grv. Lamont Farm, Cape Cod. Rescue and Family Reunion

[dens_extra_pups]

Reaper mini-saucer: *is a streak across the Alabama sky*

Blackout: *looks up at it and scowls as it goes over again*

Ironhide: *absent burp as he pats Chrome's back and babydances there where he's standing by his mate* You remember we made that door nuke proof, right?

Ratchet: *CURSING as she watches the saucer go by overhead. Returns her attention to yelling at Wheeljack and trying to saw through the door of the engineer's newly completed R'nD bunker*

Ironhide: *shrugs and takes the tank Blackout hands him. Long swig, and then offers a sip to Chrome, who pats the tank and babbles softly before laying his head down again*

Blackout: *thoughtfully, as the saucer makes another pass* Not bad moves.

Comet: *laughing as she runs past, leading her wing to the runway so they can go chase the saucer around* Hurry up, Whiplash!

Whiplash: *skreek skreek skree-ack!* *nearly trips over his own feet*

Heatseeker: *bittyskreeks from where he's clinging to Mentor's back. Go go go!*

Slipstream: *sullenly silent as she too follows the wingleader into the air, but the Seeklets clinging to her are gleefully vocal*

Beamrider: *ridin' on a jet plane!*

Skymine: *going to fly too, transforms and waits for the last bitties to hop off of Slipstream and come to see her and Silverbolt* Fly now. Deploy!

Silverbolt: 'Ploy!

Whiplash: *getting airborne. Is a lot better at flying than walking*

Blackout: *watches them take off, and watches several of the Seeklets drop free of the bigger jets to try shaky transforms and flight of their own* *then looks higher and scowls again* The scrap are they doing?

Ironhide: *looks up too from watching Chrome blow bubbles in the fuel* ...Skywriting.


up in the saucer


Beau: *is that loud whoop from inside the saucer*

BJ: *cackling and hanging onto his harness*

MiniLee: *clinging to Bubby!* 0.0

Jethro: YEEEEEHAW! Y'u gettin' all'a th's, Wheeljack?

Wheeljack: //Yup! You're doin' great! Keep it up! Oh, and watch out for Seekers 'n Aerialbots.//

Beau: Ah see 'em.

Jethro: *sudden worried frown* Z'at bebeh fallin'?

Beau: *frown, brings the saucer around to get a better visual* Looks lahk 't.

Beamrider: *oh, issa big! Cling!*

Jethro: *shocked mutter about a bug on the windshield*

Beau: *startled laugh*

BJ: *laughs more* We caugh' th' li'l gah!

MiniLee: *clickstorm!*

Whiplash: //Slow! Need to get Beamrider!//

Jethro: *starts to translate, but then realizes Whiplash remembered to use English this time*

Beau: *carefully bringing the ship down to an altitude where he can fly at a slower speed*

Jethro: Alraht, 'Lash. Get 'im.

Whiplash: *will snag Beamrider and head back up to higher altitudes*

Beau: *gives chase*

Jethro: W'uld 't actually hurt th' lil' gah t' rahd wit' us when we's goin' fast?

Beau: Ah dunno... Th'y mahght get a kick outta 't, 'f Whiplash 'n Slipstream weren't so fusseh.

Comet: *drops another bitty*

Nullfire: *getting a feel for flying*

Beau: *maneuvers the ship closer to where Nullfire is*

Heatseeker: *has caught the saucer! Triumphant skreeks and chatter over comms*

BJ: *laughs* We got caught!

Comet: *soft call as she passes the saucer, waggling her wingflaps to tell it to follow as she would to another Seeker*

Beau: ... Huh? *going to follow, if only to see what that was about*

Slipstream: *gently joggles for position, getting the saucer in the proper place for a wing formation*

Beau: *watching the Seekers for visual cues*

Whiplash: *flying in the last position for a wing formation*

Skymine: *comes up from behind and below and ponderously joins the wing*

BJ: Waitaminute! Ah th'nk we's 'n a formation, Beau!

Beau: *laughs* Awesome!

Sidewinder: *just jetted ahead of Skymine, trying to catch the leader. Winds up holding onto the windshield of the saucer instead*

Jethro: *startles, but then waves to the black Seeklet*

Sidewinder: *sees the movement and peers through the windshield* o.0

MiniLee: *clickstorm!*

Comet: //All the hatchlings secured?//

Skymine: //Two secure.//

Slipstream: //One secure.//

Whiplash: //One secure. Two secure on saucer.//

Comet: //Lessee... Heatseeker, Nullfire, Beamrider, Sidewinder, Silverbolt. Um, am I forgetting somebody, Whiplash?//

Whiplash: //Think that's all...// *sounds a bit uncertain*

Skymine: //Has WakeJumper too.//

Comet: //Oh. Okay.// *calls to all the hatchlings to hold on tight and then kicks it into high gear and heads out of the atmosphere*

Beau: Whoah. *looks to his dad and cousin* We's follow'n, rahght?

BJ: *BLEEP*, yeah! :D

Jethro: *gives his son a "did you just ask that?" look*

Beau: 'Old ont' y'ur 'ats. *following the formation out of the atmosphere*


back on the ground


Ironhide: *watches the streaks vanish* *sudden rumble of amusement* Ratchet, where's Wake?

Ratchet: ... *checking with Perceptor*

Perceptor: *so surprised* -Didn't Skymine bring her to you?-

Ratchet: -No... I thought she was with you.- *worried //Skymine?//

Skymine: *no reply. Doesn't seem to be present on the common channel*

Ratchet: //Skymine?!// *really worried now*

Ironhide: *snerks and points upward*

Ratchet: *low, drawn-out curse*

Blackout: *curious frown for the medic* What are you cursing for?

Ratchet: Skymine's out of range of my comms. *just a bit panicky now*

Blackout: *quirks a brow* Try a longer range channel. *then glances at a little wisp of blue movement behind the medic*

Ratchet: *flipping through the channels to try and establish contact with Skymine. Doesn't notice her mate settling down on her shoulder* //Skymine, respond!//

Skymine: *happily* //Hiya, Ratch!//

Ratchet: *relieved that she found the right channel* //Is WakeJumper with you?//

Skymine: //Wakie with Comet!//

Ratchet: ... //What?!//

Skymine: //Hatchie lob!// *laughs*

Ratchet: *just a bit panicky now* //But WakeJumper doesn't have wings!!!//

Comet: //Ratchet?//

Ratchet: //If anything happens to WakeJumper...// *cycling air and trying to keep calm. Is failing miserably at the last*

Comet: *sounds a bit puzzled* //She's fine. She's taking her turn on the saucer's windshield.//

Ratchet: *probably just scared some of the humans when she sat down* //Sh-She's what?!//

Comet: //Here, I'll splice her through.//

WakeJumper: *wordless happy ping*

Ratchet: *doing her best to hide her fright and worry for the hatchling* //WakeJumper, are you behaving?//

WakeJumper: //Am, Mama!//

Comet: //She is. Wait. Are you licking the windshield?//

Ratchet: //What?!//

WakeJumper: //Ick, ick, ick. Not noms.// *'ptooi' sound*

Comet: //No. Bugs are not noms. Even after they've burned in atmo.// *laughter in her voice*

Ratchet: *pinching the bridge of her nose now*

WakeJumper: //Jump now!//

Slipstream: //Spread your arms before you engage your jumpers.//

WakeJumper: *happy chatter*

Ratchet: *praying quietly* //Keep me updated, Comet, Skymine.//

Skymine: //Will, Ratch!// *more happy laughter*

WakeJumper: //Bebeh FLAH! EEEEEE!//

Comet: *laughs too* //Yes, sir.//

Ratchet: *closes the call and will be just a bit twitchy until she has WakeJumper in her arms and can scan the little femme*

Ironhide: *nods toward the barely marked bunker doors* The scrap were you doing, anyway?

Ratchet: I owe Wheeljack a kick to the skidplate.

Ironhide: *snorts* What for?

Ratchet: She was tinkering without letting anyone know. Again.

Ironhide: *looks at his mate, very amused*

Blackout: *giving Ratchet a funny look*

Ratchet: ... Let me guess. She told you.

Blackout: I was there when you signed the paperwork she said she needed to repair the saucer.

Ratchet: ... *facepalm*

Blackout: The day Smokescreen, Jazz, Huffer, and Prime got overcharged.

Ratchet: *groan* It took four hours to get Optimus to go lay down.

Ironhide: And he got artistic along the way.

Chrome: *chatters softly and looks toward the bot barrack, even though it's not possible to see the twenty foot tall barn red heart with initials that still graces the wall of it*

Ratchet: Yes, he did.

Ironhide: *amused* She told you all about it.

Ratchet: ... *frowning now*

Ironhide: *snorts, and then steps forward and raps on the bunker door with his knuckles*

Bluestreak: *is the one who answers the door, letting out a surprised sound when he sees who's knocking* Er... Hi?

Ironhide: It's savoury silicon for breakfast. You got any? *or do you need some brought?*

Bluestreak: *blink blink* *looks over his shoulder* Wheeljack, do you have any savory silicon?

Wheeljack: *intent on her monitors* Huh?

Chrome: *leans forward in his father's arms* GOT NOM??

Wheeljack: Oh. Got any bio diesel?

Ironhide: *looks in the tank he's holding to check*

Bluestreak: *distracted* Oh, the saucer looks like it's coming back...

Blackout: That's the president's jet.

Ironhide: *heckling Smokescreen over comms and telling him to bring breakfast for his brother and Wheeljack*

Bluestreak: *acks* I thought she wasn't supposed to be here until later this week and we haven't even had time to finish getting all the stuff ready because we've been so busy with everything else and *there he goes on a ramble streak*

Ratchet: *pinching the bridge of her nose again* Oh, this will be interesting.

ping: *to Ratchet's comm*

Ratchet: //This is Ratchet.//

male voice: //This is General Abernathy, US Navy. I understand you people have an aquatic specialist there at the nursery base.//

Ironhide: *shoulders Ratchet aside so that he can kick Smokescreen's skid plate as that mech brings the breakfast over*

Ratchet: //... The only aquatic model we have is still a child.//

General Abernathy: *pause. Then* //One of the hatchlings?//

Ratchet: //Yes.// *frown* //Why are you in need of an aquatic model?// *absent swing at Ironhide's head as he kicks her skid plate too*

Ironhide: *gives her an oil drum full of bio diesel*

General Abernathy: *tersely* //We've got an experimental submarine trapped in heavy seas. Do you have any adults with rescue training?//

Ratchet: //I am trained in search and rescue.// *small nod of acknowledgement for Ironhide*

General Abernathy: //Are you available?// *edge of desperation in his voice*

Ratchet: //Let me finish refueling, and arrange transport. Where is the submarine located?//

General Abernathy: //It's in deep water off the coast of Cape Cod. We had a safety cable, but it got snarled.//

Ratchet: //I see. I'll be out as soon as I can get transport arranged. I expect to be airborne within the hour, General.//

General Abernathy: //Thank you, Ratchet. Abernathy out.//

Ratchet: *nods* //Ratchet out.// *will refuel, making a pleased sound at the flavor of the bio diesel* *pings Skymine's comm*

Skymine: //Yeah, Ratch?//

Ratchet: //I need transport to Cape Cod. There are humans there who need rescued.//

Skymine: *unhappy sound* //Can't come. Helping hatchies.//

WakeJumper: *bweees* //Help Mama?//

Skymine: //Can't, Wakie. Hatchies need'a learn.//

WakeJumper: //Wanna help Mama.//

Blackout: *pokes Ratchet in the side between armour plates*

Ratchet: *startled ack, both out loud and over comms*

Skymine: *startled laughter at the funny sound from her mentor*

Blackout: *quizzical look for Ratchet, asking what she's doing*

Ratchet: *to Blackout, as WakeJumper clickstorms at the funny sound her Mama made* I need transport to Cape Cod, to assist in the recovery of an experimental submarine.

Blackout: *brows lift slightly* What coordinates?

Ratchet: ... I just know it's in an area experiencing rough seas due to inclimate weather. *grumbling and cursing herself for not asking for coordinates*

Blackout: *glances to one side* They see it. *nod* They've got it. *turns and walks toward the erstwhile practise field*

Ratchet: They? *moving to follow*

Blackout: Yeah. *transforms* How long can you hold on?

Ratchet: Long enough to get there. *serious*

Blackout: *rises into the air and hovers just over the medibot's head* Grab on.

Ratchet: *proceeds to do so*

Blackout: Maybe you should debrief your mate to avoid panic. *rises higher and then heads toward the Atlantic*

Ratchet: -Perceptor, there's an emergency in Cape Cod that I will be attending to. General Abernathy requested an assist.-

Perceptor: *is a little twitch of colour on her shoulder* -Hmmm? Where are we going?-

Ratchet: *gentle affection, and a bit sheepish* -Blackout knows. I neglected to request coordinates from the General during the call.-

Perceptor: -Could you not ask him?- *surprised and gently amused* -You didn't know that I was with you?-

Ratchet: *more sheepishness* -I was not aware, no.- *apologetic*

Perceptor: *gentle sending of affection, and then a soft sound of surprise as a large insect collides with him*

Ratchet: *startles, will scan Perceptor to make sure he's alright*

Perceptor: -My. How revolting.-

Blackout: *goes higher, and then faster, than a chopper of her specs should be able to*

Ratchet: *promises to give Perceptor a thorough scrubbing once the mission is complete*

Perceptor: *his blush can be felt plainly as he pleasantly anticipates the event*


Nearly an hour later


Ratchet: *knows she's going to have sore cabling later, has been holding onto Blackout the entire trip*

Blackout: *hovers over the US Navy research vessel* *waits* *waits more* *then* //Aren't you landing?//

sailors: *scattering from the chopper's shadow on the deck with excited shouts*

Ratchet: *slowly letting go* *is definitely going to need some help with her hands later* *makes the metal deck of the Navy research vessel ring as she lands, even though she didn't fall more than a few feet*

General Abernathy: *hurries toward her* Ratchet, you came yourself. *question in the statement*

Ratchet: *nod* I did say I would be airborne within the hour from your call, did I not, General Abernathy?

General Abernathy: True. But I'd thought that once your people arrived you wouldn't feel your presence necessary.

Ratchet: *blink* Who else is here?

General Abernathy: *uncertain frown up at her, then points over the side of the ship* Those two, and something big down under the surface. They haven't introduced themselves yet.

Ratchet: *frowns and moves to approach the side of the ship*

two vessels: *blue and silver hovercraft calmly riding the furious waves beside an orange and maroon Coastguard cutter*

Ratchet: *frowns as she sees the two vessels* *will try pinging them on an open frequency* //[This is Autobot CMO Ratchet. Please identify yourselves.]//

hover craft: *transforms and bobs in the water as he waves* *cheery, bubbly voice* Ahoy, Autobot Ratchet! Do you know a guy named Ironhide?

Ratchet: *blinks and then smiles and nods* I do. Are you a friend of his?

hc bot: Autobot Seaspray! And this... *gently raps his knuckles on the hull of the cutter* Is my mate, Quadriate Calypso.

Ratchet: It is nice to meet you both.

Calypso: *transforming and bobbing a bit as she looks around* How ye after likin' the sea, me son? I t'inks she's some grand!

General Abernathy: *startled small sound as the ship suddenly lurches*

Ratchet: *startled curse, stumbles a bit as she tries to keep her footing*

something huge: *raps against the side of the ship, causing reverberations*

soldiers: *shouting and looking around*

Seaspray: *calls* Devastator needs a line to hook the submarine to while he deals with the tangled cable.

Ratchet: *looking around and scanning equipment for something suitable*

General Abernathy: *calling orders as sailors run toward the stern of the ship, then looks up as a big aquatic plane flies over low, and then returns and hovers*

Seaspray: Seastar says to give her the winch.

General Abernathy: *nods and barks more orders, then looks at Ratchet* You'll have to lift it.

Ratchet: *nods and moves to do so* *wondering to herself where she's heard the term 'Quadriate' before. It can't have been recently...*

sailors: *rolling the massive coil of cable and its machinery toward her*

Ratchet: *moves to lift the winch* The sooner we get this going, the better. *worried about the humans on board the submersible*

Sea Star: Ready, sir! *voice is female and youngish*

Ratchet: Alright. *lifts the winch up as high as she can*

Sea Star: *lowers two arms formed to fit the winch, then lifts it* Got it.

Ratchet: *will move to help keep the winch cable from getting tangled*

Sea Star: Better let Dad get that, sir. *moves over the open water*

Seaspray: *calling* Ready!

Calypso: I's ready too. *in position to help guide things along*

Seaspray: *gets the hook as the cable lowers toward him, then waits while it reels a bit more before diving*

Perceptor: *forms up and crouches on his mate's shoulder, watching gravely*

Ratchet: *silently praying, and still puzzling over where she's heard 'Quadriate' before*

Perceptor: *surprised look and a mental image of their daughter*

Ratchet: *blinks, then she's boggling*

Perceptor: -You stated that her protoform and spark both showed Quadriate-based mutations.-

Ratchet: -Indeed...- *slight frown, studies Calypso for a few moments*

Calypso: *cheerfully rowdy, even as she holds her position in the heavy waves. Doesn't seem the least bit flustered by the weather and surges*

Seaspray: *over open channel* //Reel her in!//

Sea Star: //Yessir!// *starts the winch*

Seaspray: //Alright. Hold on while he cuts the other cables.//

Calypso: //Aye, cap'n!//

Ratchet: *visually comparing Calypso with the scans she has of WakeJumper*

Seaspray: //Alright, let out cable!//

Sea Star: //Letting out cable. Ma, quit making faces at me.//

Calypso: *laughs and grins, even as a surge comes crashing down on her head*

Seaspray: //Alright, the cable's loose.//

Sea Star: *reels cable in fully*

General Abernathy: *puzzled frown from where he's clinging to a safety stanchion* *looks up at Ratchet for an explanation of what's going on*

Ratchet: I believe they've gotten the cable unsnared.

General Abernathy: But there's nothing anchoring the sub now.

Ratchet: Devastator has it.

General Abernathy: *eyes widen* Devastator? The Decepticon that was there when the Fallen tried to steal the energy from the sun?

Ratchet: How many Devastators do we know, General?

Calypso: *now doing a duck impression. Has her head under the water, and her aft in the air*

Sea Star: *darts down and smacks her on the rear with a wingtip, then streaks away*

Calypso: *legs flail!* *surfaces* *RUDE GESTURE and laughter at Sea Star's retreating form*

Perceptor: Oh look, love. I can see Skymine on the shore.

Ratchet: *looks* *soft chuckle* I think WakeJumper is playing in the water.

Perceptor: *soft wash of affection for the hatchling* She is indeed. The waves are giving her no trouble whatsoever.

Ratchet: *nod of agreement* She and Calypso both look as though they're at home in the water.

Perceptor: *stands to look more closely, but then startles and nearly falls backward off Ratchet's shoulder* *voice full of shaken distress* Oh! My stars and garters!

Ratchet: *startles and moves to put a hand up* What's wrong? *looks*

Devastator: *visibly larger than he was last time she saw him, the massive gestalt rises from the waves and reaches to set the submarine on the rocky shore next to Skymine*

Ratchet: *startled squeak*

Skymine: *waves to Devastator*

Devastator: *big finger gently touches WakeJumper's little head, and then he turns and wades back into the heaving ocean*

General Abernathy: *turns a face devoid of colour toward Ratchet*

Perceptor: *softly, his fear fading away* -He behaved kindly toward our girls.-

Ratchet: *circulating air as she nods* -WakeJumper didn't even act fearful of him.-

Calypso: *giving the gestalt a playful bap on the shoulder before diving under the surface of the sea*

soldiers: *suddenly shouting as the ship lifts slightly out of the water*

Blackout: *is a snort of amusement over comms from where she's hovering overhead*

Ratchet: *startled blurt*

General Abernathy: Ratchet! What is this!?

Ratchet: I think we've been picked up, General Abernathy. *sounding just a bit spooked*

General Abernathy: Why?

ship: *starts moving toward the shore*

Ratchet: ... I think he's trying to help us get to shore faster.

General Abernathy: There's nowhere to dock there!

Blackout: //Can you confirm that, Sea Star?//

Sea Star: //Yup. The shore'll be safe.//

Seaspray: //This isn't the right place for waterspouts.//

Blackout: //Yeah, well, blame the Fallen and Sentinel.//

Perceptor: *softly* Oh dear me. I never stopped to calculate the effect those events might be having on Earth's systems.

Ratchet: I hadn't even considered...

Calypso: //Who the *bleep*'s the Fallen?//

Blackout: //The reason we only have one Prime.//

Calypso: //... Huh. So the Fallen's the $%$#%$ responsible fer t'at. What 'bout Sentinel? How's 'e play int' t'is?//

WakeJumper: //Bad words!//

Blackout: //She said it.//

Ratchet: //Calypso, please refrain from cursing while a hatchling is listening in on the conversation.//

Calypso: //Aye aye, Cap. No #@$%@&# mouth!//

Ratchet: *facepalm*

WakeJumper: //Bad words!!!//

ship: *bumps gently against rocky bottom*

Seaspray: //Alright, lower anchors, guys!//

Ratchet: *relays the order to the General*

General Abernathy: *relays orders to his people*

sailors: *organized chaos to get the anchors lowered*

Blackout: *lands on shore with a thud, then straightens and shades her optics from the rain to look out to sea* There it is.

Skymine: *looks. Gasps* Water 'nado!

WakeJumper: *bweeee*

Ratchet: *looks*

Calypso: *perks up*

Perceptor: My stars and garters, a water spout! *clings to Ratchet's shoulder as he watches Sea Star fly into the funnel cloud*

Calypso: *rowdy whoop*

General Abernathy: *scowling as he watches the water spout, but he knows the ship is protected here. By that huge shadow that he can dimly see moving in the water out there, if nothing else*

Devastator: *rises from the water then, dripping weed. Shambles over closer to the ship, and then lays down to form an artificial harbour to break the force of the waves*

Perceptor: *soft gasp*

Calypso: Good job, Devy! *grins and looks like she's thinking of joining Sea Star out in the storm*

Seaspray: *comes out of the water and shakes cheerfully like a giant dog* Bbbbbb! This weather's great. How's the sub, Boss? *grins at the General*

General Abernathy: *blink* Err.

Ratchet: *blink blink* We should check that.

Skymine: *heard that* *calls excitedly* Waterboat okay!

WakeJumper: *clickstorming and squealing when Calypso heads out to sea to play in the storm*

Perceptor: *looks quizzically toward his daughter, and then blinks and stands on Ratchet's shoulder* //Calypso, please come to the shore.//

Calypso: //Aww, but the water's jes' right!//

Perceptor: *lets Ratchet into the call* //Yes, but there is someone here who greatly wishes to see you. Her name is WakeJumper.//

Calypso: //Dunno anyone named WakeJumper.//

Ratchet: //Then come to shore and meet her.//

Calypso: *mutters something about killjoys, but begins heading back to shore*

WakeJumper: *clickstorming, fussing and fretting*

Blackout: *bends down and picks the hatchling up, then tosses her lightly over to where she can stand on Devastator as he lays there with waves washing over him*

Perceptor: *just about fainted when he saw that*

Ratchet: *similar reaction*

WakeJumper: *clickstorm, squeaks as she lands on her skid plate. Then she's chirping and scolding Calypso as the aquatic femme swims up to Devastator's side*

Perceptor: *slips off Ratchet's shoulder. Is dizzy*

Ratchet: *has to sit down and hold Perceptor close*

Calypso: *surfaces, blinking as she comes face to face with the hatchling* *CUSS, falls back into the water*

WakeJumper: *scoldies!!!!*

Skymine: Bad word!

Calypso: *rambling to Seaspray now, and not making much sense*

Seaspray: *waits a moment, but then sighs and punches his mate to try and reboot her*

Calypso: *startled squawk* *says something that sounds like "Sisters"*

Ratchet: *looks up, startled* What?!

WakeJumper: *leeeeeeeeaning as far as she dares, continues to scold Calypso for saying bad words*

wave: *swoops up and neatly flips the baby bot right off Devastator's hip*

WakeJumper: *startled squeal*

Calypso: *moves far faster than it seems like she should be capable of moving, catches the bittybot*

Seaspray: *watching alertly. Relaxes when he sees that the little one's pretty well-sealed, and wouldn't be hurt by a dunking anyway*

WakeJumper: *clickstorms and fusses*

Calypso: *quiet little clicks, will hold the bitty close to her chest* *soothing murmurs*

WakeJumper: *quiets down and puts her audio to Calypso's chest* *quiet little clickstorm*

Skymine: Ratch? Ratch? Where Wakie? Wakie fall, Ratch!

Ratchet: *pings Seaspray's comm, sounds just a bit spooked* //Seaspray? Is WakeJumper alright? We can't see anything!//

Seaspray: //She's juuuust fine. Cuddling up to Caly and clicking.//

Ratchet: *all but sags with relief* *quietly* She's safe. Calypso has her.

Skymine: Oh. *looks* Percy safe?

General Abernathy: Are you alright, Perceptor?

Perceptor: *shaking and fighting off flashback terror. Thankfully, he's not looping this time*

Ratchet: *gentle backrub for mate* *quietly* He will be. *working on calming down*

General Abernathy: *nods, then asks Skymine and Blackout for help disembarking so he can go look at the submarine. Is keeping a wary eye on the water spout as he does, but it seems to be heading out to sea. Still, he has to marvel at being able to work safely in such weather conditions*

WakeJumper: *sleepy babbling on the comms fades to contented purring*

Perceptor: *softly, after his shaking has eased slightly* What are we going to do, Ratchet?

Ratchet: *quietly* I'm not sure...

Calypso: *talking quietly to Seaspray* T'is is one o' me sisters, 'Spray... *protective hand over the hatchling's back*

WakeJumper: *snuggles and purrs*

Seaspray: *elbows on Devastator now as he looks toward the ship* *quietly* I think she's somethin' to the medic too.

Calypso: *slight wibble*

Devastator: *moves slightly as a single big Constructicon disengages and stands on the shoulder of his gestalt*

Scrapper: *judging the weather, and then snerking quietly as he sees the sea spout vanish and Sea Star flying proud where its head had been*

Calypso: *soft clicks*

Perceptor: *quietly, feeling worried about losing the hatchling he's so fond of* -What will we do, Ratchet?-

Ratchet: *softly, worried about the same thing* -I... don't know.-

WakeJumper: *itty bitty squeak as she realizes Mama and Papa aren't here* *squirms and wiggles, trying to see if she can spot her parents* Mama! Papa!

Seaspray: Oh oh! Don't worry, they're just over there on the boat. *points, then tries to sit on Devastator and gets swatted flying* XD

Calypso: *soft sigh, will move to carefully slip down into the water. Knows she should probably give the hatchling back. Doesn't want to though*

WakeJumper: *squirm, fuss*

Perceptor: *perks as he hears WakeJumper's little wordless ping of distress over comms*

Ratchet: *also perks, and moves to get as close to the edge of the ship's deck as she dares*

Calypso: *carefully swimming over to the boat, is a bit awkward since she's using one hand to keep WakeJumper safe against her chest*

Perceptor: *sends WakeJumper a present and functional ping, then looks over as Sea Star lightly drops a chuckling Seaspray onto the deck of the ship*

WakeJumper: *clickstorming and fussing becomes a bit easier to hear as Calypso brings her closer to the ship*

Ratchet: *going to make use of her on-board winch*

Seaspray: *comes up beside Ratchet and Perceptor, then looks over the edge and waves*

Calypso: *gives WakeJumper one last cuddle before helping the hatchling up to the makeshift sling Ratchet fashioned out of the winch cable*

WakeJumper: *clickstorming muchly now*

Perceptor: I believe there is space for you and your team at our nursery base, Seaspray.

Seaspray: *looks up from watching WakeJumper come up in the sling* Oh, we're not going to your base. We've got our own. And Devastator's got to get back to his wells.

Ratchet: *scanning WakeJumper once she's got the hatchling safely onto the ship*

WakeJumper: *just a bit fussy right now*

Calypso: *nods and moves to join the others on the deck*

Ratchet: *frowns as something Seaspray said catches her attention* Wells?

Seaspray: *looks over from greeting his mate* Yeah. Oil wells. Though a couple put out mostly natural gas.

Ratchet: *boggling a bit now, even as WakeJumper patpats her chest insistantly*

Perceptor: What oil wells?

Seaspray: *arm around his mate* There are a lot of deposits of the stuff down under the water. *scratches absently at a barnacle on his forehead, then frowns and rubs the freeloader off*

Calypso: *leans on Seaspray, might be sulking a little bit*

Ratchet: *as she offers WakeJumper a drink from her tank* Where are they located? And what impact are they having on the surrounding environment?

WakeJumper: *happy purrs as she takes in fuel*

Blackout: *from where she's now sitting on a big rock with the sea lapping its base* //They're following the steps to keep things safe. I made sure they knew how.//

Ratchet: *blink blink, looks to Perceptor, surprise clear on her face*

Perceptor: *mirrors her own surprise back at her, then turns to Seaspray and Calypso* Are you telling me that your team is accessing previously inaccessible oil deposits beneath the ocean?

Seaspray: *looks up* Only the ones in US and Canadian waters.

Perceptor: 0_0

Calypso: *nod* Aye. Blackout told us 'bout boundaries 'n all o' t'at.

Perceptor: *soft sputter* But what are you doing with so much oil?

Seaspray: *blinks at him* *then looks at Blackout and hails her*

Blackout: //Did you think the stills were working by magic? Seaspray's bunch and you 'Bots've been drinking a lot of it. The rest is stockpiled at the undersea base.//

Ratchet: 0_0

WakeJumper: *sleepy squeak, has had her fill of fuel for now, wants naps, plz*

Perceptor: //What do you intend to do with the stockpile?//

Blackout: *shrug* //I don't intend to do anything with it. If it's not our cut, it's no concern of mine.//

Ratchet: *small frown as she thinks this over, and gently rubs WakeJumper's back*

WakeJumper: *purrrrr, splatsleep*

Perceptor: *turns his head and looks at Ratchet's face* -What should we do? By rights, it belongs to the countries from which it was pumped.-

Ratchet: -Indeed... I know President Pratt can be reasoned with, and she would be able to help with negotiations, as well as keeping her Cabinet in check.- *already trying to think of the best way to present the situation, and to work on negotiating with both countries*

Perceptor: -We should ask if they know how much came from each country.-

Ratchet: *small nod* *to Seaspray and Calypso* Do you know how much came from each country?

Seaspray: The cans're all marked. *scratching a barnacle off Calypso's back as he peeks over her shoulder while hugging her*

Calypso: *squirms a bit at the barnacle removal* Aye. Blackout made sure we knew which country's which, 'n all t'at slag.

Ratchet: I see. *quietly pleased, as that will make negotiations go that much more smoothly*

WakeJumper: *ragdoll hatchling, sleeping deeply*

Skymine: *restless squirm from where she's standing on the shore. Looks over at Ratchet* //Home now? Deploy?//

Ratchet: //Soon. We still need to tell Calypso and Seaspray goodbye.// *looks to the aquatic femme* *will scan Calypso*

Perceptor: *perks and does likewise, so that Ratchet will be able to pick up what his slightly stronger sensors read*

Calypso: *spark shows similarities to WakeJumper's, as well as the fact that she's a bonded femme*

Perceptor: *curious perk* -Ratchet, look. Seaspray shows signs of having bonded before... only I see no damage from a broken bond.-

Ratchet: *blinks and scans Seaspray as well, and then she's chuckling softly* -Look at Calypso's spark. I think we may have a case similar to Ironhide and Blackout.-

Perceptor: -But Ironhide's spark still carries scars.- *soft brush of rapid theory calculations against her own thoughts*

Ratchet: *soft hum as she thinks and theorizes*

Calypso: *too distracted by mate cuddles to notice*

Sea Star: *over to the shore, and then transforms*

Perceptor: *gasps as he sees how the femme shimmers and reforms instead of the standard transformation*

Seaspray: *looks over* Yeah, she transforms like her mother.

Ratchet: *blink blink* Who is her mother?

Seaspray: *quiet and calm* My first mate. Alana's been dead for awhile.

Ratchet: *quietly* I'm sorry for your loss.

Seaspray: *slight shrug* We had a lot of good years together, and fifteen sparklets. Alana felt she'd done a good job.

Perceptor: *quietly* She was not of Cybertronian descent.

Seaspray: Nope. Tlalakan.

Ratchet: *so surprised* I see.

Perceptor: *quizzical look, and quizzical feeling over their bond*

Ratchet: *will explain who the Tlalakans are, and share memories with him* The Tlalakan people live on Tlalak. It is a few light years from Earth. As a community, they have access to the Well of Transformation, a pool of water which allows them to assume any form they wish, though typically they use it to adopt either a bipedal form for surface living, or a fish-like form for living underwater. Their primary city is located beneath the surface of their largest ocean.

Seaspray: *as Perceptor signifies his wonder and understanding* Yup. *holds up one hand and shows an image of a beautiful alien femmebot who looks very much like a Tlalakan made of metal. The image, other than in colour and height, greatly resembles the form that Sea Star now wears over there on the shore*

Ratchet: *nod*

Calypso: *quietly* Alana was a good friend.

Seaspray: Here comes your General. *head turned to watch General Abernathy get a ferry ride on Skymine's hands as the young femme wades into the water toward the ship*

Ratchet: *very soft chuckle as she sees that* Skymine is good at keeping humans safe.

Seaspray: *in his somewhat abrupt way* She's not very old.

Ratchet: No... But she is starting to become quite a handful. *quite fond of the femme, and very proud of her*

Skymine: *steps in a hole on the ocean floor and says a couple of Words in a decided Alabama drawl*

General Abernathy: *rebukes her gently*

Ratchet: *soft sigh*

WakeJumper: *echoes that sigh, continues to sleep*

Calypso: *slight wibble* *wants to hold her sister*

General Abernathy: *thanks Skymine as she holds him up to the ladder on the side of the ship, then heads for the deck*

Ratchet: *soft sigh* I suppose we should begin preparations for negotiating with the Canadian and American governments, then.

General Abernathy: *looks up with surprise as he comes over* Negotiating with the governments?

Ratchet: *nods* Regarding the oil and natural gas that Devastator has discovered. It's in waters too deep to be safely accessed by human equipment.

General Abernathy: *mouth opens. Mouth closes* Not my area. *looks relieved to say so*

Ratchet: *small nod* President Pratt may be able to direct us to the correct department.

General Abernathy: *wry smile* I don't doubt it.

Skymine: *calls up* Home now, Ratch?

Ratchet: Yes, just let us finish saying our goodbyes, Skymine.

Calypso: *indicates that she wants to go over to Ratchet and WakeJumper*

Seaspray: *lets go of his mate and steps back after checking behind himself for humans or that dog that lives on the ship*

Calypso: *will approach Ratchet and reach to gently touch WakeJumper's head*

WakeJumper: *soft little clicks as she sleeps*

Ratchet: *gently* You and Seaspray are more than welcome to visit any time, Calypso.

Calypso: *very slight smile and a nod* T'anks, b'y.

Perceptor: *quietly* You are most welcome.

Calypso: Ye best be callin' regular. *turns and resumes husband hugging*

Ratchet: We will. Please keep in contact as well.

Seaspray: Aye aye, Cap. *grins as he hugs his lady*

Skymine: *yup, she's started to whine*

Ratchet: *soft chuckle, will move to offer Perceptor assistance in getting down to Skymine*


Later that day, back at the Alabama base


Skymine: *passed out in the middle of the former practise field*

Blackout and Ironhide: *discussing the best way to get her to her bunk in the common area of the Bot Barrack as Chrome dances around their feet*

Perceptor: *sitting on top of the Bot Picnic Table beside the President as he tries not to be hit by WakeJumper's sleeping baby magic*

President Pratt: Maaan, I really wish I could've been there to see all of that. It sounds like y'all had an interesting day.

Ratchet: That is one way to interpret the situation...

Ironhide: *doesn't look up as the saucer whizzes past overhead*

Perceptor: *wearily* But we must still needs discuss something with you, Madam President.

President Pratt: *leans forward slightly, curiosity on her face* What's up?

Ratchet: The oil and natural gas that Devastator's discovered is technically the property of both the United States and of Canada.

Perceptor: Indeed. *looks up as the saucer goes over again*

President Pratt: *also looks up* ... Is that what I think it is?

Ratchet: Yes. Wheeljack managed to repair the damage, and a few of the MacKenzie and Lamont men decided to field test it.

President Pratt: Lucky guys. *looks back to Ratchet and Perceptor* I'll see what I can do about getting a meeting arranged with the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Energy Management. And I'll talk to the guys who do similar on the Canadian side of things.

clang: *yup, Ironhide just threw something at the saucer during that pass*

Perceptor: *startles at the sound and looks toward it*

President Pratt: *startles and cusses*

Ratchet: *glad WakeJumper is asleep* //Ironhide!//

Ironhide: *calm look of enquiry as he stoops to pick up Skymine's feet*

Ratchet: //Don't throw things at any ship that has humans piloting it!//

Ironhide: //A softball can't hurt that thing, and I timed it so no one'd be hit with the ricochet.//

Ratchet: *grumbles and mutters about idiocy over comms*

Ironhide: *throws the softball at her head, then picks up his end of Skymine and assists Blackout in bringing the youngling to her bed*

Perceptor: *doesn't even flinch at chucked ball*

Ratchet: *gives Ironhide a Look that promises retribution, turns her attention to WakeJumper as the hatchling snuggles close*

President Pratt: *leans back and stretches* So, aside from things that will get taken care of tomorrow morning, is there anything else about y'all's trip you think I need to know about?

Perceptor: *thoughtful expression, then ducks as a dirt clod whistles past his head*

Jessie: Sorry! *turns and chases twin sister across the field*

President Pratt: Ack! *topples over, startled* ... *blink. Rolls over* Huh.

Perceptor: *blinks and turns from watching the twins with befuddled surprise* Hmmm?

Ratchet: *blinks and looks to the President*

President Pratt: Who tagged y'all's barracks? *has a slight grin on her face*

Perceptor: *sighs and face palms at the reminder* *quietly* That would be Optimus.

President Pratt: *snerk* Nice. *chuckles*

Ratchet: At least it's something inoffensive.

Perceptor: I still cannot understand how Smokescreen could think that an overdose of fuel would cure our Prime's ills.

Ratchet: I am not certain either.

President Pratt: *sputters* Wait, Smokie got Prime drunk? *cracks up and has to take her glasses off*

Perceptor: *blinks at her* Yes, along with Huffer and Jazz.

President Pratt: Oh, sheesh. *facepalms and snickers* I've seen Jazz loopy after Comet got done kissing him.

Ratchet: This was a more concentrated dosage of energon than Jazz is used to receiving.

Perceptor: To put it mildly. *looks up as the softball whistles past again. Seems some redneck on the ground is trying to hit the saucer as it goes over again*

President Pratt: ... That's it. *moving to climb down from the table* I'm gonna show 'em how it's SUPPOSED to be done.

Perceptor: *blink blink* Madam President? Show him/her/what?

Ratchet: *blinks and hesitates* Er...

President Pratt: That was a lousy throw. Yeah, it had a lot of power behind it, but the aim was bad.

Ratchet: *facepalm*

WakeJumper: *sleepy little sound*

Perceptor: *calculates trajectory and looks toward the source of the throw* ...You DO realize that the person doing the throw was either Miss MacKenzie or Miss Wyatt?

President Pratt: Yup. Which is why it had a lot of power behind it. *still climbing down* I bet I can hit the saucer before they can.

Ratchet: Please do not antagonize them, Madam President. India would find a way to pin the blame on me.

President Pratt: *blinks from where she's now clinging to the leg of the picnic table a few feet from the ground. GRIN* I bet India can hit the saucer, too. *finishes climbing down and heads off to find her aide*

Ratchet: *sigh*

Perceptor: *echoes the sigh, and then wearily rests his head against WakeJumper. Is asleep before he can straighten up again*

Ratchet: *will carefully lift both mate and hatchling, and head for the barracks* *thinks she could use a rest herself to recharge her energon*

((written with random_xtras))