SEMI OPEN

[rodders]

WHO: THE CREW OF THE LOST LIGHT
WHERE: MACCADAM’S OLD OIL HOUSE
WHEN: BEFORE DRIFT AND RATCHET GET MAULED BY TARN, AFTER THE RODIMUS/TARN INCIDENT
WHAT: INFORMATION SHARING AND PEOPLE DRINKING TOGETHER
WARNINGS: NONE MAN, NONE

Informality is the name of the game here, people. Rodimus and Megatron, through some handwaved miracle have managed to talk to each other without yelling long enough to get the word out that hey - if you’re a part of the crew you’d better show up for some Important Information and Crew Bonding. But probably not phrased like that unless you talked to Rodimus. Drinks, however, were totally promised (again by Rodimus). You just have to make them yourself, although that was not clarified.

There is a sign on the front door that says NO TARNS ALLOWED. The plural is important since there’s like. Four goddamn Megatrons.

Topics covered:

Tarn is here btw and that sucks for everyone so. Don’t.

For the time being they’re going to include Brainstorm as an Autobot - he starts acting like a Decepticon and any crew member has the right to punch him until he stops.

Drift is acting third-in-command. Non-negotiable.

AND FOR GOD’S SAKE DO NOT ANTAGONIZE DECEPTICONS WHO ARE MORE POWERFUL THAN YOU, RODIMUS.

Ideas of why/how they got here - this includes getting the crew caught up (who hasn’t been already) on the quantum ships as well as what they know of the Brainstorm situation.

People who are capable of doing things to make life less sucky should do that. Team Rodimus! This is your moment!

AND MORE, POSSIBLY.

The rest of this post is to mingle, talk to your crew members. If you have questions that need to be addressed to either captain, specify which one you want if you have one in mind or otherwise one or the other/both will get to it!

If there is anything your character would bring up to the group as a whole, feel free to make a thread for that too - this is really kind of a free-for-all group post to have people mingle and gossip and hammer out something to do!

Comments

[amicuscuriae]

FOR ANYONE

Minimus had been standing to one side, arms crossed as the main points where discussed. He still hadn't quite gotten his bearing with the time disparity, but he was doing an awfully good job of not showing it.

"Do we know that this is all of the crew who are this planet? I know my own arrival was quite a bit later than most, from what I've heard." He asked, gesturing to the room at large.

"And do we have any idea what is the cause of all this to begin with?"

FOR MEGATRON

Of course, being told Megatron was now captain of the ship and actually experiencing it were two very different things. Minimus was certainly watching Megatron suspiciously through the whole discussion, but didn't bring anything up since most of the crew did not seem to find any concern with the situation.

One all the main matters had been attended to Minimus chose to confront the new captain directly. He moved from his former position, walking over to stand at Megatron's elbow (if remaining a sensible distance away).

"I'm sure this is probably obvious to everyone from your point in time, but Rodimus only gave me a brief overview of events that have occurred after the point when I arrived here. Would you mind explaining the specifics of how you came to be co-captain of the Lost Light, wearing an Autobrand no less?" He asked, pointing to the symbol on Megatron's chest accusingly. His tone was civil enough, but there was an edge of evident distrust regardless.

[rodders]

"This is everyone we could find, and everyone that we could find could find. So for right now this is it." It's not a bad turn out as far as Rodimus is concerned. Except for Megatron, it's people he likes - Brainstorm is kind of up in the air, but for right now they'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

As for the last question he just kind of shrugs. "My best bet was on Brainstorm. He says it isn't him, but how many people do we know who can pull this off?" Brainstorm until proven otherwise has been standard operating procedure for Rodimus on the Lost Light for as long as he can remember. And probably everyone else, too.

[amicuscuriae]

Minimus can't help but shake his head at that. Not that he would be surprised if it was Brainstorm, but if it was not that just meant it could be anything. "I suppose that isn't really relevant. It might not even have happened in our universe, for all we know."

He looked back over the small crowd, frowning as he did so. You could see him mentally evaluating each and every person there, taking stock.

"Until we have viable access to a communication network, I think it would be best if we assigned squads as if it was a mission. We already know Tarn is out there, and who knows what else. We don't want someone wandering off on their own and getting killed." He said, with a pointed and disappointing glare at the weld marks on Rodimus' arm.

[rodders]

Okay, that was something that Rodimus hadn't considered, if only because most of the people he'd run into happened to be from their own. There were the two infant humans and the Megatron-that-wasn't, so it wasn't impossible. "Drift says," as if Magnus hadn't gone long enough without hearing those two words preface anything good, "that we're here for a reason." What reason Rodimus hadn't figured out yet. If Drift was even right about that in the first place.

That look, however, is hard to miss. Rodimus frowned, hand tracing the marks before letting his hand fall to his side. "Hey, I already got yelled at by Ratchet and Megatron. You don't need to join them." Please don't lecture him. "Our personal comms still work for the most part, plus we've given everyone advance warning."

So, you know, they at least have something going for them. Because how long does anyone thing the crew of the Lost Light can stay teamed up for?

[amicuscuriae]

Of course Drift said that. Why wouldn't he. You could tell him Drift had somehow come up with a way to link all this to the Knights of Cybertron and he wouldn't be surprised.

If Ratchet already delivered a lecture he'll let it slide for now, but that certainly didn't mean he approved.

"Hopefully the personal comms will be enough, the last thing we need is to lose what few crewmembers we have before this is resolved." Especially those who actually have a shot at solving this problem.

"I know I don't have quite as much to offer without the Magnus Armor, but I'll do everything I can to help make sure everyone gets back safely."

[rodders]

He probably has - Rodimus hasn't asked and it hasn't really come up. It would definitely be a Drift thing to do. But he slumps lightly, more relaxed now the possibility of an immediate lecture has passed. Small mercies, right, and he throws Magnus a grin.

"We've survived Tyrest and most of us disappearing from reality. What's the worst Tarn can do?" He'd like to see Tarn accomplish something like that. Hah. But his smile falters, and the look that Rodimus turns on Magnus is one of confusion. "Why would the armor make a difference, Magnus? Sure, we've got to find you something to stand on if you want to loom but that's doable."

As far as Rodimus is concerned - past the lying and the trying to get him killed which, yeah, thanks for that - Minimus Ambus and Ultra Magnus are one and the same, and just as useful as the other.

[amicuscuriae]

"Rodimus, please," he interjected, with some resignation. He really doesn't appreciate the joke (not that he would under different circumstances either).

"I appreciate the sentiment, I really do, but I think we can both agree that my abilities are not exactly on par with Ultra Magnus at the moment."

[rodders]

The only person who understands him is going to be in a coma soon. It's a tragedy.

"Look, Magnus." He frowns, unsure of how to continue on. This is the part he's still not sure about, is still trying to deal with in a way that matters and shows the other bot that he's trying to fix all of his mistakes. Be better. All of that.

This would be a lot easier of Magnus actually remembered it happening. "So you can't punch your way through a wall of 'cons anymore. That's fine, there's only like five of them. It's still good to have you here."

[amicuscuriae]

"Minimus Ambus," he corrected, regarding Rodimus critically for a moment. It wasn't Rodimus' statement but the hesitation that caught his attention.

"Yes I suppose you're right." He'd never admit it, but it was actually very reassuring to hear it said outright. "I'm glad I can be here to help at all."

[rodders]

"You didn't mind Magnus before. Won't mind it, whatever." Just because he didn't say anything doesn't mean he doesn't mind it is a thought that had not occurred to Rodimus. He barely had time to come clean, let alone decide on a name to call Magnus that was agreed on by all parties.

"Good," was his response, a smile flickering across his face. "Now we just have to figure out how to get back. Brainstorm and Nautica are here, it won't take them very long."

They could use Percy though, all things considered.

[amicuscuriae]

"Well it would no doubt be more applicable if I had retrieved the Magnus Armor, continued to serve with a crew that knew me primarily by that moniker, and things had been resolved regarding Tyrest, but none of those things have happened, yet, have they. Besides," he hesitated a moment, suddenly very conscious about what he was about to say, "this is a good opportunity to distance myself from all of that. A fresh start perhaps."

He turned away quickly, looking over the crowd again before gesturing to the one purple and gold bot in the room.
"Speaking of new starts, this Nautica joined the Lost Light on it's second launch? What can you tell me about her?"

[rodders]

"For you," he points out. The ease with which the crew simply didn't care was something Rodimus liked about his crew. They were good people. "But sure, Magnus." Good job, Rodimus. "Minimus," he corrected, giving Magnus-- Minimus a smile. He was never sure how the dual names worked out for the people that used them. Fort Max was always Fort Max and Prime was either or and sometimes both. But Minimus is closer to Magnus than Ambus is, and that's what he decides to use. He can't fault the other for wanting a fresh start - it's something he'd wanted after Overlord, something he thought he had before it was taken from him.

"Nautica?" He shrugged, tucking his arms behind his helm. "Not much - you met her first, actually, when you and the rest of the crew found Metroplex." Ask him where he was at that point in time, Minimus, it'll be a great story. "She does magic with Percy and Brainstorm."

[towardspeace]

"Ah." Megatron looks down at him. An unfamiliar figure, but he's had this explained to him... "Minimus Ambus, isn't it? I'm sorry, we've never met outside of the... armour... But, no, of course – what have you already been told?"

[amicuscuriae]

Having people call him Minimus again still felt odd, but hearing if from Megatron was frankly unnerving. He's not sure if that was meant to be a joke, or a threat, or what, honestly.

"That after Shockwave's attempt to rewrite the universe you stood trial for your crimes against Cybertron and as a result were assigned co-captaincy of the Lost Light." He replied matter-of-factly, arms crossed over his chest.

"He was uncharacteristically reticent about the situation."

[towardspeace]

"I'm not surprised," he says. He pauses, noting that reaction, and says, "Would you prefer Ultra Magnus? I wasn't sure."

[amicuscuriae]

"No, no. Ambus is fine." He replied hastily, one hand up to stop Megatron from continuing. Without the armor, without his job, after everything that had happened with Tyrest...

"'Ultra Magnus' is- it hardly seems appropriate. Circumstances as they are."

[towardspeace]

Megatron frowns, feeling like that isn't the whole answer, but he doesn't press it, just nods and moves on to the explanation he promised. He likes Ultra Magnus, as much as he likes anyone on the Lost Light, and he'd prefer not to get off on the wrong foot here – which is kind of a joke, really, because he's been getting off on the wrong foot with Ultra Magnus for four million years, or for however long Minimus Ambus has been Ultra Magnus, but all the same...

"In exchange for my agreement to publicly dissolve the Decepticons, Optimus agreed to let me join the quest for the Knights of Cybertron," he explains. "I was convinced I could do a better job of it than had been done so far... which was, perhaps, overoptimistic of me. As for how I defected... I saw the error of my ways; do you find that at all plausible?"

[amicuscuriae]

"To be perfectly honest, no I don't. It is incredibly difficult to believe that after four million years of warfare you suddenly had a change of heart, and after everything the Decepticons have done, all of the murder, chaos, and injustice committed in your name, that you would be allowed to go free. But if that is one more thing I need to accept to get through this equally improbable turn of events, so be it."

It may be one more thing he had to accept but he certainly didn't like it. That fact was evident in his tone, which managed to stay just shy of a vindictive accusation. Primus knows Minimus had his fair share of personal grievances with the former leader of the Decepticons.

"One day you and I will have to discuss your trial in more detail, I'm very curious about how this outcome was reached. Meanwhile, why would you want to find the Knights of Cybertron?"

[towardspeace]

He'll take that 'so be it', honestly, simply for the luxury of not having to repeat himself again. Much though he'd prefer Minimus a little more on his side than this, he's had ample practice tolerating people not liking him.

"If we could really find Cyberutopia, it would be... a better home for our race than the one we ruined. The one... I ruined," he corrects himself, a little tersely. "I have rather a lot to make up for, and that would be... a start."

[amicuscuriae]

"Yes." It was an agreement in two parts, both for the sentiment and the scale of Megatron's reparations. The old warlord's sincerity didn't go unnoticed either, which was an unexpected curiosity. It really made him wonder more about these world altering events he seems to have missed. Or not experienced yet. Either way, it did put things in a slightly different light.

"And how has your captaincy been thus far? Knowing this crew I would be surprised if such a drastic shift in command was well accepted." Knowing this crew he wouldn't be surprised if someone had tried to murder Megatron the moment he stepped on board.

[towardspeace]

"Co-captaincy," Megatron corrects him, just a little sarcastically. "It hasn't been... smooth... but the, ah, adventures have been worse than the crew's distrust."

[amicuscuriae]

Minimus look slightly taken aback at the correction, surely that's implied. Little did he know the lengths Rodimus would go to assert that fact.

"Yes, the ship disappearing due a malfunction with the quantum engines. Rodimus mentioned that."

[towardspeace]

"Yes... Did he mention it reappearing, full of corpses?" Megatron asks wearily.

[amicuscuriae]

"No. He said the ship reappeared and after everyone boarded Brainstorm knocked out the crew in order to time travel to the past."
Rodimus may not be the best at relaying information but that sounded pretty notable, not to mention concerning. There must have been a reason he skimmed over that.

"Whose corpses?"

baps u with this super late tag

[planate]

A supposed member of the Lost Light that Pipes has never seen before? There's no way he'd pass Minimus over.

Suave as ever, Pipes saunters over to the other minibot (it's nice to not be the only other tiny one there, honestly) and settles next to him, "Drift and I thought it might have something to do with the other Cybertronians of this... timeline, I guess." A casual handwave. Pipes is still excited to be here, especially now he knows he's not alone. He's sure everything will be fine.

He looks around the room at everyone else briefly. "So, uh. You were on the Lost Light too, huh?"