Asteroid Investigation

[Synapse]

Full tank, chassis inspection, and systems primed for launch.

With one last giddy look into the sky, Synapse transforms and zips into the air. His rockets leave trails of super-heated air behind him. Exit and re-entry of a planet's atmosphere is never too pleasant. Synapse pushes the uncomfortable warmth that's building up on his frame elsewhere in his mind as he focuses on the task set before him.

Astroid belt. If Synapse remembers correctly, then Kup should be talking about the one he saw not too long ago in his first trip into orbit on Gillanan III. But he wouldn't be the only one out there this time. As wary as Kup is about the famous scientist, Synapse can't help but feel giddy at the thought of actually seeing someone he's only read about in periodicals and data-feeds. A real scientific explorer of worlds. This is as close to fanboying as Synapse is going to get.

Orbital ephemerae scrolling in a corner of his vision and data of his own condition running in the another, Synapse pushes more power as he makes to escape the gravitational pull of the planet. Small notices alert him to the rapidly thinning atmosphere and the heightening of his surface temperature.

Space's cold touch is a welcome change and Synapse takes a moment to cool down as he notes his location.

Now, to start his task.

// I am now in orbit will be heading towards the asteroid belt. //

[SceneMod]

Thus far, the trip is uneventful. It is, after all, highly unlikely that Synapse is anywhere near Skyfire during his trip out from the planet. Kup wouldn't have known where to direct him, anyway.

So far, it's only what Synapse has already been able to gather from his last time out here.

[SceneMod]

Provided Synapse is sensibly cautious and avoids the various artificial satellites, his trip is without incident, although it is notable that many more of the satellites appear to actually be operating this time up than last time.

As Synapse approaches the asteroid field navigation becomes more hazardous due to the amount of debris of various sizes which he must contend with. Still, if he exercises caution, he can easily take readings and make explorations without serious incident.

Recording size and positional data for later transfer to Perceptor can be accomplished not... with ease, due to the crowded conditions of this region of space, but without too much difficulty. As Synapse's sensors are primarily optical and tactile, however, there are limitations to what he can gather.

Based on appearances alone, the asteroids are, indeed, metallic. Densely metallic, made up of unusually rich ores (compared with those found on, say, an organic planet such as Gillanan III). Enough searching, however, will eventually yield a section where, at least visually, the metal takes on a more refined appearance. Not pure ores, but worked alloys.

It is while investigating this section that one larger than average rock tumbling through the sun-lit darkness catches the attention of one of the nodes. At first appearance, it's hard to tell what's wrong with it, beyond the unusually sharp angles it displays. Should Synapse approach, however, and his angle of inspection change, the difference becomes clear.

When the small spacer clears one side, he will discover, gleaming in the dim light of the system's star, a single, broken, but obviously artificial structure of bright metal; a dead building shining in the forever night.

[Synapse]

Eerily graceful, tumbling debris. Once suitably situated, Synapse pauses besides one and grazes a node feather-lightly over its rough surface. He notes the cold metallic bite that registers and pulls away, not wanting to interfere with its original vector. His nodes zoom through not-so-empty space, Synapse trailing not to far behind as he catalogs and records whatever information that he can gather. He might not be able to make too much out of close-ups of the asteroid surfaces, but there are others back on Gillanan III that he hopes can squeeze out more information.

He neatly dodges out of the path of a rock nearly the size of his alt-mode. Movement in the emptiness of space is a lot easier for his alt than on planet. Synapse's alt isn't exactly aerodynamic. His next dodge is a little shakier as attention is suddenly given to the rather large asteroid looming on the incoming optical feed from one of his nodes.

Fascination wells up and Synapse makes his way over to the object, his jets sputtering for a moment as he catches sight of the not-asteroid. His nodes speed over and circle the object. Their slightly frenzied path echoing Synapse's tizzying thoughts as he tries to figure out what something like this would be doing out here.

Recordings of the building are quickly packaged and compressed before being sent off to Perceptor and Kup. // There is something you need to see. All of the asteroids that I've come across are highly metallic in appearance. Though, the video that I'm sending you is not necessarily an asteroid. //

Synapse comes to a stop in front of the structure and transforms, gazing upon the alien thing in awe. Cautiously, he has one node enter through a broken window. Synapse himself finds a entry, the door hanging precariously open. It's just enough room for him to squeeze through. Curiosity taking the place of better judgment, Synapse enters, his visor brightening as he attempts to get a better visual of the dark insides of the building.

[SceneMod]

The building is, indeed dark, although the brightening if the visors helps. The silver building is graceful, but alien. Still, there are influences in common with some of the architecture so far observed on Gillanan III.

The walls, ceiling, and floor are etched in multicolor designs suggesting birds, land animals, strange, metallic landscapes... even dragons. Dragons that show a remarkable resemblance to Tiny.

There is also, floating near the doorway, trapped, a body of sorts. A robot of slender, non-Cybertronian design with six arms, two legs, a single, wide optic band, and no other obvious facial features. It is also quite dead.

Examination of the area around the building will reveal the start of walls near the edge of the asteroid top, walls that were broken by this segment's removal from a whole.

This was no isolated building. There were once others around.

[Synapse]

The unexpected appearance of a body nearly sends Synapse bolting out of the doorway. It's only when it makes no movement or any sign of being online that he unfreezes from his position to flee. He approaches it warily, propelling himself forward with tiny blasts of his jets. Tentatively, he reaches out and pushes it slightly out of the way. The only movement that shows is the slight sway of limbs as the body gives way, optic band reflecting the light of Synapse's visor back at him.

Synapse floats slowly down the hallway, most of his attention and efforts concentrated on the etchings that cover the area. He stops for a moment and zooms in on the image of the Tiny-esque dragons. If scale is a factor in these pictures, then Tiny looks like she won't be quite so Tiny as time passes. Synapse gulps and continues down the hall.

Inside the building, a node maneuvers in and out of what rooms it can, recording and transmitting any finds back to Synapse. Outside, the other node makes periodic sweeps around the perimeter, getting a more complete picture of the asteroid field, as well as the shape and state of the structure.

If the building was with many more, then there should be others out there. Synapse finishes recording what he can find and zooms towards the exit. He pauses at the still body. Perhaps he can take it back? Synapse pulls himself and the body out into the open where there's room to transform. His cockpit swings open and Synapse carefully tries to fit the shell in. If it goes in, he shuts the entry hatch and makes to go off examining other areas of the field. If it doesn't...well, Synapse pushes the body back where he found it. He can't drag it with him, it might not survive the re-entry onto Gillanan III. Besides, it's not as if his alt has extra arms built in.

[SceneMod]

The body will fit into Synapse's cockpit. It is small, compared to a Transformer... they seem to be scaled a bit larger than the builders of Gillanan III, but not much. They stand, perhaps, around Wheelie's size.

Note: The rest of this trip should probably go without incident, Synapse, unless you have anything special you want to try.

[Synapse]

Safety restraints whip snuggly around the body, securing it for the possibly--no probably--bumpy ride ahead. His nodes finish their passes over the perimeter of the asteroid belt and are sealed away in their mounts. Synapse pushes away the irritating sting of dust and small particles squeezing against his sensory clusters.

Jumping around what asteroids between him and Gillanan III, Synapse falls into a silent orbit around the planet calculating the area where the Autobot base should be and the plotting the course to take. The satellite arrays are once again, carefully avoided. Course found, Synapse fires his rockets and begins to descend.

// I'll be landing in the general vicinity of the base shortly, any transmissions given between now and touch-down will most likely be unheard. // Already, Synapse's voice is breaking up on the radio as he re-enters the most upper layers of the atmosphere and molecules buffet against his frame.

With the lack of a proper landing pad, his return should be loud, messy...and perhaps a little painful.

---

OOC: Thus Synapse returns planet-side. The Movie Autobot arrivals to Earth spring to mind, though slightly softened...