The Intelligence Department of Team Luna presently consisted of four Decepticons. Vortex was the oldest and had the most field experience; he was a master of capturing enemy combatants and could get his superiors truth, or a confession, whichever they preferred. Acid Storm had worked in Intelligence for the longest time, had significant field experience and was an expert analyst; his data marshalling skills were legendary, and his network of informants vast, yet he managed to retain an air of mystery and anonymity. Barricade was somewhat younger, and had less field experience, but had been trained by the elder two, and spent stellar cycles undercover, getting to know how their enemy thought; he was now arguably their most effective interrogator. The head of their Department, their superior officer in all things Intelligence, was Slipstream. She was very young, had conducted one notable interrogation via a processor dive, had cracked several enemy systems, and had a mere few successful military sorties, and retrieval assignments. The only thing she was more skilled or knowledgeable in was Earth culture. Yet, she had just failed in an undercover coercion scheme on a human target, due to misunderstanding of a human idiom.
The recent human targets were considered necessary, because Lord Starscream was convinced, with some cause, that Megatron's time in Professor Sumdac's lab was not the sole source for Cybertronian technology on Earth. The renowned reverse-engineer had absolutely contributed to Earth's global technological level by introducing advances in robotics gleaned from secretly studying the parts of a robotic alien shell fallen from space. Yet, when Starscream had the Intelligence Department analyze the spread of the technology, there were some anomalies detected. Not all were related to robotics technology, but all showed Cybertronian influence, and some pre-dated Megatron's discovery by Issac Sumdac.
For example, there were in South Asia and South America, ancient regional languages with the orderly syntax of Cybertronian machine languages, from which Earth's modern computer programmers drew inspiration to enable devices to communicate with humans in natural language, and which linguists used to make translation from one national language to another. There were in Asia some scientists who had made advancement in electronics at the same time that Sumdac had advanced robotics, but with no obvious sign of contact or collaboration. And, there had been suspiciously rapid advancement in both the defense and space programs of several Earth nations, which had resulted in craft resembling Cybertronian design, and with similar, if inferior propulsion systems.
The Intelligence Department had analyzed the available data and concluded that there had to be at least three origin points for Cybertronian tech on Earth. Some they had identified. Megatron's shell – known to have been split between two locations for approximately 50 Earth years – had influenced private sector advancement in American robotics. There were Out of Place Artifacts, such as the Pearl of Bahoudin, which demonstrated that humans in history had access to Cybertronian technology. These artifacts usually took the form of small device or component that humans had either recorded as falling from the sky or found near a known impact crater; things that would have been torqued or sheered from a larger body or vessel as it fell. These could be traced in their style and level of technology to the Great War period and were likely parts of the lost Atlantis starship, or its ill-fated crew. Through human history these artifacts had influenced design, religion, electronics and engineering, particularly in Asia. There was substantial evidence in testimony of survivors of the Atlantis and in the earliest oral traditions of human beings that survivors had interacted with humans, or at least the previous version before the last big upgrade. The contact had influenced human development, in language and use of simple tools and machines.
It would have fascinated a xenologist, if they had one.
Yet all of this – the Atlantis, the earliest influence upon the dawn of Man, re-discovered artifacts recognized as technological devices, Megatron's crash, and the recent explosion in robotic automatons – did not quite explain the aerospace developments over the last several hundred Earth years, in which government contractors had produced craft so remarkably similar to Cybertronian design and engineering. Lord Starscream was becoming increasingly agitated. Those close to him feared he would go the way of Megatron and become so obsessed with a quest he forgot their true cause. Intelligence did not know for certain why their Liege was so interested in human aerospace development. Their craft were still no match for Cybertronian Seekers. Each member of the department had their suspicions.
If they were to discuss the matter openly, they might agree Starscream already suspected the origin for the technology, and simply needed to find its current location. What they might not agree upon was how their over-emotional lord felt about this information.
It did not matter, not for the moment. Their immediate duty was – apart from the underlying duty to their cause – to collect and question those humans that might have information about sources of Cybertronian tech on Earth: government and military personnel, first-responders to rumored UFO sites, scientists, engineers, government defense and aerospace contractors, and those who made it their business to monitor and investigate their government.
"I just need a little time to analyze the events and calculate a new strategy," Slipstream said to the group. She was not, the others understood, going to admit defeat. Each was certain Slipstream did know she had failed, but they were just as certain she was going to do everything she could to avoid describing her actions as failure. "My efforts brought valuable intel," she said quietly, "I now know that some approaches are ineffective against this particular target."
Barricade snickered in his seat around the projection table. He wanted to say that knowing was half the battle, but that joke was only funny in specific company. He saw Acid Storm frown at his laughter, from one of the four lenses of his dual optics.
"Perhaps another member of the team should make contact," Acid Storm suggested.
"Slipstream does have the most success of the four of us in interacting with humans," Vortex said, saving face for their Commander. She may have blown her cover this time, but it was true. If they considered track records with humankind alone, then Slipstream had the most experience, knowledge and success out of the four in their department. If they looked outside the department for candidates for the mission, then there were others who had shown some success already in dealing with humans, Skywarp, Dirge, Starscream and Thunderblast among them.
The door to their planning chamber slid open and General Thundercracker entered. He was their Commanding Officer, superior to Slipstream, and considered second only to their Liege Lord Starscream. "Slipstream!" he spoke loudly. His agitation was apparent from his tone and the sharp movements of his wings and limbs.
"Sir?"
"Is it true? You failed to bring-in the hacker kid?"
"Sir, I- there was a misunderstanding. I need a little more time."
"You had an Earth month to plot and build your cover identity!" Thundercracker boomed, "Now, there is no more time! The Elite Guard has taken interest."
"When? I did not know of this." Slipstream looked to her subordinates. None offered explanation. "What does the Autobot Elite Guard want with human experts in Earth computer systems and encryption?"
"Unfortunately, they have taken notice of our interest, and that is all the reason the meddling Autobots need!" Thundercracker said bitterly. He lifted Slipstream by the transformation seam between neck and wings and dragged her with him, a few steps from her subordinates. "Do you think I wish to be here scolding you? I do not, but you have put us all in a compromising situation. This target is important to Starscream! He does not wish to come here to discipline you himself, and so it has fallen to me!"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Sir! I can do better!" Slipstream promised.
"I hope for your sake you did not sabotage the mission apurpose? You did not perhaps fear Starscream's quest was taking his attention away from you?"
"None of your business!"
"Oh, My Dear Slipstream, this is not a good time for your stubborn, evasive answers," Thundercracker warned. His claws still held her by her seam.
"I know what Starscream fears he will find at the end of this quest," Slipstream hissed, "Whether he finds what he expects, or what happens as result is not-" Slipstream paused and shook her head. "What I know of it and how I feel is not for you to know, Brother. You only need to trust that I am not so foolish as to keep Starscream from the answers he seeks."
"Oh, but you might, if you thought it was for his good."
"No," Slipstream smirked, "maybe you are overprotective of those you love, but I believe in truth and freedom of information."
Thundercracker trilled laughter. "Oh, that is just rich, coming from you, the one who can barely give a straightforward answer to save her life."
"I did not sabotage the mission," Slipstream insisted, "It is as I said. There was a misunderstanding."
Thundercracker released Slipstream and stepped to the table to the table to address the group. "There is no time for another elaborate undercover or coercion scheme," he told them, "Your task is now simply retrieval. Find the human and bring him in."
"By any means?" Vortex asked.
"The Elite Guard has taken notice, but so far the human authorities are unaware of our activities. It is to remain as such," Thundercracker commanded.
"Some amount of stealth is required, I take it?" Barricade asked.
Thundercracker walked around the table and lifted Barricade's data pad from the surface. He stood behind Barricade's seat, reading. "Correct, Sergeant. That means no transforming in public or mass destruction of public property. Alt-modes and avatars only. Locate, go in, retrieve, bring the human to one of our substations. Avoid Autobots and human authorities as much as possible."
"I can go again. I'll use another avatar this time."
"Negative," Thundercracker said, looking over the top of the data pad. "Starscream will allow you to assist him in persuading the holography expert in California to cooperate."
"Benton? But Starscream is targeting that scientist himself."
"Which will give you an opportunity to prove yourself before our Liege. Surely your team here is capable of selecting personnel for a simple retrieval mission. Vortex and Barricade are supposed to be excellent hunters."
"You have his file there," Barricade said. "The target is known to infiltrate supposedly secure government systems. He is therefore understandably suspicious of authority figures, which is why we supported our Commander's initial decision to use so-called feminine wiles to lure the target to cooperate."
"This is your way of saying you cannot simply go and arrest him?" Thundercracker saw the problem. The others on the team had military alt-modes, and Vortex had a military avatar to match. If the human truly feared authority enough to run and hide again, they would note easily complete the mission before the Elite Guard made contact. They had lots of cars. "It reeks of rubber in here," Thundercracker said, and gave one of Barricade's upper tires a spin with his right claw.
Barricade slunk down in his seat, effectively punished for pointing out the obvious problem to Thundercracker.
"You may assign personnel from outside the Department," Thundercracker said. "With all of your 'intelligence', you should be able to designate some suitable candidate. There must be something about the target you can exploit, without resorting to sexual lures or impersonating authority figures." Thundercracker read from the data pad. "He knows an awful lot about comic books and action movies, whatever those are."
"It means," Slipstream said, smiling, "that we need a truly awe-inspiring and iconic figure to convince this target to cooperate."
"Yes, like a powerful warrior," Acid Storm agreed.
"Yet, somewhat anti-establishment," Barricade added.
"I can go in as back-up, and provide transport after successful contact," Vortex agreed.
"You have decided, then?"
"You, Sir," Slipstream said pleasantly, "Our 'intelligence' informs us that you are uniquely qualified to win this human to our cause."
"Me?" Thundercracker asked.
"Surely you cannot disagree that you are an inspiring, powerful figure, Sir," Slipstream said too-pleasantly, as if she were now Sunstorm. "Your avatar is perfect for the mission."
Slipstream was correct. Thundercracker could not bring himself to disagree that he was a perfect, awe-inspiring, powerful persona, with an avatar to match.
Author's End Note:
The next chapter may take a while, either that, or I may replace this chapter with set-up for a separate mission, if I cannot get the Thundercracker mission figured out. I have plans in mind for the Thundercracker mission this chapter is intended to introduce, and a separate mission to again feature Red Alert, Barricade and appliance bots. My ultimate intention was to include missions for many characters, and for each mission to also feature at least one human character. I'm just not feeling confident about the work and how it's received.
If any writers are interested in writing crack set in this TFA AU featuring heavy use of avatars, alts and human characters, let me know. I would be willing to allow featured guest writers, if we can agree on the types of missions and characters to be used.
Missions already in planning:
-blaxploitation parody featuring Thundercracker's Blade/Jefferson Twilight-looking avatar trying to persuade Glen Whitmann to work for him before Agent/Colonel Mike Franklin or Autobot agents "Freeway" Jazz and "Vortex" Blurr can do the same. Possibly also featuring Glen's street dancing cousin and introducing the Dancitron location
-Gay(?) Romantic comedy/Ratatouile parody featuring Barricade's avatar, coffee, AllSpark-animated Appliance Bots, and the lucky human whose kitchen came to life.
-maybe a dance movie parody, introducing Soundwave's relationship to the team, Rosanna, and a human dance crew, possibly including Ramjet, and possibly involving the Dancitron location, possibly also featuring Ramjet and Red Alert.
-Something involving Starscream and Slipstream trying to acquire cooperation or technology from scientist Emmett Benton, featuring his romantic, rebellious daughter Kimber and "Synergy".
Lots of other human characters to exploit, like Chip Chase, Dr. Arkeville, Chad Jones, the Fairbornes, the Hansens, etc.