Interviewing a Veteran

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====================<* Scene 24: Interviewing a Veteran *>====================
--------------------< Prowl Posed on Dec 19 01:09AM GMT >---------------------
It's a busy evening in Iacon, mechs and femmes of all shapes and sizes milling about the streets. It's quite remarkable how quickly the capital city-state has recovered from the destruction caused by the recent battle. But it is a sign of the work Optimus and the Autobots have been so studiously plugging away at ever since.
The streets are abuzz with talk of recent events. The theft of the frozen sparks, the incident at Maccaddam's, the explosion in Vos, and now the violence that went down at Toraxxis...
-------------------< Impactor Posed on Dec 19 01:16AM GMT >-------------------
Impactor was coming out of the equivalent of a 'sports bar' that had been an early supporter for the Autobot rebels-turned-guardians. The mech was finishing the last of an energon goodie, munching at it and swallowing the melting liquid the way one might finish off a handful of beer nuts. As he stepped out of the door to the place, having just watched a game between the Rotorooters and the Grindwheels, he was bumped into by a smaller mech - one that he /swore/ he recognized from somewhere - and the mech said 'excuse me!' before rushing on by.
Impactor stood there staring after the smaller mech with a curious expression. It looked a lot like that one kid that the academy cadets slung across his and Megatron's table way back when. Naw. Couldn't be.
--------------------< Prowl Posed on Dec 19 01:31AM GMT >---------------------
As Impactor walks out of the bar, a reporter from the Iacon Newsfeed Service approaches him quickly. "Excuse me sir!" he calls out, waving to get the mech's attention. "You were at Toraxxis, right? Would you have time for a few questions?" Right, they must have released some footage to the media to appease them. Well and to appease the public as well. Or maybe the media had their own surveillance drones. Got to get coverage of crazy stuff when it happens.
-------------------< Impactor Posed on Dec 19 01:38AM GMT >-------------------
As Impactor was about to turn and walk to go see what new recruits were coming out of the academy, he was blindsided by a paparazzi reporter in the middle of the causeway. He nearly knocked the reporter over as he turned around, but had a sonic-receiver shoved in his face, a light-drone blinding his optics, and this stranger asking him questions. Impactor cleared his vocoder a bit with a sound-check that appeared like a squelching static. He hadn't received orders that Toraxxis had been locked down and classified, so he put on his best no-nonsense face and gave a grim nod.
"Yes, that's correct. Command felt the situation was sensitive and sent me in as backup to help dissolve the situation before any irreperable damage had been caused to Toraxxis," Impactor replied with a serious tone. His hands had been placed upon his hips as he made sure his polished Autobot badge was well in sight. The scene was probably causing several bystanders to stop nearby and stare.
--------------------< Prowl Posed on Dec 19 01:44AM GMT >---------------------
Yeah, there were some bystanders staring, not a crazy number but a few. The reporter looks quite excited by the fact that Impactor seems open to being interviewed, and a couple more media mechs join him. "What happened?" one of them asks, his face serious. "How many insurrectionists were there? Did you surrfer any casualties?"
-------------------< Impactor Posed on Dec 19 01:53AM GMT >-------------------
Impactor ignored the bystanders, and continued to speak to the reporters with ease. It wasn't that he felt it was their right to know or that he was comfortable, he just figured it was the best thing to help the Autobots at that moment. "The Autobots suffered one casualty that I am aware of, the pilot of the dropship who flew me in. Prowl, Sky Lynx and Arcee were all three engaged when I arrived. Outside of Toraxxis had been Starscream and another Decepticon, possibly Blast Off. Inside had been a third Decepticon that made it to the manual control room but had been intercepted by Prowl and Arcee. Some minor collatoral damage was done as this third Decepticon was prevented from causing a catastrophe. As he escaped, he transformed into some sort of primitive quadriped. I was not ordered to give chase and remained at the facility to patrol and ensure they would not return."
--------------------< Prowl Posed on Dec 19 02:01AM GMT >---------------------
The reporters nod, taking down notes on datapads as they record the conversation. "Thank you for putting your spark on the line for the sake of our beautiful civilization. And to whom do we have the honor of speaking tonight?"
-------------------< Impactor Posed on Dec 19 02:15AM GMT >-------------------
Impactor didn't reveal much of the engagements, only the superficial details that anyone with a bit of programming could probably have gleaned from security camera footage in the Toraxxis facility. He was unsure just how much to reveal, so kept it pulp and limited. As the reporter asked for his identity, he replied, "My name is Impactor. And it is my honor to try and stop the Decepticons from threatening our people and way of life."
Impactor's golden optics flashed once and he said, "I will do... /whatever/ it takes to see them taken down."
--------------------< Prowl Posed on Dec 19 02:27AM GMT >---------------------
The interviewer nods soberly. "A pleasure to speak with you." He glances at his notes, then back up at the seasoned veteran. "Impactor, do you believe the Autobots will be able to end this war before the Decepticons destroy our way of life? And if you win, what do you think should be done with the rebels? Should they all be imprisoned? Or executed?"
-------------------< Impactor Posed on Dec 19 02:39AM GMT >-------------------
Impactor replied quickly, "I leave the questions of timetables and such to theoreticians like Prowl and others. I will tell you that I hope that we can and I will aid in the best of my ability to see it done." About the executions or imprisonment, Impactor momentarily mused. It was a difficult question, all things considered, given that his long-time friend Megatron was there on the other side.
"I'll tell you how I see things," he finally said. "If something /permanent/ isn't done, they're just going to come knocking right back on our gates. Whether that's executing the murderous sons o' glitches or extracting their sparks and launching them into space, that's above my pay grade."
--------------------< Prowl Posed on Dec 19 02:45AM GMT >---------------------
"That sounds pretty harsh." The reporter comments. And speaking of Megatron...
"And what about Megatron? Do you believe he's still out there? Or is he really dead and gone forever?" At this, the onlookers seem to be listening intently. A lot of people are wondering about the charismatic ex-miner...
-------------------< Impactor Posed on Dec 19 02:54AM GMT >-------------------
"Harsh is what it's going to take to win this war. It isn't going to be done with words or diplomacy. I think we've established that. People are dying and resources are becoming top priority. Others may have a timid approach to how this conflict is handled, but I see it for what it is. Viscera calls for viscera," Impactor says a bit coldly.
At the mention of Megatron, Impactor's optics dimmed. His voice grew softer, but still audible enough to be heard by nearby receivers, "I do not doubt for an instant that Megatron is out there somewhere. I /hope/ he is. Just so I can put my fist in his face and try to knock some sense back into him. He used to be close to some of us heavyweight manual class mechs." Impactor ended this by pointing a thumb at himself, indicating that he had a distant past as a miner and relation with Megatron.
--------------------< Prowl Posed on Dec 19 03:08AM GMT >---------------------
The reporter's optics widen. This guy knew Megatron before?? Slag, he just scored a jackpot! He tries to conceal his delight, and does a sort of mediocre job of it. "Ah, so you were acquainted with Megatron previously? What was he like, before he became a terrorist? Why do you think he lost his way?"
-------------------< Impactor Posed on Dec 19 03:17AM GMT >-------------------
Impactor mimicked an incoming radio signal, reaching up to place his hand to the side of his helmeted head. His other hand was lifted up in a gesture to give the reporter a pause. Of course there was no transmission, but Impactor wasn't going to go into the nitty-gritty about Megatron. Especially not to a stranger and especially not here on the streets. 
"Going to have to cut this short. I'm being recalled to the Decagon. You wanna know more about Megatron? Read his book, Towards Peace. If you can find a copy..." 
Just then, the hulking mech turned and jumped into the traffic lane, transforming into his cannoned tank. He pulled away swiftly, his treads hammering the street underneath him before he turned the corner and headed towards Autobot HQ. 
--------------------< Prowl Posed on Dec 19 03:19AM GMT >---------------------
"..." The reporter looks disappointed yet satisfied at the same time. "Thank you for speaking to us, Impactor!" he calls after the retreating Autobot. Then he heads back to the office to get his reported aired and published.
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