Fleet walks in from the entrance hall, having returned from a joy-fly. The pastel wonder's mood is more or less normal, but then, he didn't have as much reason as some to mourn the losses of not so long ago, but the 'I just made it through a holocaust and lived' high is also gone, too. He glances around, trying to determine if there's anyone here he wants to talk to or avoid.

Catechism looks a bit subdued, but she's not actually down. Yeah, they lost a lot, but as far as she's concerned, what was lost deserved to be lost. There's no reason to get upset about it. Catechism is wandering from one area of the base to the other, thinking about whether or not what she was planning on doing is a good idea.

Cinderblock makes his way in from the exterior, chortling to himself, and looking through a few rationing clips that glitter with a registry of full energon charges. He looks over his shoulder, and waves some Javelin cards at a pair of seekers on the outside, laughing, "Nice game, kids!"

Swindle, looking somewhat haggard, frowns at a datapad in his hand as he strolls through, absorbed enough in its contents that he doesn't notice the people he passes, not even the ones with tantalising energon chips. He /must/ be distracted, huh.

Okay. So there's Catechism. And Swindle. And... *sigh* Cinderblock. Well, Fleet had been trying to buy something from Swindle previously, anyway, so after a quick nod and greeting towards Catechism, he clears his throat. "Swindle?" No, he did not acknowledge Cinderblock. He's half hoping that he didn't really spot the geezer and that it's just stray electrons triggering visual hallucinations. Or something.

Okay. So there's Catechism. And Swindle. And... *sigh* Cinderblock. Well, Fleet had been trying to buy something from Swindle previously, anyway, so after a quick nod and greeting towards Catechism, he clears his throat. "Swindle?" No, he did not acknowledge Cinderblock. He's half hoping that he didn't really spot the geezer and that it's just stray electrons triggering visual hallucinations. Or something. <repose for Ballistic. Note, at this point we're pretty much milling about individually>

Ballistic tromps his way in from the troop hall, hands folded behind his back, walking as if he had a purpose.

Cinderblock grins at Cat and Fleet, "Heya kids!" He seems cheery. He then glances at the combaticon, and begins to munch on the extra energon rations, "Ah, the sweet taste of victory."

That's a hell of a reach just to ignore someone, but we'll roll with it. Swindle's head snaps up as he hears his name called, pering around with mild suspicion, almost as if unaware of his precise location. Focusing on Fleet, and then Catechism, he smiles that familiar friendly smile of his. "Ah, Fleet, Catechism. Pleased to see ya, anything I can do for you?"

Fleet nods a greeting both to Ballistic and Cinderblock, who apparently really is in the room after all. "Good cycle," he says politely to the both as he takes a couple of steps towards Swindle. "Well, actually, it was about the matter we discussed before. The materials for the upgrade? Although if you need more time to get your inventory back in order and such, I understand."

Ballistic nods in turn to Fleet and looks about the room cassualy, quiet for now, moving to stand near the group, but not amongst them for the time being, listening though, expression deadpan.

Catechism gives Cinderblock a bit of an odd looks. The term 'kids' has rather little meaning to her, being a several-eon-old machine who rolled off the assembly line fully adult, in personality if not experience, and prepared to die in battle. She does flick her glance over to Ballistic. Aw, no pointy head on that one. Where have all the coneheads gone? Still smiling, Catechism glances a little skyward and then back at Swindle. "Yeah. actually."

Cinderblock grins unevenly at the others gathered, and resumes admiring his loot, "...beautiful. Just enough to get me past the disciplinary period..."

Swindle grins wryly, barely managing to suppress a wince. Folding his arms he nods. "Well, I have managed to pull together an updated inventory, I've just had to delete pretty much everything stored in Trypticon and NCC." He sighs, shaking his head. "It's cut down some of the options, so it depends on what you had in mind."

Fleet shrugs a single shoulder and his left wing. "Well, like I said before, what I had in mind shouldn't be that elaborate. I just... well, I'd just like to be able to take a few more hits, is all." The pastel yellow wuss sighs and shakes his head.

Cinderblock laughs, "You're a seeker, son. You're built to go down quicker then a thirty cred prostibot on Succubex Twelve."

Catechism laughs a bit and points a thumb over at Fleet. "I... I was actually looking into the same thing as him." Spooky, really. What are the chances of a smart flathead and an oblivious conehead wanting about the same thing? "But probably moreso." Catechism can already take more hits than Fleet can, and she knows that. She just wants to increase the gap, so to speak. Catechism shoots something like a glare at Cinderblock, and she says, frowning, "Hey, don't stereotype the whole design line, here!"

Ballistic snorts, looking at Cinderblock "We're designed to search and destroy, rather than be a plodding twit with a blaser pistol, firing at anything that moves" frowning now, eyeing the mech.

Fleet crosses his arms and glances back at Cinderblock, optics narrowed in irritation. "And now I'm trying to /correct/ that design discrepancy. Have you a /problem/ with that?"

Swindle looks askance at Cinderblock, odd person. 'Course if he /wants/ to pick a fight where he's outnumbered 3-1, that's /his/ problem. Turning his gaze back to Fleet he cocks his head. "So did you get any time to look over that last list I gave ya?"

Cinderblock smirks, "A problem? Naw." He pounds on his chest, producing a muffled thud, "Just no matter what magic Swindle there works, you prod-models aren't gonna match up to us older folks." He glances over at Ballistic, "Nothing wrong with plodding son, rushing into a trap just gets you slagged faster." He shakes his head, "Kids these days, no respect for their elders."

Ballistic snorts "No disrespect, simply stating pure fact..." leaning his weight on one leg, smirking a little bit, arms folding in front of his chest.

"That's right," Fleet replies dryly. "They don't make them like they used to," and then he mutters quietly, "Thank Primus!" Then he returns his attention back to Swindle. "A little bit," he answers. Of course, he was also taking time to do a bit of price comparison with other sources, but he's not going to mention that little detail to the Combaticon. "There were a couple of options that looked about like what I wanted, actually."

Catechism looks at Cinderblock like he just sprouted car-wheels and says slowly, a bit of a snarl in her voice, "Cinderblock. There are three Seekers here." Yeah, she's stating the obvious, but that's often all she notices, and Cinderblock seems to be missing even that.

Cinderblock looks at Catechism, and blinks for a moment, not looking all there, "Eh? Is that you Ramrod?" He walks over and pats Cat on the back, laughing, "We sure did a number on those Autobots in Radio Canyon, didn't we! Didn't even see us coming!"

Swindle barks a laugh, tossing the datapad over to the yellow one, "Well, better check the current inventory, make sure what you're after didn't go down with the ship." He shoots another look at Cinderblock, odd person indeed.

Catechism steps away abruptly. She is a mostly friendly Decepticon and a cheerful soul, but she is not a touchy-feely Seeker, and being patted out of the blue does not sit well in her book. Suppressing a hiss of irritation, Catechism exclaims, "I'm not Dirge, and I'm not Ramrod, or Ramjet, or Thrust!" More slowly, and carefully pronounced, she continues, "I am Catechism."

Ballistic grunts at Cinderblock's actions, going quiet now, watching, head tilting to the side, observing him with a quiet paitience, curiosity as well, brow ridge rased over one optic.

Fleet catches the datapad easily and looks at it, tapping through the thing in a search for one of the systems he had been looking at. Wasn't there those Class Delta reinforcement system? And, well, hey! Looks like Swindle still has one of those! He tilts his head to glance at Catechism and Cinderblock before handing the datapad back to Swindle. "That's what I was looking at."

Cinderblock blinks, "Oh? Catechism...you're...new right?" He hrms, and peers around, "This is a nice place, isn't it?" He looks back to her, grinning, "You know, it reminds me of a story...." He frowns, "I wish I could remember it."

Swindle nods as he glances at the info on the pad's screen. "Ah yes, those are fairly common, luckily. There's a company out in the sticks that mass-produces them, so price isn't too high either." He taps a few of the contacts on the pad before looking back up at Fleet. "When do you want it?" He glances at catechism, holding the pad out, "This suit you as well?"

Catechism glances over at Ballistic, noting with chagrin for the benfit of the strange Seeker, "Yeah. People have a habit of getting confused as to who I am." She glances back over at Cinderblock and sighs. "Perhaps you should have your cranial unit examined, if you experiencing memory losses. Speaking of examinations..." Yeah, she wanted to ask Swindle about that upgrade, and then she got distracted. Bah. "I need something a little heavier than what Fleet's looking for, I think."

Ballistic frowns at Cinderblock a little more deeply and then he looks to Cat, "I am fully aware of your designation, Trooper Catechism, Delta Wing" grinning a little to himself, apparently one who keeps himself well versed in whose who in the rosters "I'm Ballistic, recent transfer from Northern Pole patrol and recon sweeps..."

Cinderblock smirks, and then glances at Ballistic, a little more lucidly, "Cinderblock, beta wing. I murder autobots."

Inexpensive and common is good. After all, part of the strength of a seeker is that replacement parts are easily available. Fleet would just as soon keep it that way. Being easy to fix is NICE.

The yellow Seeker crosses his arms and tilts his head a little. "Well, how soon can you get it?" Fleet asks Swindle. He stops and glances back at the nigh-Constructicon colored seeker when the word 'sweeps' is mentioned, but... oh. He was talking about the activity.

Swindle smirks at Cinderblock, "Murder? You can't murder people in a war. Not if they're on the other side, anyway." He draws back the pad, working the props, calling up a couple of other possibilities before dismissing them. He nods at one of them and holds the pad out again, "How about this?" He glances to Fleet, smirking slightly, "Soon's you want it. Delivery to Medical to quarters?"

Cinderblock smirks at Swindle, "The word's got more of an appeal. Its more fun to say then kill." He puts a finger on his vulcan's barrel and gives it a spin.

Ballistic nods solemly at Swindle's comment "In war there are two peoples, ending one another for their beliefs, that is not murder, if they fight back, those whom are killed when helpless, or not part of the conflict, that is murder... and a dishonor"

Catechism snaps her fingers and smiles a little, nodding to Ballistic. "Good. That's me." Then, her attention returns to Swindle. Catechism has an attention span, honest! She just left it in New Crystal City, along with her bucket. Catechism examines the pad, scratching the back of her head. She doesn't know structures; that would be her alt. All Catechism can do is read the write-up and evaluate how shiny and badaft the new parts look. Straxus preserve her.

Fleet nods very thoughtfully. "I think that would be most convenient, yes." He glances at Ballistic and just shakes his head. Honor is for chumps, as far as he's concerned, and that very seeker was recently claiming that honor is any action that furthers the goals of the Empire. Often times killing helpless enemies /is/ what furthers the goals of the Empire. Finally he finishes up, "I'll alert them to expect it."

Swindle's smile widens at Fleet's confirmation. "Alright, I'll need you to authorise transfer from your account, and it'll delivered directly there." He smirks slightly as Ballistic says his piece. Honour? /Honour?/ He, hehe, BWA-HA-HA!

Ballistic notes Swindle's smirk and eyes him for a moment, curious, and he frowns to himself, in thought "What are our current orders, by the by?"

"Aside from the usual bunch of patrols and security watches?" Fleet asks, glancing over his shoulder. "Nothing, really. I think the Empire's still reorganizing itself, or something. Then he turns back and nods to Swindle. "I'll be sure to do that next time I'm logged into a terminal, Swindle." For the listed amount and no more, but there's no need to mention that out loud. He finally allows himself a slight smile. "I appreciate your help in this."

Catechism decides that the parts look sufficiently shiny and badaft, insofar as reinforcement struts can. Giving the pad a last narrow look, she hands it back to Swindle and decides, "Looks good. What's the pricing like on these?"

Ballistic then strides towards Swindle, optic ridge up still "What might you have along the lines of power converters to re-focus my own output for combat systems, as well as the possibility of high powered slug base ammunition, preferably caseless or steel jacket depleted uranium, holopoints or solid slug explosive?"

Swindle shrugs nonchalantly, "Glad I could be of service." He studies the pad as Catechism hands it back to him, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully, "Well, this is a little rarer than Fleet's order, so the cost is a little higher. The price /should/ be listed here as well." He glances upwards distractedly as he thinks. "Oh, that's right, the supplier changed the rates due to the altered delivery point." He glances back to Catechism, "Luckily for you, it works out cheaper to deliver here, so I can pass that saving along." Well, some of it anyway. He turns as he is addressed by this unfamiliar seeker. "Power converters? Shouldn't be much of a problem, and the ammunition should be simplicity in itself."

Ballistic nods at that "What kinds would you have available soon?" frowning as he looks towards the pad.

Catechism looks happy! She often does, but she's been a bit somber lately, so this is a noticeable kind of happy. "That sounds great." Thinking out loud, she continues, "Now, I just need to get an appointment with MSE..."

Swindle sighs, folding his arms as he recalls his delivery schedule, not something he includes on his pads ear-marked for distribution in case people get... ideas. "Most of the models on the list I can arrange delivery of in around a week to a month, possibly even longer depending on rarity of the item. One or two I still have on stock, but most of the ones I had to hand went down with Trypticon."

Fleet steps away from the center of attention and watches for the moment, quietly observing the room. He crosses his arms and tilts his head a little, as though listening to something only he can hear.

Ballistic nods at that and frowns to himself in thought "I see, I'll keep that in mind then... When I have pay for such, I shall see what you have in stock."

Catechism has pay, oh yes, and she might even have pay for something else, something she's been missing for a while. Glancing away at some unspecified point in space, she asks slowly, as if not sure her query is a good idea, "Swindle... er... do you ever get any buckets in stock?"

Cinderblock leans back against the bulkhead, stifling a yawn.

Ballistic hrmmms a bit now, thinking now "Perhaps a reconisance run should be made towards the location of Iahex? Examine Autobot movements?" ridge up again looking to the various fliers here and then he shrugs, looking towards Swindle "Do you also, by chance, have access to some excessively large pointed sticks?"

Swindle folds his arms, grinning in satisfaction. "Well, I plan on re-stocking my supplies, replacements for what was lost, so by the time you've got the pay, I amy have what you need on hand. In the meanwhile, " he says, holding the pad out to the unfamiliar seeker, "take this and cast an optic over it, see what takes your fancy." He turns back to Catechism as she addresses him again, his smile fading into a blank stare as she asks her question. "Do I... uh." His optics flicker repeatedly as he stares, somewhat non-plussed, before recovering smoothly... ish: "Well, I've never had a request for a /bucket/ but I'm sure I could get hold of something without difficulty." He glances askance at Ballistic, one optic narrowed, this's a wind-up, it has to be. "I suppose I /could,/" he repiles to the unfamiliar seeker. My what a lot of odd people he's meeting today.

Fleet covers his face with his right hand and tilts his head down a little as Catechism brings up the bucket. Then he looks back, actually seeming a little amused by Swindle's reaction to the bucket request. He continues to observe, shaking his head a little. Oy. Coneheads.

Catechism looks a little down-cast. Maybe she shouldn't have asked about the bucket, after all... but she misses having one. So the Seekers shrugs, trying to make it seem not a big deal and rather failing, and says, "I'd really appreciate it if you could look into that."

Ballistic nods slightly "Excellent, I was searching for a number of diamond tipped drill bits, the kinds ment for Earth oil drilling, but could not find them on cybertron... I have an idea for how to possibly make a counter attack on the autobots... but my technical skills are... very poor, but materials gathering I can do... In turn with the pointed shafts, I will need a threader to turn them into drill bits... and several thruster rockets set up so that they travel unidirectionaly, and spin" getting a downright evil look about him.

Ballistic then begins counting off mentally "Perhaps roughly two or three dozen of the shafts, and matching thrusters... We can use human fuel and spare our energon for this... as they won't be re-useable, more than likely."

Swindle nods, still uncertain about the authenticity of this request. He hesitates before gamely responding. "I'll even throw it in with the upgrade package, no extra cost." It's not like there's a wide market for buckets, after all. Not amongst Transformers at any rate. He nods as Ballistic speaks, following his explanation. "Okay, but if you've got an idea you'd be best to run it by MSE and the high-command before acquiring materials."

Not that he'll complain if you /don't,/ but hey, fair warning, right?

Catechism grins and claps her hands together! She enthuses, "Oh, that's fantastic! I got a bucket a while back, because I had a little extra energon, but I misplaced it in New Crystal City, and now I'm never going to be able to find it, so I thought I'd just get a new one." Yeah, she's serious about the bucket, all right. Catechism is a weird one, sometimes. Comes of having a pointy head. She

Ballistic is sane see, he's got the head like Starscream had... No insanity for him.

Fleet, standing quietly off to the side, now looks like he's having a very hard time not laughing. He's used to dealing with Catechism and her bucket obsession, and although he considers it weird, he's gotten to the point where he can shrug it off. Watching other people's reactions, however, is proving to be considerably entertaining.

Ballistic transmits a message via radio.

Cinderblock is dozing quietly, leaning against the bulkhead.

Swindle smiles in reply, though visibly still faintly puzzled. "Yeah, anything in the city is probably safe to be written-off. It's amazing the damage that occurs when one city tramples another."

Fleet finally takes more interest in the conversation. He shrugs. "I can well imagine, although I was in Carbombya by the time things got to that point." Doing no good what-so-ever, he thinks. But then, what good is one seeker when the battles are fought by monsters like Metroplex?

Ballistic receives a radio transmission from Arachnae.

"Maybe our next city should have a trample mode, so it can trample those Autobot cities back," Catechism suggests, optics glittering. And yeah, Trypticon can do, that but... "And be able to swim."

Swindle shrugs impassively. "Any opponent can be defeated with a sufficiently sound plan." Huh, must be Onslaught rubbing off on him.

Fleet looks at Catechism for a good, long time. Okay, yes, he's used to her, but that doesn't mean she still doesn't baffle him on a very regular basis. Then he glances back at Swindle. "Perhaps, but in my expirience, few plans actually operate the way they're laid out."

Swindle smirks. "Of course not, point in case: The Autobots, while effectively driving us off Earth entirely, managed to rack up an impressive number of human fatalities."

Fleet nods, a smile growing in his expression. Not a nice smile, but an appropriately Decepticon smile. "Oh, yes, indeed. And it will be interesting how firm their human support remains once all this is over with."

Catechism looks startled. "I hadn't thought of it. But what do the xenos mat... I guess they've got a lot of resources." She frowns. Catechism doesn't like humans. Been smacked around by them too much. But lots of them died! So she switches her frown to a smile.

Swindle mouth twists into un undecided expression, "I don't know. While this will certainly harm their standing amongst the Humans, we've been on Earth for a long time now, a blink, prehaps, to our race but the humans have had the chance to raise two entire generation who were born into a world of 'evil' Decepticons and 'Heroic' Autobots. This is what they've grown up with, it's hard to believe that over this incident, considering the high number of civilian casualties they dismiss in their own wars, will greatly harm the Autobot's position. Certainly not in the long-term."

Cinderblock stirs for a moment. He stifles a yawn, "...the Autobots are worse off then the dead humans. Little wimps are crying their little optics out at this moment, I wager. Specially that crimson upstart they've got leading them."

Fleet's nasty smile turns into a frown, but then he just shrugs. "On the other hand, it's only a matter of time before those short lived beings get tired of our war entirely, both sides of it. But... eh." He chuckles very softly. "My kind don't earn their energon rations for thinking, after all... I'll leave that for the higher-ups to worry about." He nods a good-bye to Swindle, Catechism, and even Cinderblock. "Good cycle. While I'm here, I think I'll go let medical know about the delivery."

Cinderblock hrms and nods, "Watch yer aft, kiddo."

Swindle nods affably at Fleet as he leaves. "Pleasure as always." He states simply.

Catechism shrugs, flicking her wing flaps. She says, honestly meaning it, "Nice doing business with you, Swindle." She get a bucket! Whee! She glances around to the others, "I need to be going. Need to catch up on reports."

You move west to the IHQ Troop Hall.