Chương 24: LOG-023.

I'd made my way out to the planetside outpost that had been set up around the Omega Lock after ensuring both the Forge and fibber unit had been carefully secured in their respective containment areas. Just in time to pass some of the Autobots as the Iron Will began to land, actually. Hm. Walking back up to the group, I ignored their glares and stared up at the descending ship.

"It would appear Optimus Prime has returned." My statement was met with a huff from an unamused Arcee.

"Yeah, we can see that." Turning to glance at the femme, I nodded.

"Then let us hope he was successful in his endeavor." I took a moment to log the perplexed expression that crossed her faceplate in place of her previous distrustful scowl, before stepping forward to greet the (hopefully) triumphant away team. Now that I took the care to actually look, a bit of a crowd had formed. Mostly vehicons but I did spot a pair of curious insecticons staring at the spacecraft. And of course there were the Autobots, awkwardly maintaining a minimum level of distance from everyone else.

Regardless, the ramp eventually came down as the Iron Will made contact with the hardened surface of our dead world. Upon that ramp stood a a group of mechs. Optimus stepped forward to a flood of murmuring, Allspark in hand. It was... certainly a sight for sore optics. The key to the revival of cybertron's heart. The Lock would merely repair the body, after all. The serenity of the moment was ruined when Ultra Magnus stepped forward, a particularly battered looking vehicon leaning against the mech for support.

"We require a medic!" Striding up to the group, I let the rest of them get out of my way, taking hold of the Seeker. That's when I actually got a good look at the damage and... well... yikes. Severe burns, probably radiation based. His servos creaked as they moved, which certainly wasn't a good sign and his exterior kibble was just gone. Fuck, parts of him were grey. The damn paint had been stripped from his armour! Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

I allowed the soldier to brace himself against my larger frame, even as I sent a questioning glance Optimus' way. The Prime bowed his helm, gesturing to a silent Wheeljack who stood to the other side of the vehicon, wrapping the Decepticon's arm around his neck and helping me drag him along.

"The area the Allspark was located in... proved too hazardous to approach using the Iron Will. A pair of your vehicons volunteered to retrieve the reliquary manually. They were successful, but as you can see, one... absorbed a large blast of radiation before they could successfully return to the ship." Wheeljack snorted next to the lagging Seeker, even as we began to drag him out from the landing ramp and past the crowd. I idly sent Soundwave a groundbridge request.

"What he means is that he took an unhealthy amount of blast damage directly to the tailpipe. Kid's tough, but he needs a proper medbay. There was only so much I could do on hand without proper kit. Besides, I ain't a medic." I nodded, even as we shifted course towards the now forming portal ahead of us.

"He will recieve appropriate medical care, and be rewarded for his efforts. As will the other mech."

Knockout had whistled at the state of his newest patient, but the medic assured us that the trooper would be right as rain given a bit of time beneath the scalpel. I believed him. Say what you will about Knockout, but the mech was a professional when it came to medical matters. It also helped that Ratchet had shown up shortly before the away team's return. Turned out he'd been riding along with Wheeljack on the Jackhammer.

Suffice to say, the doc was pretty pleased about finally having some actual proper cybertronian equipment rather than human tech. Even if it was Decepticon kit. Meanwhile, the 'command staff' had all reconvened back at the bridge. The Allspark propped up on a table like a particularly glowy show piece. Dreadwing crossed his arms, staring at the reliquary.

"So that is it... our true salvation." I nodded, resting a servo against the table.

"Indeed. Though the Allspark will have to be moved. The alternative container should be enough to hold it for some time, but I believe only the genuine article will prove durable enough to contain Unicron." Nods around the table, as Ultra Magnus spoke up from Prime's side.

"Very well. Then what are we waiting for? We should traverse the spacebridge back to earth and finish this, once and for all." I shook my helm, drawing the general's attention.

"That would be hasty. For the moment, we have time to prepare. We should use it. Indomina is currently still present on earth, though she has sent back a Zaku to relay her successful retrieval of a viable predacon sample." Optimus raised a brow at that last part.

"If your... creation, has completed her task, why has she not returned?" I waved a servo at the Prime before gesturing to our resident spymaster.

"Soundwave, if you would." The silent bot inclined his helm ever so slightly, before his visor lit up, displaying a set of schematics.

"At present, we already have the material and space necessary to construct a lab on earth. Not having to move back and forth between here and there will not only save time, but also energon. Indomina is preparing the site for my arrival. She has proven... enthusiastic at the prospect of additional predacons being revived." The Prime frowned as the schematics shifted to that of several different predacon variants.

"I still believe that the ultimate creation of life, merely to throw said life against the antibodies of Unicron to provide a temporary distraction, to be a waste." I turned my helm to regard Optimus properly.

"Your objection is noted, Orion." Ultra Magnus made to retort, but Optimus raised a servo, silencing him. Then I realized the rest of the group were all staring at me.

"... What?" A hint of amusement had entered the Prime's optics.

"You referred to me as Orion." I crossed my arms semi-defensively.

"And? That is your designation just as much as Optimus is. Perhaps even more so." Ultra Magnus' glower could have curdled milk.

"He is a Prime. His identifier should signify that! Have you no respect for authority?" I stared at the general. He stared back. The rest of the bridge waited in silent anticipation of my answer. A few vehicons, sitting at their stations, looked away from the Nemesis' monitors to watch. Then slowly, ever so slowly, I raised a digit to tap at the Decepticon emblem branded onto my chassis. Dreadwing's amused rumble proved an incredibly fascinating contrast to Magnus' scowl.

Optimus/Orion just looked vaguely bemused at my antics.