Optimus commed them bright and early the next day, when Cybertron's sun had barely risen. Firestar and Strongarm practically had to drag Chromia out of her berth, and then the three sleepy femmes reported to Prime's office.

He was already fully wide awake of course, and he looked as if he had been up for hours working on datapads. He greeted all of them by name (Chromia was surprised he remembered), and asked them to have a seat.

"I trust you recharged well?" He asked and Chromia practically had to bite her glossa off holding back a remark that they would have recharged better if he hadn't woken them at this ungodly hour.

She said instead, "Well enough"

"Good." Optimus nodded, "If you three feel up to it, I would like to hear your stories."

So Chromia told him the story, with Firestar and Strongarm interjecting. Avenge had originally been a ship on Cybertron's fleet, until the ships had to be scattered throughout space when Cybertron was destroyed, to prevent Decepticons from locating and obliterating the fleet.

The crew, with Chromia as its leader, had waited several years to hear news from Cybertron command, giving them orders to take action, but none ever came. Finally, they set out on a search for the remainder of the Autobots and had been traveling the galaxies ever since, steadily losing crew members until their number had dwindled down to three.

"It must have been very hard to watch your teammates go before you." Optimus said sympathetically

"It was." Chromia said quietly, and Firestar and Strongarm looked down at the floor.

"Well, I hope that you three will become a part of our team, and gain some new teammates to make up for the ones you have lost." Optimus said kindly, "However, all members of the team have a position, a job to do. I would like to know what you femmes would be interested in doing."

There was a silence before Strongarm said shyly, "I always wanted to do something in law enforcement."

"I'm a wicked sharpshooter!" Firestar grinned

"I can fight pretty well." Chromia shrugged

"Perfect." A small smile tugged at his faceplates, pleased at how eager they were, "Strongarm, my son Bumblebee is the current lieutenant of the New Iacon Police Force, and I know he could use all the help he can get. I could set you up with an apprenticeship with him." Strongarm fairly glowed with happiness and he continued, "Firestar, most of my soldiers are hand to hand combat, so it will do us some good to have a long range shooter. When we go out on missions, you can operate the door guns in the ships, and cover us if we are fighting on a battle field." He paused at Chromia, "Chromia, I could use you on missions and in fights, but..."

"But?" Chromia raised an optic ridge

"There is somewhere else you could be very useful, although you most likely will not enjoy the position."

"What is it?"

Optimus sighed, "Jazz and Ironhide run the training center, and currently they are overwhelmed by the large numbers of new, untrained bots that have arrived. I was going to suggest you help them train some of the new bots, but given your current situation with Ironhide, I am not sure that would work out well."

"Ummmm." Chromia looked uneasy, "I can handle him, I guess."

"Thank you, Chromia." Prime nodded, "It would be very helpful of you. So" He smiled at them, "Would you like to get started today?"

"Yes!" Firestar and Strongarm chimed happily and Chromia threw in a half hearted, "Yeah..."

Optimus nodded, "Good. I will comm Ironhide to let him know you are coming, Chromia, and Firestar, I will also comm Prowl to tell him you are meeting him before the mission he is organizing today at 3 o'clock. Strongarm, you may accompany me in seeking out Lieutenant Bumblebee."

Strongarm happily followed Optimus out of the room and Firestar offered to escort Chromia to the training room.

"Well, this should be fun." Chromia grumbled

"Just try to be friendly." Firestar advised nervously as they came to a stop outside the training room, "He's probably past the whole face-scrape and humilating takedown thing by now."

"It's only been a day, Star."

"Exactly." Firestar beamed and patted Chromia's back encouragingly, "Now, go get 'em tiger!". She skipped happily down the hall and around a corner, and Chromia took a steadying breath before pushing open the doors to the training room.

It was very early in the morning, so of course the only two bots in the training room were Ironhide and a slim black and white bot with a glowing blue visor. The two were currently engaged in a sparring match, but Ironhide's optics snapped up to her as soon as she entered the room, distracting him for long enough that the other bot could take him down.

Ironhide hissed out a few choice curse words as his back hit the mat, and his partner chuckled. "Watcher, 'Hide. We got a lady present."

Ironhide glared venomously at Chromia, "What in Pit are you doing here? Come to gloat?"

She blinked, "I'm guessing Prime hasn't sent you that comm yet."

"What comm?" He seethed, just a moment before he recieved the comm. He shot Chromia another glare before walking away, a digit pressed to his audio receptor.

"When did ya shit in his bucket?" The black and white mech asked

Chromia cringed, "Yesterday. I kind of took him down to show Prime I was good enough for the team. Also 'cuz he was pissing me off a little."

"Ya took 'Hide down?" He grinned, "Damn, girl." He was silent for a moment and then stuck out his servo, "Name's Jazz."

"Chromia." She shook the servo, "Jazz...I've heard that name before. You know Prowl somehow, right?"

Jazz flashed her a triumphant smile, "I see you've met my dreamy boyfriend."

"He actually referred to you as his 'partner'. " Chromia's lips twisted into a mocking smile

" 'Partner'?" Jazz frowned, "Don't have as nice of a ring to it. He can be a bit of a stick in the mud at times, but I love 'im to death."

"Glad to hear it." Chromia smiled, "Me and my femmes got your backs if anybot tries to hassle you about it."

"Doncha worry, girl" Jazz flexed his muscles, "I can handle it." Chromia laughed a little and he added, "But thanks for the offer."

Ironhide finished his comm with Optimus and came back, folding his arms. "What on Cybertron made you think it would be a good idea to volunteer for this position?" He raised an optic ridge

"Volunteer?!" Chromia sputtered, "Prime practically begged me to take it! He said you guys were having a hard time keeping up with all the new recruits."

Jazz nodded, "We are-"

"But we don't need your help." 'Hide interupted, "You're just a-"

"Femme?" Chromia asked calmly, "You're absolutely right, I am a femme.". She walked past him towards the door, patting his cheek as she went by, "That scar is healing quite nicely, isn't it Ironhide?"

Jazz whooped as Ironhide turned a nasty shade of blue, "You are the most annoying femme I have ever met!"

"Yeah?" Chromia grinned, "Well, get used to it. 'Cuz starting today, I'll be seeing your ugly mug every damn day of the week."

She let the door bang shut behind her on the sound of Ironhide's cursing and Jazz's laughter.

"So femmes." Chromia said wearily, "How were your first days at your positions?". The three femmes were relaxing in Chromia's room after their first day of work.

"Epic!" Firestar chimed, "Got to take down some Decepticon scum while covering Sunstreaker's bright yellow aft from the ship."

Strongarm sighed happily, "Everything was perfect. The position, the hours, the lieutenant..."

" 'The lieutenant' ?" Firestar mimicked Strongarm's wistful sigh and laughed, "Sounds like somebot's got the hots for Bumblebee!"

Strongarm blushed,"He's so hot. I can't help it!"

"He's got a bonded, you know." Firestar pointed out

"And a sparkling." Chromia added

"So?" Strongarm sputtered, "It's not like I'm trying to bond with him. I'm allowed to crush..." She frowned, "The only bad part about the job was this jerkwad named Sideswipe who's supposed to be my 'partner'."

"Why is he already a jerkwad?" Chromia frowned

"He splashed mud all over my frame!" Strongarm complained, "On purpose! It took hours to clean it all off. And then he tried to stick one of his wet digits in my audio receptor! I mean I always thought bots my age were a little bit immature, but this is ridiculous."

"Sounds like somebot likes you." Firestar snickered

"I'm going to shove him into a trash compactor the first chance I get." Strongarm said gloomily

Chromia was a little surprised, but unashamed to find herself wondering if she could arrange such a fate for Ironhide.