Author: gatekat and starshield on LJ
Pairing: Prowl/Jazz
Rating: PG-13
Codes: Crossover, Slash
Summary:
Disclaimer: The authors are only playing with their own twisted muses. Transformers belong to Hasbro. Fandom-side, check the inspirations page (gatekat-fics ./290 .html ) We draw from a ton of amazing stories and authors you should read.
Notes: klik = 1 minute; breem = 8.3 minutes; joor = 6.3 hours; orn = day/32 joor; metacycle = 6 (5.9285) years; vorn = 83 years/14 metacycles
~text~ bond/hardline talk
::text:: comm chatter
At All Costs 30: Tactical Moves
The Praxian made his way through the halls of the base, familiar enough with them now and most of those in the base familiar enough with him that he could devote most of his processor to other tasks as he moved.
Korrës had finally tracked him down again, allowing Prowl to resume his training. It was a relief to the Praxian, something familiar in the midst of the still new, even if he was never quite sure what the master had planned for each session.
Today had been the start of a new branch of his training, with the introduction of swords to his combat repertoire. This new method, once Prowl had reached competency, would give him an advantage in combat against heavier and better-armored foes, an advantage Prowl was looking forward to.
The small part of his processor devoted to his actual location alerted him to the fact that he had reached his destination - the tactical planning room. Prowl took a moment, pulling himself to the present and the meeting he was getting ready to walk into, and opened the door.
"Hey there," Smokescreen, as usual, greeted him cheerily and first.
"Prowl," the unit commander, Farsight, greeted him more sedately with a nod.
"Sir." Prowl nodded to Farsight first, following the order of seniority. "Smokescreen." He acknowledged, meeting the Praxians optics before looking around to note the rest of those present.
A large, dark mech who had been pointed out to him as a Trailbreaker, and labeled a mech far more intelligent than he first appeared as well as an easy going individual.
The lithe pale blue and storm gray femme by the designation of Quickwit was in the room, but her back was turned and her focus on her workstation. A larger minibot, deep blue and ruby red, was standing at her shoulder, leaning forward and conversing with her quietly. Belatedly Prowl identified him as Boomerang.
At Farsight's motion, Prowl joined him and the two diversionary tacticians around the large central holotable.
The current map of Iacon, damage shown clearly, made Prowl's spark twist, his processor supplying images of having been there first hand. He could look at the map, seeing elements of the initial plan that he had submitted, could tell with a glance where certain individuals had been from the damage that had been done.
Silently he took a seat, waiting to be brought up to date on the current group workings and role expected of him.
"We're all intimately familiar with what happened," Farsight began. "Prowl, do you wish to add anything to what we know?"
For a long moment Prowl studied the board, murmuring very quietly and more to himself than anyone else. "This never should have happened."
He felt all the optics focus on him, and vented softly as he continued to speak. "There was no ready plan for Iacon. A preliminary one, literally the first rough draft. It was never meant to be used as it was ... Megatron is impatient, and insane."
"That's not news, but you're saying the original assault wasn't a ready plan?" Farsight locked on him, a decidedly uncomfortably, almost predatory look on the mech's features.
"No. It was a potential, one that was never confirmed, but that was being prepared in case. And only parts of it were used at all. It was a precision plan, specific inroads, pin-point targets. Civilian casualties are unavoidable, but they should have been minimal."
"And Megatron turned it into a full assault to raze the city," Smokescreen murmured, shaking his head. "Psycho bastard."
The holotable reset to Iacon before the assault.
"Show the plan you made, such as you handed it to Megatron," Farsight ordered, keenly interested.
Startled, Prowl stared at him for a moment, then focused his attention on the table, working smoothing as he accessed all of the plan from memory.
"Here and here- these were to be the two main routes into the city. The Senate and the Palace were the main targets from the beginning- orders to detain and capture on all VIP targets in those areas. All VIP's were clearly defined and rated for capture significance."
Selecting different points Prowl continued. "These defense points were to be taken out by Seekers- they do have the capability to be that precise when Starscream makes them- to clear entry and exit routes and to help keep the city under control."
"Iacon itself was earmarked as a potential long term holding position, for political reasons mostly. But that was subject to change based on the course of the war long from now. The plan was vorns from complete, and supposed to be even farther implementation." He finally concluded, sitting back in his seat to allow the others a clean view of his work.
He saw amazement and open respect from Smokescreen. Calculating respect from Farsight mingled with shock.
"Wow," Smokescreen eventually murmured. "Vorns away from ready?"
"Yes." Prowl touched the table again. "The strength of the defenses expected in these areas needed to be assessed. There were no secondary routes established. And there was supposed to be extensive reconnaissance performed before the assault was put into action."
The white, black and red Praxian sighed softly. "The retreat plan was more complete, but even that was still in the initial stages."
"It is a good thing Megatron didn't take you very seriously," Farsight murmured, taking the plan in as well as the stated faults. "Keep up this quality and you'll have far fewer issues with Prime."
Prowl shrugged his wings, accepting the statements as they were. "I will be content with not being beaten within an inch of my functioning for failure."
"That doesn't happen here," Smokescreen told him, sliding a bit closer to the other Praxian but keeping a polite distance. "Not even with old Hide."
"All right, now to the point of today," Farsight smiled dangerously as the holoboard changed again, this time to a simple outpost. Its details, including the intel on several mechs inside, were on display. "Prowl," he pointed to a location out of most weapon range where a camp of twenty mechs, including three Seekers, was gathered. "This is your unit. What is displayed is your intel. Your mission is to take the outpost. Your opponents are a combination of AI and real mechs under the command of Smokescreen and Trailbreaker. Their backup will arrive in ten joors. If you have not taken the outpost then your forces will be overwhelmed. We will run in double real time."
"Sir." Prowl responded, resetting this processor easily and already running scenarios. His entire posture changed with something in the here and now, even if it was just a theoretical training exercise, to focus on.
At the end of the orn, Prowl felt deeply satisfied. His three opponents had given him a real challenge, though Farsight had only played a minor roll of adding random variables in the form of non-AI mechs on both sides. Prowl doubted it would have gone nearly as well if the unit leader had been an active tactician in the exercise.
"Prowl, will you join us for energon?" Farsight asked as the shift came to an end.
"If I am welcome, it would be nice to refuel with company." And Prowl was telling the truth. With Jazz gone it had been lonely, and the Praxian was starting to realize how much he had come to appreciate friendly company.
"You are welcome," Farsight said firmly, motioning his entire unit to come along. "You are one of us now. Socializing is important, especially with this clade of poor socializes."
"Except that one," Boomerang pointed at Smokescreen. "He's more con artist than tactician."
"Pulling off a successful con sting is a form of tactical planning." Prowl pointed out, reviewing the exercise they had just completed and Smokescreens role.
His fellow Praxian had performed competently, one his moves actually catching Prowl's attention enough that had noted it in case he had the opportunity to question Smokescreen about it later.
"It also requires reading the situation and reading the mechs," Smokescreen grinned teasingly at Boomerang. "I never quite figured out why mechs who have to see so much don't like mechs more."
"Because then we have that many more variables to deal with, and we have to deal with the mechs that make up the data." The minibot shot back, his argument lacking any sort of real force behind it.
"Control," Quickwit shrugged. "In tactical, we don't face imminent frame damage for a mistake."
"You aren't required on the front lines?" Prowl asked, honestly curious about something that had not been discussed extensively with him yet.
"No way," Boomerang shook his head. "We're far too valuable to risk to stray blaster shots. We can't do anything there that we can't do in a good control room."
That was certainly a new concept for Prowl, growing quiet as he considered the difference from his past position as the others continued to talk around him. Their banter was easy, relatively friendly. By the time they reached the rec room Prowl's battle computer had supplied another fact to mull over; at least three of the six mechs in tactical were former Decepticons. Boomerang had once been the frontliner Dropkick.
Farsight quietly herded them to a larger table while Smokescreen and Trailbreaker went to get energon for everyone.
He settled into the first seat he found that would accommodate his frame, folding his wings to fit around the chair meant for the most common of frame types as the others settled around the table.
They were certainly a diverse mix, not a bad thing when the entire idea was to incorporate as many factors and views as possible into a plan to raise the chance of success. He could easily see the rough camaraderie falling into tense debate as well.
A dark blue hand attached to a black forearm reached into view as a cube of energon was placed in front of him. Along with it came the polite, though forward, brush of Smokescreen's EM field as wing brushed against wing. Flirting. Very forward flirting, but to Prowl's knowledge and the polite interest it got from others, not yet crossing the line to inappropriate.
Prowl took the energon, his response rather neutral on the surface, EM field unwavering as Prowl politely moved his wing out of the way to make room for Smokescreen.
"Thank you." He nodded before turning his attention to listening to a comment Trailbreaker was making. Even though most of the tactical unit was not called upon to serve in the field the larger mech's unique force field had him working with the scouts on occasion.
"Anytime," Smokescreen accepted the polite rebuffing. ::Are you still upset about our first sparing match?::
::No.:: Prowl answered honestly, changing over to the comm conversation without diverting too much of his attention from Trailbreaker. ::I was more startled at the time.::
::Good,:: Smokescreen's field brushed against his, trying to be friendly. ::I'm still interested.::
::And I am happy in the relationship I am in now.:: Prowl explained, finally focusing on Smokescreen as the conversation turned to other things than uses for Trailbreaker's force fields.
::He's a pleasurebot,:: Smokescreen glanced at Prowl. ::He'll never settle down.::
::I know. I don't intend to ask him to stop being what he is.:: Prowl answered as he started on the energon, noting the difference of even that here. As a Decepticon the energon had been acceptable. This, considering the fact that there were in the middle of a rebellion, was good.
::Then why limit yourself?:: Smokescreen asked, curious. ::Surely he's not demanding it.::
::He has not stated any sort of desire. The choice is mine.:: Prowl's wings shrugged slightly. ::I am content with Jazz.::
Smokescreen stared at him, his expression mostly bewildered.
"He tell you off again, Smokey?" Boomerang snickered.
"Stuff it, target," Smokescreen growled, though his frame language didn't back up the demand.
Prowl simply took another sip of energon, not quite understanding why his decision was that confusing or Smokescreen's continued fixation on him. Surely as an Autobot Smokescreen had plenty of Praxian partners to choose from. He was an attractive mech and there were over three thousand Praxians listed in Iacon.
The conversation descended into a friendly trading of insults as Prowl listened.
"He's been talking about you since he defected," Farsight supplied. "Mech's had a crush on you for a long time."
"Ah." Prowl set down the energon, tilting his head to study Smokescreen for a moment before turning back to Farsight. "I knew that he was attracted to me, but so apparently are many others. I try to deflect the attention whenever I can."
"There is plenty to be attracted to, Prowl," Farsight said gently. "Between your frametype, looks and intelligence, I'm not surprised you deal with a fair amount of unwanted attention. It's likely to continue. Praxians may not be as rare here as in Decepticon ranks, but they're still exotic in Iacon."
"Thank you for the warning." Prowl sighed, resigning himself to the fact that some things were apparently not going to change. And here there was not even the fear of Soundwave to keep some of the admirers at bay. Though if Smokescreen's change in manner was an indication, there was some hope that the aggressive ones would be fewer and milder.
"I do take care of my mechs," Farsight said simply. "You're part of my division now."
"A still new idea for me." Prowl commented, allowing his attention to wander over the assembled team, taking in the teasing and easy manner in which they all interacted. It was much more like being in Soundwave's room when all the symbiots were around than the rec room he was used to. There was roughness to some of it, but the group generally got along.
He kept his attention on the chatter, but allowed his processors drift to Jazz. He had no doubt his lover was miserable right now, and wondered how long it would be before he would be home again.
Jazz's distress had been so clear, and it still tore at Prowl that he had not been able to spare his lover that which caused him to much pain. For Jazz to suffer as he did, and then suffer the abuse- and even if Jazz agreed to what was done to him that fact that he did not feel as though he could refuse still made it abuse in Prowl's opinion- at Black Echo's hand afterward tore at him even more.
With all of his spark Prowl wished he could end the war, end it now, and bring both of his lovers and his family back to him, safe. Not even sound, for there were wounds that were beyond even Ratchet's skill to repair that had been inflicted by this war, but together they could at least begin to heal.
"Prowl, what do you like to do for fun?" Quickwit asked, focusing the table on him once more.
"Fun?" Prowl repeated, considering. "I enjoy reading when I do not have other tasks to perform."
"What kind of bookfiles?" she asked, ignoring the low mutters of the mech next to her.
"Histories, biographies, the occasional fiction file." Prowl actually smiled just a little bit. "Subjects that most mechs seem to find boring in the extreme."
"Just means you're a primary tactician," Quickwit chuckled, her tone and smile warm. "Unlike those two," she motioned to Boomerang and Smokescreen, "who took on tactics as a secondary function."
"It was not my intended original function." Prowl admitted. "My primary functioning just merged very well with the tactical and battle computers when they were installed."
"Are you planning to go back to what you did before?" Farsight asked, only open curiosity in his manner.
"I do not know. I would go if there was a place for me." Prowl admitted. It was truth. He had never had the ambition to be more than his functioning intended.
"What were you?" Boomerang suddenly asked.
"City planner and traffic flow coordinator." Prowl summed up, encompassing all of the planning and engineering that was part of the position. "And you?"
"Comedian," Quickwit chuckled. "Seems my ability to thick outside the box and understand mechs transitioned well to general tactician."
"I was commissioned as a tactician," Farsight added.
As admissions of past functions continued around the table, Smokescreen hunched his shoulders in an easy shrug. "I was kindled, found I liked being able to play tricks on mechs and turned it into a profession."
"Exploration team scout." Trailbreaker answered with pride when it was his turn. "And I would go back to doing that again. It was fun, being the first one to see something new and bring back a report."
"Senate Guard," Boomerang said. "I got pulled into this gig with the first major riot. I like it here, I liked it there," he shrugged. "I wouldn't mind seeing the front lines before all this is over."
It was certainly interesting insight to what made many of the mechs, and the one femme, he worked with tick. Insight Prowl doubted he ever would have gotten among the Decepticons. If anyone had even thought about putting together a tactical unit, no Decepticon was this free with their history and for good reason. Knowledge was power there even more than in a tactical situation. Anything you knew about your fellows was potential for blackmail to someone.
"So you're really serious about the pleasurebot?" Boomerang asked, his tone fascinated.
Prowl tilted his head to look at the smaller mech. "What do you mean?"
"Serious," the mech cycled his optics in exasperation. "You like him enough to be exclusive when he's not."
"My choice." Prowl replied. "Not anything that he has asked of me."
"Because your last lover hurt you so bad?" Boomerang asked. "We all know you were with Soundwave for quite a while, and he's why you finally defected."
Prowl shrugged, a non-committal move he hoped would allow them to make their own conclusions, right or wrong. It was a dangerous move, in a group of tacticians, but so was possibly saying the wrong thing. "I am content for now with the relationship I have with Jazz."
"Do you pay him for his time?" Smokescreen asked, somehow managing not to make it offensive.
"No. The time he spends with me is his choice."
"That doesn't happen often," Boomerang hummed thoughtfully.
"HU ... Farsight's bonded and stogy. Trailbreaker's looking, sorta," Quickwit chuckled, giving the large black mech a grin. "Boomerang and I are casual."
"And I'm perpetually looking," Smokescreen spoke up before she could describe him.
"That's one way of putting it," Boomerang snorted.
"Noted." Prowl responded, relaxing a little more in this company than he had with anyone else.
"So have you received the Surviving Autobot Iacon briefing?" Farsight asked with an amused smile.
"The what?" Prowl asked, since that sounded it might actually be somewhat important, even if everyone else was now smiling in obvious amusement.
"The survival briefing." Boomerang repeated. "Everything you need to know about surviving in Iacon that isn't in the official welcome-to-the-base briefing, and then some."
"No," Prowl said, wary but unwilling to pass up information, even if it was hearsay and scuttlebutt.
"The big one - stay as far from Wheeljack's lab as you can if you value your limbs," Quickwit said with a chuckle but very serious expression. "That mech spends as much time being repaired from his own experiments than he does doing the experiments."
"But you can't argue with what he produces when they do work," Smokescreen piped up. "Mech's an accident prone genius. Friendly mech too."
"So if I want to talk to him make sure it is in a social area." Prowl summed up.
"With nothing blinking, glowing, or flashing around him." Boomerang added. "Where are you staying?"
Prowl hesitated for just an instant. "Officers quarters."
"Lucky." Smokescreen grumbled, then quickly explained. "Should save you from some of the pranking that tends to go on around here."
"Sideswipe's one of the major ones, though he's chilled out a lot since Jazz came back to stay," Quickwit commented. "I guess even he mellows when he overloads enough."
"Watch out for a couple of the Aerialbots as well. Their gestalt leader tries to keep them in line, but sometimes they like to play pranks on grounders, just because they can." Trailbreaker thought to add, having been the victim of one of their recent pranks. "They're just young."
"The real pros in pranking ... you probably won't be targeted by us, but the Ops crew ... you just have to grumble, clean up and move on," Smokescreen added. "Same with Sides, really. Everyone knows what pranks are his, but no one can prove it, and Prime won't let Black Echo or his cronies investigate."
Prowl vented softly at that, sure it was going to cause him some processor ache before it was all over, just for the level of chaos it was going to create around him. "Thank you for the warning."
"Of course," Farsight smiled faintly as he finished his cube. "We take care of our own. And despite his well-deserved reputation, Black Echo's got your back Prowl. He vouched you could be trusted in this division despite your recent history. If you can't come to me with a problem, he'll look out for you if you go to him."
Prowl nodded in understanding, his knowledge of Black Echo making that fact not exactly comforting. Slowly he stretched his sensor wings and checked the time, glancing around. "I understand. Thank you for the information. If you'll excuse me, I have a project I'm working on..."
"Of course, Prowl," Farsight nodded. "We will see you for shift in the morning."