[ open ]

[deadpartners]

Who: Arcee and YOU!
Where: All around L.A.
When: THIS WEEK
What: Arcee's scouting out the city, gathering information and getting to know humankind.
Warnings: idk robots

Nothing about this mission has been easy. Not spending the terse weeks in the cramped Rod Pod with Rodimus, not trying to keep her troops in line, nothing to do with Optimus -- no, Orion now. It had been hard to let him go, to watch him walk away when she knows that she and the other Autobot pose the least threat to him. If he goes back to Megatron, Arcee's not sure what'll happen with the war. And the fact that Megatron's on this planet at all is cause for concern.

That, and the considerably more local threats. Orion's terrifying bout of mind control hadn't come at the hands of the Decepticons, but something Earth-based. Something deeply sinister. Arcee knows a bit about this planet, but not enough. It's starting to look like they might be here a while, so she decides it's time for some serious recon.

She has a holomatter avatar for precisely this reason -- blending in with the local populace, maintaining a low profile. It's a remote projection, solid enough to interact with its environment and relay data back to Arcee. She can learn a lot just by driving around, but certain information is a lot easier to come by when you get up close and personal. She can be found around the city either as her human avatar, who's gathering any information she might be able to find about Megatron's whereabouts and the strange happenings in L.A. of light, or as a sleek motorcycle on the city streets, either bearing a holographic rider when on the move (because a motorcycle moving on its own would definitely be cause for suspicion), or unattended while parked out of the way to watch passersby.

[ Feel free to request a thread starter if you need one! ]

Comments

[chapterfiveversenine]

"We cannot confirm this statement," Legion notes. "We have yet to encounter Decepticon forces. If they promise equally to restrict their combat operations, we will not intervene unless absolutely necessary."

[deadpartners]

"I wouldn't hold them to it," Arcee says, maybe a little harshly. She's not feeling too charitable about Decepticon intentions right about now. "They're not exactly known for keeping collateral damage to a minimum. We'll do everything in our power to keep them at bay -- the Autobots don't have any interest in interfering with things here on Earth -- but the Decepticons aren't exactly compassionate toward organic life."

[chapterfiveversenine]

"Yet if the allegiance of Orion Pax is in question, then any data you provide is equally questionable," Legion responds. "Are you familiar with methods to contact Decepticon leadership?"

[deadpartners]

"Don't you think it's the other way around? That any data Orion provides is questionable? I mean, I trust his judgment and his instinct, but he also doesn't remember the last seven thousand years." Talking to Legion is frustrating more often than not, it seems. Arcee shakes her head, venting out a sigh. "I don't have Decepticon communication frequencies, if that's what you're asking, and I don't know where they're based, either."

[chapterfiveversenine]

"Data provided by Orion Pax is equally questionable," Legion acknowledges. "Two factions have arrived on planet, and both claim the allegiance of a single Cybertronian. Each individual member of either faction poses significant risk to local civilians.. All data must be confirmed across multiple sources to ensure no falsehoods result in civilian casualties."

They consider. "Do general Cybertronian communication frequencies exist? Have Autobot and Decepticon forces attempted contact or negotiations in the past?"

[deadpartners]

"They do," Arcee says, not quite reluctantly -- more in resignation. "And of course we have. At least a dozen times over. The Decepticons have never shown any real interest in a ceasefire -- except for when it was a trap."

[chapterfiveversenine]

"We will attempt contact," Legion says. "Circumstances are different—external forces are present."

[deadpartners]

Arcee almost makes a comment in argument -- that this isn't the first time Autobots have met Decepticons on a planet inhabited by another species -- but she decides against it. It doesn't exactly make them look any better.

"If you manage to work something out with them, let me know," she says, a little shortly. She can't help but feel that Legion's wasting their time. "Good luck dealing with Megatron -- and watch out. He can be tricky."