"Easy First Aid, bring the Energon level up slowly and let him just ride the curve. He's got much older internal systems than most other 'bots."
Darkness. Voices. Internal systems rebooting and diagnosing.
"Yes, Ratchet. That's his systems all coming back online now. Nice and smooth."
"Good job, kid. Energy levels are at 57%. Looks like all three of our patients have been running at less than 45% for a long, long time. The fuel situation on Cybertron must be very bad indeed."
Kup's optics suddenly lit up in a burst of light blue, and the sight of dull, damaged orange spaceship walls flooded his display. The servos in his neck, shoulders and arms sprang to life as he instinctively tried to sit up, only to feel a forceful hand on his shoulder preventing him from doing so. A stern but familiar face loomed into view and Kup couldn't help but smile.
"Easy does it Kup, you've had a tough couple of days." Ratchet almost looked to be holding back a smile. Kup placed his hand over Ratchet's and slowly sat up, assisted by the Autobot Chief Medical Officer.
"Even a four million year dirtnap can't keep your cranky bedside manner down, can it Ratchet?"
"Ha! The day you patch me up you get to decide on bedside manner, you old warhorse." Ratchet stepped back to allow Kup to take in his surroundings. He gestured towards a smaller medic standing next to him. "This is First Aid, one of the Protectobots. He's been helping me look after you and your squad." First Aid waved at Kup a little gawkishly, and Kup responded with a smile and a nod of recognition.
Kup instantly turned to look around the room. He saw Hot Rod, unconscious on a nearby station.
"How are they doing?"
Ratchet gestured towards Hot Rod.
"That one should be up and on his feet in a few hours. The femme just needs some minor patching, I'll schedule for her to see Hoist later on today. Your pilot got by with just a few nicks and scratches, but I, uh, would very much like to schedule him for a check-up here as soon as possible."
"What about Blurr?" Kup enquired gently, ignoring Ratchet's curiosity over Springer.
Ratchet pursed his lips. When he spoke he tried to portray his usual gruff demeanour, but Kup could tell the medic was exhausted.
"I'm afraid he's through the back on life support. His condition is no longer critical but his spark requires external core function stimulus while it repairs its own internal matrix. We removed all the shrapnel, but it will take time. I stripped away most of his unnecessary bodywork to enable the spark to focus on healing. Most of his body was mangled, and I don't have enough supplies to affect repairs. Most of his right side was beyond scrap. They got him good."
Kup had seen many soldiers fall in battle before, but he had never gotten used to it. It seemed like just dumb rotten luck had seen his squad ambushed by the Decepticons, and now Blurr was having his life powered by an external stimulus.
The door to the medibay swished open and Jazz entered. He nodded towards Ratchet and then saluted to Kup.
"Kup – glad to see you're back on your feet. Prime has requested your presence in the briefing room if you're up to it. You too Ratchet, full command group."
Kup stood up and flexed a few of his motor servos.
"I'm more than up to it, lad. It'll be good to see the familiar faces and to get our unit started on active duty. Lead the way."
Ratchet moved towards one of the repair bays.
"I've got a couple of things to finish up here, but I'll just be a couple of minutes. You two go on and I'll catch up."
Jazz and Kup both turned and exited the medibay with Jazz gesturing for them to take a right turn outside and they started strolling up the dimly lit orange corridors of The Ark. Kup had known Jazz back when Jazz was just a promising young recruit, long before the affable young 'bot had displayed the skills that would earn him a career in Special Operations. At the time Kup had been a drill sergeant in basic training and had in fact been one since before the official outbreak of war, although in those days it had been mostly a peacekeeping force he had been training.
Kup had in his time trained - or been responsible for the training plans - of almost every Autobot who had fought in the war. It was only natural that his assessments had been referred to High Command whenever information on possible unit transfers and mission personnel was needed.
As he and Jazz strolled through the Ark, Kup noticed the minimal lighting and damaged areas of the ship which had been left unattended. It looked like raw materials and Energon may not be as plentiful as he had imagined here on Earth, although he accepted the possibility that frequent conflict with Megatron would require most of the Energon reserves to be put towards weapon maintenance.
Jazz stopped and opened a door and motioned Kup to enter. The briefing room was well lit and had seven chairs around a central desk. Three chairs were occupied, and the mechs all stood as Jazz and Kup entered. Optimus Prime was in the centre of the three, his presence, both powerful and reassuring seemed to fill the room.
"Kup, it's good to see you are back on your feet. I was sorry to hear of the injuries sustained by your squad during their journey here, but I was also inspired at their survival, they are a credit to you and a tribute to the bravery and skill of our forces who still fight on Cybertron."
"Thank you Optimus. It's good to be here."
Ironhide, standing to the left of Optimus cut in, moving up to shake Kup's hand and heartily slap him on the back.
"Well it's more'n good to have you here, we needed an antique to show to the troops to keep morale up!"
"This antique has still seen off more Decepticons than you and all of your fancy-dan crew together, you old rust bucket!"
Ironhide laughed. "Well maybe, since I had a four-million year nap it might have let you pull ahead a bit!"
Kup turned his gaze to the other figure in the room.
"Prowl, nice to see you."
"Kup. A pleasure." The tactician was as icy-cool as ever.
The door slid open and Ratchet entered, a stack of datapads clutched in his hands. He immediately moved to a chair and sat down, giving the impression he had a hundred other things to do.
"If we could all please be seated?" Prowl said smoothly, and the assembled Autobots all sat down, with Prime at the head of the table.
"Kup," Prime began "I'd like a full report of your altercation with the Decepticons prepared and submitted to Prowl within the next 24 hours. If Megatron is increasing his activities off-Earth we need to come up with a plan to curtail them as soon as possible lest he gains a tactical advantage.
Prowl was next to speak.
"I've scheduled both you and Arcee to commence on roster duty at once. I'm placing you with one of our local patrol units. Smokescreen is nominally in charge but obviously you outrank him. He's been instructed to defer to you in any combat situations but until you learn Earth customs he will remain in charge. Arcee will be placed on Ark Security watch and shadow Bluestreak for the first week, and then will do a week with Hound. I trust that is satisfactory."
Prowl clearly was not seeking Kup's approval on his duty plan, but Kup nodded his agreement anyway. Smokescreen was the perfect candidate to fill Kup in on Earth as very little escaped his notice, and Kup would be able to pass these details on to his youthful recruits. As for Arcee, Bluestreak would provide good company for her, given his affable nature and the fact he was the youngest of the Earthforce.
"What about Hot Rod?" Kup asked. Ironhide answered him.
"Given yer assessments of him I figured he'd spend a couple of days with me, and then I'd pass him on to Wheeljack's team. They're adding a few new defences to The Ark, and they need some construction work done."
"He wont be keen on that," Kup mused, almost to himself.
"The happiness of individual members of your unit is of no concern to me." Prowl's rebuttal was even-toned but it still irked Kup slightly. Nevertheless he nodded and allowed the briefing to continue.
Prowl provided a brief history of the Autobot's time on Earth and a strategic overview of the current deadlocked conflict with the Decepticons. For the most part, Earth was as much of a stalemate as Cybertron, however with far more action. Whilst on Cybertron Shockwave was indecisive and static, preferring life without incident to maintain the huge territorial advantage he had, on Earth Megatron was impulsive and proactive in trying to gain the upper hand. The Autobots however had the advantage of superior numbers and an alliance with the native inhabitants of Earth, the humans.
Prowl mentioned various sub-team of Autobots whom Kup had never heard of, the Aerialbots, Protectobots and Dinobots. He also mentioned important human allies, such as Spike, Carly and Sparkplug Witwicky, Chip Chase and the mayor of the nearest human settlement, Central City.
Kup listened with interest to Prowl's report and then Optimus drew the meeting to a close. Ironhide wandered over to Kup, as the assembled Autobots all drifted out into the corridors of The Ark.
"Sounds like yer team had a rough time up on that asteroid, but hopefully it wont affect their confidence. Didn't really expect them to see that kind of action before their stay had officially started, but ya got out of it with everyone alive. Good job."
"Thanks Ironhide. It was a bad situation to be in. I'm gonna ask Prowl – after he gets my report – exactly what the chances were of running into a Decepticon patrol out there. I'm thinking there might be a bit more to this than random chance."
"You an' me both, Kup. Prowl might be a pain, but if Megatron is up to anything he'll figure it out in no time."
Ironhide took his leave, leaving Kup alone. His thoughts turned back over the last few days and he toyed with various possibilities. Had the Decepticons known in advance of their trip to Earth? If so – how? Had they intercepted a transmission? Was there a spy intercepting information, or, even worse, a traitor within their ranks?
Kup turned his head as he heard the door to the briefing room swish open again. Optimus Prime had returned.
"Kup, it occurred to me that your recruits have not as yet had a formal welcome and introduction into our ranks. I'd very much like to meet them and do just that."
Kup regarded Optimus with curiosity.
"That's a nice gesture Optimus, but doesn't Jazz or Smokescreen normally handle that kind of thing?"
Optimus moved over to a chair and sat down. Leaning forward he pressed the fingers of each hand against each other and spoke thoughtfully.
"Your squad survived a brutal Decepticon ambush on their way here, and it must have been a great shock to them. One of your number will be out for some time. I wanted to speak to your squad myself to be sure that there will be no lasting trauma from this incident, and perhaps more importantly, no thoughts of retaliation. I trust your assessment of all of them Kup, but I do not believe that any of them will have seen combat as visceral as that which occurred on that asteroid."
Kup nodded slightly. Optimus' prolonged hibernation on Earth had clearly not affected his reserves of wisdom and judgement. Kup's team were tough, but some reassurance from the legendary Autobot Commander might be just what they needed to ensure that they could put the drama of the last few days behind them.
"I think that's a good idea Optimus. Ratchet thinks Blurr will be out of commission for a while, but Hot Rod should be back on his feet later on today."
"Excellent. I'll arrange to formally welcome them into the Autobot ranks later on this week. In the meantime, I hope you all familiarise yourself with the base and the crew. Make yourselves at home."
With that Optimus rose and left the room. Kup was left alone with his thoughts and to ponder the events of the last few days. His team had arrived and were, thankfully, alive. Now the challenge was to try and adapt to working with a tight-knit team of Autobot legends. He hoped his recruits would be up to it.