[ti]Ep 2.5[/ti]Pick Up, Drop Off [Backbeat]

[Soundwave]

Episode 2.5 | Week 4 | Day 3

New arrivals often brought many boons with them.

Strength. Skill. Knowledge.

Strength was what most tended to anticipate as being the most beneficial for a war effort. Bodies for the army, bodies to fight and help progress one's goals with the weaponry they bought at their wake. Individuals to cut down obstacles and pave the way for forward progression. It was an out front and in the light title, yet that didn't mean they were destined to hold the most value.

Skills broadened the game. Finesse with tactical guidance, or the ability to craft armaments or gear for those that favored strength. Medical personnel to keep everyone alive, and everything else in-between. The right skillset could change the flow of war, supporting others on their journey. Yet, skills could even take a backseat, to something Soundwave always favored.

Knowledge.

Knowledge, on what worlds they have been on and what outposts they have crossed. Reports on who may yet live in the deepest portions of space separated from the rest of the Decepticons... whether ones of their own, or of the enemy... Knowledge was an overlooked skill at times, but one that Soundwave knew the value of and kept track of best he could. The right guidance could lead to contact with a bigger force, and more individuals to pull into active fray. To recruit a team, gifted more than any one individual could offer alone.

Yet, this newcomer brought on their heel something else.

There had been a request sent out some time ago. A general call for armaments and supplies that would be useful to outfit their soldiers. The Autobots had been battered and beaten, the Ark felled, their scattered team forced to find shelter by the local government. They would be easy to swipe off the planet's surface should the right confrontation occur, unexpected weaponry doing that much more to be overkill and assure victory rather than playing a gamble. Yet, that was before the fall.

No Nemesis, Autobot populations rising, and MECH poaching left the Decepticons trying to pick up pieces and stabilize after the great loss. Weaponry wasn't much of a thought now beneath the oppressive shadow of what had been lost, yet that didn't mean it wouldn't be valuable. It simply... took a backseat to more utilitarian needs for now. Despite this, it was something Soundwave wished to foresee the arrival of, both to judge what was brought, and just who was bringing it... In person.

-

The large space bridge roared and snarled, curling spirals of teal and blues rippling inward towards its center. The world along the portal's outermost edges were blurred and distorted, a cutting seam between the now, and where space torn asunder to lead into the unknown. A sort of vacuum was formed, air sucking from the chamber in Blackridge to try to equalize with whatever lay beyond the veil of illumination. It caused dust to kick up, streaking lines of dirt from recent construction smearing along slick stone flooring below. It created a hissing wind that was part muddled under the growl of the vortex.

In front of this Bridge across the room, Soundwave stood as the ever-silent beacon that oversaw and recorded all. The shadowed eyes and ears of the Decepticon cause. His angled and narrow frame was positioned in an inert stance, slender arms hanging loosely down on either side, while his helm was crooked forward into its settled hooked posture. Flanking either side were two Eradicons, each with their weapons raised on the off-chance verifications were incorrect and it was not their gopher.

Here, they waited.

[Deleted]

New arrivals often brought many boons with them.

Strength. Skill. Knowledge.

Although some circles argue all these boons pale in comparison to having ammunition in their weapons.

The shipment had been waylaid for a few weeks due to issues now plaguing the Earth-based Decepticons. The shipment itself was mostly ammunition and replacement components for key Nemesis systems. While it could never solve all the issues facing the Decepticon forces, the extra ammo and supplies would help stave off any fears that the pan galactic Decepticon war machine had abandoned Megatron’s band. The components could always be repurposed. The current rise of Human interference meant ammunition would always be necessary and for some… Profitable.


A brown and yellow armored figure would exit the bridge. The cybertronian before Soundwave leveled his green optics, striding forward and casually threw his arms open. He waved his propeller claws in a friendly way. His head tilted as a calm, yet energetic, voice comes from behind his faceplate as he scans the room. “I believe the Earth expression is… Merry Chris’s mast? Doesn’t really matter… I’m bringing enough ammo and good cheer for any season.” He pointed over his shoulder as he walked towards Soundwave, adding a casual “Name’s Backbeat, I’m your new logistics specialist.” The figure seemed to walk with a casual pace. Behind him, multiple pairs of Eradicons carrying large crates followed out of the green portal.


Backbeat steps off to the side, allowing the Eradicons space to stack the various crates. These containers were divided into three groups. Ammunition, replacement components and (for some undiscernible reason) a small stack of crates labeled “PURPLE PAINT”. Backbeat claps his claws together and rubs them as watches the Eradicons at work. Clearly focused on making sure the troopers didn’t drop or damage any of the precious cargo. Backbeat quickly snapped himself back to reality as he turns to face the Decepticon Communications Officer.


“So… Where do you want all this stuff stored?”

[Soundwave]

The Eradicons that were flanking both of Soundwave's sides would continue to hold their weapons aloft in the following moments, the barrels seething with purple energy that was charged and ready to fire should things go astray. This focused stance did not even waver as the newcomer made themselves seen, the only response to his arrival being an adjustment to their aim to level off at his central mass. They would lock this posture while the navy mech between them evaluated who it was that had walked through, waiting to hear if cutting down a threat was required of them.

It appeared to be the individual they sent the order to, the voice matching up to the recordings from prior transmissions. Soundwave did not have doubts he was who he said he was at this point, especially as the temporarily loaned helping hands were filing in from behind with this supposed cargo. What did however not go according to expectations, was the level of unfiltered bravado that radiated off Backbeat.

Soundwave's posture shifted, his helm raising up some while angling down slightly. This caused the top edge of his visor to visually appear to crook despite not actually moving, an illusion made due to angles and its gently curved nature to create loose implication of a frowning expression. A frown that was staring Backbeat down. This new Decepticon was not only flippantly casual to one who stood so high on the hierarchy, he had the audacity of proclaiming his title at this outpost with so much conviction. Either he was profoundly bold and ambitious, not fearing speaking his thoughts and aiming high...

Or he was a fool playing with fire.

Backbeat was trying to seize a role that has yet to be appointed without barely having taken a ventilation on this planet. Evidently loaning out a few soldiers for the transport of needed goods was, in Soundwave's opinion, an ego boost to this procurer that his personality appeared to take and run with. The Eradicons at either side, and a couple that had already stopped once inside, picked up on this new tension, having been appointed to the Nemesis for enough time to have a general concept of how things ran on the Earthside outpost. They would keep their helms angled down, focused on getting the containers inside and placed for inspection while the two guards lowered their weapons.

The second the last container was carried in, the Space Bridge would slam closed sharply, leaving relative quiet in its wake that was in stark contrast to the swirling roar of the portal.

Easing forward, the silent mech took calm steps, each one a hollow click of dampened joints that was now apparent in the newfound ambiance. His arms would remain slack at his side, while unseen gaze appeared to be locked onto Backbeat intently. There was no verbal response... which was to be expected given who it was... though there was also no recording to give an implication of his thought process. The Decepticon communications officer would approach, his helm crooking to the side as he did so to read some of the labels on some containers. After this cursory look, Soundwave then angled his visor back to the mech, stopping a conversational distance from Backbeat, staring him down as if anticipating more to be said.

See if his boldness surpassed introductions.

[Deleted]

Soundwave didn’t talk, most rumors Backbeat had heard always painted Soundwave as a “the silent one”, Backbeat had always assumed it was a bot of few words deal… But he’s not been expecting a mute. Which meant Backbeat had to work off the non-verbal cues his associate gave. The brown and yellow robot crossed his arms as walked towards the stacked pile of crates marked: Standard Energon Magazine. He tilted his head casually, keeping his optics locked on Soundwave. "I see..." His tone remained casual, but there is a hint of restlessness to him as the bridge closed behind him. “What kind of logistics specialist would I be if I didn’t let you inspect your purchase? I’ll let you tour the ordinance first.”


Backbeat uncrossed his arm and used his clawed hands to pry open one of each of the differently marked boxes of ammunition. He carefully places each of the assorted samples on top of the one of the unopened boxes marked as Standard Energon Magazine. He motioned for Soundwave to come closer to inspect the items as he stepped back. Clasping his hands together in front of him as he cheerfully started to monologue about the displayed items. “We’ve included about 150 Standard Energon Magazines that I believe are mostly allocated for the Eradicons. Then there’s the physical ammunition. Made sure it’s up to Slaughter City standard myself, so there shouldn’t be any issues with it... That’s about 50 clips in total, so I recommend rationing it till I can get more. We’ve got about 50 of those rockets the Seekers usually use as well. There is also a shipment of about 100 of the smaller rockets…” He taps the missile pods on his feet. “Personal favorites of mine.” Backbeat continues, clearly enjoying having a captive audience. “We’ve got 50 Plasma charge packs. Then, about 30 Energon grenades and a big old box of assorted weapon parts.” He puts his clawed hands behind his back and leans forward, tilting head as the looms of the items on display. “I assume you find the ordinance agreeable, yes?”

[Soundwave]

An inky black visor shifted to watch as Backbeat moved, Soundwave’s frame crooking around to keep him within his line of sight once the other Cybertronian would have dipped past the corners of his vision. After this turn, letting him get a small head start, Soundwave followed, his stride equally as calm as it was previously with no particular rush. They had time to go over things, they had time to evaluate and take stock. They were not on a clock here so long as it didn't take an entire day. Easing to a stop beside the container that was being motioned to, the navy mech's unseen gaze drifted over what was written on its surface before it was blotted out by objects being stacked atop it, notes being made on just what were shown first.

Soundwave was no engineer nor weapons specialist. He didn't have a passion for the different types of machine guns, pistols, or other things, and didn't care to learn how they were manufactured on a core level. That said, he was not ignorant to them, visual reticles within his vision locking down and highlighting each item as it was presented while logging what was being said, comparing them to those he knew about. Recognizing the ins and outs? Not important. But he knew how to recognize the rough types and possible damage capabilities, to evaluate in a battle and compare models to known weaponry scans so he could respond accordingly.

To be aware of what may be used against oneself? Valuable.

Slender fingers reached forward as Backbeat finished his little presentation, picking up one of the plasma charge packs. He turned it over in his grip, looking at it to try to decipher what type it was and if he recognized what it fueled, though once again, it was not particularly pertinent to his role and didn’t fall into his expertise. Because of this, as soon as he had lifted the object, Soundwave set it back down and into place as if it had never been touched. He then glanced across all the containers that had been opened, only to then peer at those that had not.

Softly, Soundwave would lightly tap the top of the box that the display had been put out on. While it had a label, it was always ideal to double check. In fact, all cargo would be thoroughly checked to see what else may be brought in. Look for things that could be dangerous if not handled properly, things that shouldn’t be brought in at all due to toxic elements, or on the exceptionally rare and very unlikely chance of a stowaway.

With Cybertronian's sizes being so varied from small to monstrous, one couldn't be too careful when it came to things being brought in from unknown origins. However, it didn't even need to be something from their home world to be... problematic... they certainly didn't need an alien rat or insect crawling out from between the seams to cause havoc or create a mess. Spouting out bile or blood and other unpleasant results from going from the atmosphere of their home world to Earth’s own.

After tapping the makeshift 'table' before him with interest, Soundwave then lifted his hand to point at the other unopened containers. His weight would rock to the other side as he settled into place, helm crooking in an inquisitive means to convey the question.

[Deleted]

The Decepticon supply specialist seemed to be enjoying his little “sales pitch”. While Soundwave had no word and lacked a face, Backbeat liked to think the fact the Decepticon Communications officer enjoying the little demonstration he’d set up. “This is going better than I expected!” He thought. Backbeat watched as Soundwave seemed to quizzically examine the plasma charge pack. “This may be the boost to my career I was looking for, certainly doesn’t heart to impress one of high command.” He kept a straight faceplate, but internally it was back-patting central… That was until he noticed Soundwave tapping the box. The meaning hit Backbeat like a punch to the face. “He wants to inspect the boxes… All of the boxes… Crap.”


Backbeat almost immediately regained his composure and computed the best play he could come up with. He decided to fall on his old backup. He was going to lie through his vocalizer till his altmode was a rug. Backbeat turned up the charm another notch. “Well, I see you want to speed up the pacing… Very well.” He let out a comical sigh as he raised his right hand. He snapped his claws then pointed at one of Soundwave’s guards. “You, I want you to open the lids of every box not labeled as paint.” He then turned to Soundwave. “With your approval of course.”


Over the many years and commanding officers, Backbeat discovered a very simple fact. Decepticon commanders love exotic weapons. He’d had a commanding officer who used to go to his recharge bed with his Electron Discharger Cannon… It was honestly unsettling. But almost every Decepticon seemed to have the secret dream of owning a death laser. So, Backbeat had very quickly tacked on to the manifest about seven or so “boxes of paint” and stuffed them with some items he could easily bribe an officer with. Now that Soundwave wanted a full inspection, however… Well, he figured, “I was able to source more weapons, and have delivered them as gift to our glorious leader” sounded better than “Drat, you’ve foiled my attempt to jumpstart a black market”. Backbeat clapped his claws together. “So, I believe next on the agenda was the Energon regulator pumps and those regulator valves?” He motioned to the box of pumps. “Do you require a sampling of the components? Or should we move on to our final item on the list?"

[Soundwave]

This incident was bizarre, and he did not know yet if it was annoying, or if it fell over to the side of entertaining in its absurdity.

Things seemed to tip more in Backbeat's favor.

Soundwave simply watched with a bit of twisted amusement as the Decepticon's personality continued to be thrown out on display. Comical sighs? Showboating? High energy proposals? He certainly was a fast-talking salesman and it was almost refreshing in a messed up way to see after so many years of relative isolation. An isolation that tended to bring in a certain type of individual. Newcomers only seemed to come in when they happen to make contact or happen to find Earth... Wanting to reach out to serve. Striving to get here. Seeking power by sucking up to High Command... Backbeat? Well, he was effectively ordered to come, this fact bringing a different energy to the playing field.

It was this energy that continued to radiate raw bravado, so much so that Soundwave was willing to humor it now just to see where on Earth it could possibly go, and where it appeared to be going was quite arrogant indeed.

Backbeat didn't gesture to one of the soldiers that had been temporarily loaned for transport... individuals that were told to play ball... no... he went and snapped his fingers at the Eradicon that was serving as a guard beside Soundwave in case someone unexpected were to come through the Space Bridge instead. The soldier's helm rose, spine straightening as he didn't know how to process this. Take offence? Submit to the request? His helm whipped over to Soundwave whose forearm lifted in a 'go ahead' motion.

How far would this mech run with a bit of loose lead.

Seemingly confused, the soldier's gun that had been lowered, then transformed and flicked back internally, a clawed hand snapping out and into place. He would step forward in confusion, grabbing the top of the nearest box and wedging his claws beneath the lid. While this individual did this, some of the other Vehicons looked around at one another, one that was off to the side not within Soundwave's immediate line of sight shrugging in a wordless 'I don't know what the hell is going on here' sort of movement. A crackle of a seal breaking ripped out, and the first lid of one of the containers was wrenched off, the Eradicon dropping the panel to the side as he moved over to the second crate.

The guard checked to see if it was labeled paint, and upon seeing it wasn't he slammed his hands down into the gap as he did the first, starting to try to pull it open while also snapping a glare up to one of the nearby Vehicons... at least... as much as a faceless visor could glare. The look seemed to have been funny though to the nearby soldier who lucked out and wasn't chosen as this day's lone can-opener, a stifled sort of a laugh throttled down, a bit of a faint rattle going through his armor.

Soundwave took a casual step forward towards the first opened box, looking in at the pumps and system mechanisms that were packed well and would be quite valuable. The topmost ones he could see looked to be in good repair and undamaged, clean as if new rather than a harvested component ripped out of another ship or vessel. This was good. Very good. It would be handed over to the applicable individuals to make use of them for the Nemesis project, and in fact, many would be going straight to the Space Bridge itself right after the exchange of information between Backbeat and Soundwave concluded.

Nodding his helm in approval, Soundwave would follow the other Decepticon to the second container the Eradicon had just wrenched open.

[Deleted]

Backbeat casually sauntered behind Soundwave, lurching forward to look from behind the Decepticon communications officer's shoulder. The supply specialist steepled his claws as he crooked a green optic open. “Factory fresh… You can even still smell the paint.” He seemed to slink around like some sort of serpentine earth creature. “You now have everything command requested.” He’d start to walk over to the remaining unopened boxes. His arm crossed behind his back as he continued to speak. You could see the grin behind his faceplate in his optics. “And we’re not even to the best part.”



Backbeat had quickly run the numbers on his current situation. He’d immediately dismissed any notion he could smuggle his contraband under Soundwave’s watchful optics. These packages will be searched, and while most of the items inside the “paint” boxes could easily be blamed on a mix up during the packaging process. Although, it would make him look like either an incompetent fool, or an untrustworthy fool. Both were not a reputation he wanted to cultivate. No, he would need to find a way to use this to his advantage somehow. This was why he decided to play into this bad hand, as sacrificing the weapons seemed like his only out.


“But before that, I feel like I’ve been carrying this little conversation for… What… What is it that they use for measurements here again?” He turns to face Soundwave. Casually he shrugged. “Eh, probably not important… But what is important is all the rumors about this little mud ball. A little exposition to clarify the finer points would be nice.”


The moment he had gotten the transfer order, he had thrown himself into researching Earth. He’d studied any bit of information about the planet he could get his claws on. But, while he knew more than was needed about the planet, his prying into the details of Decepticon operations on the planet had hit a wall. He'd been missing the clearance for any official information. Although that wasn't to say he knew nothing. While information about the operation on Earth had been mostly relegated to command level clearance only, the rumor mill of the lower ranks had churned out a load of wild stories. He’d heard tales of necromancy, Unicron worship, the Nemesis being destroyed, and lost treasures that had been found. Until arriving in Blackridge Hold, he’d dismissed all those rumors as scrap. But he’d quickly picked up on the truth to at least one of the rumors, Soundwave’s focus on the components rather than the weapons was what clinched it for Backbeat. It was time to find out just what brand of insanity he'd have to expect on his new assignment. 

[Soundwave]

The Eradicon guard pried the top off the container he had been working on with a crackle of the seal, passing its contents a slight glance, before moving to the next one in line. This third one however gave him pause, seeing that it had a stamp marking it as 'paint', and given the unknown Decepticon had told him to open all that were not labeled as such? He would move on, not even passing it a second glance. His claws would ram down into the seam of another piece of cargo that was something else, trying to rip it open as well. The second Eradicon remained back by where Soundwave initially had been standing, while the couple Vehicons stood to the sides at the ready, waiting to know where things would be taken.

Soundwave wasn't paying much heed, it seemed, to the fact that Backbeat was weaving behind him like a serpent, continuing his salesman pitch. He was instead considering if they should unpack the container of fuel pumps and other equipment here to sort out what may go to the medical bay, or if it should be taken directly to the cavern the Space Bridge was in. When Backbeat spoke further, it was then that Soundwave’s frame eased back upright, no longer leaning to look down into the container, his helm crooking to the side some to peer over at the other mech.

What had been asked was not a bad question. It was more than valid. Wanting to learn what was going on and what one may have just signed up for... however, when it came to Soundwave that is where there could be a bit of a troublesome issue. He was not a vocal individual, in the most direct definition of sorts. He would not lean back on his heel and start navigating the finer details on what was going on here on Earth. It would shatter a vow he took, and he wasn't going to ever do such a thing for something so trivial. He could patch together recordings, and in fact he often did that to try to convey some things since he had needed to take a more active hand working with others once again... yet to do so to cover all that had occurred and was continuing to go on?

Soundwave wasn't going to compile what would amount to a movie's worth of video and audio for Backbeat to stare at his face and watch.

At this, the black visor would click active, the darkness replaced by an audio recording file. Small lines bounced up in sharp arks, marking the waves of the individual's tones and pitches to their words. As the file was played, there was a chance Backbeat may recognize the individual it was taken from, despite the brevity of the statement, and the filtered tones it took from being recorded and piped back through.

That oh so familiar mused words of the Air Commander and self-proclaimed Lord of the Decepticons.

/̡/Ask what you will/͢/

Starscream's voice acted as a means for Soundwave to seek more direct questions. He would rather deal with what information was sought out most by their newcomer one at a time, rather than try to do a grandiose narrative that stretched from the day the Nemesis shifted into the planet's atmosphere, to now. It also meant that Backbeat could cut to the chase and get what he really wanted asked, rather than being told about things that may not interest him. Or so, this was Soundwave's logic, the navy mech starting to take a couple strides to the box the Eradicon had opened a moment prior, looking within to see what it had to show.

[Deleted]

Backbeat pointed with both his clawed hands at Soundwave, mimicking finger guns. He wasn’t even going to touch the weirdness that was Soundwave’s chosen method of communication. “Alright! A little audience participation… Not what I was expecting, but hey I’ll take it.” He clapped his clawed hands together. His tone of voice switched from it’s affected animation to a simple serious tone. “So… What happened the Nemesis?”


Backbeat figured he’d start with what he considered the most important question. He had heard rumors about the ship’s fall, but nothing concrete. While other Decepticons would worry about the status of command, he’d been more concerned to find out the status of Decepticon assets. To Backbeat, the megalomaniac in charge didn’t matter. No matter who oversaw the Decepticons, they’d always need supplies and the people who could get them. So long as he didn’t get the head mucky muck angry, he’d be set. Which was why he want to know about the Nemesis. He doubted it would be scuttled or abandoned, as that ship was the pride of the fleet. There had to be some plan to repair it, but he doubted they could use what ever voodoo Megatron seemed to possess to resurrect it. So, that meant more building supplies would be needed. Snapping out of his moment of introspection, Backbeat would then add: “As well, I’d also like to know the supply status of Decepticon forces on Earth.”

[Soundwave]

Soundwave's visor illuminated once more while the questions were asked, only this time it was not bouncing arcs of an audio recording, and instead was a series of wireframe shapes. Thin lines mapping out three dimensional patterns of a large room... a vortex marked above it calculating angles and coordinates... Data scrolled off to the side as such calculations were made, far too small and fast to be read, his helm not turning to angle at Backbeat since it wasn't something that involved him as far as the navy mech was concerned.

Reaching his hand down, Soundwave's pointer finger tapped onto the top edge of the open fuel pump and regulators cargo container. He made sure the strikes were loud enough to be caught onto, before he flicked his hand forward to point just as a Space Bridge ripped into formation across the way. Unlike when it had been an open gate between Earth and a much different world, there was no violent suck of air in or out. It had a form of equilibrium that was simply ghosted by a breeze from the twist of the spiral itself to knock dust around the large room.

Just after the tapping sounded and the gesture made, two Vehicons would move forward, one grabbing the lid of the container to whack it back on with a slam of the side of a fist, before they each grabbed a side and hefted it up together. They wouldn't look back as they departed, delivering the container to wherever it was destined to go. The moment after they got through the gateway, and the readouts showed nothing lingered within the void in-between, the Bridge would ram closed as quickly as it had been formed, throwing more small particles of white energy before they too dissipated.

Only once this was taken care of, Soundwave would turn back, his faceless visor locking down onto Backbeat as he now addressed the question with another series of recordings. This time they were more elaborate.

A part click sound was heard, before a femme's voice chirped active. While she spoke of a serious event, there was a sort of lighthearted informative tone behind it, the audio ripped out from a larger recording to cherry pick the needed portion.

/̨/The spread of an unknown nano-disease//̢

The voice of a mech soon followed.

/͏/̨By now I am sure the majority of our forces /̶/ infected by this/͢/̷

A buzz sound. Starscream's words used once again. It was a squawked like yell, a sound of panic and alarm, though the tones were modulated to try to deaden this down. Soundwave very much seemed calm, the emotion of their Air Commander not felt by him in any way.

/́/-crashed the Nemesis!//̨

Lifting his helm up, Soundwave seemed to be looking around the room then, his right hand raising. With a calm gesture, his palm would roll to face up, motioning around the smooth polished stone and wired in machinery. Calmer words flowed forth, ones that better reflected the mech's perceived feelings at the moment.

//̕-as you can see, Blackridge is our current base of operation//͡

The secondary question was then addressed, the navy mech's gaze moving down from looking around the room, to stare back at Backbeat. This final recording however was crisper and less modulated. Low rumbled tones, recognizable in a sparkbeat to any and all Decepticons that truly bit onto their cause at the onset of the war, and kept an ear out for directives and commands that trickled down through the hierarchy. Megatron's words a familiar staple.

/̢/There is a computer terminal /̴/͏ database is at your disposal//͢

Accurate and not. Soundwave would be watching what was or wasn't accessed. A clone of it all on hand if Backbeat had the audacity to try to hard edit things. This little newcomer wouldn't be given free reign to run rampant through everything that was stored within its systems... but he could access the information viable to his desired profession, and then the information every one of their soldiers got access to. Trust had to be earned, and Backbeat would get the secured version to test the waters.

[Deleted]

Backbeat listened to the “live performance” Soundwave gave silently. True to his reputation he had already started to work out a way to use this information to his benefit. Crashed ship meant that it needed repair; Meaning, supplies for those repairs were needed. All this however was brought to a crashing halt when he heard Megatron’s (albeit modulated) voice. Backbeat snapped to attention instinctively, before he clapped his clawed hands together. “I think I catch your orbital drift...”

Backbeat awkwardly moves in front of the stack of boxes marked “paint”. Clearly trying to act causal, as he tries to steer the conversation. “I’m sure once you’ve signed off that you’ve received this shipment… I could see about acquiring the supplies you no doubt require to resurrect our fallen warship?” Backbeat added internally: “And easily use to my advantage.”


Backbeat crossed his arms as he half-leaned against the stack of boxes. He kind of raised one arm while keeping them both crossed. With a flick of his clawed hand, he motioned at Soundwave. “I’m just assuming, since you all are still kicking, that that virus has been sorted. Unless those rumors about Megatron’s latest dabbling in the occult is true?” His voice was causal, like he was shooting the scrap with an old friend, rather than the Decepticon’s fearsome communications officer. He let out a nervous chuckle. “Regardless I’m sure it won’t be difficult to acquire the materials needed for any projects command has planned. Especially if Megatron signs off. His signature’s the magic rune that wards off supply request rejection stamps.”

[Soundwave]

"I’m just assuming, since you all are still kicking, that that virus has been sorted. "

Soundwave simply dipped his helm in confirmation.

After this soft movement, his weight rocked back slightly onto his heel, settling into place while watching Backbeat move in front of the paint crates and settle down himself. He wondered how long they would be danced around... the obvious dodged. If Backbeat didn't divulge? That was fine. The navy mech had ideas on what to do with those next steps. For now? Now they were having a lopsided discussion on paperwork and acquisition of goods.

It was more than apparent Backbeat was living off rules used on other worlds and from the days when there was a grandiose army to command and countless soldiers and workers to juggle and keep track of. Getting a work order directly from Megatron? That indeed would be huge. The Warlord's command, his 'stamp' of request... it would be a word of LAW that was indeed a 'magic rune' as Backbeat called it. Such an order would be fulfilled at whatever cost, even if it was a cost of life to obtain it. Getting signatures and brands that marked something as delivered was a necessity in those days as well. It created a chain of protection so if something did go missing, that an innocent Cybertronian wouldn't be blamed for its loss. The issue was, all of this was absolutely required back then, but here?...

Earth was profoundly small.

Orders given directly. Deliveries given directly. This would be an amusing 'culture shock' to witness in Soundwave’s opinion, especially when the mech learns he couldn’t just go and barter with the humans.

Then again, perhaps Backbeat didn't intend to remain like anticipated, which would then make the request for confirmation of delivery required, sorting it away as he served other goals. Perhaps Soundwave was being presumptuous to assume this salesman of a mech would stay longer than needed to dump what was brought and be off with his day. Though... it wasn't too far fetched an assumption when he seemed to be trying to smuggle right under Soundwave's metaphorical nose.

Unless someone else 'hired' him to smuggle in something.

Starscream, more likely than not.

At this thought, Soundwave's helm crooked some to the side once more, instantly starting to mentally jump back through the records with Backbeat for their prior requests. He was checking to see if there was any that didn't coincide with the communication officer's own involvement. To mask this data scouring, since his mind was partly distracted now on his new mission to keep tabs on the Second in Command, he parroted back the other mech's own words. He dared to ask a question that challenged Backbeat's conception on how troublesome it may be to get things, while wondering if he had further means to achieve this that Soundwave did not yet know of.

Supplies were valuable. Connections were priceless.

The words used were pitched into a question.

/̀/-won’t be difficult-?/̧/̷

[Deleted]

This was bad…

He’d been used to meetings with disinterested officers who rubberstamped whatever Backbeat brought, so long as it generally looked like what was on the supply request. Years of this scene playing out had given birth to some rather ingenious smuggling tricks. Tricks, such as including extra boxes in a shipment often marked as something unassuming. Then, quickly barraging the underpaid officer with unwanted conversation till he let the shipment through without checking. Or Backbeat would simply bribe the officer. The Decepticon army was notoriously more corrupt the further from the top you got. 

This wouldn’t work for Soundwave. Which, would mean that Backbeat would quickly have to find a way to prevent the impending discovery of the smuggled weapons from ending his career and life. The Decepticon supply specialist turned away, now facing the stack of boxes marked paint. “Well. To be brutally honest Soundwave. I doubt you’d understand…” Backbeat used one of his clawed hands to pry open the crate. He plunges a hand into the, now open, crate as he roots around in it. A couple spray canisters fall out of the box as he rooted around in it. Backbeat seemed to find what he was looking for and pulled a strange object out of the box. “You’re not really what I’d call a people person.”

"Besides... With the right weapon, you don't need to be!" Backbeat held in his arms what looked like a strange rifle. It was green and seemed to be covered in alien glyphs. Backbeat cradled it in his clawed arms as he fiddled with it. Backbeat gave a long and resigned sigh. “I might have stuffed a little... Extra into this shipment. Some personal stock.” He held the weapon out for Soundwave to inspect. "I've only got the one of these. So be careful." Backbeat looked right into Soundwave's blank screen of a face. "Exotic weapons... Cybertron's second currency." 

[Soundwave]

The records didn't immediately show any correspondence between Backbeat and Starscream, but that seldom meant it didn't happen at all. The other mech was crafty and smart, many overlooking just how intelligent he actually was in favor of the mistakes that were made. The true victories of his manipulations were not often boasted, but Soundwave knew of many, and likely was ignorant of many more. As much as he saw and heard, as much as he witnessed... his reach could only go so far. It was after these logs were scanned through swiftly that Soundwave tuned back into current events as Backbeat started to speak about how he wasn't a people person, then kept going.

Ah, so he was coming clean.

This was advantageous.

Soundwave was going to have the so called 'paint' redirected to Knock Out to have him divulge what was in there, the actual contents unknown entirely. The CMO may be rebellious at times under the influence of Starscream, but he would do well to be mindful when the Communication Officer was directly involved with an order. The fact Flatline worked by the books and appeared to lack this devious edge meant there would be accountability brought by a witness as well. Backbeat negated this silly hoop to jump through however, by coming clean with what he brought. What was labeled paint, most certainly wasn't, much to the dismay of the red mech no doubt... yet it brought more opportunity over vanity.

Soundwave didn't have a thirst for artillery himself, not the type to grab a weapon like the one Backbeat had on display and strive for active combat. He remained in the back lines of the war working, and when he was pushed to fight it was in closer quarters rather than ranged encounters. He technically had a gun, yet it was for simple utility or distraction more so than any level of actual use to injure another. Despite this, he reached out and took the unfamiliar rifle. While it was odd in design and its type not instantly familiar, guns were guns and most if not all handhelds of any type had a trigger, one he could locate on this device.

Avoiding this area, grasping the weapon with care, Soundwave looked down its length as if he were using it, the barrel aimed at the far wall as he tried to figure out what exactly it was. He was cross checking the weapons that he was aware of in their database, trying to link it up with ones he knew so that it could be catalogued accordingly and filtered to the appropriate individual. There were no boons to be gained by slapping a precision tool into the hands of one trained for more brutal and direct combat. This piece wasn't instantly recognizable as any one piece of tech however, whether firing hard ammunition, energy or fuel based, or if it were electrical or other means... It was an unfamiliar design, showing that the language written on its side was not simply a label for others, but a signature mark of the world it was derived from.

Some sort of alien device.

Lowering the weapon, Soundwave's visor shifted back to the other mech, helm crooking to the side some. He didn't seem hostile or angry at the deception, simply moving past it.

/̴/Starscream's /͏/͘ request?//͟

He may not have proof, but perhaps Backbeat would be pressured into speaking the truth should it be an accurate assumption. The surrounding Vehicons and the pair of Eradicons watched quietly as the two mech interacted.