eugenesis-text

‘Oh, I see. You’re threatening the entire resistance movement so that you can have a little get
together.’
Prime dropped his optic shields and caressed the bridge of his nose. ‘I’m not endangering anybody.
Red Alert has been planning the security measures for weeks. He’s okay with it. Prowl is okay with it.
Kup’s given me his full support. Mirage, Ratchet, Perceptor – they’re all on board. And the feedback I’ve
had from the troops themselves has been overwhelmingly positive. In fact, you seem to be the only one
who has a problem.’
Thunderclash leant on the lip of the desk. ‘If worrying about the safety of other Autobots is a
“problem” nowadays it’s no wonder we’re losing the war. And speaking of Ratchet and Mirage, why the
hell did you commission the Thunder Raider to take them to Earth Two days ago, in this very room, you
said you wanted the Raider to patrol our supply lines!’ He strode to the corner of the office and dragged a
fingertip down a monitor, tracing the Autobots’ trade routes. ‘Need I remind you that there are now ten
days’ worth of weaponry piling up at Delphi, not to mention the medical supplies that First Aid requested.
Siren’s running out of space while patients in AMC1 are running out of energon.’
‘Oh, don’t be so melodramatic. The Thunder Raider will be back in less than an day and Siren’s
happy to stockpile our munitions until then.’
‘But why did you let Ratchet go to Earth in the first place We’ve got, what, thirty, forty Autobots in
the medcentre, and now First Aid has to tend to them all by himself. We waste enough time and energy on
the City as it is – why compound matters by sending a quarter of High Command on a glorified package
holiday’
‘Now you’re being deliberately blind!’ Rodimus stood up, knocking his chair across the floor. ‘You
know my reasons for sending them to the City!’
‘I know Magnus had a word in your ear about Ratchet paying them a visit, but I can think of a dozen
Autobots better suited to city inspections that Mirage.’
Rodimus looked at the dents his fingertips were making in his desk. ‘Have you read the report about
the Helex incident or not’
For the first time since storming into the room, Thunderclash paused. ‘What report’
‘I left the hard copy in your quarters yesterday.’ Rodimus rifled through a mountain of data files as he
explained. ‘Yesterday, Mirage, Rev-Tone and Quark were involved in a skirmish with the Decepticons on
the Helexian border.’ He held up the disc. ‘Our men were chasing whispers about some new silo base
north of Novena. They ran into the Frenzy, Dirge - and Sixshot.’
‘Sixshot’
The desktop terminal swallowed the disc. ‘I know. We despatch three men on a low-key mission and
they’re ambushed by Galvatron’s new golden boy.’ The office vidscreen flared into life, the Autobrand
forming centre-screen. ‘This is Kup’s report.’
Thunderclash précised aloud while Rodimus set straight his upturned chair.
‘Rev-Tone taken out by a frag grenade… Quark suffered minor injuries… Frenzy and Dirge
eventually overcome…’ His voice trailed off as he reached the heart of the report, and when he reached the
end Rodimus was waiting with his arms crossed.
‘Now do you understand’
‘Mirage had a clear shot at Sixshot and he hesitated’
‘There you go. It’s not like him to have any qualms about these things, but he has seemed
preoccupied lately. I thought a trip to Earth might give him a little peace. Re-evaluating the City might
take his mind off anything that’s troubling him.’
Thunderclash shrugged and walked to the door. ‘I don’t know why you’re bothering to launch an
official inspection anyway. It’s all rather counterproductive if you ask me – especially when you’ve already
made your decision.’ His hand hovered over the release panel. ‘And that’s one thing you and I do agree on
– Autobot City is one big waste of resources, and the sooner we recall the freeloaders the better.’
Prime chased Thunderclash into the corridor, determined not to let him have the last word. ‘If
you know so much about Autobot City and troop inspections, why don’t you take command’
Thunderclash tapped Prime on the chest. ‘Sorry, but you’re the “Chosen One”. I couldn’t possibly
take over with a living, breathing Matrix Bearer around. Besides, I’m grateful to have any authority at all,
seeing as how Magnus declined your offer to co-lead here on Cybertron.’