Boot Camp
Target Practice..
The Decepticons slowly straggled in, most barely making it by the 0400 deadline. Raptor looked at her troops; quick calculations showed her that five of them were missing. The personnel files she had studied the night before, told her who to look for.
Deciding this would be a rather good opportunity for some 'teamwork' practice, she instructed her troops to go and tie the sleeping slackers to their bunks, then carry the bunks out onto the main firing range. This caused her unenthusiastic troops to brighten up. They eagerly followed her orders to the tee.
She smiled when she heard the complaints of the sleepy Stunticons, as their comrades gleefully carried them to the firing range. Snickers were heard as Dead End and Motormaster tried threatening their comrades into letting them go. She ordered them to be set, upside down, against the targets. This led to even more threats, and louder snickering.
Standing in front of her now enthusiastic troops, she ordered her minicons to take positions to record the shots. She explained to the Mechs, that this would be a competition, told them the points awarded per region of stunticon tagged – and the top five marksmen would get to share the best tasting energon they'd sipped in eons! So with lasers set on low, the training commenced, much to the dismay of those five who'd slept late.
As they shrieked and bitched about the stings of the low-power laser hits, this actually made their comrades even more eager to tag them.
At the end of the 2 hours of target practice, the minicons brought their tallies to Raptor. Swindle, Soundwave, Rumble, Thrust and Mix Master were the top marksmen of the day. Raptor produced an energon cube from one of her side bays, and tossed it to Rumble. Then she said in a threatening tone – to share the cube evenly.
The rest of the cons got to watch as the five 'victors' enjoyed their drink, and from their expressions of enjoyment – and exclamations as to the fine taste of the drink – it was truly as good as Raptor said it would be.
From then on, no one was ever late to the morning training. An eagerness for
training seemed to magically fall upon the Mechs, as they knew that those incredible energon cubes awaited those who performed the best. Their skills improved swiftly, now that they were interested in practicing.
Private Deals..
Raptor lay basking her wings in the late afternoon glow of Charr's lonely star. She couldn't believe how well these cons responded to her 'positive re-enforcement'
motivational strategy. This led her to consider how to approach the second stage of training – developing teamwork.
She was deep in thought as she heard the heavy, familiar footsteps of Cyclonus and Scourge approaching. Lazily, she turned her optics to watch their approach. "Making more of that 'tasty' energon, eh?" Cyclonus asked, a knowing grin briefly crossing his façade. Scourge snickered in agreement with his Commander.
Raptor stretched in feline grace, then probed her head up on her hands, watching the two imposing Mechs as they sat down in front of her. "So are you two lovers just out for a stroll? Or do you have business with me?" They looked at each other, shocked at her boldness.
"Well, we'd thought to inform you that Galvatron is quite impressed with the improvement in his army's marksmanship." Cyclonus mumbled in his deep voice.
"And we were wondering what this 'second training stage' was – that you keep mumbling about?" Scourge interjected.
Raptor sized them up, contemplating her words. She wasn't much attracted to the likes of Scourge, but it'd been a while since she'd had a good overload. And oh how she liked to catch these cons off guard! "Hmmm," she murmured. "That's a surprise I'm keeping for the troops, until it begins in two days.." the two elite guards shifted uncomfortably, so its Galvatron making them snoop! This could be very fun indeed! Then she sighed as if in deep thought. "But it's been awhile since I've had a good overload.." their optics got wider at her boldness. She studied each one of them, making them slightly uncomfortable in her strong gaze. "And I've always wondered what it would be like with two strong Mechs.."
The two Mechs stuttered, God she loved to make 'em nervous! She looked hard at the pair. "But I've found that males perform much better, if they WANT to perform. So I won't bother ordering you two. But I've got to know one thing?"
"Uhh, what?" Cyclonus asked, bemused.
She looked straight at Scourge. "Is Cyclonus better than you, Scourge?" Scourge saw the challenge shining in her optics, and decided even if Cyclonus didn't want to join them – he'd prove that he was the one who had trained Cyclonus!
A short time later, the three Decepticons entered Raptor's quarters together.
Teamwork..
Teamwork training went reasonably well, after the first day that is. The cons figured out that if they kept arguing with their teammates – they'd surely lose their chance at the sip of high-grade energon. Each day, Raptor would assign a different mix of cons to each group, then they had to work together to figure out how to get through the challenge courses she created.
By the end of 7 days, the cons were working reasonably well together. And were even beginning to give team members encouragement – since they'd finally gotten used to hearing Raptor's off-hand compliments, so it was not as looked down upon anymore.
Drivers and Flyers..
As the Mechs were departing from the morning training, Raptor called Wild Rider to her, he approached warily, not liking the fact that she had picked him out for some reason. She put her arm around the Lamborghini's shoulders, and they were seen walking away, talking in almost conspiratorial tones.
That night, Wild Rider was even a little more excitable and obnoxious than normal, and no one could him to break his vow of silence concerning him and Raptor's discussion.
The next day, Raptor had Cyclonus and the Sweeps out on the training grounds, along with the rest of the troops. She split the troops into flyers and drivers, and then smiled as they all muttered in anticipation of whatever the hell she was going to get them to do that day.
They followed her to the edge of a large cliff, which ended down in a stinking,
Large, marsh at the bottom. That morning the Constructicons had been busy building a ramp at the top. She glanced at her troops with a shine in her optics, and informed them that she herself would be joining in on this particular exercise. And that they were going to learn to count on their comrades. On this day, those cons that made the most successful jumps and catches would get the drink.
For those drivers that didn't make successful jumps and if their flyer didn't make a good catch – they would end up in the stinking swamp, undamaged, but filthy; and if any flyer consistently couldn't catch at least every third time, then the drivers he had missed, got to throw his chassis in the swamp for good measure. She heard snickers getting louder in the ranks.
This was a rather tricky maneuver, for not only does the timing need to be right, the angle and speed have to be as well. Then as the drivers' last wheel leaves the ramp, he's got to transform and either land on the top of a jet-type flyer, or grabs the skids of a chopper flyer. This could always overbalance the flyer – causing them both to end up in the swamp.
So she and Wild Rider were the first pair. She dispatched her three little 'data' recorders as she transformed in preparation. Keeping in close radio contact with Wild Rider, they worked together to get the timing just right. She banked slowly, keeping her
powerful thrust in check, then Wild Rider gave her the signal and she came around the training grounds as he peeled rubber and aimed toward the ramp. Then Wild Rider was in the air, transforming, falling – and the gray/green fighter jet suddenly roared
up under him. As she felt him grab her, she dropped her tail suddenly, and put on full afterburners. Together, they roared straight up over the cliff, and their astonished comrades, the sonic boom adding to the effect. Then she leveled off, joining in with Wild Rider's gleeful laughter. Yep, she had definitely chosen the right Mech for this job!
The cons practiced this new game with enthusiasm, more for seeing their comrades go in the swamp – than for the actual successes. Several of the flyers got thrown in the swamp as well; Eliciting hysterical laughter from all in attendance.
At the end of it all, the 6 'winners' happily enjoyed their drink – even though half of them were covered in swamp goo.
Raptor joined them in the wash bay. Joking with her troops as they helped each other pressure spray the swamp goo off. It had been a good day, and the troops were beginning to consider her part of the gang, instead of the outsider she was.
Which is exactly what she had wanted them to do.
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