Learning the Op

"This place is huge." Jazz marveled as Skywatch led them through a double set of blast doors and into the command center.
"Yup. We're about a quarter of the way into the Third Level of Cybertron's crust." Skywatch explained. "I think this is about the best hiding place we've had for a while. I'll miss it when we make the next move. Ah, there's Ultra Magnus."

The mech in question was standing over a map table, deep in thought despite the activity around him.

Skywatch hurried over and quickly saluted. "Sir, the team from Earth has arrived."
Ultra Magnus returned the salute. "Thank you Skywatch, dismissed." He said, then turned to the trio of newcomers. "Jazz, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, it's good that you're here."

"Good t' be here sir. So, what's th' op'?" Jazz asked. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker hung back slightly, not wanting to get in the way. Jazz knew what was going on and would explain it all to them later.

Ultra Magnus pressed a button on the map table, altering the display to a bird's eye view diagram of a formidable looking outpost. "This research facility is currently working on manufacturing a smaller version of the rail cannon suitable for the use of ground troops and Seekers, currently disguised as a military outpost. Our agent has been able to ascertain is that it is currently under the supervision of a scientist known as 'Mainhaul'. We've I.D'd two possible entry points in the sensor net, but they're both directly in the main patrol route." The towering Autobot explained, highlighting two areas of the diagram intersected by a red line that indicated a patrol.

"What kinda guards an' sensors we up against?" Jazz queried.
"About 200 air and ground based guards, all pulled from Shockwave's personal battalions." Ultra Magnus replied. "It seems he doesn't want to leave anything to chance. There are multiple radio sinks and jamming towers, overlapping sensors covering everything from thermal to motion to audio signals, along with the standard camera units, perimeter guns and internal defences. We're waiting on our operative to gain access to the pass codes and sensor informationbefore we send you out."

"How come this guy ain't th' one t' blow the joint? Sounds like he's in a prime spot fer it." The black and white asked.
"We are attempting to get him into Shockwave's inner circle." Magnus replied. "The best way to do so is that he remains above suspicion."
"Brave bot." Jazz commented. "Takes some serious cast-iron manifolds t' go fer that kinda gig."
"Indeed."
"Unless there's anythin' else that we need t' know, is there somewhere we can crash fer a bit?" Jazz asked.
"Yes, there should be some spare room in the barracks."
"'K, we'll just mosey on along then." Jazz grinned, tossing off a salute before turning and leading the twins out of the command center.

"A rail cannon? For Seekers?" Sideswipe said as they passed through the thick alloy blast doors. "We'd be in serious slag if that ever happened."
"That's why we got picked t' go throw some boom juice in th' works." Jazz replied.
"Hey guys!" The trio half turned to see Shadow coming up behind them. "I just got in from patrol. Mind some company?" She asked as she fell into step.

"Not at all." Jazz grinned. "We were just headed t' get a lil' downtime 'fore Magnus calls us back for th' proper briefing."
"Ok, there's some spare bunks in my team's dorm. You can use them if you like." Shadow offered.
"Sure, it'll probably be safer anyway." Jazz replied. Behind his back, the twins exchanged a slightly startled glance. 'Safer?' Sideswipe mouthed.
Sunstreaker shrugged. 'Better not ask.' He mouthed back.

"You know, your record in the Street is still standing." Shadow said slyly to Jazz as she led them down a hallway.
"It is? I thought someone woulda broken it ages ago." Jazz replied, visor flickering momentarily in surprise.
"What's the Street?" Sideswipe asked. Shadow grinned and keyed open a door.

A perfect replica of a cluttered alleyway backing onto the southern wall of Shockwave's fortress lay within the room. "Welcome to the Street." Shadow said with a smile. "It's one of our training sims for infiltrator units. Goal is to get to that sensor node undetected." She pointed to a barely visible red light high up on the wall at the far end of the room.

"Care t' join me on a little practice run? Y'know, fer old time's sake?" Jazz invited.
"Sorry, I'll have to pass." Shadow apologised. "My knee joints are bad enough as it is. Ferric'll have my head if he finds out I was running on The Street."
"Who says he'll find out?" Jazz asked teasingly.
Shadow gave him a pointed look. "This is Black-Op central Jazz, there are no secrets here."
"True that." Jazz nodded, then exchanged his right hand for the grappling hook. "Well then, let's see if I still got the knack." He fired off the line and tugged once or twice to make sure it was secure.

All the twins could do was stand and gape as their companion suddenly seemed to take his leave of gravity and launch himself skyward.

"Woah." Sunstreaker breathed, watching the flickering silhouette of the saboteur weave in and out of the shadows, scaling walls, swinging from support beams and the occasional jutting bar, never once touching the ground.
"Ditto." Sideswipe added. "I never knew Jazz was this good."
"He's the best." Shadow said. "Jazz is the only mech to have successfully infiltrated Polyhex's command center on his own. He didn't even wait for HQ to arrange a diversion when he went in."
"Why?" Sunstreaker asked.
"Jazz would be the best person to answer that question." Shadow replied.

Silent as a whisper, Jazz reached the top of the wall, hooked his legs around a support beam, and reached out to deftly remove the sensor housing and deactivate it. With a flourish, he locked his grappling hook onto the beam and rappelled down.

"10.3 astroseconds." Shadow said as Jazz touched the ground. "That's 0.2 off your old record."
Jazz beamed. "Yup, still got it." He grinned, forming his left thumb and forefinger into a gun, miming blowing smoke off the muzzle and holstering it.
"Showoff." Sideswipe teased, cuffing Jazz's shoulder.
"Hey dude, ya gotta have some fun in this job." Jazz replied with a jaunty grin.