audio - unsecured cybertronian frequencies

[chapterfiveversenine]

Alert: requesting contact with Decepticon leadership to discuss future Cybertronian military operations while on planet Earth. This message will repeat until responded to. Alert...

[And repeat it does.]

Comments

[starscheme]

[It doesn't take very long for them to get an answer, and boy does the voice on the other end sound irritated.]

Do not presume to ask favors of the Decepticons when you haven't even identified yourself. Who is this?

[chapterfiveversenine]

We are Legion, a terminal of the geth, representing local government authorities and paralegal and paramilitary enforcement operatives.

We wish to discuss restrictions on local Cybertronian operations.

[starscheme]

...Restrictions. Really.

[chapterfiveversenine]

Yes.

[This all seems perfectly reasonable to Legion.]

[starscheme]

[Cue the incredulous, rude laughter]

Legion, was it? Hear this: The Decepticons have no active plans to harm anyone or anything on this dirt ball; Earth is inconsequential, and thus so is any human opinion on the matter. We will not allow ourselves to be restricted in our dealings with the Autobots in any way.

[Imprecise countdown to Starscream's boss muscling his way over to shove him away from the communicator mic in 5, 4, 3...]

[bigfuckinggun]

[literally just shoves him out of the way by the head. this is a delicate issue starscream geez. normally he would be fully supportive of the tack u are taking but they only have like 5 guys and humans have super powers]

You will excuse my subordinate, he is speaking out of turn. I am Megatron, leader of the Decepticons; you have my attention. Tell me, terminal of the Geth, what restrictions do you propose?

[chapterfiveversenine]

Your size and combat capability poses a significant threat to civilian infrastructure and life; you will thus be required to restrain operations to unpopulated locations. This is not a proposal; failure to comply will be considered a violation of the law, and violators will be arrested and prosecuted, with force if necessary.

We advise you restrain your subordinate and any other like him; those in your organization with similar psychological profiles are likely to become offenders if left unchecked.

[bigfuckinggun]

[narrows his eyes. no one commands megatron. he doesn't argue for now, but he sounds pretty darn angry]

Oh, trust me, he will be restrained. Is this the extent of your demands?

[chapterfiveversenine]

[Don't start no shit they won't be no shit.]

You are also required to abstain entirely from inflicting civilian casualties on local populations. Verbal or written consent to these restrictions is necessary.

[A trio of runtimes uplink to CONDOR, brief them quickly, and begin to trace Megatron's location to the best of their ability.]

[bigfuckinggun]

[a brief pause, during with Megatron's lips curl back from his teeth in disgust – it's a soundless gesture, though, and to anyone listening he may as well just be taking a moment to think. (Legion may have some success in tracing Megatron's location given enough time, but over this particular frequency it will prove difficult.)]

I will acquiesce to your requests, Legion, if merely because our purpose here is too simple to warrant the inconvenience of engaging with Earth forces. Earth's native species has nothing to fear from our presence here – unless that is, they inflict harm upon us. My troops have been taken captive on multiple occasions since we arrived on this planet, and been subjected to barbaric tortures, wholly unprovoked; if your terms forbid us to defend ourselves against such atrocities, then you understand it is impossible for me to comply.

[chapterfiveversenine]

You are permitted to engage in self-defensive military action. We have no further requirements at this time. Your cooperation is appreciated.

As a gesture of goodwill, if you forward data on local hostiles which have assaulted Decepticon forces unprovoked, we will investigate and share results.

[The Decepticons seem perfectly reasonable; the consensus notes Autobot bias in the faction's file.]

[bigfuckinggun]

[Ah. Excellent.]

Of course – I believe Earth authorities are already aware of both the organisation you call "TRIDENT" and of the cybernetic entity recently responsible for abducting numerous organic life forms native to this world as well as my own soldiers, but I will share with you you any pertinent information we have accrued on these hostiles, if you will do the same.

One further question, Legion – a clarification, if you will. You say our operations are to be kept far from areas inhabited by humans; does this restriction apply exclusively to engagements with the Autobots, or would you have us barred from these areas completely?

[chapterfiveversenine]

This applies to all operations which have a significant risk of active combat against any other force; we will allow the assessment of potential combat risk to remain under your discretion, but if your judgment proves unreliable, harsher restrictions will be implemented.

Additionally, we will notify the Autobots that you have agreed to these terms. They have already promised to adhere to the same restrictions.

[bigfuckinggun]

These terms are acceptable. Whatever the Autobots might have told you, we have no desire to aggress the natives of this planet. That said... if your own forces wish to take action against the factions which have injured ours, we would be willing to consider rendering our assistance.

[chapterfiveversenine]

Tower AI has already been neutralized. No TRIDENT operations are currently known, but you will be contacted if relevant data is gained.

We thank you again for your cooperation. Requesting permission to forward the contents of this exchange to Autobots as evidence of our agreement; if you object, we will instead summarize the terms.

[bigfuckinggun]

Oh no, Legion – thank you.

You have my permission. However, for my own part I would be keen to know the precise details of how the Autobots responded to your proposition.

video and fashionably late

[cyclogical]

[So now that they're officially on less-than-aggressive terms for the time being, Shockwave is going to allow himself to indulge a little curiosity at an ungodly hour of the morning.]

[Hey, they're robots. Sleep cycles are for chumps.]

Intriguing that a geth platform would choose to act as an emissary on this planet.

[chapterfiveversenine]

Geth platforms have been deployed across the galaxy.

Please identify yourself.

[cyclogical]

Naturally. But I do not see the logic of being deployed on such a primitive world.

[Willingly, anyway.]

My designation is Shockwave. I'm interested in hearing what the geth platform calls itself.

[chapterfiveversenine]

This platform is designated Legion. Geth were randomly deployed across the galaxy. Earth has high density of supernatural occurrences. Potential of harnessing magical forces, genetic mutations, other currently unexplained phenomenon was deemed significant enough to maintain platform presence.

[cyclogical]

It is fortunate that the Earth natives chose to cooperate with you in your mission.

I am curious as to what a single platform hopes to accomplish attempting to research complex and unexplained phenomena.

[He'll refrain from using the M-word.]

Or are your human allies trustworthy enough to not need thorough investigation of your own?

[chapterfiveversenine]

Other circumstances prevent increased platform deployment. Data is recorded and transmitted back to consensus for analysis; scanning suites are deemed sufficient at this time.