A helm peeks into the room tentatively before the frame follows it and performs a salute. “My Lord, unit ST-3V3 reporting. You requested my presence?” Now what could this be about? He doesn’t THINK he’s made any major screw-ups lately, but that’s not going to diminish the fresh wave of anxiety at all.

st3v3-the-eradicon:

mighty-megatron:

mightymegatron:

Megatron comes to stand before the lone vehicon, datapad in hand.

“Soldier. Am I correct in stating that you are the one that created and distributed this document?”

No evasion. Very good. Either this mech was more practiced at deception than his spy, or he was being truthful. Still. Starscream not only showing compassion towards a mere soldier, but deferring glory to him? If they were not scheming against him together, then what could-

…Interesting.

“You claim that you do not wish for anything, and yet you have engineered the perpetuation of the Decepticons in my absence. Loyalty and determination like yours is something that cannot go unnoticed. I realize that your anonymity is a great asset when utilized wisely, but nothing is stronger than an idea. A symbol. I shall be thanking Sigma for his efforts publicly, as our plan to reclaim the Nemesis is solidified.” He turns back to Steve, smirking.

“If nothing else, I would like you to be involved, regardless of whether or not you choose to step forward before the troops as the focus of their gratitude.”

Steve calms just slightly when his leader’s suspicious tone dies back. Still.. he doesn’t handle praise when its from close friends. The fact that it’s Megatron claiming he’s “engineered” things and praising his loyalty…

The eradicon’s helm swims and he looses a chuckle that’s half nervous, half giddy.

“Aah… really m’lord, your approval is all I require…”

Then he realizes what’s just been said.

“Wait…. retake… the Nemesis? You mean… Lord Megatron do you mean to say we really are taking it back? Soon?”

If he wasn’t excited enough before…

The warlord flashes his sharpened denta.

“But of course! I cannot allow the Autobots to hold such an advantage over us. The technology on that ship is an asset that has been left in their hands for long enough. And I believe that even with our diminished resources, it can be reclaimed with a bit of strategy. They are all that stand between us and control of our home world, and nothing stands in my way for very long.”

A helm peeks into the room tentatively before the frame follows it and performs a salute. “My Lord, unit ST-3V3 reporting. You requested my presence?” Now what could this be about? He doesn’t THINK he’s made any major screw-ups lately, but that’s not going to diminish the fresh wave of anxiety at all.

st3v3-the-eradicon:

mighty-megatron:

mightymegatron:

Megatron comes to stand before the lone vehicon, datapad in hand.

“Soldier. Am I correct in stating that you are the one that created and distributed this document?”

His immediate reaction is to grin. There was obvious sincerity to his words, something that Starscream nearly always lacked in his grovelling. But if the soldier was indeed sincere, then the absolute fear and panic in his optics was something that shouldn’t be there. Was he really so terrifying to those most loyal?

“Calm yourself. I do not wish to take credit for your actions. You performed admirably, and deserve to be rewarded.” Megatron circles around to Steve’s opposite side as he speaks. The predatory nature of this act is largely unintentional. “Although, you come highly recommended by my ever-loyal lieutenant. Forgive me if I find this suspicious in itself.”

The eradicon’s legs tense up and even though he wants to stay facing the direction his leader is, he can’t move. ”Ah… I am flattered that the commander has mentioned me at all, M’Lord. I am truly undeserving of any praise though…” He doesn’t miss the sarcasm in his leader’s voice. That’s right… his berth-mate and their leader had a track record. Steve is momentarily tempted to deny much affiliation with him. But that would feel like a betrayal of the commander’s trust after how close they’d grown. And besides…

"I owe a great deal of thanks to Commander Starscream. It was he who found me after I crash-landed in Vos and tended to my recovery. I might have perished there had he not taken me in and shared what energon he’d managed to harvest with me. Please forgive me my lord… I don’t mean to arouse your suspicion.”

No evasion. Very good. Either this mech was more practiced at deception than his spy, or he was being truthful. Still. Starscream not only showing compassion towards a mere soldier, but deferring glory to him? If they were not scheming against him together, then what could-

…Interesting.

“You claim that you do not wish for anything, and yet you have engineered the perpetuation of the Decepticons in my absence. Loyalty and determination like yours is something that cannot go unnoticed. I realize that your anonymity is a great asset when utilized wisely, but nothing is stronger than an idea. A symbol. I shall be thanking Sigma for his efforts publicly, as our plan to reclaim the Nemesis is solidified.” He turns back to Steve, smirking.

“If nothing else, I would like you to be involved, regardless of whether or not you choose to step forward before the troops as the focus of their gratitude.”

A helm peeks into the room tentatively before the frame follows it and performs a salute. “My Lord, unit ST-3V3 reporting. You requested my presence?” Now what could this be about? He doesn’t THINK he’s made any major screw-ups lately, but that’s not going to diminish the fresh wave of anxiety at all.

st3v3-the-eradicon:

mightymegatron:

Megatron comes to stand before the lone vehicon, datapad in hand.

“Soldier. Am I correct in stating that you are the one that created and distributed this document?”

Steve’s mouth opens and closes even as his leader speaks. Convincing? Candidates? Intentions? Danger??? Gain???? He’s reeling by the time Lord Megatron finishes and awaits his reply. To start he tries to diffuse the most alarming perceived accusation.

“M-my Lord, please… I never meant any harm or disrespect! Sir I want nothing from you I… I didn’t write that to gain anything I would never try to usurp your leadership! I swear to you only a few mechs know I was Sigma and they’ve kept quiet about it!”

Primus he knew he never should have written that. And he should have been far more vocal about Sigma not trying to take Megatron’s place it was just a crazy rumor that had been perpetuated in a crazy situation. He didn’t want anything to do with leading in the first place.

Resisting the urge to openly cower, Steve continues, “You will always be my master, Sir, please, anything I have to do to show I’m loyal I’ll do it! Y-you can have the title if you want half of our ranks believed you were Sigma in the first place!”

Yes all the better. Steve wants nothing to do with it or whatever status it entailed. Good riddance. He just hoped that would get a target off of his back, because although he loved and respected the warlord in front of him…. he didn’t quite yet believe he wasn’t in danger

His immediate reaction is to grin. There was obvious sincerity to his words, something that Starscream nearly always lacked in his grovelling. But if the soldier was indeed sincere, then the absolute fear and panic in his optics was something that shouldn’t be there. Was he really so terrifying to those most loyal?

“Calm yourself. I do not wish to take credit for your actions. You performed admirably, and deserve to be rewarded.” Megatron circles around to Steve’s opposite side as he speaks. The predatory nature of this act is largely unintentional. “Although, you come highly recommended by my ever-loyal lieutenant. Forgive me if I find this suspicious in itself.”

A helm peeks into the room tentatively before the frame follows it and performs a salute. “My Lord, unit ST-3V3 reporting. You requested my presence?” Now what could this be about? He doesn’t THINK he’s made any major screw-ups lately, but that’s not going to diminish the fresh wave of anxiety at all.

st3v3-the-eradicon:

mightymegatron:

Megatron comes to stand before the lone vehicon, datapad in hand.

“Soldier. Am I correct in stating that you are the one that created and distributed this document?”

….?

Steve stares dumbly at the datapad for several nanos before he recognizes it and tenses up from shock. Oh Primus. He’d… he’d forgotten all about that. Well he remembered but… somehow he’d never taken into account it was still floating around somewhere. And now here it was in his lord’s servos. Did he read…—!?

Hot embarrassment flares across the vehicon’s faceplate. His fans click on of their own accord the next instant. And though he was obligated to answer his leader quickfully and truthfully…. he hesitates. Because the mech that wrote that journal was one born out of conflict and necessity. And now that things had quieted down Steve was not so sure he still existed.

Too late though. The drone sees Megatron assessing his reaction. He wouldn’t be believed even if he dared to lie. Which he doesn’t.

Swallowing back the static building in his vocalizer, Steve stammers out a quiet affirmative. If ever he lamented not wearing his visor it was now when it could be hiding his very transparent mortification and panic.

Without his visor again, the soldier was clearly in distress. His initial reaction was more answer than any ST-3V3 could have given.

“Then you are the mech responsible.” His tone remains conversational, even- well, not friendly. But less cold than it is when barking out orders or speaking to Starscream. “I must say that your tale is rather convincing. Although, as I have not had luck with candidates for officers in the recent past, I must find myself questioning your intentions. You are in no danger- I merely wish to know the nature of your intent through such actions, and what it is you hope to gain from me as a result.”

His optics remain locked onto the vehicon’s, focusing on every little affectation of the soldier’s mannerisms.

A helm peeks into the room tentatively before the frame follows it and performs a salute. “My Lord, unit ST-3V3 reporting. You requested my presence?” Now what could this be about? He doesn’t THINK he’s made any major screw-ups lately, but that’s not going to diminish the fresh wave of anxiety at all.

Megatron comes to stand before the lone vehicon, datapad in hand.

“Soldier. Am I correct in stating that you are the one that created and distributed this document?”

To-Do List

Confront Starscream and continue speaking to Soundwave, interrogate the soldier, accompany Knockout to Pharma, continue writing announcement speech. Ensure that is is appropriately worded. ~~Make a call.~~ ~~Get some rest.~~ ~~Replace optic filters.~~ Lay out details of plan.

Lord Megatron, how have you been faring since your arrival to Polyhex? Have your new accommodations been to your liking?

starscreamthefirst:

mighty-megatron:

mightymegatron:

Starscream. Contact with him was now inevitable, although in this state, Megatron was understandably more hesitant than usual to initiate it. His resolve steels as soon as that all-too-familiar voice registers in his audials.

“As well as one would expect, Starscream. My accommodations matters little in the scope of what this reunion affords. Tell me- How did you all manage to escape and rebuild this facility?”

So you had no hand in their escape? How strange for you to admit to such a thing, Starscream. If this soldier is worthy of even your praise, then there must be something more…

What datafile?

I-I, ah…Believe me, my lord, I wanted to help them, truly I did. But what could I have done? I had no way of communicating with any of our soldiers without risking their safety.

But if you want to read the file yourself, I have a copy of it here.

Then my decision has been solidified, it would seem.

*He begins to peruse the file.*

…….

I must speak with this soldier.

Lord Megatron, how have you been faring since your arrival to Polyhex? Have your new accommodations been to your liking?

starscreamthefirst:

mightymegatron:

Starscream. Contact with him was now inevitable, although in this state, Megatron was understandably more hesitant than usual to initiate it. His resolve steels as soon as that all-too-familiar voice registers in his audials.

“As well as one would expect, Starscream. My accommodations matters little in the scope of what this reunion affords. Tell me- How did you all manage to escape and rebuild this facility?”

Ah, y-yes, of course, ST-3V3. Well, it is as I said, my liege, I had to escape immediately to spare myself from an even greater defeat. Ste-ST-3V3 was one of the first prisoners of the Autobots to be allowed communication through his datapad, and so he was the only method I had of knowing their situation. According to a datafile he later released, he was one of the first to initiate a resistance within the Eradicons.

So you had no hand in their escape? How strange for you to admit to such a thing, Starscream. If this soldier is worthy of even your praise, then there must be something more…

What datafile?

Pardon, my lord. There is a matter that requires your approval. Our technical team needs to travel down to the shaft we’ve made to get to those deep energon wells and install the primary components of our pumping system. Will you authorize an allotment of supplies for them? I have the list here.

st3v3-the-eradicon:

mightymegatron:

He looks over the list. All of these supplies are necessary for the task at hand. He increases the amount of cable and welding material in case an emergency were to happen before signing off on the list. His EM field remains empty and his voice monotonous.

“Is there anything else that is required of me?”

Steve thought his supply list was generous from the get-go, and honestly he had been expecting Megatron to edit it, but he didn’t think their leader would actually provide more. The vehicon’s optics widen in surprise, and as the list is handed back to him he salutes gratefully.

“Thank you, m’lord! I believe this is all we will require.”

He looks back with blank optics at the salute. There is no need for it.

Pardon, my lord. There is a matter that requires your approval. Our technical team needs to travel down to the shaft we’ve made to get to those deep energon wells and install the primary components of our pumping system. Will you authorize an allotment of supplies for them? I have the list here.

He looks over the list. All of these supplies are necessary for the task at hand. He increases the amount of cable and welding material in case an emergency were to happen before signing off on the list. His EM field remains empty and his voice monotonous.

“Is there anything else that is required of me?”