The Mission, Part 2

UPDATED Starscream works hard at boosting the moral of his troops

Decepticon Flagship Nemesis
Officers' Mess

Seekers always had to duck-and-twist in order to move through the narrow door and into the officer's mess without bashing their wings. But unlike the door the room was wide and comfortable. Its purple expanse was decorated with long tables and benches down and circular viewports along one bulkhead. Its design was specific: this was a place of rest. It was also simplistic: this was a warship and there was little space for frivolties.

Upon entering the room the aroma of freshly brewed kau'fee became nearly overwhelming. Skywarp inhaled deeply and his olfactory systems registered the familiar scent. "Real kau'fee! Are you sure I can have a tumbler full?"

"If you're down here by my invite you can have what you want." Starscream replied as the two Seekers helped themselves to the pot. Lightning stood nearby looking nervous and out of place. When Starscream handed him a steaming tumbler the airman's mouth popped open and his wings perked. "For real, sir?" Lightning blurted.

"What gives?" Starscream was baffled.

"You don't know?" Now it was Skywarp's turn to look confused.

"Don't know what?"

Lightning and Skywarp exchanged glances. "We don't get kau'fee in the airmen's mess while on board a ship. There's not enough room in the cargo holds to keep the entire crew supplied."

Starscream gazed down at the steaming hot drink in his hands. The Dynobots had a fine market going on, with the tribals buying the drink from off-world traders and then bartering with fellow Cybertronians. Now that the Astro Commander actually thought about it, kau'fee was indeed a luxury, even back home. He suddenly hit on a plan. "I'll bet the rest of my astro command would do back flips if they had real kau'fee to drink one morning."

"We certainly would." Skywarp affirmed with a grin.

Starscream began to fill two other metal tumblers with kau'fee. "Come with me. We've a little side mission today."

The two airmen followed their commander from the officers' mess and through several gleaming metal corridors until they reached sickbay. Upon arrival Starscream hauled both of the depressed Seekers to their feet and handed them each a steaming tumbler. The previously listless warriors became lively again as they enjoyed the unexpected luxury of drinking real kau'fee after so many weeks of going without.

"Skywarp, you four wait for me in the main corridor. I'll return in a moment." Starscream commanded and his cousin and the three other Seekers gave respectful bows. "Yes, sir."

Starscream checked the time indicator on his wrist communications screen and saw that he did not have a lot of room to delay. So he ran (an odd thing for a Seeker!) through the corridors until he reached the ship's bridge. Although his rank allowed him to access the bridge without invitation he knew that he wasn't entitled to stroll through the doors without good reason. This gave him pause for thought but then, with a shrug, the Astro Commander strode through the double doors and knelt down onto one knee at the feet of his lord and master. He bowed his head low and waited while Thrust let out a frustrated sigh.

Several breems passed as conversation carried on around him and the bridge crew busied themselves with their tasks. Finally Megatron turned his blood-red gaze towards the waiting Seeker. "What is it, Starscream?" he demanded to know, but not without a hint of interest.

"I have a request, my lord." Starscream replied as he bowed low.

Megatron handed a digital pad to a nearby yeoman. "Is this request so very important that you must interrupt the morning briefing?"

Starscream snorted. "And pray tell exactly what is so exciting this morning that you can't be bothered? We're still in neutral space and nothing is going on."

One corner of Megatron's mouth rose in a dark half-smile. "Indeed."

His head still bowed, Starscream's optics focused on the metal decking. He resisted the urge to pick at a rivet. "This mission is so exciting that I have Seekers falling asleep on their feet." he said. "Please tell me that you're being briefed about pirate raids and we're about to go for a hunt?"

Megatron chuckled. "No. Nothing of the sort." he replied.

"Very well, then!" Starscream said with a grin. "I see I've come at a good time."

Megatron sighed, his features taking on a shadow of exasperation. "As you were, child."

Starscream rose to his feet and tucked his wings back. "I need kau'fee for my troops." he announced.

Thrust threw up his hands in exasperation. "You came all the way to the bridge to ask Lord Megatron for kau'fee?" he complained. "Why couldn't you ask the cellarer?"

"Because I know that the cellarer will refuse." Starscream replied matter-of-factly as he looked over at his fellow commander. Only Thrust was a supreme commander and Megatron's personal military tactician. "Any kau'fee I scrounge for my troops will short-change the brass." the younger bot explained patiently. "That includes you."

"I am aware of that." Thrust said. "Even still, this visit of yours is entirely unnecessary."

Starscream rolled his eyes. "Do you stay up late at night practicing a multitude of ways that you can express your inate disaproval of everything I do?"

Thrust leaned closer to the lad and dropped his voice low. "Of course, Starscream." he teased back. "I even go so far as to practice in a mirror."

"We don't have mirrors you dork." Starscream shot back.

"I beg your pardon." Thrust said with a slight bow. "I meant to say that I practiced in a polished section of metal floor plating."

"Your face to the floor just where it belongs." Starscream quipped as he darted away from Thrust's hand. But the Supreme Commander was swift and he managed to get in a good cuff before the younger Seeker got away.

"You hit like a batchling." Starscream snickered as he rubbed at the side of his head. That's when his optics once again met the crimson gaze of his master. Starscream quickly straightened and assumed a serious posture. But his yellow eyes sparkled with mischief and Megatron was not convinced.

Nonplussed, Thrust clasped his hands behind his back and looked over at the lad. "It's a shame that the airmen must go without." he admitted. "Very well. Take the remainder of my ration and divide it amongst your men."

Starscream stared at the other bot. "Are you serious?"

"Take it." Thrust said and then he turned his attention back to more serious matters. "Now go. Remove yourself from the bridge before I whack you again."

His younger counterpart looked up at Megatron and saw that the dark lord was busy speaking with Dreadwind over a secure com link. Starscream bowed low and a moment later his master waved a dismissive hand and the Astro Commander left the bridge.

But not without a parting smirk at Thrust.

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"Thrust did what?" Thundercracker was astonished by his commander's words. He had joined Skywarp and the others in the corridor. "I never imagined the old boy had it in him."

"You heard me right! Now, if I combine my rations with Thrust's rations then there'll almost be enough kau'fee to go around." Starscream said.

"Take whatever you need from my allotment." Thundercracker told him.

"Perfect." Starscream looked pleased and then he turned to his fellow officer. "Will you be at quarters in the hanger bay?"

"I'm headed over to the Darkfire." Thundercracker said. "Dreadwind's astro command is due for a weapons readiness check."

"Too bad you can't fly over instead of being jumped." Starscream mused.

"Lord Megatron is not going to slow the entire battle group just so that I can flit between ships." Thundercracker replied with a shrug. "Although I'll admit, it sure would feel good to use my wings." He belonged to Starscream's astro command but, due to his skills as a weapons training officer, he was in charge of the bi-annual readiness inspections.  

Starscream nodded to his friend. "We'll see you when you 'flit' back."

"Heh." Thundercracker grinned. "Have fun."

By the time Starscream marched into the empty section of the massive hanger bay he found Berber at the ready with the rest of the astro command standing at attention in tidy ranks. It was a gorgeous sight: row upon row of wings and arm cannons just waiting for the chance to prove the might of Cybertron to anyone that dared to endanger their universe. Skywarp and his companions quickly took their place amongst the flighted warriors and waited to see what was coming.

"Berber, report!" Starscream called out, his voice resonating through the open chamber. His second in command moved sharply to attention and dropped to one knee. "All present and account for, sir!" he announced.

"Very well." Starscream replied, pitching his voice so that it carried to the audio receptors of those in the last rows. "As you were."

Berber rose to his feet and took his place by his commander's side. Now the inspection could begin.

Moving with slow deliberation, their commander eyed each Seeker from head to toe, wing tip to wing tip, cannon barrel to cannon butt. Each of the airmen had spent hours that morning preparing themselves and their weapons for this unexpected call to arms and Starscream was careful to make encouraging comments to each individual warrior. By the time the inspection came to an end the young commander had a another headache - it was tough work organizing words of praise that would not come across as patronizing.

Starscream made a show of marching to the front of the ranks, his hands clasped behind his back just under the edges of his aching wings. Pivoting about-face, he swept his yellow gaze across the ranks of his troops. The hanger bay was absolutely silent as all eyes were fixed upon the young commander. They watched as Berber handed over a digital pad and then Starscream began to read aloud in his powerful voice. There was an update about the mission, written carefully so as to be as interesting as possible. Then there came some news from each of the other ships in the battle group. Finally there came an announcement that there would be a tumbler of fresh, hot kau'fee awaiting each Seeker in the airmen's lounge. Handing the digital pad back to Berber, Starscream called out, "Dismissed!"

A cheer went up then and for nearly a breem the air vibrated with the excited hoots of one hundred Seekers. Starscream couldn't help but grin as he watched his troops slapping high fives and making such a carry on. It was amazing what a little kau'fee could do to boost morale on a tiresome mission like this.

That night Starscream woke to klaxon alarms. "Attention, Starboard Watch! Attention Starboard Watch!"

"What is going on?" Skywarp slurred, half-awake. The speaker rattled off a series of confusing numbers. It was the "address" of an area within the ship. "This is not a drill! This is not a drill!" the voice called out with urgency.  

"Fire." Starscream grunted as he sat upright and grabbed Skywarp. "Come on, that's us. We're part of the starboard watch."

"What the frag?!" his kinsman yelped as he found himself being dragged from the room.

"Wake UP!" Starscream yelled over the sound of klaxons. "Seriously, you wouldn't stir even at the second coming of Primus."

"Not without a tumbler of kau'fee first." Skywarp grunted as he stumbled along the corridor under the not-so-gentle guidance of his cousin. "How in the universe did someone manage to start a fire on a metal ship?" he wanted to know.

"Beats me. I'm no boat chuck." Starscream told him. "But I do know that we have to report for firefighting duty."

"Lucky us."
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"Come on, ladies!" Starscream barked as he paced back and forth, his hands clasped behind his back. "Is that all you have? I need warriors, not a pack of girls!"

One hundred Seekers responded to such flattering words by redoubling their efforts to impress their Astro Commander.

"I know it's boring sitting around on this heap all day." Starscream was saying. "But when we arrive planetside we need to be able to put up a fight! Our enemy is tough. We need to be tougher still!"

The ranks of Seekers moved in unison as their young master ran them through their paces. This morning it was sword fighting. "We might be slag-hot in the air" Starscream roared. "But we need to be able to kick aft on the ground as well! So come ON! Get those energon swords MOVING!"
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Only command-level officers enjoyed the luxury of private quarters. But was such a thing a luxury to Starscream? He and his fellow Seekers were a wild and communal race and being isolated was considered a punishment. As this was a well known fact each of the Decepticon warships had been designed to berth Seekers in large open areas. Hence Starscream's use of a shuttle bay for his own astro command.

All was quiet now with the flighted warriors settling in for a night of shutdown mode. As was custom, the group of Seekers ranged from the youngest at the front to the eldest at the back - with more then half of the assembled bots being greater in batch-age then their young Astro Commander. But it worked well since all were aware of the fact that Starscream had earned his rank and position through a superior number of years-in-service coupled with his undeniable skills as a leader and warrior.

The only sound to be heard at this time was a single set of footfalls and the restless movements of those that were supposed to be resting. Starscream walked amongst the youngest of his airmen, his hands clasped behind his back and his optics roaming from bot to bot. Ocassionally he would crouch down and press a lad to the decking with one firm hand placed between a pair of wings. Such a gesture was common amongst his kind and Starscream was merely imitating what he himself had often experienced while under the watchful eye of an older Seeker.

The sleepless airman settled beneath his commander's wordless command and, turning his tan-colored head, gazed up at Starscream with a mixture of youthful adoration and sheer devotion. Starscream smiled and then he rose to his feet and moved on. Even as he did so in a fog of his own exhaustion he movd on. Airman after airman, he made them aware of his presence and his concern. Even those older then himself watched as he moved amongst their ranks. Just like the lads, they also looked up into his face with respect and admiration.  

Starscream only took his leave after he was satisfied that all was well. This was his nightly routine, in and outside of battle - it did no matter. He always walked through the ranks of his warriors and assured himself by his own optics that all was well.

Otherwise he could not sleep.

"Come on." Starscream said as he gestured to his cousin and Skywarp abandoned his wing-grooming and bolted to his feet. The Astro Commander and his kinsman strode from the hanger bay under the watchful gaze of their brothers-in-arms.
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"I'm beat." Skywarp groaned as he flopped onto his back on the floor. They had just returned to Starscream's quarters. "You're killing us."

"You're just mad because I won't let you cheat and teleport around the hanger bay."

Skywarp raised his head and glared at his kinsman. "I can fight without teleporting, thank you kindly." he said and then, "Ah heck! I took the bait!"

"You always take the bait." Starscream said with a laugh and then he turned back to his console and returned to typing a report. "I hate reports. They are the bane of my existence."

"That's why I never want to become an officer." Skywarp said as he scratched at the base of one wing. "I enjoy the lack of paper work - and eating with my hands!"

"Heathen."

"Snob."

Starscream laughed. "Shut up or I'll drink all of your kau'fee." he warned.

"Do that and I'll teleport you into a wall." Skywarp replied cheerfully.
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Moving quietly so as not to awaken his sleeping kinsman, Starscream withdrew a treasured object from his locker and sat down on the deck. It was a metal box and within that metal box was a gorgeous replica of a Decepticon battle cruiser. Its armor was painted a familiar shade of purple and to compensate for such a hue the Decepticon insignia was superimposed over the middle of each wing in glossy black.

More then likely you would have turned into a common thug if you had not joined the Decepticon army...

Starscream slid the top of metal box away from his knee and gazed down at the fierce battleship within. The replica battle cruiser was about the same length as the distance between Starscream's elbow and the tip of his middle finger. At the moment the wings were folded back but if he wished then Starscream could deply them as well as the many replicated plasma cannons. The thing was beautiful beyond discription and such an exact replica that the price must have been through the roof. It had been made several vorns ago after the end of the Great War just when Cybertron's economy was beginning to recover. It had been a gift - from Supreme Commander Thrust. The same Thrust that had discovered Starscream as he wandered through the darker streets of Iacon, alone and hungry and filled with anger.

Well, kid, I'm not going to allow you to become a thug.

It was Thrust that had found him a place in the Cybertron Academy of Science. And it was Thrust that had insisted on Starscream joining the Decepticons. Unknown to him for so many vorns it had been Lord Megatron that had, at Thrust's request, financed his education and many of his scientific expeditions before the Great War.

Tracing one finger along the sleek metal of the expensive toy, Starscream smiled at the memories of those peaceful times back when he had no concerns for the integrity of his world. Back when he and Jetfire were free to persue their scientific curiosity. While lost in such thoughts he lifted the purple-and-grey ship out of the box and turned it this way and that in his hands while his yellow optics admired the gift. He had very few possessions and this treasure meant more to him then its monetary value could ever express. The gift had come as a complete surprise but then again Thrust had always treated him with great affection - even if he did so without much fanfare.

The hour was late and he was exhausted. Starscream tucked the miniature ship back into the box and then secured the sturdy metal lid over the the vivid green container. He then returned the battle cruiser to the safe confines of his locker and joined his cousin on the sleeping platform.  Another thought entered his mind. "She loves that ship." Starscream murmured softly as he stretched his legs.

"Who?" Skywarp slurred, half awake. "Illia?"

"Yeah." Starscream's voice was tight. "Illia loves that ship. I wonder if she is still alive?"

Skywarp shifted against his cousin. "I dunno." he said. He had no idea what else to say. All of them were torn with worry about Illia. Ever since she had disapeared from that science expedition over a vorn ago...

"Illia." Starscream whispered to his missing friend. "Please be alive."