[ti]Ep 3.5[/ti]Perfect Metal [Pipette]

[Megatron]

Episode 3.5 | Week 1 | Day 4 | Closed

Several Decepticons remained within Blackridge Hold that Megatron had yet to employ in pertinent tasks; among them, a scientist who specialized in chemistry. Thinking her a useful tool, he had arranged for a meeting early into the day today. It was under the guise of a routine inspection of her workspace, and so when Megatron approached the doorway to the smaller Cybertronian's science lab, she would be yet unaware of the scope of this visitation. Of course, the cruel irony was that Megatron did not ordinarily conduct such inspections himself unless necessary, and so one might have begun to suspect that something more was afoot from the moment of receiving such a piece of news.

If Pipette was even half as smart as her dossier made her seem, she could be statistically certain of that much. The presence of her Lord was no small matter. His footsteps would've announced his approach far ahead of his shape, which cut through the entrance with dignified and forceful motions. Having thus arrived with little preamble and fewer pleasantries, Megatron's first instinct was to take measure of the faculties.

Insufficient. How disappointing, but not unexpected.

What Pipette and the other scientists had to work with in these trying times was insulting to what the Decepticons once were, and the lack of their warship and its comforts was sorely felt once more. The sooner he got this one and others like her working in proper environs, the better for the cause—and himself. Still, he could not deny that the humble trappings had a certain air of resourcefulness to them. The appliances were almost up to standard, and Pipette clearly did her best with what she had. Megatron appreciated such qualities in his troops. Furthermore, it meant that he could put his chemical engineer to good use on future projects.

Good. Very good.

Having thus taken measure of their surroundings, he would retreat into an idle stance by the entrance. He stood tall, arms flush against the sides of his body. Should Pipette already be in attendance, his red optics would set upon her but a short moment after, and a massive hand would lift and urge her forward with a heavy, courteous wave: "Ah, my loyal scientist," he would address her with no particular intonation. The only quality that permeated his voice was the signature coarse rasp for which Megatron was known.

[Pipette]

Pipette was very much watching the clock as she scurried about her laboratory. The chemist wanted to make a good impression, she needed to make a good impression. There was actually very little she needed to do in order to achieve her objective of a perfect chemistry laboratory cobbled together from vastly inadequate recourses. Indeed, the responsibility wasn't even hers alone since she had only inherited the facilities a mere month ago. Nervous energy drove her to make pristine even cleaner. Turn order into perfection. Pip didn't even know what would entail perfection on this day - this visitation - but she strove, nonetheless.

One small corner of the lab, out of the way from everything else, dihydrogen monoxide was being purified. From this, dideuterium monoxide and ditritium monoxide were stripped and collected. So far, the chemist had amassed about ten grams in the space of a week. She wanted about a hundred kilograms. This one experiment would clearly take a while. On the main bench were five rounds of 20mm ammunition in various states of disassembly. They were tiny compared to the chemist, and she was on the small end of the scale for her species. A display to the side had the schematics and chemical analysis for the bullets, casings and propellants.

She knew the moment was arriving when she felt and heard the imposing footfalls echoing in the direction of the lab. Pipette did her best to straighten out her composure and soothe her nerves. Her hood and mask both retracted as she readied herself to meet The Leader face to face. And then he was there.

He was imposing. His very presence washed away most of Pipette's feigned confidence. He motioned with a hand and her legs obeyed without waiting for direction from her processor, as she stepped forward. Consciously however, Pipette bowed at the waist. "My Leader Megatron, Sir!"

[Megatron]

The Warlord maintained his neutral and observant demeanor. Even when so greeted by the scientist, his emotions remained utterly controlled. However, having noted her ongoing chemistries in the background, he would turn to Pipette once more, asking a question first of all: "Are you having trouble with our facilities?"

He gestured to the chemical conversions and then the disassembled ammunition with that same heavy gesture as before. The motion was easy to understand, but the tone of his voice was difficult to gauge. It laid somewhere between a casual question and an interrogative query. Which one it truly was hinged purely on Pipette's interpretation of the phrase. For Megatron himself, however, it was much the simpler matter. He wished to know if their equipment was hampering Pipette's progress, holding her back from her true potential.

Depending on her answer, he could divert some more resources towards her research. After all, he would be conversing with their resident logistics expert about some pertinent issues in but a few hours. In any event, Megatron would give Pipette enough time to analyze the situation and formulate her answer. Meanwhile, he'd spend a while longer meandering about the premises with his idle optics, wondering what purposes some of her experiments had, and whether they truly benefited the Decepticons at the moment.

If they did not, they would soon enough.

[Pipette]

Pipette’s brow furrowed in deep thought. The question itself was a surprise, but in itself that was fine. It was the highly non-specific terminology of trouble that well troubled her. Pipette believed in speaking openly simply because subtlety, innuendo, and generally good articulation were difficult for her.

“Well, trouble is relative. My productivity is dependent upon desired products with quantities and timeframes balanced against available resources.” For her it was mostly black and white with little grey in between. Either she could get something made within certain specifications or she couldn’t. Researching and experimenting to produce something new was most of the grey in-between.

“My facilities here are vastly insufficient to test my full skillset, but, so too has been any needs for my services.” The chemist waved her own hand towards the corner of the room where water was being purified. “The collection of fusionable material is largely self-maintaining” now she pointed to the ammunition “and the optimisation of stored-chemical-energy weapons utilised by some personal has barely started.” Pipette sight a little with nervous energy. She wanted to convey all information she thought useful to her leader.

Did Megatron have something particular in mind? Some project that might actually push her? She hoped so.

[Megatron]

Megatron remained meaningfully silent for a while, letting the scientist explain her experiences and list her hurdles. Nothing she said was unexpected, and yet everything was parsed and processed by the Warlord as if it was critically important. When he took a step closer toward the tools of the trade and lowered his brow at the haphazard display—it would become suddenly clear.

It was critically important. The dullest Decepticon could see it and Pipette was far from that. His interest was not ordinary. His visit was not a simple inspection. This was an opportunity. An opportunity to work for Megatron himself and achieve the highest honors a Decepticon scientist ever could. He turned to Pipette again and folded his hands across the small of his back.

"Then we shall make your facilities sufficient for a more—elaborate operation," he explained, pausing briefly before uttering the phrase "elaborate operation" as if it were some kind of euphemism. Having done so, the Warlord began to pace around the room, continuing his inspection of the equipment much more closely now.

"Are you experienced in creating alloys?" He expounded further, giving the chemist a small window into his plans. He did so while not turning to Pipette again, instead leaning forward to inspect the crude water purification arrangement. How novel. She would need far more than this meager hole-in-a-wall for what her leader wanted. And yet it was not impossible. Not when Megatron could snap his fingers and make it happen. That is, of course, only if Pipette actually had the skills.

[Pipette]

"I am exceptionally experienced with alloys." Pipette answered her leader. She was not bragging although there was just the slightest touch of pride in her voice. "I'm not even wearing my best work." If Megatron cared, he might just notice that the Chemist's plating was not the usual cybertronian regalia. Her metal had quite a different luster to others, and she wore no paint either.

"I can sincerely say I can produce whatever alloy needed, anything else is the realm of meta-materials." She paused to consider her next words very carefully. "I will however require physical help with forging, casting and machining should any item be of excessive mass." Knowledge and experience were one thing but turning a slab or ingot into something was quite different. She had no intention to oversell herself. That road led to disaster.

Now she was extremely curious. Elaborate operation almost promised to be fulfilling. To test her skills and knowledge? It just maybe looked like good days were ahead. Pipette was starting to smile.

The fact that Megatron was examining her office was good too she felt. Curiosity meant intelligence, and she valued that in others.

[Megatron]

Megatron nodded briefly, though he paid no attention to the scientist's attempts at flaunting her gear. While a testament to her skill, such minute accomplishments were not the reasons for which he sought out Pipette. They were not even dismissed, so much as they were ignored in favor of what she said.

"I can sincerely say I can produce whatever alloy needed, anything else is the realm of meta-materials."

Good. Megatron grinned in approval, revealing his jagged teeth. He readjusted his posture once more, resting his hands on his back, and assuaged the scientist's ensuing worries.

"There will be no need for such heavy industry," he reassured her, "Another will process what you create with your assistance."

Though, perhaps it was not the best form of reassurance. Megatron left out many details of what would Pipette's prospective work accomplish or who exactly was this other individual whose help would be petitioned for this project. Megatron saw revealing these details at so early a stage as unnecessary, compromising even.

"I will require you to forge an alloy that is simultaneously lighter and more durable than standard-issue plating. It must not be brittle nor easily bent, and it must withstand both extreme heat and cold. Low conductivity is preferable."

The mysteries abounded, even when he elucidated. Pipette's role in this plan would be small but not insignificant. Earth was not home to the same metals as Cybertron in the same quantities. Megatron needed someone who could improvise and adapt, someone who could do on Earth what metalworkers on Cybertron did for a living. He approached closer and inclined his head to make direct eye contact with the scientist.

"Name the supplies and equipment needed to accomplish this and they will be procured."

There was a powerful certainty in his coarse voice, like an old king providing for a dependent subject. This was power. Strength. A promise. Pipette would receive what she needed, no matter how unique the material or gear, so long as it existed on Earth or could be fabricated by the Decepticons, she would have it.

[Pipette]

Where her leader grinned in aproval, the Chemist grinned with easy confidence. While the lab was more like a home than her own berth, the nuances of material science were her vocation - her zone. This was where she reigned. This was precisely her purpose!

Better than standard plating? She could, and had, constructed that before, but her thoughts mirrored those of Megatron, Earth did not have the most ideal circumstances for forging at the epitome of her knowledge and skill. Thus then was the challenge and already she had ideas.

Pipette met Megatron’s gaze with a steely look of her own, a rare flash of her mettle. “Extreme cold resistance, and low thermal and electrical conductivity will be nonissues.'' She spoke matter-of-factly. “I will however need clarification of anticipated heat conditions, as well as anticipated volume of product, that will affect equipment needs for manufacture.” Pip paused as she contemplated further. She was forming a very particular idea in her mind that would test even Soundwave’s intelligence in locating potentially experimental equipment.

“Must it be a pure metal alloy, or is a composite matrix embedded in metal feasible to your plans?”

[Megatron]

"Account for the conditions present on this planet according to your own judgement and do not concern yourself with the required quantity...for now," the Warlord answered at once, adjusting the hands at the small of his back with a singular intake. His posture remained balanced even as he considered the scientist's question. Finally, he answered it with but a resolute incline, a sideways nod to suggest that the details of the material's makeup are entirely up to her. A composite matrix would do just as well.

It was an unprecedented level of freedom. Usually, the Decepticon Leader commissioned his scientists only with the most specific plans and designs. Megatron must have wanted this creation of hers very badly to allow for such concessions—or perhaps he feared the limitations of Earth would not permit Pipette to perform to his exact designs.

And yet, this permission was nearly instantly undermined by sharp demands.

"You will produce a small sample first. Equipment will be provided according to necessity. Should I find your work satisfactory, we can begin scaling up. For now, focus only on that the fundamentals are sound and that I am satisfied with your creation."

Even though Pipette had room to create to her Spark's content, it would appear that the equipment Megatron was willing to provide hinged entirely on her own capability—as did whether her services would continue to be of use or not. Suddenly, the whole affair acquired a threatening quality to it at the drop of a hat. Megatron was known for such turnabouts, both in battle and conversation.

What he came to offer was not simply an opportunity to work for him personally, but also the ball-and-chain of perfect results and the strict expectations of the Decepticon Leader. After all, he could not well afford to spend resources on a fruitless endeavor. Pipette would have to earn and justify everything she would gain from this assignment.

It was not as if though she had a choice either, Megatron's voice was firm and controlling. This was her assignment now. From the moment she claimed to be capable of satisfying the Warlord's ends, she was in his thrall.

[Pipette]

“Then…” Pipette smiled, almost contentedly, “I believe I have two optimal solutions given what can be done on this planet.” She bowed her head in respect, just a tiny gesture, before turning her back to her leader and striding over to her computer terminal. With a flick over the keys, the display flashed to life. More commands were inputted and the display split into three. The chemist turned to face Megatron and gestured at what was up on the triple panes of the display.

Pipette was utterly oblivious to any threat in Megatron’s aura. She simply didn't believe she could fail in this project. Doing her best afterall was the only path she ever took. All of her confidence in herself went part way to blinding her even to the potential for Megatron’s scorn.

“Center, we have a very particular Titanium alloy. In itself not complex but it will need exacting heat treatment post moulding and machining to create the necessary precipitates that will maximise its strength. Left and right, nanotube structures which the titanium alloy will embed. On the left is Boron nitride nanotubes, difficult to manufacture in quantity but high electrical resistance. On the right is the carbon nanotubes, easier than the boron nitride to create but greater electrical conductivity. Both have excellent mechanical properties.” Already the processes were dancing in her head. She could so clearly envisage what she wanted to do that she could almost physically grasp the materials from her imagination.

“With your permission my leader, may I request Soundwave’s logistical help in requisitioning a few ingots of raw material and basic equipment so I might start on your sample?” With what the chemist had on hand she was still lacking a few key pieces for this project. If anyone could locate them, it was the spymaster. Pipette just hoped he would be forthcoming in communications this time.

Pipette considered asking for a timeframe but quickly put that thought aside. She already knew she would work as diligently as was practicable. She wanted to.

[Megatron]

Megatron followed Pipette to the terminal. Compared to her, he was a giant, his shadow a leviathan that blanketed her in near total darkness, safe for the illumination provided by the display. One which the Warlord leaned towards in order to get a proper look, his gargantuan features looming over the smaller Cybertronian’s shoulder. He listened to her speak in dead silence but his eyes did not regard her for even a moment. They remained firmly fixed upon the plan she had orchestrated.

“Good. This should serve my needs sufficiently…If your execution is as sound as your theory,” he responded briefly to her explanation before even approaching the request for Soundwave’s assistance. It was then—and only then—that Megatron also took a step back to consider the scientist’s petition. He lifted a servo to his chin and held it for a brief moment betwixt his thumb and index digits.

“However, Soundwave is occupied with his own duties. You will not disturb them for the sake of yours. Yet," he paused briefly, finally turning to face Pipette once more, "I will be visiting the resident logistics officer for an unrelated matter today."

Somehow, as close as he was, he looked even larger now. His next words were spoken in an almost casual tone, in so far as Megatron had one, which made his overwhelming presence all the more apparent in contrast.

"Provided he survives the encounter, I will gladly enlist him for the acquisition effort—along with any lesser personnel you might require.”

The possibility that this "logistics specialist" might not survive his encounter with Megatron was coldly glossed over in favor of remaining pertinent to their current discussion. He hoped Pipette would not disparage the matter and instead focus on whether that would be a sufficient arrangement for her.

“If this backing proves ineffective, I suggest you begin exercising my authority and involvement in this project to your benefit.”

It was a simple request, or a command perhaps, that Megatron gave her. With these words, Pipette was fully empowered to act. It was a freedom that came with the obligation to act in the best interest of the Decepticons—for abusing it would result in swift and immediate termination. Still, it showed that Megatron trusted her competent attitude and skill for now.

Whether time would prove him wrong remained yet to be seen.

[Pipette]

Content? Excited? Happy? Yes!

“Then with your leave Meagtron sir, I shall make immediate efforts in this creation of our perfect metal for the situation.” To have his actually direct backing? To be able to wield a singular gram of his prodigious authority? This was her purpose made real, and by Primus she would create. The Chemist could not start to fathom how she could abuse this newfound power to her own benefit, because to her, this task was exactly to her benefit.

Pipette bowed deeply to her leader, and then she hurried back to her computer terminal.With pure unfiltered concentrated focus, occasionally unsteady hands now flowed with purpose and grace over keys. Anyone watching would see her calculating timescales and creating an elaborate plan integrating different back to back and overlapping steps as she considered every angle to the process.

She’d start with growing boron-nitride nanotubes. They take the longest time. She’d need specialised equipment. Some stuff she could put together here but she would still need other componentry. Get the equipment first, then requisition the boron while she assembled the equipment. Could she use the space bridge for putting some stuff in orbit? Zero gee manufacture would improve results, yes. The metals she could work on later, simple metallurgy on this initial scale was easy for her though she’d need to build a forge. Yes she could do that easily with available resources. A few select metals to alloy should be simple to gather…

It carried on like this for some time, a little Chemist with a big project and a very happy spark.

[Megatron]

"Then I shall leave you to your work," Megatron replied at once in a deep tone, pleased with her immediacy, "When you have made sufficient progress, we will meet again."

Then, the Warlord turned around with a mighty motion and folded his hands upon his back once more. He did not press Pipette further while she focused on her work. It would not do well to disturb her or unnerve her when it was not necessary. He would only ever think of doing so should her efforts prove to be insufficient. For now, she was in Megatron's good graces. Few had that privilege these days. It would be in her best interest not to squander it on such a simple task.

Not that he was worried. A scientist with her pedigree should prove sufficient. If not, there were always others. Regardless, with this matter concluded, Megatron began to head out, one heavy, notorious footstep at a time. Thud after thud, the last fleeting moments of his visit came to a gradual end.

With Pipette employed and the resources gathered, it was now only a matter of finding the last two missing pieces for his next project. Megatron could rest assured, knowing that this scientist would be contributing to far more than she realized. 

But what was it exactly?