Fireblade: Nightingale's Roost

[Shanodin]

It doesn't take long for Botancia to reach the emergency station. Moving underground is much faster for her, and soon she's inside the converted bodyshop.

She slings a small pack off her shoulders, tacking quick stock of her own tools, then starts selecting items she might need. Truthfully, almost everyone here can take a lot of damage before needing an actual medic, but better to have some medics on the field just in case. Worst comes to worst, if they can be moved, get them back here to First Aid.

A couple of pauses as she answers radio calls. She's anxious, but tries to project calm. For good or ill, these are her people now, and she must do what she can to protect and aid them.

Thankfully, the emergency center is fairly innocuous. With luck, it will only be her team members that find her here.

[Boondocker]

Shortly after Botanica arrives, the sound of a rattled old pickup is heard, and he chimes over the radio - //Ah'm almost thar, Miz Botanica..!//

Then a short tire-screech, a transformation sound, and the clatter of him running the rest of the way, stepping in and closing the door again behind him. He's not so good at projecting calm like the technorganic, but that's why he's here to play defense, not work on patients. Hopefully. Rigging up stuff in buildings is one thing, trying to keep someone alive is another.

[First Aid]

First Aid actually is calm. He’s never been sure if it’s because he was built with the thought that he’d be working under fire, or if it’s an accidental quirk of temperament, but being in an unfolding crisis clears his head.

He didn’t take a particularly direct route to the emergency station, on the principle that if you have the time to avoid straight lines and clear destinations, you should go ahead and avoid them. Still, he’s here now, a little bit after Boondocker. //I’m here, Botanica!// he transmits as he transforms without bothering to fully stop – slowing down is the only concession to physics he feels like making at the moment – and knocks on the door before opening it to step through.

(Don't worry Boondocker, the worst you're likely to get is 'Press here, and keep it steady'.)

[Shanodin]

Botanica tends to be extremely brusque in times of crisis. As such she doesn't greet the arrivals with more than a glance; their radio calls confirmed identities. Her turn. //You're both quick. Good.//

"We're short handed. We can try to set up here, but we might be better off all being mobile, treating as needed. Make it harder get a lock on any of us. That's up to you, First Aid. I'm no field surgeon or triage specialist. I just know I can't sit here and wait, and we need at least one person spotting...." She trails off as Xaaron give the order to wipe the archives. Her eyes narrow. Unlike some, she knows what that can herald.

"Whatever you decide, make sure you kits are fully stocked." She adds a few things to her own kit as she talks. She's not a medic, but she can patch a system, get someone moving long enough to get them to medical. "Just in case we have to scramble."

[Boondocker]

Boondocker nods to Botanica, drawing out his pistols. "Ah'll do whut ah can t' provide cover fahr if'n ya'll wanna stay mobile. Or run out an' fetch th' wounded an' bring 'em back hyar."

For now, the hickbot keeps close to a window so he can keep watch of what's going on outside.

[First Aid]

“I think you’re right. We’re definitely better off to keep mobile as we can,” First Aid says, “We’re in the middle of the front lines anyway, and this building really isn’t sturdy enough to withstand bombardment.”

“Boondocker? Could you possibly carry a few things for me?” he asks, and, acting on the general assumption that the answer will be ‘yes’, moves to gather up an extra set of supplies or two – he really has everything he can carry already. “We might not get a chance to come back.”

[Shanodin]

"Fine. Then I'm heading out now. If I run across someone damaged beyond my abilities to heal I'll...."

Botanica breaks off and visibly blanches as Skyblast's condition if discussed on radio. "I won't be any good there, if he's as bad as that! But, I'll confirm if he's...you two head for his location- as soon as you're packed." Her voice softens, "I don't want to lose one, but I also don't want to lose many later for wont of supplies."

She slings her pack on her back, and the look she turns on Boondocker and First Aid is one of determination. "Be careful. I'll radio injuries and...casualties on the EMS frequency for the most part. To keep from upsetting morale."

Unless stopped, Botanica ducks out the door and slips underground, heading for Skyblast's last know location.

[Boondocker]

Boondocker nods at First Aid. "Shore thang, buddy" he answers, disarming and transforming. Might not be what First Aid meant, but Boony can carry more supplies like this. And from the sound of things, they're gonna need all they can get.

[First Aid]

"No, shorting ourselves won't help," he agrees, "But I'll hurry."

Boondocker transforming is not really what First Aid had in mind, no, but he's not going to argue with Boondocker's judgement on what'll work best - presumably Boondocker's the one with the best idea of his capacities.

There really isn't time for packing, but there also isn't time not to, so First Aid relies on the time honored method of 'I already did the prep work, just grab it and go', which is faster. Being the kind of person who organizes junkyards on his downtime has its advantages, and so it takes only a few minutes (though they seem like long minutes to First Aid, stretched out by radio conversation) before Boondocker has several improvised storage cases and a few loose tools stowed in his truck bed.

First Aid glances about. He forgot to put a cargo webbing net in here, didn't he? He did. Drat it, no help for it now. "That all right, Boondocker? We'd better move - but tell me if the load's too badly balanced to drive quickly with." Because that just won't do at all. Going as fast as can be managed is important, and First Aid's already headed for the door.

Which might be a mistake, because displaying impatience makes it more likely that his companion will fail to be honest in the interests of not holding him up. Oops.

[Boondocker]

"Ain't no problem with th' balance." Hopefully First Aid isn't a stickler about double-negatives.

Boondocker revs his engine a bit. "Jus' tell me whar we're headed - We gon' help Boss Lady with Skyblast, or go after Slag?"

[First Aid]

First Aid has no objection to double negatives!

First Aid shoves the door open and steps through, transforming as he goes. “Skyblast,” he says, suiting driving speed to action – he’s not that fast, particularly when accelerating, but he’s fast enough. “Slag needs the aid too, but we don’t have confirmation that he’s still functioning, and I know Skyblast is.”

OOC: Out of thread unless stopped.

[Boondocker]

"Shore thing..." Boondocker answers, driving out after First Aid, the door smacking his side on the way out. Another scratch in the paint, but Boony don't care. It builds character. Long as he's functional, he don't really care.

'Course, if scratches build character, Boondocker may be able to build the Autobots an entire army of backup before this nightmare is over...
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OOC: Out of thread with First Aid.