eugenesis-text

facilities sixty days ago, prompted by Fixit’s hard work updating their rudimentary medical wing. A
reasonable request, but High Command was against staff leaving Autobot Medical Centre 1 for any length
of time (High Command was against a lot of things nowadays). In the end he’d been forced to make a
personal entreaty to Rodimus before Ratchet’s temporary leave was sanctioned. And once Rodimus had
said yes, the questions had begun, and Magnus had found himself giving details of resources, long-term
plans and the weekly energon harvest/burn ratio.
‘Ratchet and Mirage are due to arrive any minute now,’ said Magnus.
‘I didn’t know Mirage was coming. What does he want with an empty medi-bay’
Magnus stood up and stared outside. On the eastern ridge of the City he saw Bluestreak and
Trailbreaker testing out Wheeljack’s new supertread tyres; half a mile away, Skydive and Slingshot were
taxiing down a runway; and on the street directly below, Rewind’s face was pressed against a Demerara
pane. A moment later the Archivist was gone, replaced by a thin rectangle
of light.
‘I only heard about Mirage’s visit this morning,’ Magnus said slowly. ‘Tell me, Wheeljack, have you
heard any rumours lately’
‘Bluestreak’s the person to speak to about rumours. I’m too busy.’ Wheeljack stood up, realising his
commander was not returning to the desk. ‘What sort of rumours’
‘I’ve heard that Autobot City is to come under intense scrutiny. Mirage is travelling here to assess its
long-term viability.’
‘What does that mean in real terms’
‘In real terms They might close us down.’
Outside, two thousand streetlights flickered into life.
‘Do you have any proof of High Command’s intentions’
‘Some time ago, Rodimus asked me how I’d feel about “redistributing manpower.” Last month he
asked me about downsizing.’
‘We can’t downsize! What about Metroplex’
‘A lot of Autobots want to see Metroplex transferred to Iacon, and with Galvatron consolidating his
grip on Cybertron, High Command can mount a good argument for relocation.’
‘Sounds like a foregone conclusion to me. Mirage’s visit is just a rubber stamp job.’
‘Rodimus says it’s been a year since Deathsaurus attacked. There’s no enemy to fight anymore:
they’re all on Cybertron.’
‘Yeah, but if we pack up and leave the Decepticons will launch an attack! We’re here as a deterrent,
to stop them sucking Earth dry.’
‘And there we have the other bone of contention: resources. Thunderclash thinks that the energy
invested in running a city this size could be put to better use back home.’ Ultra Magnus looked at the
microscope rolling over Wheeljack’s knuckles. ‘Prowl can’t see the logic in posting a hundred troops on a
planet that for whatever reason is suddenly beneath the Decepticons’ notice. At the very least, I’m going to
lose 75% of my men.’
‘And then they’ll say the City is too big for us. We can’t win. Are you sure it’s not just a simple case
of jealousy High Command is bitter because we’ve got a city while they’re holed up in the Archives
Centre’ He waved away Magnus’ expression. ‘Relax, I’m joking. It’s just come as a bit of a shock, that’s
all.’
There was a long pause before Ultra Magnus continued. ‘High Command have other concerns too…
About the Autobot Space Bridge and the Ark.’
Wheeljack’s face darkened at the thought of his two ongoing projects: the burial of the Autobots’
ancient spacecraft and his ongoing quest to shut down the volatile warp portal (used less and less since its
creation in 1988) in favour of a large-scale transmat link between Cybertron and Earth.
Magnus saw his friend’s expression and wished he’d said nothing. ‘How is the Space Bridge project
going, anyway’
‘It’s going okay. I was going to ask High Command for more raw materials. I can just imagine Prowl
coming down here with his databoard and… and… dammit, Magnus, it doesn’t make sense! A fuel-efficient
Space Bridge would be invaluable to us, and yet High Command have discouraged me from the outset!’ He
flung the electron microscope against a windowpane.