| abstract
| - Beautiful and warm, California and Nevada are the western most states. California is known as the entertainment center of the United States, as most movies, television programs, and record albums are recorded there. It's also known for some of the worst traffic, smog, and riots in the world, especially in Los Angeles. Hammer #3934 rumbles along with a convoy of military vehicles. The Hammer has four occupants: the driver, a medic, and two Greenshirts. They were ordered to link up with an Autobot escort before entering the Los Angeles perimeter. Dr. Michel Miller is seated in the front seat of the Hammer, looking out as the approach LA, a mix of nervousness and excitement on her face. This was her first deployment being attached to the Joes, and it's a doozy of a mission. No one expects an alien invasion when they sign up. "What are we expecting, Corporal?" she asks the driver. Windshear is heading toward the Quintessons. He can't stop the Dweller in his head. He's fighting it but its only going so far this time. The Quintessons have to have something to do with this. It makes sense since legend has it the Quintessons built the Dweller. Perhaps the Dweller can sense them through his ex herald. Either way, the Vampire Seeker is heading to the Quintessons. He's not sure what he's going to do when he gets there, he will figure that out when he get there. If nothing else he's away from the Empire and everyone there is safe at least. Snarl arrives at the meeting point, looking for the people he's supposed to meet. He's strangely in his bot mode, having been told to do that instead of being in his preferred mode. Keeping a respectful distance from Windshear, the Sweep known as Plunder follows the Seeker, moving to the shadows and cover when it looks like he might be detected. He isn't sure what Windshear is up to, but he is concerned for the Seeker. Scourge also follows Windshear, with Plunder on his wing. He too is curious. He's got the other Sweeps ready to back him up at a moment's notice, if necessary. The Hammer pulls up to Snarl, the convoy behind it slowing to a stop. The driver rolls down the window and pulls himself up, sitting up so he can look across the roof of the vehicle at the Dinobot, "You must be Snarl. I'm Rhino. We were told you'd be escorting us into the city." A call comes over the vehicle's radio operator. One of the Greenshirts leans forward and says to Nightingale, "Ma'am, Decepticon air units have been spotted overhead." Nightingale turns to the Greenshirt, her expression carefully neutral. "So far, the Decepticons have been attacking the invaders, not Autobots and humans. I think we'll be alright." She fidgets a bit, looking at the large DInobot that would be their escort. "Frankly, we need all the help we can get if we're to liberate the city." Windshear notices a human vehicle below as well as a Dinobot. With force of habit, the Dark Seeker runs a scan around him to see if he can pick up any other entities. His radar pings off Plunder some way back. Yea he'd know that signature anywhere. He picks up another Decepticon and assumes its Scourge but he doesn't slow down. Instead he keeps on toward the besieged city of Los Angeles. The Dweller again tries to assert dominance over him as he closes in and again he resists. Snarl looks down at the vehicle as it pulls up next to him, and the human inside addresses him, "Yes, me Snarl. Me 'scorting you into the city, though, me not sure why." He brightens a little as he hears the words Decepticon Air units, "If 'septicons try attacking, me Snarl will fight them off, along with any sharkicons!" Sensing that he has been detected, Plunder continues to press onward after Windshear, after a pause, Plunder calls out towards the Seeker. "Windshear...stop..." Windshear hears his friend but doesn't slow down. "No..." is all he says. Rhino looks overhead to spot the Seeker, watching its flight path for a few moments. He then offers the Autobot a salute, "Much appreciated." He cuts the salute and looks back at the convoy, signing them to get ready to move. He ducks back inside the Hammer, pops the e-break, shifts it into gear, and starts it rolling again. To the occupants he says, "I guess some air support couldn't hurt..." The dinobot nods, then notices the Hammer start to move. He growls, before performing the complex origami that transformers are known for and starts to walk with the Hammer "Listen to reason Windshear..." Plunder calls out again as he flies closer, "There is no profit in this action..." "What action?" Scourge interjects, as he matches Plunder's speed and moves. Windshear isn't the only Seeker in the air. Pushing his engines harder than any terrestrial A-10 ever has, Wrath speeds through the skies to catch up with the other Decepticons. Looking back at Scourge, "I am not sure m'Lord. But it is the Dweller...I can feel it M'Lord." Plunder speaks back to his boss. In the distance, the Bellum still towers above the ruined city of Los Angeles, its silver surfaces glittering like a far-off treasure. Far up, a black line appears on one of the saucers, slowly stretching across until it becomes apparent that a large door has opened. Nightingale sighs sighly as the Hammer starts moving again. She double checks her medical equipment for about the twentieth time since they left the Pit. She looks ahead, a squints a bit. "Look, the Quintesson Spiral!" she says, pointing. "Something's happening..." Snarl hasn't been here, so the squiddies' spiral does something, he isn't sure what it means, "Let us keep going! Maybe it not threat!" Two Warships exit the Bellum, moving into a circling path around the tower for a few moments. Then, without further notice, they break off their pattern and head out over the ocean in formation. The hangar door on the Bellum slides shut. Windshear notices the two warships head out over the water and debates on going after them or continuing toward the main ship in LA. He doesn't bother to check and see if the two Sweeps are closing in or not. Plunder continues to trail after Windshear, unconcerned about the Quintessons...I mean, who cares if a bunch of humans get killed. "Uh-oh," Scourge says, as the Quintesson warships seem to be doing...something. Whatever it is, it can't be good. However, he also pursues Windshear after Plunder. Just in case either of them get hit by Quintesson nastiness. Then he'd have to pick up the pieces. Wrath receives his orders and lays on the throttle. There's a sonic boom as afterburners (on an A-10?) ignite, propelling the red jet around the city and out after the Warships. Rhino frowns as he sees the Warships leave the LA airspace. That can't be good. On the other hand, it might just be the opening they need to get into the city. He looks at Nightingale, "How fast can robot dinosaurs travel, do you think?" That being said, he pushes down on the gas pedal. Nightingale manages a small smile. "I wonder where those ships are headed." she says to no one in particular. "Hopefully the Quintessons will be too distracted by launching their ships to take note of us." Snarl runs faster as Hammer speeds up. It's not likely he can keep up Rhino notes the Autobot start to fall back and adjusts the convoy's speed to match. It's not like he's going to leave the big guns behind and go blazing in on his own. There's a time for bravery and a time for smarts. And this is one of those times. Snarl keeps running, noticing the human slowing to keep up with him, "Human know where want go?" Nightingale looks back at Snarl. She shrugs a bit, not actually knowing herself where the target area was. "Rhino knows where we're going." she says confidently. Windshear decides to follow the warships and kicks in his afterburners to pursue. ---
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