1007/Investigation at the Leveled Warehouse

**Koinonia (12) has posed:**
The site of the incident looks... well, worse than the first time this happened, at the power plant. For one, the warehouse is pretty much leveled to the ground. What remains standing is unrecognizable as a building. Whoever did this, must have wanted to make sure that whatever evidence that could have been possibly left, would just be unsalvageable.

 Near the center of what used to be the warehouse, are a few metal shelves that have been melted into twisted frames resembling organic trees. Not too far from where these charred remains stand are the same assistant investigators who had been on site post the first incident, but this time, they aren't alone. Looks like Nightbeat has decided to show!

**Hound has posed:**
Hound is still not 100% after his close run-in with Decepticons the other cycle, but he's largely patched up and when the news came, the steadfast soldier showed up to try and sniff out just what happened. He walks through the wreckage, ready to help in whatever way he can.

**Nightlash has posed:**
Nightlash is on site, because when it comes to bombs, sometimes...you just need someone that knows bombs arond. Maybe. At least that's something that makes sense in her mind...but then there's also Hyperdrive, so she could also not be here.

Either way, she's there, standing nearby the blast-site, her gaze trained upwards towards an empty sky that she's just...watching. In silence. Without a word...and apparently oblivious to the investigation around her because she's standing right in the way of everything.

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock knitted her ridges, considering the last blast sight was a power plant? The fact this was /worse/ did say something, then again it might of been due to the ammunition stored here, at least that is what she could guess. She was waiting for her security to clear before she came fully onto the scene, but did take note of those who where there, there where at least /three/ bots she needed to keep an optic on.

      After that, she was mainly taking note of the scene and who else was there. "...Geez... They were really aiming to blast this place off the face of the map." She'd mumble softly.

      Once cleared she'd tap her face plate and move for Nightlash, noting her.. well, "Absence" and came of to the other femme and poked her forearm gently. "Hey there, looking at something?" She'd smile.

**Hyperdrive has posed:**
Hyperdrive is present probably to keep him out of trouble but also because he does know something about demolition and he's got that handy forcefield. He's staying pretty quiet however Probably has a headache still. He stands nearby, waiting to be useful.

**Koinonia (12) has posed:**
One of the assistants doesn't look that enthralled to the see four of them arriving, since last time, they'd broken .. a thing, and possibly jeopardized the intactness of some of the evidence on site. "You guys, /again/?" he grumbles.

 Nightbeat waves a hand dismissively at him, shaking his helm. "More help is always welcome," he says, nodding at Hound. He glances around at the small group of 'Bots, before his optics settle on Nightlash and Hyperdrive. "I read both of your files," he says, "the two of you should know a thing or two about demolitions, yes?"

**Hound has posed:**
Hound notes the others, giving a nod to Starlock and Hyperdrive, then lingering for a moment on Nightlash. She's begun to worry him a bit lately, given her erratic behavior ever since that big Arena rescue. He glances over at Hyperdive afterwards... he was part of that, too. Both 'bots are probably still feeling the effects of their experience. "Yeah, how goes?" he asks the others, adding to Starlock's question and directing it to her, too. He then looks back to the main part of the wreckage and sighs. "We've gotta stop meeting like this, don't ya think?"

Hound says nothing to Mr. Grumbles over there, but smiles kindly to Nightbeat. "We only want to help. Let me how how I can assist you and I'll be happy to do it. Or... if you need us out of the way, all you've got to do is say so and we'll get out of your circuits."

**Nightlash has posed:**
Nightlash huhs? She blinks, then looks down towards Starlock and can't help the confused look given to the smaller mech.... "I...no. Nothing. There's nothing up there..." She glances skyward one last time before moving towards the site proper, a glance going to Nightbeat. "I...guess so. I mean, I always seem to figure out how to make them work."

She mutters, glancing about at the site and, much like the last one, looking at the residue left behind from the blast. "Anything like the last one? Or...different? Or just...maybe accident? I mean, there's explosive stuff stored here, right? Er, was... Guess no one's storing anything here now, eh?"

**Hyperdrive has posed:**
Hyperdrive shrugs, "If ya say so....Just here ta help out if I need ta. He frowns and looks at the ground and then over at the other bots to se what they're doing. He rubs at his head absently. He looks at Hound, "Scalpel got removed from my head....so...doin better."

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock's finials twitched up when the group was spoken to, her frame tensing when it was of the irritated assistant. She'd keep herself quite, and as small and nonthreatening looking as possible. She'd blink up at Nightbeat though and slightly tilted her head as she looked him over, before looking up to Nightlash and frowned, wondering if Nightlash was trying to call for her drone.

      She'd follow the group as they started moving. "Hello." She'd finally say in a soft tone to the group at long last, folding her arms behind her. "Mhm.. I hope the repairs I've done are doing you well, HD." She'd add with a nod.

**Koinonia (12) has posed:**
Nightbeat gives Hound an unreadable expression, and says, "You're too kind," in the blandest way possible. He doesn't seem insincere - just about as skillful as Dwight from the office in his social interactions.

 He then turns to Nightlash and takes a step back. "Well, you went to that site, didn't you? Why don't you take a look for yourself and tell me what you think. You're the expert here." He then gestures for Hyperdrive to do the same. "If you aren't here to help," he says, "remove yourself." He then looks over at Starlock, but doesn't say anything. Like, he isn't 100% how to respond normally to a simple 'Hello.'

**Hound has posed:**
Hound looks concerned as Nightlash just... spaces out more, Starlock seems distracted, so turns to Hyperdrive as he responds to the question. Hound looks sympathetic to the smaller blue 'Bot as he replies back, "Well, I can say for certain that would be an improvement. I'm glad. Sounded like you all did a good job recapturing those Combaticons. You holding up alright?"

Returning to focus on Nightbeat, Hound doesn't seem to mind the response. He knows the detective has got to be busy and just sort of... smiles again. Blandly.

**Nightlash has posed:**
Nightlash ohs... "Right...uh, guess...we'll look around then." She mutters something under her breath and, without much in the way of ceremony, and ignoring the looks sent her way, just ventures right on in like she owns the place and is perfectly comfortable in a blown out blast site.

...probably because she is. Either way, she's helping herself out to looking around since the team under Nightbeat's clearly got nothing in the way of actual explosive experience. Or...something like that.

**Hyperdrive has posed:**
Hyperdrive gives Hound a faint smile and then moves forward to see what all the hubbub is about. He tilts his head curiously and moves around to try and see what was the same and what was different compared to the last blast. He glances around and then looks at Nightlash, "Bigger...or just actually exploded more?" He frowns since he's not used to some of these bigger bombs. Well other than making them and leaving them as presents.

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock gives Nightbeat something of a look that would be the equivalent of a curious cat, tilting its head. Still, she says nothing, but when Nightlash speaks up she's quick to look over and follow... Wait Hound was speaking to her? She'd look over to him. "..Meeting who, me?" She'd ask quickly, a little embarrassed she'd missed it, and that it might of sounded like she being conceited, and was making a question out to be about her.

      That matter was.. Was this Nightbeat expecting to introduce herself? her mouth would twist into a slight cringe as she started inwardly fretting, her finials drooping. "Erm.. Sorry..." She'd mumble as she glanced away. "uhh.. Doctor and Medic, Corporal Starlock." She'd mumble, before following Hyperdrive and Nightlash.

**Koinonia (12) has posed:**
Nightbeat's assistants seem a little troubled, but Nightbeat doesn't seem bothered by Nightlash's 'take control of the situation' demeanor.

 "It looks like there were multiple explosions," Nightbeat offers, "but I'm open to a second opinion."

Well, Nightbeat didn't really expect anything, and his response to her introduction is greatly delayed. About six nanokliks after Starlock introduces herself, the detective says, "ah, nice to meet you, Starlock." He doesn't look up from the artifact he's studying, though.

**Hound has posed:**
Hound tilts his head slightly as Hyperdrive just smiles at him and walks away. Maybe people just don't wanna talk about their recent (traumatic) experiences? Ah well, understandable. He then turns to look back at Starlock, small smile returning. "Heh, was just askin' how you were... I know a lot of you have had a bunch to deal with lately. Fine if you don't wanna talk, though. Don't mean to pry, I just like to know how our people are doing." He casts another glance over at Nightlash as he definitely wonders how \*she's\* doing, but doesn't press further. The scout returns to sifting through wreckage, trying to find any clues.

**Nightlash has posed:**
Nightlash continues to make her way through the wreckage, just letting her fingers sort of...brush over a few things along the way until there's a sudden pause in her step. Optics shutter a few times before her attention turns down at something touched...

As though it's the most intriguing thing in the world right now, she picks up a piece of shrapnel and just sort of stares vacantly at it, flipping it from front to back...upside down...right-side up...and every other which way.

Whatever interest she has in the thing, though, is suddenly lost, and she tosses the piece ever so casually into a subspace pocket and carries on her exploratory walk of the place.

Wait...did Hyperdrive say something to her? She pauses again, looking over at the other mechs in the area as though trying to figure out if there was indeed someone talking to her. If they were, it seems she totally blocked it out.

**Hyperdrive has posed:**
Hyperdrive starts poking around the fragments and frowns before looking at Nightlash, "It looks alot like the other one. Didn't ya say that that shoulda exploded bigger....this looks kinda the same ya know...Ummmm wow...this thing is weird. It looks alot like the other bomb."

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock nodded to Nightbeat, before looking to Hound, letting out an "oh" before looked down in thought, how was she? well right now.. "I'm alright, right now, at least.. Err sorry, again, I'm just.. I don't talk much." She'd state with a nod, folding her hands in front of her.

      She'd turn her head to look at Nightlash, and then Hyperdrive. "Weird? in what way?" She'd ask, tilting her head again to the other mini-bot.

**Koinonia (12) has posed:**
Nightbeat notices Nightlash's detached demeanor and blank staring, and his optics narrow. He studies her for a moment for interjecting, "Nightlash, right? You find anything interesting?"

 His attention is then diverted back to Hyperdrive, and he meanders over to the minibot. "Oh? How so?" he asks.

**Hound has posed:**
Hound smiles at Starlock and nods. "It's alright. But good, I'm glad you're okay." The scout then turns focus back to the others, watching as events unfold.

**Nightlash has posed:**
Nightlash nods slightly. "It...seems like it... Do you think-" she blinks as Nightbeat calls her and straightens up. "Interesting? I... I don't think so?" She looks back at the wreckage, then around the ruined building. "I...I mean, if it is the same...then I guess they learned from the last bomb, eh? Remember that molten piece of slag that never blew up?"

She actually chuckles softly remembering that. "Mess of a piece of scrap bomb, really... idiot." She starts to poke around. "Wonder if there's any others that might not have gone off..."

**Hyperdrive has posed:**
Hyperdrive frowns, "It's not like the schematics I've been studyin ta make better bombs. This won't looks weird different...But most of what I do is done just by...well...kinda like accident."

**Starlock has posed:**
     On the note of Nightlash wondering if there where more that hadn't gone off, she'd start looking around. "...So like.. The people makin' these don't really know what their doing?" She'd ask to both Nightlash and Hyperdrive, raising a ridge. "...Like their home made?" Something about this just didn't sound right to her, because logically, if it /had/ been decepticons, they would be following proper schematics, at least logically.

**Koinonia (12) has posed:**
Nighbeat just observes Nightlash quietly, and doesn't respond to any of her comments. He does take out a data pad and start taking notes on it, though. About what exactly, though, will remain a mystery.

"Hmm," he says when Hyperdrive responds by saying that the bombs look almost like they've been made on accident. "I see what you mean," he says with a nod. "I tried running some of the shrapnel through a weapons identification analysis program, but the query kept coming back empty." He continues to take notes on his datapad, nodding quietly to himself. "Possible," Nightbeat says to Starlock's comment about the bombs being homemade, "but unlikely, hand crafted demolitions are typically dangerous and unless you're quite knowledgeable, you run the risk of having it, well, blow up in your face, or so I've heard. But even experts like Wheeljack have had their mishaps." He turns to Hound. "Have you ran an inventory check on all the general ammunition and explosives stored at the Decagon or at other Autobot premises?"

**Hound has posed:**
Hound frowns as he listens to the conversation. "So you think this could be the same work as the bomber from before? We have a serial bomber on our hands?" Listening to Nightlash, his frown deepens. "We should run a thorough check to see if there's any unexploded ordinance anywhere." He turns to Nightbeat. "We've got standard inventory surveys, yeah, but I'll check and see when the most recent ones were and if need be, get one run again ASAP."

**Nightlash has posed:**
Nightlash finally seems to circle her way around to the artifact Nightbeat had been studying earlier, all the while letting her fingers kind of brush along the rubble and debris. Every few moments, there's a pause, like something catches her attention, but other than a brief stare, a poke, or even picking up something to study it and toss it aside, she's not seemingly using any real method to her inspection of the site itself.

But, hey! Artifact! It was interesting enough that it held Nightbeat's attention for a while, so she's going to take a good look as well! "Oh! Yeah, I mean, if they are learning, though, they probably won't have anything left that didn't blow up... We only found the one last time, and...I dunno. I mean, if they figured out it wasn't done right? Yeeeah, who knows... that would also mean they went back to the bombsite..."

She pauses, going quiet for a good few moments. "You don't think they're sneaking back to see how well they did, do you?" She shrugs. "Stupid idea... nevermind." She goes back to studying the artifact...thingy.

**Hyperdrive has posed:**
Hyperdrive frowns and backs out from the bomb remains. He shakes his head a little. "I...need ta go research some stuff...tell me what else ya find." He waves to Hound and quickly goes to disappear back to his room. One hand rubbing his head.

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock thinks about what Nightbeat says and looks around. "Possible it's just.. random scrap metal they've found and stuffed into it? The Shrapnel I mean." She'd ask, that would be one possibility as to why it wouldn't come back on weapon analysis. She'd raise a ridge and just look thoughtful. "This doesn't make sense." She'd mumble to herself.

      She'd then look up at Nightlash and shuttered her optics. "...That's.. Not stupid? It's totally possible, specially if their learning." She'd think. "Specially if their acting alone... Only way I can imagine how no ones spotted 'em yet." She'd muse with a frown, her finials twitched up and she'd look over and Nod to Hyperdrive.

**Koinonia (12) has posed:**
Nightbeat's brow ridges raise, but he nods at Nightlash and Starlock. "No, it's not a stupid idea," he says evenly, "what makes you think it's stupid? The first blast site was strewn with shrapnel. This time around, there's hardly anything salvageable, making it harder to say, even with a demolitions expert, that the two events were linked." He rubs his chin thoughtfully.

 Then he shakes his helm. "No," he says, "I don't think it would have even gone off if they had. You may not think making things go ka-boom! is difficult, but demolitions is actually a highly specialized craft. Nighlash could tell you as much."

 He nods at Hound. "Do let me know what you find."

**Nightlash has posed:**
There's a shrug on her part. "I dunno... I tend to come up with all kinds of stupid ideas." She looks at the shrapnel again and stoops to pick up a piece, just sort of...staring at it for a good long while in silence....

"Just...ask...uh, well, a lot of the Autobots, I guess... or the Decepticons. They really hate me, I think." She goes quiet, just slowly rolling and spinning the piece in her fingers as she stares it over....

And then a few long moments later straightens up, tosses it to the side, and shrugs. "Right! Well, it was a big boom. Honestly, if there's nothing really left but shrapnel...I don't know what to say."

**Hound has posed:**
Nightbeat doesn't seem to hear him, but his answers to the others seem to answer the question? "Oh. Gotcha." He scratches at his chin, nodding to Hyperdrive as he wanders off. The tapping fingers pause as Nightbeat DOES look his way and he straightens to attention. "I'll get on that right away."

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock nodded at Nightbeat, rubbing at the back of her helm, as she listened... She was smart, but the engineering of bombs was not one she was totally versed in, but with what he was saying? It sounded legit, perhaps she was over simplifying it.

      Her optics then shuttered as she looked to Nightlash and puffed a cheek. Oh.. Oh heell no. "Shouldn't listen to people that hate you." She'd state softly. "They'll look for any reason to tear ya' down." She'd nod, before looking around once more. "...Yeah, this one really did take a lot out, didn't it? Seems like there was a lot of heat" She'd ask as she went up to one of the twisted metal 'trees' and looked them over in interest.

**Koinonia (12) has posed:**
Yes well, it seems that Nightbeat, when focused on a task, seems to omit other topics that aren't directly related to the tangent he's engrossed himself in, which is currently the explosives themselves. "Perfect," he says flatly to Hound. "You can drop by the intel unit tomorrow, yes? Great. I'll see you then." Well, he certainly expects results quickly.

 "For someone who should be a demolitions expert," he says to Nightlash, "you seem incredibly naive and generic about all of this." He pauses. "Well, maybe I'm being presumptuous. You look really tired, anyway." He subspaces his datapad and ducking under the caution tape, starts heading back towards the Decagon. "If any of you think of or find anything else to report, let me know. I'll probably be working around clock on this one."

 His assistants, having nothing else to offer in the way of usefulness, hurry after him, whispering quietly among themselves.

**Hound has posed:**
Hound nods to Nightbeat. "On it. Yeah, I can get something to you tomorrow." The scout looks around and nods to the others. "I'll be off, then. Got those reports to round up. Take care." He turns around and heads out.

**Nightlash has posed:**
Nightlash blinks at Nightbeat. "I...it's just...shrapnel. Without a casing, wires, uh...chemical analysis of the residue..um...something?" She mutters. "I just... I'm not seeing anything that I know." She picks up another piece of shrapnel and looks it over. "It's just...what? High heat, lotta metal all over...that's odd. Metal shrapnel's for killing mechs. Heat is for burning places down..." She grumbles. "It just doesn't make sense. It's two bombs mixed together or something, unless you found bodies?"

She grumbles and looks skyward again and just...stares for a moment. "I... yeah. It doesn't make sense to me. I don't...know this one. Not yet." She hrmphs.