You Dropped A Bomb On Me

[Shanodin]

"Oh.... bollocks," Botanica murmurs as the argument progresses, covering her face with one hand. The Perceptor rambles on in typical Perceptor fashion. Not that anything the scientist said was extraneous; it was just a lot at once.

She separates two fingers and looks at Kup as he mentions the possession attempt. Lowering her hand, she snorts indelicately. "Probably because you're so thick-headed," she says, "And later, Skid-Z, I'd like more information on what you are referring to. For while yes, scanning a specific creature does result occasionally in picking up some of their temperament or personality, it isn't- quite like you seem to indicate. At least in my experience."

"But yes," she continues, nodding at Springer, "Back to the subject at hand."

Botanica looks over at Rodimus and Xaaron. "The problem with 'tell them straight' is that requires gathering our entire company for such a telling- and dealing with varied reactions that would result. Certainly, there would be some who may share Skid-Z or Rattrap's opinion, or worse, be truly frightened by what you carry."

"Perhaps break it down into divisions? It is possible that some wouldn't heed the caveat not to discuss the information with those outside their division, but..." she spreads her hands.

[Rodimus Prime]

OOC: Skipping Rattrap due to timeout.

Rodimus gives a sharp nod to Xaaron as he suggests talking about purging the Matrix.

And then Perceptor starts talking. And talking. And talking. Rodimus attempts to hurry it up, first with subtle hints like looking bored and drumming his fingers against the table, then with plain interrupting him. As Perceptor starts with the questions, Rodimus shakes his head. "I've been containing him for around seven years now, and I can't say it's been... all that different, overall, than it was at home. It's not as if Unicron is particularly open about his thoughts, feelings, and opinions with me. Occasionally he'll say something cryptic or taunting, but that's about it, so I really can't answer a lot of those questions, Perceptor. I can tell you that he found the encounter with my dark double to be... disturbing, but I'm not positive why. This is also connected to why he was so much more powerful than I am, though." Might as well own up to that now. "He used the power of his Matrix, and even seemed to pull from the power of his Unicron, a lot more freely than I'm willing to. The consequences didn't matter to him, only the power he could get from it."

"But yes, as Emirate Xaaron says, the Matrix can be purged, and from what I'm told by Twin Twist, if I had stayed in my own reality, eventually it would have been. I... I even know how, but it's risky. I have to go into the Matrix and face him, alone, and overpower him." He lowers his head, looking at the table in front of him. "The problem is, if I get it wrong, if I fail, he will take over. While I'm confident in my ability to keep him contained, eradicating a force of nature, a... a god... that's another matter, and any slip up on the attempt will put anyone remotely close to me, physically and emotionally, at risk."

He shakes his head faintly and then looks back at the others. "So back to the subject on hand. Tell them straight, no attempts at a 'spin' that might come back to bite us, but try to break it up into smaller groups, then? We can even break it down further than divisions, since we've got two here from each division, and since MilSec's a lot larger than the other divisions, perhaps Xaaron and I can handle the overflow? Or has anyone got any better ideas?"

[Emirate Xaaron]

These people would never have survived a day in the Council, if they think this is boring and overly wordy.

That's all right.

The Council didn't survive a day in the war. These are the people who are needed now.

Emirate Xaaron advises Rodimus, "If you're aging faster, be sure that you transform frequently. Those of our reality who go too long without transforming suffer some... adverse side-effects." That is good, practical advise, Emirate Xaaron feels, though it might make some of the assembled ask some questions about Emirate Xaaron.

He asks of Skid-Z, "If you can think of other specific qualms, might you list them, so we might have rebuttals ready?"

Emirate Xaaron nods along absently as Rodimus Prime explains about Unicron and how to purge him, focusing off on some middle distance. "We could simply do it over the radio, to throw out a suggestion that would hit everyone who is awake simultaneously, but I tend to lean towards real face time."

[Perceptor]

Rodimus is not a territory, Skid-Z, and it is not the doubt in the Prime's abilities that has Perceptor irritated, but the implied slur upon those who have no physical manifestation of their sparks. Perceptor doubts Xaaron all the time. Doubting leadership is normal and fair game. Impugning one's soul, is not.

Perceptor doesn't bother refuting Kup or calling him on his comment. Kup's stories - experience - is as legendary in their reality as Perceptor's verbosity is. Given the sheer volume of rather good tactics and suggestions that have come from Kup's stories, he is either a tactical genius, a precog, or really has done and seen everything which he claims. "Any theory as to why the ghost found you to be too difficult to access, Kup?" he asks, but then suddenly shakes his head and holds up one hand. "Wait. Nevermind. Later. I do wish to hear that explanation when we have adequately dealt with all of the current difficulties and issues."

"The easiest manner to circumvent discussion with members outside their divisions," Perceptor offers, "is simply to call all divisions to a different meeting point at the same time. Get it over with at once, so to speak, but in small, manageable groups."

"I do agree with Springer's suggestion, though. Forthright, face-to-face communication. This is not something that should be done over radio. For one thing, it is easier to lie via radio, which everyone knows. For another, it would be an avenue for the information to leak to the Decepticons, no matter how tightly encrypted."

He pauses thoughtfully for a moment. "What about splitting each division into two groups, as you suggested, Rodimus, but do so simultaneously throughout the ship? We discuss amongst ourselves which members of each division we will speak with, and then send private communications to those individuals to meet us... say, in our quarters, or some other location separate from the others. Rodimus, you should be the only one not assigned a group. Someone should monitor the bridge, and beyond such, there are undoubtedly going to be questions. We, those disseminating the information, can radio you with those questions, in order to prevent the entirety of the Autobots from inundating you at once? And then, if necessary, you may make the rounds, so to speak, to visit with each group personally without needing to abandon your own group."

"Besides which," he adds with a softly wry smile, "you have already faced your group."

[Skid-Z]

Skid-Z thinks for a moment, then shakes his head, answering the Emirate, "No Sir, the ones I thought of have been stated, Sir"

He reviews the plan that is forming, listening carefully to the others as they speak.

[Kate Mason]

"I wouldn't even accept that glitchhead on my lawn. I'd be damned before I let Starscream in my head," Kup mutters lowly to Botanica and Perceptor, not wanting to sidetrack the discussion too much with yet another one of his enlightening stories. So, basically, Kup's theory as to why the ghost could not possess him amounts to 'hell no' being an effective method of preventing psychic intrusion.

More loudly, he points out, "Fact is, we can't call off everyone from what they're doing. Some jobs just need a warm body. Even breaking it into groups, with team leaders, we're gonna have to do it in shifts, anyway."

[Shanodin]

Botanica's eyes widen as Rodimus talks about purging the Matrix. "It can be cleansed? That's wonderful news-" Her face falls a bit when Rodimus talks about how that cleansing has to happen. Again, she tries to place a comforting hand on his arm. "You'll do what needs doing, Rodimus, when the need arises, and you'll succeed. No one who's seen your devotion to your station could doubt, and now you have proof to soothe your own doubts." Botanica has other ideas about just why Rodimus will win that battle, but that is certainly not a conversation for this company.

She nods at Preceptor's suggestion, then again at Kup's caveat. "Good points both. I think that is certainly a workable plan. Emirate? Prime?"

[Rodimus Prime]

"Uuuuh, sure, Xaaron," Rodimus answers uncertainly to the Emirate's advice about transforming often. He's not quite sure what to make of it, but all right...

He gives Botanica a faint smile at her words of comfort. "Thank you. Your confidence... that means a lot."

Then, louder, he addresses the rest of the group. "I agree with the others that we shouldn't use the radio on this one," which is really fortunate for reasons Rodimus himself does not realize, "But, so... we're talking about breaking things up by division, two groups for each division... possibly three for Milsec, and... actually, we do have to leave a watch, as Kup says, and if you guys want me to move from group to group, anyway, maybe I can... talk to the watch standers in person, without asking them to leave their stations? Or maybe the Emirate can help with that instead of fielding a third Milsec group? Either way, we're getting close to a plan, it sounds like."

Which means, no doubt, other unfortunate news will probably out any minute now.

[Springer]

Springer makes a bit of a face. Hmm...

"Alternatively, we could go with breaking each group up into smaller groups, but then do each group one at a time - then stations could still be manned, and we all could be there to help field questions and reactions. It'd take longer, though."

[Emirate Xaaron]

"If you don't transform often enough, you'll get depressed, and if you're aging at an accelerated rate, you may need to transform more often for your body to register it," Emirate Xaaron explains to Rodimus Prime, to clarify his point. So Emirate Xaaron has just justified Rodimus Prime careening down the hallways in flaming Winnebago mode. Also, Perceptor, particularly, might have some questions about Emirate Xaaron.

"Parts of this will comes down to knowing your men - and women. Who will talk to whom and who won't talk," Emirate Xaaron observes, "Keep that in mind when making the groups. Some will ignore orders not to talk to their not-present friends, even across divisions, which would suggest that the more rebellious and gossipy be left for later."

He nods to Rodimus Prime. "I'd be happy to help with the watchmen."

Who informs the watchmen?

[Kate Mason]

OOC: Perceptor and Skid-Z are both timed out, so I'm skipping them. They can post back in at any time and assume a new spot in the rotation.

---

"We should do Intel all at once," Kup says abruptly. "They're suspicious gits. I'd know. I am, too."

Inwardly, he's wondering, just a bit, about Counterpunch. This is exactly the kind of thing that Counterpunch doesn't need to know. If he's ever caught, it'll just be another liability. Thing is, it means Counterpunch is going to hear it from a Decepticon. The guy doesn't exactly need more reasons to go native. Kup's gonna have to think about it.

He also shoots a quick glance over at Emirate Xaaron. Not transforming often enough leads to depression, huh? What does that say about Emirate Xaaron?

[Shanodin]

Botanica is also eying the Emirate warily. Expect an order for a full mental and physical examination on your desk in the next few days, Xaaron.

"Intel as one, if at all possible. MSE will need to be split in two at least- we've too many people. But um.. ah..."

Casting an apologetic look at Perceptor, Botanica continues, "I would like to request that Perceptor not be one of those who relays information- or at the least, is paired with one of you two." She points at Xaaron and Rodimus. "I'm sorry, Perceptor, but we need to relay this in as clear and succinct terms as possible, and you have... a flair for verbosity even when your intentions are best."

[Rodimus Prime]

The young Prime considers Xaaron's words. Come to think of it, he's actually heard something like that before. He shrugs. "Sure, I'll make sure to transform more oft-" then he starts to trail off before he gives Emirate Xaaron a hard look, finishing with, "ten."

Rodimus doesn't pursue that issue further, however, and instead rubs the back of his head and considers the matter at hand. "That leaves either me or Emirate Xaaron to take the other medical group, with only one of us to make the rounds and talk to the watch standers, unless we want to grab someone else in Sciences to break the news for us. I do think that as much as possible, and keeping in mind that we do have to leave stations manned, we should try to put the word out as close to 'all at once' as we can get it. This is something they should hear from us, not the rumor mill."

OOC: We seem to be reaching on official 'plan' for the first part, but there's other news to be put out before hitting the pause button on this thread, although we may have to wait for the player to return, so if folks find themselves running low on things to say on the current topic, we can let this thread 'go idle.'

[Perceptor]

ooc: apologies, all. Will try to get back into the swing again.

Perceptor listens to the discussion with interest, considering adding another point or two when Botanica speaks up again.

"Oh," he replies, crestfallen. "Um... very well." Rodimus, he rather expected to cut him short, but to find that even Botanica finds him... trying... He tries, he really does, to be succinct, but it's hard to provide all the information that he feels is relevant in the quantity of words that it seems that everyone else will tolerate.

"Perhaps I should leave the task to someone else entirely, then, and utilize that time to concentrate on installing the patch I have developed to disable Shockwave's personality conditioning in Ultra Magnus," he replies quietly.

[Springer]

If this was a comedic cartoon, at this moment, the camera would cut to Springer as a record-scratch noise plays.

"Wait, personality conditioning?" He frowns, giving Perceptor a serious look. "I don't mean to derail things, but Magnus is one of mine."

Well. He might not be from Springer's reality, but he's still a Wrecker, dammit.