================================= Decepticon =================================

Message: 2/10 Posted Author

Scuffle Thu Feb 10 Fulcrum

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Fulcrum appears on screen, transmitting from IHQ medbay. "Earlier this cycle I witnessed a minor confrontation between Geist and Chimera in IHQ medbay. After the Sweep threatened Chimera there was an exchange of thrown objects from both sides and a low-powered laser from Chimera - though no doubt it would have escalated further had I not intervened. It is my suggestion that both parties be temporarily banned from medbay, though I leave this judgement to my division commander.

Fulcrum Out." *Blip to spinny*

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IHQ Med Bay

The new Med Bay is large enough to house all the wounded that could result from battles against the Autobots. Near the entrance, there are a series of benches for patients awaiting treatment. Advanced medtables line the sides of the room in symetrical rows while surgery is located within the central area. In the ceiling are several crane mechanisms to assist medics in moving larger Decepticons, each one highly articulated and built to withstand the strain of lifting even Devastator. The room's floor, walls, and ceiling are fitted with forceshield generators to contain those that are too injured to return to duty, possible contaminants, and also are set to automatically engage to protect the room from combat damage. The room is immaculately clean, carries a glossy shine, and always smells of disinfectants, giving off the air of a proper medical bay. To the rear are the airlock doors that lead to the Laboratory.

Contents:

Fulcrum

Gumby Medic <IHQ>

Med-Comm

Medical Rules

Obvious exits:

East <E> leads to IHQ Laboratory.

West <W> leads to IHQ Central Chamber.

Fulcrum sits at a metable, working on.. himself? His own arm is lying disconnected on the table in front of him, stripped of all external armor plating. The medbay is dark, except for the spotlight illuminating the Blacksmith as he carefully examines his own limb with a medscalpel. Occasionally the fingers twitch, as he tests a connection. It's a somehow disturbing sight.

Boy, you'd think Fleet was a medical groupie or something, given the amount of time he spends in the assorted repair bays of the Empire. Or perhaps what the U.S. Navy likes to call a 'Sick-bay Commando,' but no, he doesn't pop in for every minor complaint. He just happens to associate a lot with MSE personnel (probably has something to do with the fact that MSE has the most active players at the moment). He pokes his head in and looks around, optics fluttering with surprise as he takes in the darkness. He steps in completely, letting his visual sensors adapt to the lighting conditions, then looks around again. Of course, he's not too worried - he knows that Hook and Scrapper are on Earth, so that even if Mixmaster is in, Flee's not in much trouble. Mixy isn't, but hey! There's Fulcrum! Fleet walks as quietly as he can, using his antigravs to muffle his footfalls, over to the Blacksmith.

Fulcrum seems absorbed in his work, checking his own neural connections and noting responses on his datapad, a preliminary study for a complete overhaul of his motor response systems he hopes to undertake. Thus he doesn't notice Fleet until he's quite close, suddenly looking up, stance returning to normal as he realises it's just Fleet. He nods a greeting, then bends back to his work and tests another connection, hoping Fleet isn't going to interrupt him with requests for repairs.

Yes, it's just Fleet. And no, no requests for repairs, but the Seeker does have questions. The pastel pyramid makes sure to stand well out of the way, and, when Fulcrum acknowledges him, says, "Fulcrum. I was hoping to find you. I needed to ask a few questions about that incident that happened here a few days back." Fleet's tone is very earnest. "If that would distract you too much, though, I can come back."

Fulcrum would wave a hand dismissively, but he hasn't got one to spare right now. "Go ahead" he drones, not looking up from his work. "Though my report covered most of the salient features."

Fleet nods. "Do you know how it got started?" Fleet asks softly. He finds a nearby seat and pulls it close enough for conversation, still staying far enough to stay out of the Blacksmith's way.

Fulcrum talks as he works, small bursts of sparks cascading from the limb every time he tests a neural link. "When I arrived, Geist was acting in a very threatening manner towards Chimera - he mentioned something about "crushing Seeker's dreams" or something like that."

Fleet frowns thoughtfully and leans back in his chair. "I think Chimera bumped into him when he was cloaked. When I saw her, she checked a terminal before using it by waving her hand around in front of it first. He runs around half-cloaked because he enjoys startling folks, but why he'd be using a terminal fully cloaked is beyond me." So it's obvious Fleet has already been checking into the incident on his own.

Fulcrum looks up, his frown mirroring Fleet's own. "Really" he states flatly. Fulcrum's not a fan of any of the Sweeps.. or their commander, if truth be known. In fact, Fulcrum distrusts all Unicronians. "Though I did not see it, I believe that Chimera did strike first - though she was obviously provoked."

"Based on what she told me, I had already surmised as much. She said he got on her nerves, and that she wanted to defend herself. I asked if he had attacked her, or her nerves, and her only answer was that she wasn't easy prey." Fleet shrugs as he rubs his chin thoughtfully. "I imagine she isn't, and I, personally, wouldn't take her up on testing that out, but that sounds very much like the sort of insult Geist would use."

Fulcrum shrugs. "As I said, I only caught the end of the confrontation. Objects were thrown. Chimera opened fire. Easy prey or not, I believe Chimera may have been severely damaged if no-one was there to stop the Sweep."

Fleet sighs softly, shaking his head. "Idiot. Well, really, both of them. Idiots. I know something about the past problems between Seekers and Sweeps, although I generally avoided Sweeps when that business was going on." The phrasing indicates that he doesn't anymore. For anyone knowing what a coward Fleet is, that might seem a bit odd. "It does no one any good if that business flares up again, except maybe the Autobots," the Seeker actually growls softly as he speaks.

"From my experiance it is the attitude of the Sweeps that inevitably leads to such confrontations" Fulcrum notes. "It is only their special status within the Empire that protects them from severe disciplinary actions - and even that has limits."

Fleet shakes his head. "I had hoped that Geist's actually being civil with Comcast on their first meeting had indicated an improvement in attitude, but apparently not." Fleet supports his left elbow with his right hand, then rests his head in his left palm, optics dimming. "Just what did I get myself into?" he murmurs softly, shades of worry coloring his voice.

Fulcrum looks at Fleet for a long moment. "Got yourself into?" he asks. "You are not just talking about the usual tensions between our kind and the Sweeps. There is something else."

"Geist has been training me," Fleet admits, sinking a little lower into his chair. He glances at Fulcrum out of the corner of his optical sensors, concerned over the Blacksmith's reaction.

Training him? Fulcrum blinks. He wasn't really expecting that - he figured the sweeps had been antagonising Fleet, or that he was doing research on them, or something like that. Training? Well that's odd.. but not that bad. Unity is strength, and all that. "I see" he replies. "Training you in what?"

Fulcrum isn't angry? Huzzah! Fleet turns his head more in Fulcrum's direction now. "So far it's been primarily agility training. He's been using a series of specialized training room programs, but I had hit a ceiling. I was already very near my factory limits for agility, and couldn't get much farther using training alone. But he also took me on a supervised hunt... basically, I did all the hunting and he watched and evaluated."

Fulcrum is more likely to be angry about intra-faction confrontations than something that will prove beneficial to the individual and the Empire. But still.. that does sound a bit odd. Why would a sweep pay such close attention one Seeker out of many? "It is... unusual to see a Sweep so interested in the skills and abilities of one outside their pack" he remarks in a neutral tone.

Fleet pulls himself back up. Sinking too low in a chair can get uncomfortable when you've got wings like a Seeker's. "So I've gathered," he answers. "The first time I met him, I was with Arachnae. He came off very abrasively, as you might expect, but you know me." Fleet shrugs his shoulders, keeping wings relatively still. "I don't have enough of an ego to let taunting get to me. Then Arachnae told him to leave me alone because she likes me, and that caught his attention. He's been watching me ever since."

Fulcrum's optics flicker. Arachnae likes Fleet? That's not a comforting statement. Now he understands what Fleet means when he asks what he's got himself into. "I would be... careful" he finally states. "Arachnae can be unpredictable." And scary, he silently adds. Very scary. "To say nothing of the Sweeps themselves."

Fleet knows that's not comforting! And he knows how scary both Arachnae and the Sweeps can be! "I know," Fleet grumbles. "It wasn't my idea, and it wasn't my intention. But considering the sorts of people whose attention I seem to have caught... well, a lot of my old survival techniques just plain aren't working anymore." Fleet even got a promotion! This is all very bad! "So when Geist offered the training, I accepted. May as well add to the survival tool-kid, after all. And this would make me of more use to the Empire as well. But yes... even Arachnae warned me to be alert with the training." He looks at the other seeker. "Actually, she recommended I get someone outside of 'the Pack' to watch my back."

"I'm sure that either myself, Comcast, Catechism, and perhaps even Chimera would come to your aid, should you request it" Fulcrum replies honestly. "Also, you are in a unique position - you may be privy to information usually kept within the Pack. This could be useful if this recent incident with Chimera is the start of something larger." He frowns, hating the general atmosphere of low-level treachery and backstabbing that prevails within the Decepticon ranks.

"Yeah. Although I haven't had the opportunity to talk to Geist since that happened." Fleet leans forward slightly and looks off at nothing in particular. "Comcast already knows that Geist has been training me, too," and we all know how much will come of /that/ since his player picked up Soundwave. "It amuses me that one of the things Geist labels as my strong suits is that I'm not wrapped up in myself, 'unlike most Seekers.' But then, the more I learn about Sweeps, and yes, they are different, and for the most part, think differently... but the more I learn about them, the more convinced I am that the friction between our two groups doesn't stem so much from our differences as from our similarities."

Fulcrum's frown deepens. From HIS point of view, the friction is due to the Sweeps insisting that a) They're better than anyone else EVER (okay, so that's a /bit/ like Seekers), and b) That they're all scary monsters that wallow in spilt energon and would cheerfully rip your pump out as soon as look at you. "Perhaps" he replies. "Still, I would advise caution in that area as well. As creations of the Dark God, they are... dangerous."

Fleet chuckles softly. "Fulcrum, please! When it concerns keeping my hull in-tact, have you ever known me /not/ to be careful? I know full well that they're dangerous! That's why I avoided them in the past! But the moment Arachnae decided she liked me and let one of them know, that wasn't even an option anymore. So..." he raises his right hand, palm up in a 'what would you expect?' gesture. "I decided I may as well try to learn from them. And yes, I know I'm taking a risk, but the payoff..." he trails off, then shakes his head. "One of the risks I didn't really consider, however, is the sort of position it puts me in if the rivalry flares up again."

Fulcrum nods. "You would be caught in the middle. And I would expect the Sweeps to suddenly become a lot less friendly." He shrugs. "But if you know the risks, and are willing to accept them.." Fulcrum figures the whole thing will end badly in ANY case, but doesn't he always?

'This will lead to trouble' is a statement that is generally true no matter what you're talking about. Fleet may not be the pessimist that Fulcrum is, but he knows that. The yellow seeker stands. "Well, thank you for answering my questions. I mostly just wanted to gauge the likelihood of things getting worse. That's part of knowing the risks, after all." For a moment, Fleet rests his hands on the back of the chair he had been sitting in. "And I think telling you about what is going on was probably a good idea, anyway." 'Unity is strength,' as /someone/ around here is prone to saying. "I'll leave you alone and let you get back to work."

"Good luck" Fulcrum intones, turning back to his work as Fleet leaves.