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Post by Jazz on Aug 13, 2011 21:12:29 GMT -5
Jazz smiled at Red. ~“Great!”~ he said cheerfully and proceeded to lay out a holographic diagram of the entire base and surrounding landscape in precise detail, each structure labeled and every tunnel and corridor outlined above and below ground. He knew the more vital areas were underground while what was above was mostly for show. ~“That was my idea, keep the Decepticons from getting anywhere too important while giving them something to target that wouldn’t cripple us if it was destroyed. They think too much of what they see and not enough of what they don’t see, which we can use against them to our advantage.”~ he told Red Alert, hoping to ease the glitchy mech’s fears a bit.
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Post by Red Alert on Aug 13, 2011 21:18:29 GMT -5
~"What about the structural integrity of the underground portion?"~ Red Alert questioned. ~"If they Decepticons ever do find out about the rest of the base, or even if they don't and just decide to blast us until the next coming of Primus, we need to make sure that the entire above-ground won't collapse on the rest of the base and bury it."~ He studied the diagram a bit more. ~"What are the security measures already in place for the perimeter, and for gaining entrance? Also, do we have a complete roster of who's assigned here? Not counting any that may have been killed during the attack."~
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Post by Jazz on Aug 13, 2011 21:21:00 GMT -5
~“We got plenty of shielding to protect the underground areas and the access shafts have drop walls they would have a slag of a time getting through. Plus there are access tunnels at the base in three locations that we can use as escape routs that are blocked off unless we need them and come out well away from the base in hidden locations. Cybertron seems to sense our needs and reacts to that. Every fight I’ve seen our home tries to help us and hinder the Decepticons which tells me one thing: Optimus is right and what we’re doing is right, for all of us and for Cybertron. I have to believe that. I don’t even want to imagine the alternative.”~ Jazz answered and his expression grew solemn. ~“We got a full roster of who all was here before the attack and who we added after. We’re still counting the chassis…”~ his voice seemed to trail off before it broke. They had been his friends, Sparks that he would never see again and it hurt Jazz to watch his friends die, though his casual and fun-loving approach to everything hid how he really felt. Jazz was part of the science division before the war, his forte was culture and history, not combat. Every time he saw a bot die it gnawed at him, though he tried desperately to hide it behind his usual cheery and unflappable attitude. But then, just for an instant, Red saw the flicker of sorrow cross Jazz’ features, then it was gone.
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Post by Red Alert on Aug 13, 2011 21:24:01 GMT -5
Red Alert nodded, listening to Jazz. ~"I never said Optimus wasn't right. If I didn't think he was right, I wouldn't have signed up. I'd have taken my chances on a shuttle and tried to get off Cybertron..."~ He watched Jazz carefully, and the bit of sorrow that showed in Jazz's features did not escape his notice. Red Alert hadn't been in the war long, and because of his detachment from others, he didn't feel the same pain at the losses. {"At least, not yet..."} He'd heard it from others in the same field, the base that they watched over became their family, and while they may not know every mech and femme individually, every loss would begin to hurt as time went on. ~"And that's why I'm here."~ He stated, looking at Jazz with determination and seriousness. ~"To do everything I can to make sure that the only chassis we ever have to look at are the ones of the Decepticons."~ He felt a lot calmer, and more at ease. Some of the tension left his frame, but a lot of it still remained. He was still on his guard.
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Post by Jazz on Aug 13, 2011 21:24:50 GMT -5
Jazz looked at Red and his usual light Sparked smile had returned. ~“I’ll agree to that.”~ he said cheerily and set about pointing out the areas that needed the most help, offering suggestions about how to lay down the necessary cabling to the sensor and surveillance array for maximum efficiency and to provide backup power and feed in case lines were found and cut. Jazz saw no reason not to put in redundancies, considering he had used similar with safety protocols at digs all over Cybertron before the war. If anyone knew how to build and shore up an underground complex it was the Autobots and their dig teams.
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Post by Red Alert on Aug 13, 2011 21:28:11 GMT -5
Red Alert nodded as he listened, pointing out other areas that he thought could use extra surveillance, and even brought up expanding the perimeter to allow for more warning. It would make repairs a bit more dangerous, but if they had several redundant systems all around, then the early warning would be worth it. At any points that had a higher elevation, he suggested cameras to look for seekers, since they really couldn't lace the air with sensors. ~"The one thing that still worries me are the Decepticons with cloaking abilities. I'm not sure which filters would be needed to penetrate the cloaks. Infrared, most likely, but also any others in case they have ways around the infrared."~
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Post by Jazz on Aug 13, 2011 21:29:05 GMT -5
Jazz thought about it a moment, tilting his head. ~“Energon. It’s the one thing they can’t completely mask that we could detect at a distance, that coupled with infrared would clarify anything either sensor set found.”~ he suggested. The only other thing he could think of was the Spark pulse itself but that was hard to pick up even at close range, so it wouldn’t be effective enough. He nodded in agreement at the reinforcing of the weaker areas and then pointed out the blind spot the Decepticons used to sneak up on them and attack. ~“That’s how they hit us. We’ve shored it up with some defenses, but it’s going to take some time. Ironhide n Wheeljack have been working on Auto-cannons in several locations, twelve are planned but only two are up and both are in that blind spot.”~ he remarked. He kept quiet about his own fears, wanting to keep the mood light. He hated seeing others worried or scared, and his own confidence and jovial attitude had helped others quite a lot, especially lately.
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Post by Red Alert on Aug 13, 2011 21:29:35 GMT -5
~"Perhaps, were there to be enough personnel, we could eventually set up small guard outposts, hidden in some of those areas. Two-bot teams required to report in every cycle. That would be planning much farther in advance, though."~ Red Alert replied. ~"And the automated cannons should be a great addition, but they not only need to have their own redundant sets of power sources, but they need blocks on hacking attempts as well, should a mech be able to get that close. Sturdy firewalls with some integrated, heavy-duty viruses might be a good start. The last thing we need is our own defenses turning against us. Especially if what I've heard about Megatron's Communications Officer Soundwave is only half-true."~ He shuddered, not wanting to think about the other half of the rumors.
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Post by Jazz on Aug 13, 2011 21:33:23 GMT -5
Jazz nodded in agreement at that. ~“Oh trust me, I’ve heard about him, we all have. Creepy mech that one is.”~ he said and sat back a bit. ~“Thankfully he rarely comes down from his lofty perch in orbit, least as far as we know. I don’t know how much I’d believe of those rumors n stories about him though. No bot’s that evil, or that powerful.”~ he shrugged.
~“Yeah. We really need more bots, but doing that we would have to pull out of some of our other strongholds and take away the buffer zone that we already have to shore up the more important bases to full capacity. We’d be giving ground to the Decepticons and letting them shore up staging areas to attack us from.”~ he shook his head sadly. The Autobots had been losing too many of their numbers in recent attacks and they were beginning to get desperate.
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Post by Red Alert on Aug 13, 2011 21:33:53 GMT -5
~"I would be a very happy mech if he just stayed up there, but that gives him a better position to monitor communications from..."~ Red Alert nodded at Jazz's second comment, sighing a bit. ~"And you do have a point...Well, a good offense can easily start with a sturdy defense. From there, we work outwards."~ He fell silent in thought. Battles were not his area of expertise. He was security, which dealt with the base and perimeter, as well as personnel. ~"We need to keep track of who's coming and going, their destinations, and how long they are gone. I don't care if the loyalty of every single bot on this base can be vouched for, allegiance can change in a sparkbeat if the right offers are made to the right mech."~ {"Which means coded locks for doors, once the base structure is secure."}
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Post by Jazz on Aug 13, 2011 21:37:32 GMT -5
~“Not this mech.”~ he retorted with a shake of his head. ~“And I know of others who would never turn away from Optimus, I don’t care what Megatron and his goons try to offer us. Not gonna happen, Red, believe me.”~ Jazz was absolutely sure about his own convictions and had proof enough of the convictions of a few others as well; namely Ultra Magnus, Ratchet, Ironhide, Chromia, Bumblebee, Wheeljack, Cliffjumper, Arcee, Jolt, Sideswipe, Elita-One, Blaster, and a few others. And those were just the ones he knew personally. ~“You’ll see soon enough that I’m right, Red. As for the comings and goings of mechs on base, we had already started logging that. Didn’t much help when the Decepticons came shooting up the place.”~ he shrugged. He well understood the need for it and wasn’t going to argue on it, merely pointing out what had been implemented already. ~“Prime started that to know where everyone was and if their return was overdue. He worries about all of us.”~
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Post by Red Alert on Aug 13, 2011 21:39:39 GMT -5
~"At least that's one less thing I need to worry about."~ Red Alert replied. ~"Still so much to do, though. At least it will keep me busy for a deca-cycle or so..."~ He started creating a list of things that he had to get done, going from most important to least important. ~"Is this everything for the outside?"~ He looked around nervously, not liking being outside for very long.
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Post by Jazz on Aug 13, 2011 21:40:22 GMT -5
Jazz nodded and stood up, letting the hologram dissipate as he stretched his nimble frame. ~“Four up top at least. Most of down below is covered, security wise. There’s alarm systems in the escape tunnels and such so if they do manage to find them we’ll know and can blockade those easily enough.”~ Jazz offered Red a hand up just to be polite, though he wasn’t sure if the nervous security officer would accept it. As easy going as Jazz was on the outside, he was cool and calculating inwardly, no matter what the situation was. His forte was gathering information, pure and simple, and he was very good at what he did.
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Post by Red Alert on Aug 13, 2011 21:43:44 GMT -5
~"That's good to know."~ Red Alert shook his head at the offered hand, pushing himself up instead. If there was anything he was loathe to allow, it was physical contact. Sometimes, it was necessary, which he understood. Unless it was absolutely necessary, he did not allow it. Period, no argument. Part of his dislike for it was the trusting issue and the paranoia glitch, but the other part was his sensory net. Everything was highly sensitive, including touch. Red Alert had rarely let anyone touch him casually, and he wasn't sure if he ever would allow it.
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Post by Jazz on Aug 13, 2011 21:46:56 GMT -5
Jazz let his hand drop back to his side at Red’s refusal and watched him stand. Inwardly Jazz just sighed, friendly and jovial as he was, Red would not give an inch. The small silver mech preferred developing friendships with those he worked with, with other Autobots, and he had a hard time relating to any who would not be friends. It simply made Jazz uncomfortable like he had done something to make them hate him yet would not tell him what was wrong. He was a sensitive mech, though he hid it well.
Jazz turned and led Red Alert back through to where the main cluster of low buildings stood and through an entrance near Red’s new office. ~“I’ll show you how to get to where the rooms are for recharge.”~ he told the Security officer, though he couldn’t completely hide the dejected tone in his voice. They passed a few bots along the way, introducing Red Alert to them all as they went by before they arrived at the former Security Officer’s old room. ~“You can clear out whatever you don’t want to keep. He didn’t have much with him so it’s kinda bare anyway.”~ Jazz told him, and added, ~“My room’s just down there if you need anything.”~ He stood there a moment to let Red acknowledge him out of courtesy before he turned to head down the hall towards his own room, intending to leave Red his privacy.
Jazz was beginning to realize they Red would always suspect him as a possible traitor, suspect until proven guilty. Jazz knew he would never be proven guilty, and thus knew Red Alert would be one mech he could call a colleague, but never a friend. Such a notion did not sit well with him. He was naturally gregarious and liked having friends. Being looked upon with disapproving optics was as bad as calling him a traitor outright. For Jazz, it would gnaw at him until something gave way, which usually meant Jazz ending up withdrawing from the other bot after a while, though he would still try simply because of how he was.
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