Tacks returned the smile. His hunch was right; these aliens were open to diplomacy! "Thank you." he shrugged slightly. "Don't feel too bad. My studies show that war often drags outsiders in. Our own history is filled with such incidents. Perhaps there's a way we can help end this conflict before it spreads too far."

He thought back to some studies he'd done before, at the odd fossilized...metal things...he'd found in the past.
---

Megas froze in place. "Uh, guys? We're on your side. That...and it ain't too safe down here. This place could collapse at any second."

Tarantulas acknowledged Soundwave. "Good work, you guys. I knew I could count on you!" the predacon did his best interpreation of something that low-life Optimus Primal might say.

"Do the humans have any idea where the Decepticons might be going?"

OOC: Wraith is right, Megas, Fusion, Windrunner and Eternity are underground in the military complex with the humans that just met them, whilst Prowl, Shockwave and Tacks are far above them in the surface, so yes, it would be ahrd for Windrunner to simply stroll up and greet them.

The Stunticons have made their way up to the surface and left through a large corridor.

IC later.

OOC: Woops, apologies all, it got kind of confusing for me, well...I think I'll edit the post so you'll have to go back and re-read it, soz. I have to go now though so I'll do that later.

(OOC: No update for a bit...? I was waiting for an update from Pach or someone else, but I'll post now anyway)

"No," replied Shockwave over his radio, "but me and Fusion saw them coming out of the sea when we were in the city. We also detected an energy signature under the water...I think their base may be out at sea somewhere."

OOC: Sorry, was stuck on ideas and inspiration on where to take this.

IC:
I appreciate the offer, Prowl said, his metallic facial features curling to form a smile. As it stands, we could sure use the help. Were low on numbers and energy our ranks have been split. We dont know where the rest of our allies are, or our leader Optimus Prime is. We need to be able to find them if were to have any chance at all in defeating the Decepticons. Prowl admitted.

Tacks nodded. We could find some fuel, that would be easy enough.

No, not so easy. Prowl admitted, his smile dropping. Us Cybertronians understandably dont have the same energy fuel as you, we use something different. Something, I fear, isnt so prevalent on this world. However, I think its possible that we could convert some of your human fuel into the fuel that we need. The best one suited to do that would be- a slight pause, almost as if a chill ran through Prowls entire body. -Tarantulus. He activated his communicator to the spider. Tarantulus, do you think youd be able to convert human energy into the energy we need?

The spider laughed. "Easily enough." he began running his fingers along the computer console. "I might need more technology than I have access to now, though... plus I'm not sure if we should be too trusting of the humans just yet."

If the predacons and the tricapedicus council were to be victorious... Tarantulas needed to make sure relations between the humans and autobots remained strained.

"Indeed." Tacks nodded. "I'm sure you guys wouldn't enjoy getting force fed energy...did you say Cybertronian?"

Tack's mind flashed back to one of his early field studies in alien technology...

**FIVE YEARS AGO**
"Sir, what's this?"

Tacks had been on a dig site on a rumor of ancient alien technology present on Earth in prehistoric times. His team was deployed to an area that had a high yield of metal...where geologic conditions said it wasn't supposed to be. He held in his hands a pink, glowing cube, housing some form of energy. Later on, his comrades found the remains of a ship in the site farther down, with active records. The alien's face wasn't even visible on the dead screen, but the speakers audibly said one word. "Cybertron".

Tacks looked up. "Might your energy sourcve, by any chance, be a slightly pinkish, glowy substance that's housed in crystalline cubes? My team found one on a dig a few years back, as well as a ship with records of your planet on it."

OOC: For those that haven't figured it out yet, Tacks is probably the foremost Terran authority on all things Cybertronian, as much as humans CAN know, I imagine somehting like each scientist studying different alien artifacts ina similar fashion to specialist anthropologists/archaeologists. He even found Energon cells in a dead ship once O.o

OOC: I edited my post now, I would have done it sooner bu my keyboard shut down.

IC:
Windrunner manouvered her way back up to the top, there was quite a bit of destruction from the fight and she couldn't help wondering what the humans would do about it. Shrugging her shoulders she continued to move forward, at the same time trying to pinpoint Prowl's signal.

Prowl looked incredulously towards Dr. Tacks. His optics glowed brightly.

Yes energon! Prowl said, his tone evident with excitement. This is great! Well be able to fuel ourselves with your assistance easily now!

Prowl suddenly stopped, as he fully considered what else Dr. Tacks had just told him. The humans had found a part of the Ark, the Autobot ship? Could they have found some of Prowls other Autobot allies?!

Please, Dr. Tacks. This wreckage you found its imperative that I see it right this moment. Is it possible for you to be able to show us it?

-----

Megatrons not going to be pleased, roared a loud voice from a purple truck that screeched forwards at ever increasing speeds. Alongside the massive vehicle were four other, smaller cars, each tearing up the highway with greater speed.

Hell have to bear with it, Soundwave responded, from within his alternate form, a cassette player, sitting upon the drivers seat in the truck. Im not pleased with the results either, but at least we rescued our allies.

Huh. Hed best not have another go at me, Im telling ya- started Dragstrip, before he was rudely interrupted.

Shush! My acute sensors indicate that we are being followed, by something that is neither Autobot, Decepticon or Earthling. Soundwave interjected.

What? Then what the hell is it?! Motormaster asked.

Im not sure, but we will find out soon, and Megatron will want to see this for himself. Just keep going, Stunticons, without acting suspicious, until we arrive at the Nemesis

Tacks nodded. "Fortunately, it's located in a portion of the base not too close to the battle site, things there should be untouched." He jumped in the Humvee. "Follow me," he said, commanding the driver to take him basically across the base from where they were. Outside, he was calm as a rock. Inside, he was as giddy as a child who had been let loose with free reign in a toy store. To him, this was like Darwin getting to meet "Lucy" or Java Man up close and personal; like a fan meeting their favorite superhero or TV character; the race he'd been studying a good portion of his life had finally made contact with, of all the Earthers on the planet, him!

-----

Megas touched a hand to his earpiece. "Uhh...chief? Things got real quiet up there. What's going on?"

(OOC: Family weddings/anneversaries/etc taking up a lot of time recently, so sorry for the lack of updates and for how short this one is, but hope that should all be over very soon now.)

As Prowl set off after Tacks, a large hand descended on his shoulder, making him pause and turn.

"Prowl," muttered Shockwave quietly so the Humans wouldn't hear, "you sure about this? I mean, we need all the help we can get, but should we be so quick to trust these guys? It's their planet after all, and how can we be sure they aren't planning a trap or something?"

============================================================

"Erm...can we contact Prowl yet for orders or something?" asked Fusion as he eyed the line of soldiers threatening them with their weapons.

Eternity shook her head. "The Decepticons must still be too close, jamming our signal."

"Well I dunno about you guys but I don't think we should push our luck." replied Fusion causiously. "Prowl wanted to make friends with these Humans after all, didn't he?"

The soldiers surrounding the Autobots were obviously afraid...they hadn't expected this when signing up!...the fear showing clearly in their faces, and suddenly one of them, a young man more jumpy than the rest, accidentally tripped over a piece of fallen debris from the earlier battle, stumbling backwards accidentally! He regained his balance, but in the confusion he accidentally pulled the trigger of the rocket launcher he was carrying!

With a WHHHOOOSH of air the rocket streaked towards the group of Cybertrons, trailing a smoke tail behind it! The group barely had time to duck, and the rocket screeched over their heads, impacting on the far wall of the hanger with a resounding BOOM!

Fusion straightened up, looking over his shoulder at the smoking crater where the rocket had hit, then back towards the soldier who fired it, the yellow power conduits in his metal skin glowing brighter. "But that was just rude!!!"

Megas leapt back as a rocket detonated where he stood. "I don't think they're gonna buy we're on their side, so...follow my lead." Megas folded himself into car mode. With a screech of the tires, he barrelled straight for the troops, who barely had time to get out of his way. "GANG-WAAAAAAAAY!"

((OOC: Kay, kinda lost. But I'll do my best.))

Tarantulas spoke into his com-link. "Megas? Prowl just met with one of the human leaders. They're going to investigate some cybertronian wreckage."

The spider-bot was on his knees inside his lair. The place was not finished construction yet, though he had managed to salvage enough metal to make a larger more complex computer console. Using his web-replicaters he had placed a few traps towards the entrance to his lair.

He had manufactured a chair and several spy-bots which were now patrolling around the room. Cracking his fingers he began typing at his large computer console.

OOC: and we were doing so good, too!

IC:

The Humvee stopped in front of a wide patch of sand. Tacks pressed a button and metal doors slid away under the sand, revealing a tunnel under the ground. Further down the path (and a few security checks), was a huge fragment of Cybertronian spaceship. The alliance emblem was scratched off, and the ship had numerous rust spots and burn marks; it had gone down a long, LONG time ago. Tacks motioned to the right, where several cylinders, filled to the brim with Energon, pulsed softly next to machines taking readouts as men in protective suits bustled about the controls of said machines. "Well, here it is, and here's the video file we pulled off the ship."

The vidscreen popped up. A pair of reddish eyes peered out from a static screen. "This is *static* of the *static* 5th recon fleet of Cybertron. As thought *static* planet has Energon deposits, though it*static*-stable. *static*-t's that?" An explosion sounded off-screen. "we're under attack!" The voice sounded commanding. "All turrets open up! Hit them with what we have!" More explosions and the sound of robot feet clambering around as the screen faded out. "We didn't find much in the way of bodies, though we did find this." Tacks motioned over to a platform, where a cylinder holding an inert robot frame rose, about the size of a human. "We deciphered most of the controls, it's something called a Protoform. Any clues as to what those are?"