[ INTRO LOG ]

[robotsatan]

You don't know how you got here. One minute you were walking, sleeping, maybe dead -- then you're here, your feet suddenly carrying you down an empty street. Where's here?

Any Cybertronian would recognize this as their home planet, Cybertron, but it's not a Cybertron they've ever known. It has all the familiar hallmarks, but none of the specifics -- the city isn't one anyone here could identify, and even at a glance it's obvious that no one's set foot on the planet's surface in hundreds of years. The city and its surrounding areas all bear the marks of devastating war, of dust and rust collected over centuries. With no one in sight -- right at first, anyway -- there's plenty to explore. In fact, if you start walking, you'll find that your feet may just carry you in one particular direction.

A) The crater.
On one edge of the city is a massive crater left by some wartime weapon that seems to have taken out a large chunk of the surrounding metropolitan area. At the center of the crater it's broken through the surface of the terrain to reveal what looks like it might be a promising energon deposit. There is some strange but native vegetation growing around the edges, too, that no Cybertronian would be able to identify -- small, metallic, brittle-looking sprouts that bear a curiously organic-looking fruit of some kind that doesn't look like it's intended for consumption by any natives of the planet. In one rocky nook of the crater, light catches on the surface of a pool of water, which seems strangely out of place on Cybertron. On closer inspection, it seems that somehow an underground water source has formed a spring in the crater.

B) The center of the city.
If you follow where your feet seem to want to carry you, you'll find yourself in the middle of the ruined city. It seems that the center of the city was once home to a massive forum, and some of the pillars and structures still stand. At the very center of the forum is a massive, elaborately constructed fountain, although it has now long since run dry of whatever used to fill it. One of the low, inner walls of the forum has a terminal embedded in its surface, although it looks curiously ancient, out of place with the rest of the city, and unlike the rest of the technology still left around, there doesn't seem to be any way to power it on or operate it. There are a few scattered pools of water and a few of the strange metallic plants in the city, too, but they're not quite as plentiful as in the crater.

The planet was obviously once home to a massive network of communication relays, but those have all been long since destroyed. However, with the bits and pieces left behind and a few determined minds, it wouldn't be too hard to build a working, if rudimentary, one...

Comments

[aminerproblem]

"No. Not yet, I assume? "

It'd be quite a while since he'd become acquainted the Cybertronians that would be broken into the Warrior's Elite, much less any specialized units of Decepticons.

As for Tarn specifically, he wouldn't be the first Decepticon soldier Megatron has met here. And given the other one thought he was some sort of pain-induced hallucination, he was getting real used to skeptical reactions.

[sparkwhisperer]

Not yet? A time jump is the only explanation. A young Megatron with know knowledge of himself or what him and his team stand for?

Tarn supposes it is best to make a good first impression.

"Ah, I see. Allow me to introduce myself. I am called Tarn. You appointed me to lead a division of highly trained and loyal Decepticons. We have dedicated our lives to the Decepticon cause, protecting its sanctity." He dips slightly in a respectful bow. "I am pleased to meet you, Megatron."

[aminerproblem]

"You named yourself after the city?" he remarks, intrigued.

While it was true he'd heard some troubling things about his own future, he was unfamiliar enough with the series of events to be willing to see what Tarn had to say. This warrior certainly seemed dedicated, but at the same time such intense fanaticism is exactly what would lead to something troublesome.

Still, he didn't have enough information to be concerned one way or another (outside of the initial danger).

[sparkwhisperer]

"Why, yes. In fact, my entire team is. Kaon, Vos, Helex, Tesarus, and myself. All five of us have taken the names of Decepticon cities. We have long since given up our old identities." Tarn takes a step closer, arms open in a friendly gesture. All good manners and charisma from here on out. He is determined to make it into Megatron's good graces.

"How did you find yourself here? I am trying to decipher what exactly has happened."

[aminerproblem]

Ah, back to business. As curious as he was about what this Decepticon's duties entailed and why he sacrificed so much for his cause, that would eventually need to take backseat to the more prudent matter at hand.

He proceeds to also step forward and meet Tarn at a conversational distance.

"I was with Rumble and Frenzy...We were escaping to Kaon after the riot on Croteus-12. Then, I fell unconscious and woke here in the crater."

He doubts the description bears much use, but he may as well corroborate,"And you?"

[sparkwhisperer]

Tarn feels a flare of what could only be described as 'Fanboy-ish excitement' deep in his spark. He is of course familiar with the moment of which he speaks. Such a cataclysmic moment for the Deception cause as a whole. He forces himself to snap out of his star-eyed daze.

"A fine moment for the Cause, truly." He clears a bit of static from his vocalizer. "While I wasn't doing anything nearly as ground breaking, i too was preforming my own contribution to the cause. My team and I had just caught up to a traitor. We had just preformed the appropriate execution when I, too, was rendered unconscious. Quite disorienting waking here I must admit. Again, you have my apologies for my previous actions."

Something very curious is happening and Tarn has a feeling he will need a good ally.

[aminerproblem]

It's strange to hear Tarn describe it that way. It certainly didn't feel as grandiose as is described, considering they were fugitives on the run. But that isn't what bothered him.

A look of concern crosses his features at Tarn's mention of an 'execution'. He'd never imagine that he'd have to kill one of his own with some sort of death squad. It wasn't the most comfortable of realizations.

"Appropriate execution? What was he charged with?"

[sparkwhisperer]

"He was a traitor who turned his back on the Decepticons. He sold intelligence to the Autobots resulting in the destruction of an entire fleet of ships filled with loyal mechs."

What Tarn neglected to include is that the traitor in question was captured, injured, and denied medical care unless he spilled the whereabouts of that aforementioned fleet, but really who's counting. Regardless it is treason and only shows an unacceptable weakness. But he supposes that Megatron doesn't need to know that. Especially when he seems so...uneasy about the concept.

[aminerproblem]

"I see."

The initial sentiment that flares in his spark is a cold bitterness. In his time, a single follower taking a bribe or deal from the Autobot army would be devastating. He may not have been so keen on the method, but he was far from lacking in an angry yearning for justice under special circumstances..

He has to remind himself that a lot has likely changed in Tarn's context.

"The Autobots I've met here are interested in collaboration. Perhaps this is only as long as it's in their best interests, but I can trust your loyalty will extend further than that."

[sparkwhisperer]

"Yes, of course, Megatron. I will remain loyal to you no matter the cost."

He bends to kneel at his commanders feet, looking up with bright optics as pride swells inside him at being trusted so quickly after meeting this young and spirited version of his lord Megatron.

"If I may be so bold, I would advise against an alliance with the Autobots. While it may be prudent to keep them close until we can get this bizzare situation sorted, I am still wary of what may happen after the fact- when all is said and done." Tarn bows his head, "I will, however, follow your lead. If you believe a temporary collaboration to be the best course of action, then I will monitor the situation and assure that nothing dishonest happens."

[aminerproblem]

Tarn's distrust for Autobots doesn't surprise him. Four million years of fighting doesn't just evaporate, even if the war was supposedly over as far as he was aware.

In the end, whatever executions this soldier had done during the duration of the war were ultimately under someone else's order. Likely his own. Perhaps he can use the same influence to alleviate the tension.

"I understand your concern, but you'll need to trust me," a hand rests on Tarn's shoulder,"There was plenty of opportunity to attack, but the ones I've encountered refrained from doing so. For the time being, an alliance with the Autobots who wish to work with us will be the best option."

[sparkwhisperer]

Tarn looks at the hand in his shoulder in shock. He cannot recall a single moment where Megatron has ever laid a hand in him in such a congenial manner. It was warm and held a confidence that Tarn has not seen from him in some time. His spark skips in its chamber and he bows his head ever further.

"As you command. My apologies. I am afraid that my mistrust has been conditioned for quite some time but I will do my best to attempt to overcome my own wariness."

[aminerproblem]

"I understand. It will be something we will both need to work on." He was far from being completely comfortable in Autobot company himself.

"As long as there is no clear threat, I will also stand down with you. We unfortunately needed extreme methods to topple a corrupt Senate, but we were meant to be a movement of change, not only destruction."

He takes a step back, waiting for Tarn to rise. He doesn't expect this to immediately alleviate whatever qualms this soldier had with a sworn enemy, but hopefully it will bring some cohesion.

[sparkwhisperer]

"Of course, Megatron. I will do my best not to disappoint." Tarn smoothly gathers onto his feet in a well practiced movement.

"Have you any thoughts of where to start? I'm afraid my interaction with the people that I have come across has been somewhat..." Disastrous? Bloody? Awful? Any of those adjectives would work. "...Limited. I regret to inform you that I do not know where to even begin. However, i will follow any leads that you may have."

Tarn hopes that if he is to be forced to ally with any Autobot that they are at least moderately useful.