133/My First Field Assignment(tm)

**Blurr has posed:**
Near the perimeter of the southern parts of Harmonex, it's Hot Rod's first day on the field. The simple assignment is this: Intel has been received regarding a munitions cache hidden below one of the larger of the city's many art galleries. It used to belong to the gallery's rich owner, who enjoyed shooting and weaponsmithing as a hobby. He kept his stash locked away in a vault below his favorite art collection. But he fled the planet when the war broke out, leaving much of his fortune behind, including the weapons.

    Of course, the Autobots have been looking to acquisition these munitions for their own purposes, given the increasingly limited amount of resources available. Having searched for anyone who may have inherited the cache and attempted multiple times to get in contact with someone--anyone who may lawfully "own" it and been unsuccessful, they've decided to simply take what appears to have been abandoned. You know, before the Decepticons find it first.

    The gallery itself is rather deserted. With everything that's been happening not a lot of people venture out just to go look at art these cycles. There are a few drones around, dusting things off here and there and straightening frames, but it doesn't look like anyone is around.

    "Should be easy enough," Blurr is saying as Hot Rod's first team, consisting of Jazz as commanding officer, Blurr, and Hot Rod, make their way up the marble-colored steps toward the entrance. "So Hot Rod, how's it feel? First solar cycle on the field as an Autobot? Think you'll impress 'em? Prime and them, I mean."

**Hot Rod has posed:**
"Er, what?" Hot Rod says distractedly. His mind had been elsewhere as he'd been deadpanning around at the pieces of artwork in the gallery. The hobbies of the artist who'd owned this gallery previously are reflected in his work, Hot Rod stop in tracks in front of a painting that shows in detail what a nuclear explosion looks like from far off.

 "Whoa, /frag/!" he exclaims. He tugs on Blurr's arm. "Did you see /this/?" he says gesturing at the painting. "Man, this guy must keep some kind of exciting slag downstairs if he paints stuff like this..."

**Jazz has posed:**
Jazz, the Main Mech, is leading this particular traversion into the acquisition of some munitions. He's leading the way through this gallery with the ease and swagger of an Autobot that doesn't have a care in the world. His connections are always on point with their info and that's what makes him one of the top intelligence mechs in the entire Autobot regime. He doesn't really say anything to either Hot Rod or Blurr. Not because he's ignoring them or anything but more because he was trying to check his information to make sure that he's getting to the location that he's supposed to be at. He's using the scanner in his visor, of course. Spy Ish, Son.

**Hookshot has posed:**
"Like that one, do you?" comes a deep yet droll voice, sounding almost mocking. Although the area had shown no one inside, standing almost perfectly still by one of the exhibits is an odd mech, looking more like some avant-garde structure himself than a functional Cybertronian. The motley colours he is painted in and asymetry of curved and angular armour pieces certainly add to this impression. The only notable movement is the raise of a single black optic ridge, his blue optics gleaming as they stare at the painting of an explosion Hot Rod had commented on.

**Starscream has posed:**
Harmonex. A great place for the arts. It's a place the Air Commander actually knows fairly well. Why? Because when he was younger, not that he's that old to begin with but when he was younger he lived here for a time and took some courses in something. An art skill of sorts if you will but one he doesn't really speak of.

Right now that thats the last thing on his mind as he, with Sunstorm flying at his right are heading toward Harmonex to look for something. And that something has nothing to do with the arts, unless you consider war and destruction an art form. And to some Decepticons it is that. <<I have no idea if the Autobots know of this weapons stash or not, Sunstorm.>> he begins as he begins to decend towrad landing at the city entrance. <<But be on your guard just in case.>>

The Seeker transforms and lands deftly at the citys entrance and waits for his wingmate to do the same.

**Sunstorm has posed:**
"<< Absolutely, Commander, >>" Sunstorm radios to Starscream. "<< I know you don't want me talking about this, Commander, but...but! My god told me that the Autobots probably know about this. Please take this to spark. He doesn't speak to me just any time at all. It has to be important! >>" As Starscream transforms and lands, Sunstorm slows to cruising speed, then does the same.

**Blurr has posed:**
"I said--" Blurr sighs and shakes his head when Hot Rod interrupts him, peering at the painting indicated. "Yeah, guess it makes sense for someone who likes crafting weapons." Art wasn't really one of those things that the speedster found very interesting. "Don't get distracted, we've got to get down there. The sooner the better." Now it's his turn to grab Hot Rod's arm and start dragging him toward an elevator that will take them to the lower level.

    But then Hookshot sort of...appears? He startles slightly and stares at the strange-looking mech, preparing to draw his weapons if need be. "Who are you and what do you want?" he demands.

**Springer has posed:**
    While Jazz takes his team inside, Springer is outside, out of sight with his heavy blaster cannon carried horizontally across his chest. He scans the streets and the skies, keeping a lookout for trouble - especially Decepticon trouble. He keeps his radio open but his mouth shut, focusing on watching and listening and leaving any cool commentary to the others. Even as lookout, though, Springer's body language is alert but relaxed - ready but fearless.

**Hot Rod has posed:**
Hot Rod wrestles himself out of Blurr's grasp, shaking his arm free. "Okay, okay!" he grumbles. "I don't need a protositter, I know why we're here," he says petulantly. Regardless, he continues to follow Blurr. Until Hookshot appears in front of them mysteriously.

 He waves his hands dismissively, laughing. "Blurr, cool down, kid. I got this." He turns to Hookshot. "Yeah, I do," he says, "and if you didn't already know who I am, I'm Hot Rod. Formerly from .. ahem, Nyon. So, you like hanging around this joint or what? Did you know the guy who owned this gallery before he hightailed it out of here?"

**Hookshot has posed:**
 "My, my, such unwarranted hostility," comes a dry yet calm reply from the mysterious mech. Despite a weapon being pulled, the mech seems perfectly at ease. If the almost languid body language wasnt enough, the impish smirk would clearly state that the mech is not at all threatened by Blurr or his gun. he addresses both the guarded Blurr and the far more lax Hot Rod. "I am merely a pacifist, seeking sacntuary from the noise and violence of the world out there..." the mech gestures vaguely towards one of the exits. "Few come here, so even if the art is hardly to my tastes, it's peaceful. A sort of..." the mech rolls his wrist as he draws out the last syllable of his sentence, thinking of an appropriate word to follow, "...juxtaposition."
      The motley mech's smirk spreads into a full on grin as he dips chin ever so slightly. "Hot Rod you say? Charmed. I don't personally know the mech who amassed this art, but have met a few of his acquaintences. Most of them have similar garrish taste.." the mech shifts his gaze to glance at another painting. "...but as I said, this place is quiet."

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream gives Sunstorm a deadpan look before he starts walking toward a certain gallery, "Your... god, eh? Autobots?" he brings his weapons online. Does he really believe the creamcycle seekers divine premanitions? Not really BUT he knows there has to be some fact behind it. The Seeker has been useful. Perhaps the Seeker is gifted with some sort of intuition but just passes it off as divine intervention. "Well then lets not disappoint your god or them shall we?" With both weapons onine he continues toward the gallery with a more purposeful walk. "Lets try civil first -- at least long enough to see the numbers. I'm here to buy some art for my habisuite and you .. you are here to transport said peices home. Got that?"

**Sunstorm has posed:**
"Yes, Commander," Sunstorm intones patiently. He puts up with a lot from Starscream, because he knows that at the end of the day, he'll be able to hang out in that palacial penthouse in Vos and feel like royalty himself. But this time, he knows to take it easy on the premium energon. "And I am always civil. It's how I gain disciples." He accompanies Starscream toward the gallery.

**Swindle has posed:**
Swindle Swindle happens to be in the gallery as well. Maybe casing the joint for a later heist? Who knows. He hears Starscream and sidles up to him. "Y'know, I can probably get you some better pieces than this, at a discount. Whaddaya say?"

**Blurr has posed:**
Blurr groans. "Slag it Hot Rod, quit wasting time!" As far as he's concerned, they already have all the intel they need. Deciding that Hookshot isn't going to be a threat, he attempts to pull Rod into the elevator.

    Regardless of whether the cadet follows or not, he takes it to the lower floor where the vault is. Finding it sealed, he curses. It's old and deteriorating, but he doesn't have the firepower to blast through at least not in a timely enough fashion. << Springer, what's your status? Think you can get in here and blast this door open? >>

**Springer has posed:**
Springer spots the Decepticons approaching the art gallery, and steps out of the shadows to meet them before they can reach the door. "I'm not sure what you think you're doing here, Decepticreeps, but I'm giving you two astro-seconds to clear out before I arrest you both for the explosion at Toraxxis and for the massacre at the Vosian Flight Academy."

    As Swindle joins the Vosians, Springer's expression darkens even further, and his finger tightens on the trigger of his blaster cannon. He keys his radio. << I've got three Decepticons out here, Blurr. Let me chase them off and I'll be right down. >>

**Hot Rod has posed:**
Hot Rod isn't sure he really believes Hookshot. But he isn't trying to attack them, so that's definitely a bonus. "Well, yeah, who wouldn't be," Hot Rod says with a grin when Hookshot mentions his name. However, his expression falters when he says the artist has garish taste. "Hey, what's so bad about the?" he retorts.

 Then he's unceremoniously dragged off by Blurr. He wiggles his arm free again. "Primus, I don't need to be led around like a damsel in distress!" he grumbles, "I see you're going to elevator, okay? Geez..." When Hot Rod sees the door, he doesn't even ask Blurr if it's alright that he proceeds. His hand switches out to become a miter blade and he attempts to cut through it.

**Hookshot has posed:**
 "Tch."
      The mech watches as the Blue one goes into the elevator and shakes his head with a low, throaty chuckle. It isn't apparent what this stranger finds so amusing, but something certainly set off this response. The mech hardly gets a chance to explain the faults of the art before Hot Rod is summarily whisked away.
      The room empty and silent again. If one were to walk into it now, the mysterious mech is nowhere to be seen.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream nods at Swindle's comment. "Indeed. I just might have you be my broker in this case." He starts to say something else when as he comes up to the gallery, Springer suddenly steps forward. With an almost disinterested look, the Seeker listens to the Autobot and then smirks, "If it isn't the /ex/ Captain of the Trioron Guard -- and I'm impressed that I would be blamed for such a list of things gone wrong." he pauses a beat then continues, "You need to speak with Prowl regarding Toraxxis and yes, it was a tragedy at the Vos Flight Academy but it is none of your business. It is none of the Autobots business for that matter--" he gives the triple-changer an arrogent once over, "Certainly not yours. Now step aside, I wish to conduct some business here. Or is free enterprise suddenly against the law as well?" he tight beams to Sunstorm and Swindle <<weapons ready and on my mark. The weapons are here thats obvious. We need to get them before they do.. or destroy them. Understand?>>

**Sunstorm has posed:**
"Hmph. How /rude/," Sunstorm scoffs as Springer confronts the Decepticons. "Stand aside, infidel, there's no law against /art appreciation/."

**Blurr has posed:**
Hot Rod actually manages to cut through some of the bolts locking the door, though it isn't quite enough to break completely through. "Wait, wait." Blurr suddenly says, upon hearing news from Springer. "The 'Cons are here. We need to drive them off before we bust the door open. Springer's out there alone."

    With that, he hurries back outside. Upon finding Starscream, Sunstorm, and Swindle confronting the triplechanger, he brings out his own weapons, ready to attack, but waits for Springer's signal to fire.

**Springer has posed:**
Springer doesn't step aside - in fact, he moves in attempt to step directly into Starscream's path. He gives Sunstorm a dirty glance. "You Decepticons are guilty of far worse crimes than what I'm sure is also terrible taste in art." Springer thumbs a toggle to power up his cannon. His optics narrow as he brings his steady gaze back up at Starscream. "Now, I'm giving you one last chance before I slag all of you and drag your melted slag back with me for processing." He's either really overconfident, really bad at math, or both.

**Hot Rod has posed:**
Hot Rod grumbles at himself being unsuccessful, folding his arms. "Okay, I'll be there in a nanosecond," he says, transforming.

 "I know one sure way to drive them away and I can guarantee you it's behind this door. It won't take long, I promise," Hot Rod says.

 He backs up down the hallway, then burns rubber in an attempt to ram the door down!

**Swindle has posed:**
"Alright. Lemme know what you're into, I think I can scrape something up," Swindle says. He looks over at Springer who is now threatening them. "Come on, can't we appreciate art without getting hassled? THis is harassment! THis is mech profiling!"

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream holds his ground as the green mech gets in his space. "Are you really that confident or are there that many inside right now, Autonot?" he glances at Swindle. Mech profiling? Really? Then he focuses back on Springer, "Why the sudden interest in preventing anyone from entering this gallery anyway?" his optics narrow and he decides to play innocent. "Is there something here none of you want /us/ to see?" he motions toward Sunstorm and Swindle.

**Hookshot has posed:**
There is more than one way through a door. But the best way is through the ceiling. Whilst the others had been working on breaking the door down, Hookshot had made his way through maintenance tunnels on a second floor. With a hander laser torch, the mech had made an opening just small enough to fit through.
      Once Hot Rod makes it into the room with the weapons cache, he will see the bizarre mech from earlier sitting primly on a crate with one leg crossed over the other, and one arm up, attached to a chain hanging from the ceiling. The casual nature of the mech makes it seem as though he belonged.

**Sunstorm has posed:**
Sunstorm is emitting a considerable amount of heat. It seems to be coming from his chestplate area. He remains stoic as he stands there in the gallery doorway, facing down Springer. "This isn't YOUR gallery, peasant. Step aside, show some class for once in your life," he insists.

**Springer has posed:**
Springer glowers over at Swindle. "You profiled yourself when you signed up with terrorists, Swindle. You should have stuck with petty crime." Spotting Blurr's arrival out of the corner is his optic, he gives him a slight nod of appreciation for having the wisdom to back Springer up even if he didn't ask.

    Springer then turns his full attention back to Starscream. "This has nothing to do with the gallery, Starscream. This is about justice, and the debt you owe society." Springer raises his weapon, and steps forward, attempting to point his blaster cannon at Starscream's pretty face, ignoring Sunstorm's barbs for now.

**Swindle has posed:**
"Hey, one mech's terrorist is another mech's freedom fighter," Swindle snaps, "Ever think of that? In any case we're not currently doing anything wrong, so unless you're a police officer or Fracture the Bounty Hunter, I suggest you leave us alone. Plus I'll mark up all the mech polish in town."

**Blurr has posed:**
Hot Rod's ramming puts some more sizeable dents in the door, though it is not completely down yet. It's also causing some damage to his fender as well. He'll probably want a new paintjob after this one.

    Blurr continues to keep his weapon aloft. "Maybe," he answers Starscream's question about how many were inside. "Maybe not. You don't know either way, but you do know we were here first, so chances are your best bet is to surrender." He smirks at Swindle. "Technically we are police offers."

**Hot Rod has posed:**
"Dammit!" Hot Rod mutters, protoforming. But he can see through the battered door that Hookshot is in there. "Hey!" he says, pressing his face onto a crack in the door so he can peer at the other mech better. "Let me in!" He bangs on the door. "It'd be nice too, you know, if you could hurry up... the other guys kinda need my help up there."

**Hookshot has posed:**
At first the mech seems to pretend to not hear Hot Rod yelling through the door, idly picking up a weapon from a crate next to him, looking at it, then dropping it dismissively back into the crate with an expression of boredom. However, he finally sets his gaze upon the door and inclines his head. He jerks his arm, and the chain extending from it begins to retract into his arm. After a moment, the grappling hook at the end collapses and diseappears into his large forearm. It is soon replaced with a hand that pops out. THe mech idly shakes that one hand as he stands up. "What's the password?"

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream notices Blurr suddenly and takes a step back when the triple changer puts the weapon in his face. He tightbeams to swindle and sunstorm,<<When I open fire do the same. Free for all. No telling how many are inside but take this place down. That is an order>> Outloud he says, "Justice? You call this justice?" The Seeker makes a sudden move to push the gun aside and slam an elbow into the Autobot's face. Physical combat is not something he does if he can help it but thats not to say he doesn't know how to. Lets just hope his infamour speed and agility don't fail him now.

**Sunstorm has posed:**
"<< Understood, Commander, >>" Sunstorm tightbeams to Starscream. Then, as the Air Commander makes his move, so does the orange Seeker, pulling out a rather wicked-looking knife of sorts and stabbing at Springer's torso with a vicious jab. "Out of the way of progress, you foul government lackey! My god will curse you! And so will I!" With that proclamation, he attempts to make his way around the Wrecker and further into the gallery.

**Swindle has posed:**
"<< Got it >>" Swindle tightbeams back. As soon as Starscream and Sunstorm make their moves, Swindle fires! "Government lackey, indeed. Why can't they be like bureaucracy and move at the speed of heavy grade lubricant?"

**Springer has posed:**
Springer's head snaps back as speedy Starscream suddenly pushes Springer's gun aside and elbows him right in the face. "Spawn of a glitch!" Springer curses, keeping his cannon in one hand as he smoothly draws and ignites his lightsaber with the other. "Blurr!" he yells as he attempts to lash back at Starscream. "Take 'em out! - Argh!"

    Springer staggers slightly as Sunstorm stabs him in the torso and then Swindle targets him with his scatter blaster. Even as he's attacked by multiple forces, Springer keeps his cool. "No you don't, fanatic!" he yells as he turns and slashes backward at the back of Sunstorm's calf as the Seeker tries to get past him.

**Hot Rod has posed:**
Hot Rod, who isn't known for his patience steps back and raises his photon cannons, aiming them at the door. "Move aside!" he yells to Hookshot. He then opens fire vehemently on the battered door, hoping to cause it to cave in. If it does cave, Hot Rod doesn't stop shooting right away -- he's too swept up in the heat of the moment to pull his gunfire before it's possibly too late. Some of his shots may strike the munitions inside the room.

**Blurr has posed:**
Suddenly, the slag hits the fan. Starscream punches Springer, and then everyone attacks Springer. Blurr springs into action, dashing sideways in an attempt to flank Swindle and the two seekers. He fires a salvo of high-energy photons in the Decepticons' direction, hoping to cause at least one of them to peel off of the triple changer so he can focus.

**Hookshot has posed:**
"How-now, that's not the passwo - are you daft?" The mech's calm smugness is momentarily shattered as the mech begins firing into a room with weapons, some of which still have live rounds. The mech is NOT going to stick around if Hot Rod wants to bring the whole room down on himself or get blown up. The spry mech switches his hand out for the grappling hook once again, firing it upwards to the hole he'd entered through. With a faint hiss and a zipping sound, the mech launches up into the air with surprising speed, disappearing into the narrow hole on the ceiling.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream can not beleive how bad his elbow hurts. (think of your funnybone being hit with a sherman tank). What the primus is that mechs FACE MADE OF ANYWAY? The very unexpected pain sensation in his arm causes the Seeker to be off guard and he gets nailed by Blurr. Some damae reading flash across his inner HUD and he spins back around to regain his balance. Ok he's had enough of this already. He lifts an arm cannon and fires toward Blurr.

**Sunstorm has posed:**
Sunstorm gets in the door, only to have the back of his leg sliced hard by Springer. "How DARE you!!" He's still staggering to his feet, when \*blam blam blam!\* He's strafed by Blurr. He returns fire immediately with his arm lasers, probably destroying more property than he is harming Autobots.

**Swindle has posed:**
Swindle acks as he's hit by Blurr's fire! "OK then if you're police, lemme see your badge!" he retorts, returning fire. Idly he wonders how much someone would pay for a "painting" of an Autobot's oil and energon splattered all over a canvas.

**Springer has posed:**
Springer sees Sunstorm stagger and return fire at Blurr. At that, Springer moves at a blur of his own as he quickly closes the distance between Sunstorm and him. "How dare I? I can't believe you even dare show your faces in Harmonex! Well, I'm going to make sure this is the last time!" Springer attempts to use his giant shoulders to slam the injured Decepticon to the ground and keep him from entering further into the building.

**Blurr has posed:**
Blurr twists and somersaults easily between Swindle and Sunstorm, but doesn't quite dodge Starscream, the blast scoring a shoulderplate fairly hard. He stumbles but doesn't quite fall. "Hey, I'm wearing it. If you can't see that, then something is wrong with your optics!" the former racer replies to Swindle.

    At this, he transforms, folding down into his vehicle form as he drives straight at Starscream, attempting to run him over and do some serious damage! "You have the right to remain silent!"

**Hot Rod has posed:**
The door of the room to the weapons cache suddenly blows apart, much more suddenly than Hot Rod had anticipated. And before he can even finish saying, "Oops!" the shots from his photon cannon strike a box of grenades.

 A chain reaction is sparked, and moments later, the top of the art gallery has been blown sky high. Smoke billows everywhere.

 Oh but that isn't all. There's a short stall before suddenly, there's a massive explosion and the entire structure is shattered to smithereens after an inescapable BOOM!

 A couple breems later, a very soddy and ashed covered Hot Rod climbs out of the rubble, dazed. "...wow.. that happened fast," he mutters.

**Hookshot has posed:**
A distance from the art gallery, a somewhat cinged and dazed Hookshot peels himself off of the side of a building. He simply did not have enough time get clear of the blast, but far enough away from the center of it that the force tossed his rather light body clear of the site. His only consolation is that, perhaps, with the fighting going on, no one saw him. The mech drops down to the street level and slinks away.

**Sunstorm has posed:**
Sunstorm is picked up by Springer, and slammed so hard into the ground that there's a very audible \*crack\* of armor plating. He's about to call something over to Starscream and to Swindle, when suddenly...

Everything explodes, everywhere. Sunstorm finds himself airborne in chaos, and does what comes naturally to him...

He transforms to Tetrajet mode, and sets his trajectory to Vos.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream gets run over by Blurr! The indignity of it. And it damaged him pretty well at that. But before he can roll over and take a shot at the Autoclods back side as he goes by there is several rapid fire explosions from deep inside the gallery. What? The Air Commander painfully gets his feet under him and looks toward the door way. "Get out of there, Sunstorm!" he yells just as the mothership of explosions lands.

In the flurry of debris and fire and explosive force and noise, the Seeker is flung back but still has the presense to yell both outlod and on chan "<<RETREATRETREATRETREAT!!!!>>" Scrambling to transform the Air Commander hits the sky and ligths the pipes.

**Blurr has posed:**
Blurr curses when the gallery goes up in flames. "What the slag Hot Rod!" he shouts angrily, though he does manage to get out of the way in time as well as dodge any flying debris. "You are in -so- much trouble!!"

**Swindle has posed:**
Swindle acks as he's covered in rubble! But maybe nobody noticed. Maybe he'll sneak out later. \*lurk\*

**Hot Rod has posed:**
Hot Rod climbs out of the rubble, looking around and surveying the damage. He examines himself, as if to make sure he's alive and still functioning. "Hey," he says after a moment, and dusting himself off, "that wasn't so bad. In fact, that was like.. sort of cool."

 But he notices Swindle underneath all the rubble, in temporary stasis lock because of the explosion and guilt suddenly overwhelms him. He deadpans, to make sure that Blurr is really gone. Then he digs the Combaticon out of the rubble and carries him to the nearest neutral medical outpost, hoping his buddies will eventually come around and go looking for him.

 Then he slinks off back towards the Academy to hide in his dorm, hoping Prowl and the other authorities might not go looking for him if he makes himself scarce.