More than Meets the Eye - IC - Cybertron... our home.

[Bladewind]

Five Months Ago

In a battle damaged New York, five heroes sat at a table eating shwarma. The city was rebuilding from an alien invasion that many blamed them for, but ultimately these Avengers had won the day.

Some of the powers that be wondered where each of these groups had been during their “opposite events.” Truth be told, they were there – all of them – in one form or another, but each had truly stood up to the plate in different ways.

Four Months Ago

In the devastated city of Chicago, and all around the world, a war that had spanned eons halted for the briefest moment as both side gazed skyward. Their home, the place where their battle had started, was visible in the skies above this organic planet, visible through the clouds and within their reach… until a sacrifice by the Autobots saved this world and doomed their own…



The battle resumed, and at long last the Autobots were victorious, the leaders of the Decepticons dead at their feat.

Optimus Prime cradled the stump where his arm used to be, confident that Ratchet would be able to repair the damage, lost in thought at what this all implied…

Six Weeks Ago

A new Stargate address had been discovered by the Atlantis Expedition at the very edge of the Pegasus galaxy. A routine gate excursion following standard procedures followed. The MALP had determined there was a breathable atmosphere, but the world was dark and desolate. The MALP was to be called back, the mission logged and the planet forgotten.

Then they saw it.

A huge humanoid carcass, metallic in nature. Scale was difficult given the surroundings, but in relation to the MALP it was gigantic. The information was relayed to Earth. It was at this time that Stargate Command contacted NEST and SHIELD and the beginnings of a mission were formed.

It wasn’t possible and yet…

One Week Ago

Tony Stark stepped off his private jet and unto the deck of the Aircraft Carrier designated as part of the American Fleet. It held no official records anywhere in the shipyards that had developed the other Nimitz-class ships, and it measured a good 60 feet longer. What’s more, the deck was strangely devoid of fighter jets. In fact, his personal jet and a small military grade helicopter were the only vehicles on deck that were flightworthy.

What was even more surreal to the industrialist was the other aircraft carrier pulled alongside this one. People were leaving this ship to board the other, supplies and crates moving freely toward the other ship whose name Stark could not see.

A woman in black fatigues walked briskly towards him, a tablet in one arm. Her arm bore a patch that none of the personnel on board either ship would recognize and that Stark only knew because he’d been briefed. His gaze took him beyond the woman to a series of cars and morotcycles, of all things, being driven to a location below deck.











Stark's eyes lingered on the last vehicle, and the woman now at his side smiled as his gaze lingered on the final vehicle. She knew what he was thinking, and it went against his reputation on many levels...

[Bladewind]

Tony Stark

The wind and the air are refreshing in the middle of the ocean and Stark is enjoying it. Turning to the woman next to him, he notes the nametag, and smiles in his turn. The rank insignia on her arms identifies her as a Lieutenant Commander.

"Commander Celenza." He says, "Is everything in order for the briefing? Satellite hook up with the States as well."

At her nod he nods in return, satisfied.

"Before going below decks..." He asks, "Is she on-line?."

Stark's gaze has stopped on the red motorcycle, and he's looking over the other motorcycle as well.

"Yes, Mr Stark. The unit was brought on-line per your specifications. The Shell-Head deployment unit is in stand-by mode, as is the other unit. Specialist Tracker is Stateside, but the Thunderhawk is ready to deploy.

"On board, the units suggested by Prime are ready to go, with the laptop accompanying Spark in the states. Most human agents are at the mountain, probably getting antsy and wondering what this is all about."

"I can imagine. Well, let's not keep them waiting."

Fifteen Days Ago

A laptop computer confirmed the information from the Pegasus Galaxy - the same co-ordinates that had been discovered were within the mini-con. Prime had to be informed.

The leader of the Autobots did not share Lennox's scepticism. Indeed, he almost seemed to recognize the small robot when it jumped up from the table and assumed it's relatively tiny protoform.

"Optimus Prime, is it really you?" He didn't wait for the response before continuing his tale and projecting images onto the tables and walls.

Incredulous, Prime and Lennox listened to the sketchy details and readied a plan - Optimus was already cataloguing the Autobots that he would assign. The communique from Stargate Command was enough to move the ball faster as it were, and a human contingent was formed to assist the Autobots. Stark International and Wayne Enterprises stepped up to fund the joint venture and soon a meeting was being readied.

Now - Cheyenne Mountain Complex

Colonels Lennox and Carter surveyed the room. In front of each human present a folder sat. The thickness suggested that this would be a long meeting. The coffee pots in the middle of the table confirmed it.

A laptop sat open in front of the two Colonels, it's screen on stand-by.

Looking around the table, Carter took attendance silently. Two Tok'ra operatives wore their people's traditional garb. She didn't know the male personally but Sam had worked with the woman a number of times. Atlanta was her To'kra name. Across from them sat Specialist Matt Tracker. He'd been assigned and recruited just this morning.

Agent Hughes' long hair hung loosely over her shoulders despite normal protocol. The SHIELD insignia on her arm did not suggest that she thought she was better than everyone else. Oddly she seemed to perform every action deliberately, as if hyper aware of everything she was doing from sitting down to sipping coffee.

A bespectacled woman sat with extra folders and a tablet device, looking around at the room and the various logos. Alethia Nightingale had a reputation, and Sam Carter absently wondered if the gadgeteer surpassed her own reputation for problem solving... Judas Spark, the man who had brought the computer that sat in front of her to Lennox was also seated at the table.

Carter introduced herself and flipped a switch. Two panels on the wall behind her opened to reveal large screens. One contained the hangar at Diego Garcia where Optimus Prime and two other Autobots stood motionless. The other was on board the USS Fortress where Tony Stark, and Lt Cmdr Celenza sat. The third screen was a well lit hold of some kind where a group of cars were parked neatly.

"Everyone here remembers the events that happened in Chicago from reports, news feeds or personal experience." Carter begins, "I am Colonel Samantha Carter, welcome to Stargate Command. This mission is strictly classified, and you have all been chosen for very specific reasons.

"To my left is Colonel Lennox, the military operative with the most personal experience with the Autbots and Decepticons. "

Carter introduces each of you, providing a brief summary of why you were chosen and your areas of expertise.

"There is no easy way to say this, so I am going to come right out and say it." Taking a breath she continues. "We have reason to believe that Cybertron was not destroyed followng the events in Chicago and that we have found it. More accurately, a Stargate expedition has found it and it's existence was confirmed by information from Mr Spark."

In the hangar, several of the vehicules get up. The red and green Camaros, the police car, the Ducati, and the blue corvette assume robotic forms and begin speaking excitedly amongst themselves. Optimus Prime calls them to order.

"We are arranging to gate you there. Given the distance, we are going to first transport you to Atlantis or a world close-by and then you will gate to Cybertron for recon and exploration."

She pauses, and Lennox takes over.

"There are many on my team that would love to be in our shoes. Having said that, this is a volunteer mission. You are being asked to go but you are not being ordered. If you accept, mission leaders and hierarchy will be established and maintained. Until then, the choice is yours.

[kirinke]

ALETHIA HP 1, condition excited and curious.

The girl flipped through the folders, reading and absorbing the information with disturbing speed. She sat the folders down, neatly. "Cybertron isn't friendly to humans. Will we be provided with appropriate gear towards that end? I'd hate to go there only to suffocate or have to spend my time in one of the autobot's head for safety." she smirked at that. "I'm sure the other organics in the party wouldn't care for that either, though the in-flight movies are often entertaining and there's more leg-room than flying Delta."

She looked over the files and listed additional gear that they'd need like as medical supplies and such like items that wasn't present on the manifest. She'd been on enough military-missions to never assume that just because they said it such and such item would be there, would be there, especially if it wasn't on the manifest. And even then you sometimes had to bully, blackmail and threaten the quartermaster to get what was on the manifest!

[XeroKhan]

Judas Spark

Judas adjusted his seating position during the first bit of the meeting. He glanced over to the Autobots and smiled a little knowing he was helping them find out about their home. Things from his history class returned to his memory about the mission, but not tht success of it. Overall, Judas was getting excited about this.

[Mr.Sandman]

Apollo
Condition: Good
HP 1

Apollo turns to the young woman down the table from him. When he speaks it is not in the deep tones of the Tok'ra in control, but in his slightly shy human voice, "Actually, if you look at the MALP readings on page six, the air is suitable for humans. This is common of most worlds possessing a Stargate and is considered evidence that the Ancients and the Tau'ri are genetically similar, or it was the last time I was active in the SGC. My question is to the Autobots then, are these coordinates correct for where you remember your home planet to be?" Apollo turns to the screen to ask his question. If the answer was yes than it was highly possible that the ancient cybertronians were involved with the Ancients, and might themselves have become the fifth race if not for the schism that created the Autobots and the Decepticons. If not than this was worrisome, someone, then, had placed the stargate on the planet, and recently, with the two most likely culprits being the Goa'uld or the Ori, both races believed to be extict.

Please correct me on anything I got wrong. I am working mostly from the stargate wiki as I am still in the midst of watching the show.

[Ryan M. Danks]

HOT ROD
Character Sheet - HP: 1

"Shhh...he's talking," Hot Rod said to the other autobots in the hangar as soon as Optimus gave the command to silence. In truth, he was one of the most impetuous bots there, but he held a respect for Optimus that most other bots shared, but that none demonstrated as much as Hot Rod.

He listened intently to Colonel Lennox give the briefing and waited to see which humans accepted the job. Having already been briefed himself by Optimus, Hot Rod knew what to expect, but was curious how many of the humans would have the guts to take on a planet that was the home of giant robots.

[kirinke]

ALETHIA HP 1 CONDITION NORMALISH

"Mmm you are right." she said, looking over the readings skeptically. "Still, taking basic precautions isn't going to hurt, in a place that war-torn, there are going to be pockets of nastiness and you'll thank me for having a supply of air in that case." she smirked and added.

"In any case I'm in, you're going to really need somebody who can act as a medic, mechanic and general expert on Cybertronian technology." she said dryly.

[Plan B]

Agent Hughes

Samantha considered the word "volunteers" as paged though the notes, remembering some advice she was told during training "if a mission required volunteers, it means it was too dangerous to just order you to do it". However it was made clear that she was going on this mission or monitoring the north pole.

"I volunteer. My areas of expertise are hand-to-hand combat, counter-espionage and hazardous enviroments." She said flatly.

[Bladewind]

USS Fortress

Once everyone has agreed to participate in the mission, Stark reaches forward and pushes a button on the console and the camera focused on himself and Celenza pans back to reveal a third figure seated at the conference table.

"Forgive the cloak and dagger stuff." Stark says light-heartedly, "We needed to know if you were on board before introducing the mission head."

He indicates this man:



"Mr Quinn has extensive expertise with the Stargate." Celenza interjects, "Stargate-lore if you will, falls to Apollo."

On a screen in the Cheyenne complex the focus is on the Autobots aboard the USS Fortress. Hot Rod has focused on the meeting in a rare display of maturity and attentiveness. It would seem that Optimus chose well for the Autobot leader of the expidition.

"Hot Rod." Optimus' voice echoes, "You are in command of the Autobots and I am counting on you to protect all members of this mission. The humans believe that they have the necessary equipment and abilities to survive. I remember what was left of Cybertron when we left.

"Be careful."

Behind Hot Rod, the Autobot that had been the blue corvette stops conversing with the others to pause long enough to realize how serious this actually all is. One would think that Mirage had switched bodies with Hot Rod the way the two were reacting. The former Ducati motorcycle was a little more reserved to begin with, and Hot Rod was easily able to lock optics with Glyph to know he could count on her abilities.

The green corvette was an Autobot that Hot Rod had never worked with. Optimus had informed him that his name was Wasp and that he was a kindred spark to Bumblebee. If he was half the bot that Bee was, Hot Rod would be happy. The police cruiser, Prowl, remained taciturn and aloof, but he wasn't fooling Hot Rod one bit...

Behind them, the futuristic red motorcycle, red camaro, OH-6A Helicopter, the final silver sports car that Stark had eyed keenly sat inert.

Windcharger

"Optimus." the former red corvette spoke up, "Just what are we expecting to find? The images from the human exploration device suggest that Cybertron is still as we left it - largely inert." He tries to keep dismantlement from creeping into his voice, the images still flashing before his optics.

"The Stargate Team," Prime's use of the term suggests some unfamiliarity with it, "have provided other images. We believe that things may not be as bleak as we remember. Indeed, when we left, the planetary core told me that it would take eons to repair itself. Hopefully enough time has passed."

Small retcon - there are screens set up as follows, each one allowing the others to see all groups: Cheyenne Mountain, Diego Garcia, USS Fortress mission briefing room, UUS Fortress cargo area.

Jonas Quinn

Quinn clears his throat. "To serve on this mission with all of you is an honor." He begins, "Equipment and supplies are being readied. Including air tanks, hazard suits, space suits and just about everything else we can think of.

"We will be leaving via two methods. Ultimately, we will need to use a Stargate to reach our destination, but the problem is that most of the Autobots will not be able to get into Stargate Command. Therefore, an alternative has been developed."

Hot Rod - can I get an Insight check from you?

Finally addressing the questions, it is Col Carter that responds to Apollo.

"The Autobot intelligence that we have been given and worked out suggests that indeed it has not moved. We are still advising extreme caution - moreso than the norm. With the collapse of the space bridge, spatial localization should be disrupted more than it seems."

[kirinke]

ALETHIA HP 1, Condition Satisified

The girl nodded grimly. "Kinda like cracking a Hydra system. No telling what you're going to find, except that it's 99% certain to be nasty." she said, fingering a strange high-tech looking strap on her left wrist as she looked at the images. Something struck her as odd. There was no USS Fortress.

OOC
Perception Check - http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3765688/ 26

[Plan B]

Agent Hughes

"Is there a reason why we wouldn't be able to use the method as the bots? Spliting the team seems an unnessary risk. " Samantha asked continuing to read the briefing notes.

[Bladewind]

Jonas Quinn

"Apologies if that was not clear. We will rendezvous on P4F-221 and then gate as a group to our destination."

He looks at the crew sitting at Cheyenne Mountain.

"It'll be good to work with the two of you again." He says to Apollo and Atlanta, the two Tok'ra operatives.

[Ryan M. Danks]

HOT ROD
Character Sheet - HP: 1

"Hot Rod." Optimus' voice echoes, "You are in command of the Autobots and I am counting on you to protect all members of this mission. The humans believe that they have the necessary equipment and abilities to survive. I remember what was left of Cybertron when we left.

"Be careful."

Hot Rod puffed up at being singled out by Optimus.

"I won't let you down, sir."

"Is there a reason why we wouldn't be able to use the method as the bots? Spliting the team seems an unnessary risk. " Samantha asked continuing to read the briefing notes.

"We'll be sent into orbit and engage a Stargate from there," Hot Rod said as he looked at the human mission commander. "I expect we'll all exit at the same location? If so, the Autobots should go first. We're familiar with the planet and can set up a perimeter before you cross over."

[kirinke]

HOT ROD
Character Sheet - HP: 1

"We'll be sent into orbit and engage a Stargate from there," Hot Rod said as he looked at the human mission commander. "I expect we'll all exit at the same location? If so, the Autobots should go first. We're familiar with the planet and can set up a perimeter before you cross over."

Alethia HP 1, condition amused
"It'll be good working with you guys again." Alethia said. "We'll join you as soon as we can."

[Bladewind]

Windcharger
Cond: Normal (Robot form)
HP: 1

The former corvette takes up a position next to Hot Rod, seemingly noticing the humans seated at the table Stateside.

"So, what I understand, Prime, is that a handful of Autobots and a gaggle of humans are going to have access to Cybertron through a device we somehow never knew was there.

"As for said humans, no offence guys, but aren't you all a little soft and squishy for this kind of work?

"Does the Matrix have anything to say about this?"

Windcharger continues to eye the group, singling one member out with what would be a smile of pleasure.

"I take that back. Well, some of it anyway. Is that who I think it is?"

It's hard to tell through the cameras, but he might fixing his optics on Wren.