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Post by Rodimus Prime on Mar 27, 2011 21:57:37 GMT -5
OOC: Month 2, Week 3, Day 6. Xaaron and Rodimus's office of the Event Horizon. Private.
"Well, I think it's a good idea," Rodimus says as he waits for their appointment. He leans back and pokes at the holodisplay hovering over his desk, touching nothing but triggering a move onto the terminal screen attached to his desk. 3-D displays are all well and good. In fact, they're often great for design work or planning. But if you're reviewing reports that have any level of security sensitivity (or playing video games with the hopes of not getting caught), it's easier to keep your work from prying eyes when you're using a good old fashioned screen with an opaque back.
"Well, I mean, okay, I don't really like the word 'propaganda,' but you know the 'Cons will be using every trick they can come up with, and besides, we really do try to defend other species against them. We're here to help! And Sentinel's been all right after that first... fiasco."
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Post by Kup on Mar 27, 2011 22:28:17 GMT -5
Kup grunts. "And that whole Wrecker thing's working out so well so far," he says sarcastically. "Back in my day, folks earned their own reputations. They didn't get to tailgate the rear bumper of some special 'squad'."
Kup sighs, removes his battered sheet of metal from subspace, and throws himself onto a chair near Rodimus's desk. No back on the thing, to accommodate those with back-kibble, but he's near enough a wall that he can lean against that. He stretches his legs forward in a semi-reclined posture.
"Maybe having a second one will help things a bit, though. Give 'em alternatives, so's it's not all, 'Wreckers, Wreckers, Wreckers.'"
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Mar 27, 2011 22:40:28 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron purses his lips and feels compelled to defend the Wreckers, but... well, they haven't really accomplished anything. He settles on, "If we had a full fusilateral quintrocombiner team like the Aerialbots, you wouldn't tell them they can't be Aerialbots and work together."
"Anyway, it's not supposed to be 'Wreckers, Wreckers, Wreckers'. If we had more first responders, I'd likely put Holi in charge of them. We want to do more with drilling the Rookies together and separately, in other teams, too, and I would like to permanently appoint Breakaway in charge of drilling the other fliers."
He holds up his hands and suggests, "Face it, we could use some fireteam and squad-level leadership, beyond just the divisional seconds in command. In a crisis, we need people who can step up and handle the Autobots and Maximals around them quickly and efficiently without dickering about how they're all the same rank. Fireteam-level leaders would essentially be... soldiers plus. Normal duties in most respects, but expected to lead more training drills and step up and take responsibility if the situation necessitates."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Mar 28, 2011 14:45:51 GMT -5
"We haven't had 'the whole Wrecker thing' here that long," Rodimus points out, "and I don't see that it's really done us any harm so far, either. But yeah, more teams in general would be good, and more drilling or training for the rest." He looks up at Xaaron and gives a nod. "Having someone to drill the fliers would be a good idea, too. The Autobot leadership tends to be a bit... short on those."
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Post by Kup on Mar 28, 2011 14:57:58 GMT -5
"No, I wouldn't tell the Aerialbots they couldn't work together, but I'm doubting I'd get hassled much by folks wanting to know their odds of getting into the Aerials, either," Kup points out. "And if the issue is more squad-level leadership below the seconds, maybe we should be thinking about pulling my second off the team."
Because wouldn't that thrill Springer?
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Mar 28, 2011 16:24:21 GMT -5
"In the early days of the war, Optimus Prime led the Elite Flying Corps, before he was assigned to command of the general forces, if that gives you any idea of what Autobot aerial leadership is typically like." Here's a hint: Optimus was still a truck. "We'll talk to Breakaway after, then," Emirate Xaaron agrees.
He frowns and asks Kup, "You're having problems with people hassling you about getting into the Wreckers? I, ah... are they aware it was punishment duty in some realities?" One optic narrows and the other widens. Emirate Xaaron loved his Wreckers dearly, but one needed to be Whirl a specific variety of crazy to want to join them, if one wasn't built for it, from the first.
Emirate Xaaron's frown deepens when Kup suggests removing Springer from the Wreckers. Oh, come on! Emirate Xaaron once had a Springer built for the specific purpose of shoving him in the Wreckers! Kup wants to take Springer out? He settles on a mild, "That would be a matter for you and Springer to discuss."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Mar 28, 2011 22:23:41 GMT -5
Rodimus stares at Xaaron.
"I'm just shocked that we had enough fliers back then to have an 'Elite Flying Corps,'" he admits, then shrugs and peers forward at the screen. He thumbs a few pages over, then sighs.
"Too far out to pick up any good feeds," he grumbles.
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Post by Kup on Mar 28, 2011 22:26:51 GMT -5
"Yes," Kup answers, "I have." Well. Maybe not people. Maybe more one-and-a-half people (Drift sort of kind of thought it). And maybe not 'hassling.' But still. The Wreckers haven't been around DZ that long and haven't even done anything. Even one is a bit much! "And nope, they probably weren't aware of that," he shrugs.
He flips to the other side of the chunk of metal and rubs a thumb over some of the glyphs. Then he sighs. "I ain't pulling him out. But I'm gonna have to have a talk with him."
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Mar 28, 2011 23:06:06 GMT -5
"There were only five of them," Emirate Xaaron says dismissively, waving a hand. Then he tries to swat Rodimus Prime with said hand, frowning slightly. His optics widen, and he insists, "Rodimus Prime!"
To Kup, Emirate Xaaron suggests, "Ask Twin Twist why he's a Wrecker sometime." Emirate Xaaron's not going to explain it. That's Twin Twist's story to tell.
He doesn't comment on Kup's desire to have a talk with Springer, shifting uncomfortably.
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Mar 29, 2011 15:01:06 GMT -5
Rodimus Prime is swatted! He looks startled, his optics wide and expression one of confused innocence. "What?" he asks. He gestures at his terminal. "I'm talking news feeds! From other planets! So we know what's going on in this universe?" Then he shrugs and looks back at the screen, muttering, "Also to pass the time while we're waiting."
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Post by Sentinel Prime on Mar 29, 2011 15:07:30 GMT -5
There is a knock on the door, and when it opens, Sentinel Prime offers everyone in the room a salute before dropping it, as they are underway. To anyone who is looking at him closely, he's nervous and trying to hide it. He's doing a good job of hiding it, but the people in the room are more perceptive than most.
What did Sentinel Prime do wrong now? Did he categorise that blip on the radar as a phantom when it's really properly classified as an echo?
Frak frak frak.
What could he have done to get hauled in front of these three? Last time he messed up, they just let Springer handle his punishment! In last week, Sentinel Prime doesn't think he's done anything worse than haring off without permission during a mission, disobeying traffic laws, destroying property, and being thrown in an insane asylum!
It's the not knowing that bugs him the most.
Maybe there's a hint of a squeak in his voice as he asks, "Sirs?"
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Post by Kup on Mar 29, 2011 21:09:53 GMT -5
Kup covers his face as Rodimus gets called for watching TV during Serious Business, then shakes his head as the boy then proceeds to Not Get It. "Lad, you're timing's off," he says, exasperated. Then he looks at Emirate Xaaron. "Noooow you got me curious." He narrows his optics, frowning. "Not anything I should already know, is it?"
Then Sentinel enters. He might well have caught the last words Kup said, but since the best way to draw attention to what he was saying is to act like he didn't want to be overheard, he behaves as if everything's normal.
He looks over Sentinel, glancing him up and down. Yes, he can tell you're nervous, Sentinel. He doesn't acknowledge it, however, and just inclines his head. "Lad," he says, returning the young Prime's greeting before letting one of the others handle the rest.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Mar 29, 2011 21:31:30 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron pinches the bridge of his nose as Rodimus Prime doesn't get it and as Kup, instead of chastising Rodimus Prime for the act itself, gives the boy Prime advice on how to not get caught next time. Kup, Emirate Xaaron is starting to see where the Prime gets this malarkey from!
He comments mildly to Kup, "If you don't, you probably should," but he neglects to go into detail, as sharing Twin Twist's personal information in front of Sentinel would be terribly impolite.
Emirate Xaaron takes his own sweet time before actually looking at Sentinel, letting him squirm and wait. When he finally addresses him, his voice is cold, "Sentinel."
Rodimus Prime may be in the position to notice that Emirate Xaaron generally addresses Rodimus Prime as 'Rodimus Prime' or sometimes just 'Prime' but rarely calls him 'Rodimus' alone but that he usually addresses Sentinel as merely 'Sentinel'.
"Your reality file was quite informative. There is a significant civilian population in your Autobot Commonwealth, and it is necessary for the military to entice civilians to join up and serve. The Elite Guard serves towards that goal. They are glamourous and do exciting work; everyone wants to be a member. Thereby, the Elite Guard romanticises military service and makes it appealing to the masses, who have a very low chance of ever getting in and joining their heroes."
"We have no need for such a corps here. There are few neutrals," oddly enough, "and the chances of any cons being swayed over are slim. We don't need to impress civilians."
"We do, however, need to stay on friendly relations with any potentially friendly alien species we may encounter."
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Post by Rodimus Prime on Mar 30, 2011 9:24:56 GMT -5
Rodimus just barely manages to keep himself from an exasperated sigh as he shuts down his terminal and folds the screen into his desk. As he leans back in his seat he looks up at Sentinel, a clearly indicating, 'You have my attention now.' He nods.
"Pz-Zazz was a pretty good lesson in how a poor reputation can hinder us. Fortunately, we managed to make up for it, at least part way, before we left, but our rough start let the Decepticons gain a pretty strong foothold with the populace."
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Post by Sentinel Prime on Mar 30, 2011 10:13:43 GMT -5
Kup and Emirate Xaaron are being cryptic in front of him, and Kup's looking him up and down, and then... Emirate Xaaron proceeds to completely lay into him and tell him why the Elite Guard is pointless.
Sentinel Prime twitches a little. Not much, he tries to keep a lid on it, but he can't help it.
Then Rodimus Prime starts going on about their reputation being ruined on Pz-Zazz, and unconsciously, his hand goes up to his Elite Guard symbol, covering it and clutching it. Springer already punished him for all that. He was doing extra shifts out the exhaust port, even shifts in the biosphere, despite the fact that organic life freaks him out. Sentinel Prime thought that was all over. They dragged him in here to harp on him about it some more? What, do they want him to balance with a bucket on his head, one-legged, while he repeats, 'I am a worthless grease stain'?
Besides, as far as Sentinel Prime can tell, it's not like precious minty green Springer was ever punished for the ruckus he started.
Don't tell him they're going to take his Elite Guard symbol, those graceful, powerful wings of honor. Don't him they're going to de-Prime him. That's his name, now - the only one he'd ever trade it for is Sentinel Magnus.
Besides, what happened the last time a lying Prime was stripped of his name?
Sentinel Prime definitely does squeak this time, "Sirs?"
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