Just for reference, Goldbug is the Shattered Glass version of Bumblebee, and yes, Sideswipe's allegiance here is canon to the SG comics.

Chapter 2

Briefing Room, Optimus Prime's Headquarters, New Iacon

"…And I personally believe capturing a Decepticon would be in our best interests regardless of his or her level of knowledge." Prowl finally seemed to be ending his long, tactical explanation of a rather simple plan. "They have a rather annoying tendency to attempt rescues which may work in our favor. As you are all aware, their higher officers often participate in said rescues, which might allow us to –"

"Yeah, yeah, we get it," Goldbug interrupted from halfway down the table. "You're gonna use the 'Con to bait a trap for Megatron. Anything you were going to say that we couldn't figure out?"

Jazz leaned over Riella, brushing a little closer to her chest than was strictly professional, and smacked the yellow 'bot across the back of the helm, hard. "Shut up, kid, or next time it won't be me that hits you. Was there anything else, Prowl?"

"Ah – no." The tactician, visibly irritated, took his seat. "That was all."

"Good." Jazz smirked and settled back, brushing up against Riella again. She pressed her lipplates together, shifted in her seat, and slammed the point of her heel into the top of his foot.

"Primus-dammit! Ow!"

Riella smiled innocently, tracing the outline of her left hand on the table with her right forefinger. "Oops. My bad."

Her immediate commander glared at her, muttering low in his throat, "You're going to regret that, femme," before clearing his oral intake and returning to a semi-professional expression. "Now, does everyone understand their part in this plan?"

Nods and murmurs of assent came from every mech and femme at the table.

"Good. You're dismissed." Jazz leveled a finger at Riella. "Not you."

Elita One elbowed the red femme on her way out, whispering, "Ooh, tough luck. Maybe someday you'll actually manage to catch the attention of someone a little higher-up than a bodyguard."

Riella growled. "Go screw yourself."

"Oh, I don't need to do that. I've got the future Autobot leader." Elita smirked and sauntered out of the atrium, Riella glaring at her back. You're glitched if you think Rodimus is ever going to manage a real takeover. That kind of thing takes subtlety, which is the exact opposite of you and Rodimus. Just wait and see.

Riella's thoughts were abruptly interrupted when Jazz grabbed her shoulder and spun her around, slamming her against the wall and snarling in her face. "What, exactly, makes you think you can try to bully me?"

"The same thing that makes you think you can touch without my permission, apparently," the red femme spat, bringing her knee up against his crotch plating and knocking him a step back. "Get away from me!"

She grunted in pain as Jazz backhanded her across the face, knocking her into the doorframe. He did it again, and again, punctuating his words with blows. "You do not – " *slap* " – challenge me!" *slap* "Ever!"

Panic rose in Riella's throat. Jazz could go well beyond vicious when he was angry, and she for one had no intent of being on the receiving end of any more of it. Twisting slightly, she jammed her thigh into his groin again, harder this time. The mech released her, doubling over with a groan for a second before grabbing her by the throat and slamming her down onto the floor. "What did I just – get off me, you glitch!"

Prowl frowned, looking down at the mech he was currently holding up by one arm and a shoulder plate. "Mmm…no, I don't think so."

"I said GET OFF!" Jazz flailed and twisted, trying to kick the tactician away, but Prowl's added height allowed him to easily prevent any contact.

"I don't think so. Go bully your brother for a while." When Jazz started to snarl a retort, Prowl twisted his arm slightly. "Now you know I don't like this kind of thing in public meeting rooms. Keep your issues to yourself." With that, he tossed the smaller mech bodily out into the hall. "Go on, scram."

Jazz struggled to his feet, hissing, "You'll both pay for that! Watch your backs!"

"I already do." Prowl rolled his optics.

Riella brushed herself off and regained her composure, eying Prowl up and down. "Hmm, now this is interesting. Maybe you do like me…"

Prowl caught her shoulder and stared at her intensely. "Don't even think about pulling that slag on me. I don't like you, and I don't like your methods of getting what you want. But I like Jazz and his methods even less. And since I will undoubtedly pay for that little incident in more ways than one, you owe me more than you could ever pay back in the berth. Do you understand me?"

"Of course." Riella twisted free in one smooth movement, studying him a bit more clinically. "This is rather…blatant. Is this your way of saying you'll back me if it comes to a power struggle?"

"If it came to that, I would not back Jazz, and that is all." Prowl turned away deliberately and stalked out without anything further.

Riella watched him go, surprise warring with frustration. I could have handled that. And that was a pretty obvious way of taking sides, even for him. What are you up to, Prowl? She removed a small comlink from her wrist compartment and opened a private channel. "Arcee, I need a favor."

::Ooh goodie. Does 't involve 'Lita?:: The younger femme's accent was emphasized by her excitement.

The red femme smirked. "Not this time. I just want to know what Prowl's been up to for the last few hours. Think you could do that quietly?"

::Sure!:: Arcee was probably twitching, as usual. ::An' I get a reward outta this, right?::

"Of course you do," Riella purred. "You know the drill, 'Cee. Don't let me down."

Briefing Room, Decepticon Base

Sideswipe adjusted the grenades on his weapons belt. "So. Get into the outpost, set charges, get out, detonate. I miss anything?"

"Negative." Soundwave nodded in approval. "Remember, there is no wait time on the charges. You need to detonate from a safe distance."

"Consider it done." Sideswipe looked down to see Ravage rubbing on his leg and purring, and obliged the cat with a scratch behind the audios.

Soundwave continued. "Our intelligence reports none of the Autobot heavyweights at the Omega post, so you should have no trouble remaining undetected, but don't take any chances. I highly doubt Rodimus or Jazz could show up without attracting attention, but Prowl and the red femme – what was her name?"

"Riella or Elita?"

"Riella. They have a nasty habit of showing up when they aren't supposed to. Use caution." Soundwave shook a finger at the younger 'Con.

Sideswipe fidgeted. "I know, I know. Chrono starts…now." He transformed and sped out of the briefing room, leaving Soundwave to shake his head with a sigh. "Laserbeak, keep an optic on him, please."

The cassette chirped in acknowledgement and fluttered after Sideswipe.