by Smokescreen85 » Wed Mar 21, 2012 6:33 pm
- Motto: ""A look can be deceiving; a touch can be lethal.""
- Weapon: Twin Shoulder-Mounted Rocket Launchers
Corridors
Smokescreen moved quietly through the ship as quickly as he could, his hand still holding on to Tracer’s as a way to both guide her and keep her steady at the same time. He worried little about Razr as he knew the small turbofox would have no trouble keeping up with his master. Smokey’s only real concern was being discovered, not by the frigate’s internal sensors, but by a stray Autobot they might encounter in the halls. Even though the ship had only a skeleton crew aboard, it was this fear that forced the rallybot to be more cautious, especially when they came to a corner or intersection. One never knew what or who was just out of sight. He certainly didn’t want a repeat of when Jazz discovered him leaving the Ark-19. That was an awkward moment to say the least.
Finally reaching their destination, Smokescreen approached the entrance of the shuttle bay and entered the security codes that would allow him access to the small vessels within. The doors slid apart and the diversion expert stepped across the threshold, still guiding Tracer along the way.
Shuttle Bay
Once inside, Smokescreen let go of Tracer’s hand for a moment as he turned around and accessed the control panel next to the doors. Instead of hitting the switch, he opened up the panel and yanked out a small circuit board, causing the doors to slide shut and lock. He and Tracer were now effectively sealed within the shuttle bay until Smokey either replaced the circuit or a mechanic with the proper knowledge came along to fix the doors. No one could get in or out and that’s exactly how the rallybot wanted it. The diversion expert placed circuit away into a small compartment in his waist before moving back over to the drug-addicted femme.
“Okay, we’re good, Tracer,” Smokescreen said in an assuring manner as he took hold of her hand once more and guided her over to a small shuttle craft at the far end of the bay. “We’ll use this one. It’s small enough that the cloaking device will easily conceal it.” I hope. The red and blue racer pushed a button on the outer hull and the hatch popped open with a hiss. Smokey then ducked down and entered through the tight opening, immediately taking off his backpack and placing it in front of him on the floor of the shuttle. Opening the satchel, he carefully lifted the cloaking device out of its concealment and carried it to the rear of the craft where he could connect it to the power core and primary engine systems.
“Trace, just take a seat somewhere while I hook this up,” Smokescreen called back to her, as he placed the device down and activated the magnetic strips on the bottom that would hold it in place. “This shouldn’t take too long.” Of course, the rallybot hadn’t been entirely truthful in his last statement. He really didn’t know how long it would take since he didn’t know exactly how to hook it in to the shuttle’s systems. Thankfully, he wasn’t in this endeavor alone and had a secret ace up his sleeve. The diversionary tactician then opened an encrypted comm link to his inside connection:
>>”Hey, it’s Smokescreen. I’m on board now down in the shuttle bay. I need a little assistance with the cloaking device. Are you free to talk?”<<
It took a few astroseconds before a response came back over the secured channel. >>”Of course, I’m free, Smokey. What do you need?”<<
>>”I need to know how to hook up this blasted cloaking device. It looks complicated.”<<
>>”Not if you know what you’re doing, buddy. Okay, follow my instructions to the letter and you’ll be ready to go in no time. First, remove the small panel on the lower back side of the cloak and pull out the two cables, one red and one green. They are thicker than normal wires. Once that is done, connect the green one to the primary coupling on the shuttle’s power core. The device will draw it’s energon from the shuttle, itself. Then, connect the red cable into the main engine port, allowing the device to send highly charged neuronic particles into the engines themselves which will allow for a silent run. To the naked optic, you’ll be visible, but sensors will be unable to pick you up. Theoretically, anyway.”<<
>>”Wait, what do you mean, theoretically?!?”<<
>>”Never mind. It’ll work just fine. Now, once those connections are made, you need to enter the activation code on the keypad mounted on top of the device. Now, enter the numeric code exactly in the order that I tell you or you risk the apparatus locking up and not working at all. The code is as follows: 9 4 3 3 5 5 2 2 5. Once the code is entered, hit the yellow button and the device will be online and fully operational. Let me know when you’ve got it up and running.”<<
Smokescreen had listened intently to everything the mech on the other end of the comm link told him, even the theoretical stuff that made him very nervous. He followed the instructions closely, opening the back panel and hooking up the pair of cables into the proper outlets. He then moved on to the keypad and entered the code just how it was relayed to him and pushed the yellow button. Smokey then waited for a moment as the cloaking device began to hum to life.
>>It seems to be working. I think we’re in business! Thanks a lot, ‘Jack!<<
Bridge - Science Station
Wheeljack sat at his terminal, communicating with the diversion expert through a non-verbal internal comm line so that no one else could hear what was being discussed. The two mechs went way back to the days when infiltration on Earth meant little more than sitting around tinkering with gadgets or running diagnostic programs. Being that the computer labs were adjacent to his own work space, ‘Jack and Smokey had become quite close. In fact, the rallybot was usually the first one the resident mad scientist would show off his latest inventions to. Unfortunately, one of those creations had exploded in Smokey’s faceplate during a small skirmish with the ‘Cons, leaving him in stasis for a short while. ‘Jack had owed the rallybot one ever since, which was why he was willing to help in this instance.
>>”Glad to hear it, Smokey, ol’ buddy. I’ve already diverted the ship’s sensors around the shuttle bay so that when you activate the outer doors, no one up here will detect it. Just remember, don’t push the shuttle’s engines too hard. The cloak may not hold up under intense stress.”<<
>>”Got it. Anything else I should know, ‘Jack?”<<
>>”Yeah, whatever it is you’re up to, Smokey, don’t do anything that’ll get yourself killed. Okay?”<<
>>”I’ll do my best, buddy. If I need any more help I’ll contact you on this channel.”<<
>>”No problem. I’ll be here. Good luck to you. I hope she’s worth it.”<<
>>”She is. Thanks again. Smokey out.”<<
As the internal encrypted comm link went silent, Wheeljack couldn’t help but wonder if he was really doing the right thing by helping Smokescreen and his lady love sneak down to the planet below. He hoped they weren’t doing anything illegal, but who really knew with Smokey, considering his checkered past. Prowl was a tough ‘Bot to get around, which was why the rallybot had contacted the mechanical engineer for help. ‘Jack had divulged where to find the requested equipment stored in his old lab over on the Ark-19, things that led the scientist to believe that Smokey was up to no good. Still, Wheeljack was there to help his fellow Autobots, and the diversion expert had always been a good friend in the past so there was no reason not to help him now even if his activities were a bit suspicious.
Wheeljack glanced around the bridge, seeing Springer at his station looking bored while Bluestreak chatted up Arcee on the opposite side of the room. At least, the gunner wasn’t running his vocal processor in the scientist’s audio receptors. He’d barely be able to hear himself think let alone try to silently communicate with Smokescreen. The only ‘Bots that were uncounted for, who should still be on board, were Inferno and Red Alert.
Red Alert! Wheeljack thought as he sat up straight in his chair. Oh, Primus, I completely forgot about him. If anyone was capable of finding out about Smokey it would be that paranoid mech. I’ve got to make sure he doesn’t go near the shuttle bay.
The Autobot mad scientist quickly checked the ship’s sensor grid, at least the portion he had not tampered with, and found Red Alert to be down in the training facility with his buddy Inferno. Good, perfect place for you, Red. Now, if you’ll only stay there for a little while longer.