expressed opinion that ERLs are not necessarily hostile, but could be treated with diplomatically.' Considering the opinions of the S7 agents I met before COTA was founded, I find it interesting that you had such a positive one."

"Ah, well, it just made sense to me, you know." Klonowski scratched at the back of his neck. "My grandparents were from Poland, just outside Warsaw, and told me stories about how things went bad when the Nazis took over. Misinformation and lies turned people against them, and it was sheer luck that they were on a trip to Moscow when their neighborhood was rounded up for the ghetto, and a miracle they were granted asylum. So, I've always tried to be open minded. I mean, Megatron was hostile, but there was another ERL sighting recorded in-"

"1983, Moscow. I know about them." I motioned for him to continue.

"Well, they were spotted by a sizable group of people, but they didn't attack them. They just left. So it proved they weren't inherently malevolent, and was the main point I used in my arguments. I think that's why they decided to send me instead of someone more experienced."

I smiled. "Then I think you might just be the person I need." I pulled out a file which was labeled "Operation: Ark Recovery". I opened it to a certain page and turned it to him. "I wonder if you might recognize this device."

Klonowski took the file, and frowned. "I feel like I might have seen something, but I don't know. What is it?"

"That is a fuel cell for a cybertronian vessel called the Ark II. It was recovered by NASA and Sector Seven during the Apollo moon missions."

Klonowski's head jerked up. "There's an alien ship on the moon!?"

I nodded. "That was the true purpose of the Space Race, though of course Sputnik was the initial kicker. The Ark II crashed in 1961, and both our countries wanted to find out what it was first. The USSR never put a man on the moon, but they sent probes, and I have strong reason to believe similar fuel cells are in the possession of either your government or other Soviet states."

"Wow. That's… wow." He rubbed his neck again. "But, why are you telling me about this?"

"You see, these files were heavily classified, 'Director's Eyes Only' clearance in S7. The only reason I have these is because all those files were passed on to COTA, and Agent Simmons discovered this when he was storing the paper copies for me. Only thirty-five people knew of the true purpose of the mission, and of them, maybe a half dozen are still alive. Even the Autobots have no knowledge of this."

"Seriously?" He sat back in shock. "You're keeping this a secret from them?"

"There are a few other factors in play that make it inadvisable to reveal the ship at this time. But, when it is revealed, I would prefer if all information and data relating to it be revealed at the same time. That is where you come in."

Klonowski's face had lit up with realization halfway through that second sentence. "You want me to try and convince my superiors to hand over the information." Good that he wasn't slow on the uptake.

"Yes. I can understand why they could potentially be unwilling, and it might take a fair bit of convincing, but it is of importance. Can I trust you with this task?"

He looked down at the file for a few moments, then looked up and nodded. "You can. I will do everything in my power to find where the files and artifacts went."

I smiled, and extended a hand. "Welcome to Operation Ark Recovery, Captain. And thank you."

So a bit of a transitional chapter, but I hope still enjoyable. Graham, Ishihara and Klonowski are all characters of TF fiction, Graham is in ROTF, Ishihara is from The Veiled Threat, and Klonowski is from the 2005 IDW continuity (though there he's much more a jerk and I'm more so stealing his name). So what'd you think of this chapter? Did the political side make sense? What about Alison's mission to Klonowski? Let me know in the comments.

Also, if you leave me any reviews this week, know I might not get to them quickly, as I will be on vacation to see my boyfriend from the 28th-1st. I will respond, but it might not be until after that. I wish everyone a very Happy New Year, and hope it starts out well for all of you.

Guest Review Replies

Guest 1 (CH 31): Another great chapter.
Thank you, lovely.

I'll see you all next week, same 'Bot Time, same 'Bot Channel!