1209/Command and Control

**Overlord has posed:**
Overlord makes his way into the Command Center, attention foremost on his datapad as he cycles through the sparse reports listed and detailed out since...well, commands were issued. The look on his face says just about all he really thinks about that, and he casually tucks the pad away before giving the Command Deck a good look over.

Because let's be fair... when one expects to find Starscream, one should look at the 'seat of command' as it were. Or, at the very least, the highest point in there.

**Starscream has posed:**
     Overlord would not be wrong at all, Starscream was in the command room, having one hell of a HEADACHE trying to sort through the mess of documents that were made in the time he and Megatron where gone, and just.. he rubbed at his for helm and grumbled. "Can't leave these imbeciles to do anything right!" he'd scoff, it was going to take him solar-cycles to get everything straight!

      Not to mention the commotion over the radio was... Well, he was biting back his tongue to keep from encouraging Vortex.

**Overlord has posed:**
Overlord hmphs. "They are misguided at best. No self-leadership, no proper discipline. They would not fair well in the pits, much less in a drawn out battle which is what this war has become. A stalemate." He steps over to take a seat nearby.

"So... what comes next, hmm? They can't even follow proper instruction without a whip being taken to them, if current observation holds."

**Starscream has posed:**
     Starscream almost made a startled noise when he heard Overlord, clearly he'd not heard the other bot come in, he would look back though, looking less than pleased. "Imbeciles nonetheless." He'd vent.

      "Indeed what does come next." He'd state, crossing one leg over the other, and bringing his fingers together. "I was thinking You and Onslaught could hold training sessions, perhaps refresh them in the matters of following orders." He'd muse. "Does not help we have an unnecessary amount of those in the ranks of private that allows most to go unnoticed." He'd continue.

**Overlord has posed:**
Overlord nods slightly at that. "Too many without responsibilities left to just...wait until someone tells them to go left or right." He grunts. "As for training, I could. But I'm not sure how many would survive." There's a slight smirk. "I suppose...I could manage to restrain myself, at least."

He then looks at the datapad and thinks a moment. "Our combat divisions are in disarray. The medical and support elements are spread thin as a result due to...what I would only call gross negligence on the field of battle. There seems to be the assumption that shortfalls can be patched away and repaired without consequence. it's high time our...fighters push the battle hard to throw the stalemate off-balance in our favor."

**Starscream has posed:**
     "Perhaps that is what they /need/ in order to understand how for follow orders, but yes, please do withstrain yourself, as they are necessary units." He'd vent, placing his cheek in his hand.

      "Indeed, recruiting medical staff is on high-priority, I've also seen the resource reports coming /out/ of medical and it is obscenely high, one such individual would need repair almost every battle, nearly by the likes of Blast Off obscene, and they are /not/ a spacer." He'd scoff.

      "There seems to also be a high-like of strategy and proper use of resources on the field if some of the videos I've access too are showing."

**Overlord has posed:**
Overlord grunts. "What's more worrisome than anything... the instructions delivered recently to assist in pushing the Autobot lines and testing their capabilities have been...relatively ignored. We continue to strike at fortifications where we know their strength will be focused as opposed to...leveraging their sympathies by drawing them into soft positions that can be exploited easily. Perhaps...some change in the command structure to build accountability is in proper order, hmm?"

**Starscream has posed:**
     Starscream quirked a ridge, his wing elevation twitching upward. "I'm listening." He'd say, gesturing for Overlord to continue, and speak what he had in mind.

**Overlord has posed:**
Overlord pulls up his datapad. "As stated in the prior orders to Onslaught and his...team. Scouting out areas where the Autobots do not have proper fortifications is ideal, especially if the populace is sympathetic to them. Forcing the Autobots to focus on...disaster relief will pull them away from fortified areas and spread resources thin. We might not fair well against a wall with guns, but our fighters in a stand-up brawl are superior."

He pulls a few other files up. "It is a bit...difficult, considering how swiftly fortifications have gone up, but there are plenty of areas that can be pushed to see how the Autobot forces respond." He thinks a bit. "I would...also encourage that the utilization of neutral...venues of entertainment be restricted unless we go in with the mind of performing psychological warfare. Taunt, tease, torment, and otherwise...goad them into acting against the nature of such establishment, or getting them outright drunk that they spill intel."

He chuckles faintly. "In war, there is no...neutral territory. We need to treat the whole of Cybertron as a battlefield, even if weapons don't come to bear."

**Starscream has posed:**
     Starscream hems, thinking it all over. "Not a wrong assessment..." He'd mumble as he tapped his fingers against his leg platting. "Tactful, though it does run the risk of expanding further resources knowing how this lot enjoys their scraps." He'd roll his optics, he hesitated for a moment, thinking this over carefully, as should it go wrong...

      "And I take Onslaught has yet to report on this?" He'd question with a raised ridge. "As it does sound like something worthy of testing and scouting out, should our Lord state otherwise though.. I'd rather we at least ensured we're not committed to much to it.. Yes?" He'd ask, with a slow gesture of his hand, hoping Overlord did see his reasoning... And totally not the fact he didn't want to get blamed if this went wrong.

**Overlord has posed:**
Overlord nods. "I know, but resources spent slamming against a wall just to lose it the next cycle is far less...effective as letting the general population know that the Autobots can't safeguard them. Sides need to be taken, preferably ours... those who don't can be executed."

He looks his datapad over. "And, no, I've not seen anything from Onslaught's team in regard to finding soft targets that can be strategically leveraged. Which either means we are still waisting time with fortified battlements or we are not doing our work."

**Starscream has posed:**
     Starscream grunts. "There is logic in what you are saying." He'd sigh and rub at his helm. "Well, again so long as our lord doesn't overturn such, It has my approval, which I assume is what you need to move forward with such plans, yes?~" Hed' question with a sly smile.

      He'd click his jaw at the mention of Onslaught. "Baah, these things take time unfortunately, as much as I'd love for it to be done /yesterday/ but I've unfortunately learned the combaticons are... Slow.." He'd state carefully, glancing away to his computer screen.

      "Keep on him about it then, I'd suggest sending him an email, reminding him of such."

**Overlord has posed:**
"Do I? Or is it that a united leadership drives better, stronger, and more efficiently than one that is divided?" He leaves the question there, and any notion that he's concerned about Megatron is...left well alone. "United, we crush our enemies. Divided, they drive in to conquer."

He leaves it at that and looks at his datapad. "I'll certainly press the matter and mobilize our ground forces to ensure we are pressuring the Autobot resources. We'll also primarily scavenge and...acquire what we need from the regions we are focused in to ensure the Autobots are denied them and we can bolster our own capabilities."

**Starscream has posed:**
     "Hmph, as long as you are aware of what you are doing." He' state dryly, shifting every so slightly, and uncomfortably, in his seat, if Megatron got angry at Overlord over it, then that's /fine/ by him.

      "Good, we've wasted far to many of our own dealing with just playing defensively of late by what the records indicate, anything recovered will be quite welcome~" he'd grin, though speaking of bolstering their abilities...

      "Tell me, have you assessed anyone that would be capable of actually keeping some of this rowdy bunch in line, out of all the privates we have?" He'd question.

**Overlord has posed:**
Overlord thinks for a moment. "Currently?" He leans back in his chair, drumming his fingers on the chair's arm. "Sixshot. The phase-sixers have always been combat-capable and our very makeup has been...optimized for such tasks. Onslaught would be another, but his...devotion is solely to the Combaticons."

He looks at his datapad passively, but doesn't pick it up. "The others have been a little less...focused. Blast Off is stuck on a feud with Blurr, Vortex on his...pain, hmm. Darkstar shows promise, but is too...focused on personal gain and strength than actually leading anything, but that can be...useful if played properly."

**Starscream has posed:**
     Starscream frowns. "Hmm none of which are privates, Onslaught is already a major, and Sixshot with Blastoff are both lieutenants, they /should/ be capable of keeping such in line." He'd frown at hearing where their distractions have been. "Darkstar is only a corporal, perhaps could teach him how to focus a bit more to lead some of these units propper." He'd then raise a brow.

      "Optimized? Do explain."

**Overlord has posed:**
Overlord grins. "You're better off asking Megatron what he did to us. That was...his project." He looks at his datapad again and there's a touch of a frown, if ever so slight. "Sixshot, myself, and Black Shadow were all...the chosen few. Primarily, it was...done to put even the greatest of warriors to shame for the glory of the Empire, which we do remarkably well when unleashed properly."

He considers a bit and mulls over the notion of ...privates being capable. "I'll continue to gather some field assessments regarding our capable soldiers and promising leadership. As of right now, the exposure I've had to their capabilities is limited."

**Starscream has posed:**
     Ahh, one of /those/ things, Starscream keeps a straight face but internally, he's making note not to ask about that again, given the.. unsettling notion, he was getting off of Overlord, before giving two simple nods in acknowledgment. "Understood, I did get back only a number of solar-cycles after you did, I suspect Soundwave may have more information then..." He'd herm.

      "Do seem to be doing a well enough job, hopefully with most of us returning, things will be quickly snapped back into place."

**Overlord has posed:**
Overlord pushes himself up and gathers his datapad. "Indeed, indeed. Soundwave very well may have...plenty of information to divulge. Shockwave should, but...that one is enigmatic and I, for one, am not keen on prying his secrets out of him just yet."

He starts for the door without so much as a 'by your leave' before pausing. "However...on a non-combatant note... the bat, Goth. Clever thing. Not suitable for front-line combat, but may prove useful utilized as a proper science officer or, dare I say...counter-intelligence and psyops? Though you might have to run that by Soundwave or Shockwave depending on where you wish to take it. However, if anyone can...weaponize Pharma's little plague, I'm sure that he would be the one to do it."

**Starscream has posed:**
     Starscream cringes internally, Shockwave, Shockwave was /always/ hard to pry anything out of! In fact thinking of such got an aggravated groan out of him. "Don't remind me, need to get information regarding Phantoms /tantrums/ with these blasted portals..."

      And then the reporter of said potals comes up, and he grunts, great.. The beast-former, the one he was hoping to avoid. "...A note, shall be made." He'd state vaguely with a half lidded expression. "I'd also suggest, that this little weaponization of the plague be kept on a 'need to know' basis, as we do have a leg up in the political field, due to the fact the autobots violated the tyrest accord, where ours are.. not as well know." he'd nod.

**Overlord has posed:**
Overlord just smiles faintly. "Notes are the bare minimum when someone impresses me." He leaves it at that and gives a slight wave. "As for...the accords. Hmm...well, at some point even those will go the way of the Senate." He steps out. "If you'll excuse me... there's a war I need to see to."

**Starscream has posed:**
     Starscream quirked a brow. "Well, you do have such power if necessary." He'd comment before watching him go, and letting out a vent, relaxing, and glancing back to the mounting work that was the mess of records that were a mess.. Curse paperwork.