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Post by Hook on Jan 27, 2008 17:46:03 GMT -5
This takes place after Capture the Flag, and after Starscream posts the rank structure.As politely as he's capable of, Hook has put in a request for all four of his subordinates to meet with him in his lab so he can assess their capabilities. He arranged a mixing bowl of not-quite the right color pink energon on one of his workbenches. There are tumblers set up, and an assortment of chemicals laid out on tables. Partying 'cons might view this as a makeshift bar situation - lace your own, as it were. Hook has seated himself on a stool near said table and is currently bent over a splayed out and pinned down corpse of a Transformer about Blackarachnia's size. This one is mostly charred beyond recognition, except for one perfect red hand. The rest of the lab is overwhelmingly neat and exact in a way that might invite rude comments about obsessive-compulsive disorder among humans. The other workbenches are either clear or have neatly laid out projects on them. One such project seems to involve a metal marble that has quite a lot of sensors pointing at it and the plastic pedestal it sits upon. For all the frightening organization, several of the tables and walls show signs of the Constructicon having carved notes to himself there lest he forget them. Sadly, most of them are of the sort where you need the rest of the context to understand why chemical isotopes have any relevance to something that is most definitely a pristinely-rendered neurocircuit. --- OOC: The punch is poisonous, by the way. Painful rather than deadly. Hook left out the chemicals to mix up the antidote.
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Post by Scourge (BW) on Jan 27, 2008 18:11:01 GMT -5
Scourge responds fairly quickly to the summons. In fact, he had just finished up a new preparation. Upon stalking in his particular way-those insect legs put a certain spring in his step-into the room, he quickly notices the punch bowl. But Scourge does not drink. Oh, no, he has a better idea. Grinnig beneath his mask-this face is quite frequent, really-Scourge slips quietly up to the bowl and sprinkles a powder in. Quickly confirming his addition mixed in invisibly, he turns to looks for his commander.
"Hello, boss." Noticing the corpse, Scourge runs through his memory banks for 'bots from his reality with that color hand. He is unable to determine who exactly it is.
--- OOC: Yes, Scourge added more posion to the mixture. Well, this poison's probably alive. It's also untested, so it might not have any effect.
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Shortround
Minor
Breaker of the Fourth Wall
Posts: 272
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Post by Shortround on Jan 27, 2008 23:24:07 GMT -5
Shortround comes to the summons, as nervous as ever, walking in and looking around carefully.
Hey, energon! But a voice in Shortround's head quickly makes him realise that it would be safe to wait for someone else to test the energon, especially with that creepy grasshopper around.
Noticing the charred corpse, Shortround moves closer and looks. "Uh... Was that a minicon, or a Predacon?" he asks, shifting nervously. He doesn't like the possibility of something out there incinerating other Transformers.
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Ratbat
Cadet
I would have gotten away with it too, if not for those meddling kids!
Posts: 88
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Post by Ratbat on Jan 27, 2008 23:57:32 GMT -5
From Decepticon second to answering summons. Ratbat's fallen quite a ways. But he can work with this. He worked his way up from a simple fuel scout to an accountant to an accountant supervisor, to a city-head, to the Master Fuel Accountant for Cybertron, eventually to second in command, and quite possibly future leader.
He would bide his time.
His sensors tell him its best to avoid the energon and as much as he hates to do so, he applauds Hook's little "test."
"More corpses," he mutters. "Quite curious."
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Post by Starfighter on Jan 28, 2008 0:01:38 GMT -5
Starfighter comes in quite promptly, or at least as prompt as you can be when arriving in last place. He stands to attention for a brief moment at the doorway. "Starfighter reporting for duty, sir." He shudders slightly at the sight of the corpse, but doesn't comment on it. As for the mixing bowl...well, it's on a workbench in a lab. For all he knows it's a new kind of industrial strength acid/psychotropic drug. He'd be a fool to drink any random thing that an engineer leaves out, especially if it's unlabeled.
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Post by Hook on Jan 28, 2008 12:14:00 GMT -5
No one wants to drink any punch! This pleases Hook oddly enough. They're all intelligent enough to realize that a drink from the head of Engineering may not be the best thing to put into their systems. Especially when they hadn't seen him mix it.
Scourge adding more poison to the mix gets a fond smile. He'll have to take that away and analyze it after all of this. "Hello, yourself."
He continues to exactingly dissect the little corpse as he waits for everyone else to arrive. When everyone finally does, he answers Shortround's question. "This was a Predacon. Examination may yield adaptable technologies that can make our own forces more fuel-efficient. It has also been in my possession for some time. As a standing order to everyone in Engineering, unless Shockwave makes a claim for it, all corpses that arrive at the points we control are to be delivered to the main labs. If Shockwave does make a claim, inform me."
He lays his tools down, then erects a plate between the little corpse and the punchbowl. "Need to make isolation tents," he mutters.
"Now," he says at a more normal volume as he turns back to survey his subordinates. It rankled quite a bit, it really did, that the only ones of them with proper engineering skills were the secretary and the deranged chemist. Experience had taught him well that most people preferred not have a deranged chemist messing around with their internals. "I have reviewed your official files. Now is the time to inform me of anything you might not have told Spinister that would be relevant to your... continued enjoyment of this post."
Because if Hook finds out someone has been holding out on him, they will suffer.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jan 28, 2008 13:31:57 GMT -5
Shockwave was not summoned to Hook's gathering, nor was his presence requested. In fact, Shockwave is fairly certain that his presence will annoy Hook to no end. A lesser mech might take petty pleasure in that knowledge; Shockwave simply accepts is at a likely given. He would prefer to keep the tenuous peace between himself and Hook, if possible. But the skills of Hooks subordinates are relevant to Shockwave's interests, and there is a matter which Shockwave wishes to discuss with Constructicon. So the still sigilless Decepticon enters the lab, just in time to hear Hook's "request."
Shockwave does not add anything to said request. He simply takes a seat a short distance away from the group. His gaze lingers a bit on the marble and the extensive sensor array surrounding it, then turns back towards Hook and the others. Any questioning looks will receive a dismissive wave. Hook might attempt to cast Shockwave out, but considering that he is no longer even considered part of high command...well, that would not go well for the Constructicon. Shockwave simply wishes to observe. Perhaps he will interject, if circumstances dictate. But this is Hook's meeting; he may conduct it how he wishes- for the most part.
OOC: Shox is present, but need not be considered a part of the rotation. If he is addressed, he will answer, and perhaps something will catch his attention and prompt a comment. Other than that, he is skippable.
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Post by Scourge (BW) on Jan 28, 2008 15:05:42 GMT -5
A Predacon, eh? So, Scourge was indeed right in assuming the corpse was from his or a similar reality. Interesting. He will have to talk to Hook about examining it himself. After all, who better than a Predacon to salvage tech from a Predacon? If only the corpse was Rampage. Scourge had always wanted to see what made the big crab tick. Sadly, this body is much too small.
Hook's request snaps him out of his thoughts. He notes the entrance of Shockwave, and resists the temptation to offer the one-eyed Decepticon some punch. It would be interesting to see how it affected him, but if it didn't kill him (and perhaps even if it did. Surely the at least some of other Decepticons would not appreciate it.) Scourge would be quite unhappy with the results. Besides, it's very unlikey he would drink it.
"Relevant information, eh? I can't think of anything, off the top of my head. If you're thinking of upgrading our troops with Pred' tech, I may be able to help, of course. I'm certain you already knew that, though." He pauses briefly. "Oh, right. As I'm sure your aware, I'm immune to my own poisons and... organisms. If you desire, I am able to produce additional amounts of antidotes and neutralizers, if necessary. Understand it could take time to synthesize useful amounts. I'm also not sure how much tech varies from reality to reality. Variances could produce unexpected reactions."
That last phrase causes Scourge to smile again. Unexpected reactions are always fun.
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Shortround
Minor
Breaker of the Fourth Wall
Posts: 272
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Post by Shortround on Jan 28, 2008 21:04:47 GMT -5
Shortround gulps nervously at Hook's question. "Well, I can't do that much engineering stuff, but I knew a guy in my reality, he was a.. Guy who did stuff with plants, like... Made giant killer ones. He also liked bad movies" he says, getting off on a tangent.
"Oh, but I can transport a fair amount of stuff rather quickly, problem is that I just need help getting it in and out of my cargo hold" he says. "I suppose I could transform and let it fall out, but it might be explosive or something and, well..." Shortround holds out his claws "These aren't really made for delicate operations, though they're pretty good for just holding things"
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Ratbat
Cadet
I would have gotten away with it too, if not for those meddling kids!
Posts: 88
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Post by Ratbat on Jan 28, 2008 22:29:42 GMT -5
Ratbat's interview was largely with someone who was already familiar with his capabilities, so perhaps a more lengthy explanation is in order. He does his best to remain deferential in his speech.
"By and large, my talents lie in administrative areas. Risk analysis, accounting, rationing as necessary. Procurement, to a lesser extent. I do have some skill with design, but prefer to leave the building to others."
Few others could have designed the Carwash of Doom, after all.
"But my original function was as a fuel scout. I can able to locate it, analyze it, and determine other factors about it either through scent or taste."
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Post by Starfighter on Jan 29, 2008 1:56:57 GMT -5
Starfighter shoots a nervous glance at Shockwave as the purple mech enters. It's at least one note of comfort in a setting that's never made him very comfortable.
"Spinister's already recorded my qualifications, sir, although I can repeat them again if you wish," he answers cautiously. "I work in some of the same areas as Ratbat, although on more of an administrative level than an active level, and I'm good at keeping extensive and detailed records of situations if needed." There's a note of nervousness in his voice, more than usual. "Is there anything else you need, sir?"
Hook's question is bringing up an awkward problem. Back home the only official person who knew about his little laser core problem was Shockwave and that was the only one who needed to know. It's not something Starfighter feels comfortable with explaining and he doesn't know if it's covered under the umbrella of Hook's menacing statement.
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Post by Hook on Jan 29, 2008 12:42:59 GMT -5
... None of his personnel seem to have job-related data that they didn't share with Spinister. Are they just defective, or is Shockwave's presence interfering with his ability to get useful answers to his question?
He glares balefully at Shockwave before turning his attention back to his subordinates. A deranged chemist, a hauler, a logistics administrator, and a secretary with repair skills. Perhaps they are just defective.
"Ratbat will be my second. We will talk in more detail about that later. Shortround, I won't assign you any specific Engineering shifts, but if you are needed to perform any duties, you will drop everything and come running."
"I note you neglected to mention your repair skills, Starfighter. However, both you and Scourge will be pulling regular shifts in Medical." So will Hook, for that matter. "If neither of you have done this before, let me warn you that you will spend most of your time either playing Solitaire or developing new devices to kill people with. More likely the latter as you deal with more warriors coming in after doing stupid things, such as attempting to self-repair a non-firing weapon by staring down the barrel and pulling the trigger repeatedly to see if any of their prodding has fixed it."
Yes, he's speaking from experience. Yes, people like that are more likely to get delayed treatment when leaking out vital fluids.
"Scourge, if you poison any of your patients without my permission, I will vivisect you."
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Post by Scourge (BW) on Jan 30, 2008 16:37:48 GMT -5
Scourge nods. Regular shifts in Medical. Right. He'd had a little experience with such things before, so the downtime Hook warns of comes as no suprise. Nor is it unwelcome.
Hook's threat wipes away Scourge's smile, though it is impossible to see this behind his ever-grinning faceplat. "Understood, boss." Scourge does note that the inclusion of the phrase 'without my permission' indicates that permission is possible. He considers briefly the potential loophole of infecting a patient as opposed to posioning, but decides that excuse wouldn't fly. At all.
Perhaps Hook would eventually let him use something non-fatal on any repeatedly-offending stupid warriors. Yes, that would be nice.
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Shortround
Minor
Breaker of the Fourth Wall
Posts: 272
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Post by Shortround on Jan 30, 2008 19:28:01 GMT -5
Shortround looks at Scourge, and gulps again. He desperately hoped that, if he was ever blown up or the like, that he wasn't being repaired by him on a day when Hook was feeling rather annoyed.
Shortround seems to remember something, and says "Oh, I also know a bit of toy engineering and such, but unless any Decepticons have a toy that really needs to be fixed or something, that's pretty useless". He nods to the comment of dropping everything if he's needed, because Shortround luckily rarely has much to do.
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Ratbat
Cadet
I would have gotten away with it too, if not for those meddling kids!
Posts: 88
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Post by Ratbat on Jan 30, 2008 23:31:04 GMT -5
Well, it was hardly his former glory, but it was something. And a position like that, the first rung down the later, was more useful, holding more potential for direction and channeling than the top rung necessarily did.
With his skills, he'd likely gain control over their supplies and their distribution. And such a position was quite powerful indeed.
"Understood, Hook."
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