"The Long Road" Chapter one- The Breakthrough

[Steel]

There was always a constant hum on Synar Minor. Even though the mining plant was deep underneath this city dome the massive drills still send a steady vibrance through out the planetoid. The all day 32 hour drilling plus the power hungry hollo-dome filled the colony with an unrelenting buzz. It had been like that for thousands of years. It was only on their simulated night times that there was a slight lul as the dome dimmed to fake a starlit sky. Being Techno-organic the colonists needed some sort of rest at the end of the day. They were far less power consuming than their ancient ancestors thanks to the infusion of organics but they weren’t as relentless as the pure machines.

One-Sixteen hated the buzz. It kept him on edge all the time. This was why he preferred the night. He needed no sleep, along with his pod-brother he was built in a long lost fashion and required no integrated organics. The dust bothered him too. He was sure he could feel it burying itself deep into his joints.

He was a tall mech, one of the tallest in fact. Whole not as big as his hulking pod-brother Synarus, he still felt considerably more powerful than his supposed follow colonists. He found this vaguely disappointing but he was unsure why.

He sat there, silhouetted against the artificial night, perched on top of the neon sign on the greasy bar that he frequented. He checked the time and took another look over the squat colony buildings, firming his resolve that this would be the last night he’d see them. He hopped down off the sign and then flipped effortlessly into the side street next to the bar. There was a hatch around the back that lead to the basement and his base of operations.

He took another check around before flinging the hatch open and stepping down a short set of stairs. The lights flickered on as he flipped a switch. The room as basic, a metal table in the centre and various drums of various energon based blended beverages. The colonists seemed to get inebriated shockingly quickly. He didn’t even know if it was possible for it to happen to him. The energon was too diluted.

He grabbed one of the barrels and twisted it open. Unlike the others this was filled with datapads, various tech specs and blueprints. He scattered them on the table and checked his internal clock again. The others should be arriving. The plan was already in motion.

[Highram]

Rubbing his overloaded optics, Ramp-X stared at the clock. I better get going or I'll be late he thought as he dropped the pieces of scrap metal he'd been fidling with on the desk. He left and shut his eyes tightly as the automatic door wooshed shut, and hoped no one had heard.
He quickly made his way to a nearby bar, avoiding others optics as he power walked. He dare not risk his vehicle mode in case his propellers and landing awoke any of the neighbour hood. Almost there. Almost there. Ramp-X stopped in front of a side street of the side of an empty bar and checked that no one was following him, if he led one of the colony forces to the meeting, his chance at a new beginning was gone.
Silently stepping out of the simulated starlight, he knocked on a conceled door hidden amongst a load of scrap and empty energon cans.

[GALVY]

galvanize stepped back into the shadows and let RAMP-X pass by. though galvanize didnt feel emotions as warmly as some other colonists he was genuinly excited.
one-sixteens tales of the old ways had intrigued his spark. and now was the time he decided, to make a choice,just for galvanize alone. "do i go in ?" he said quietly.

galvanize looked up and down the dark narrow passageway that would lead him to the bar.
"wont hurt to listen i suppose" he said and began to walk to the bar, keeping his optics peeled for any unwanted attention.

[KingGrimlock]

Rex-RV sat at the bar, tossing an empty can from hand to hand. He stopped, slowly raising his head to look at the clock. The time dimly reflected in his optic sensors as he slowly lowered his head back down. The can began moving from hand to hand again.

Toss. Toss. Toss. Stop. Look at the clock.

Toss. Toss. Toss. Stop. Look at the clock.

He placed the can on the bar and put a large hand over it, exerting the minimal amount of pressure required to crush it, slowly.

Crush. Crush. Crush. Stop. Look at the clock.

He stood deliberatley, stepped back a few paces and look around, left to right. Nothing. No'bot. The bar was full but not with a 'bot he knew. Good. Made it easier. Turning, he moved towards the door, stopping only to look at another clock.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

The digital nano-clicks flickering in his optics, he stepped outside into the night air, the heavy door swinging to behind him. He watched a 'bot looking down the alley, watched him stop and think, watched him walk down it. He looked at his wrist read out as the nano clicks speed past.

Click. Click. Click. Beep.

He grunted softly, as if in satisfaction and turned down the alley. Always be on time, never in time. It's in his core programming, from the dark days, from his ancestory. He stopped at the door. He looked at his read out once more.

Click. Click. Click. Beep.

He knocked loudly twice.

[Brawn]

*MMB zipped from corner to corner of the winding streets carefully, attempting to avoid detection. Its not that anybody would be suspicious of a mech bot, just that he valued his spark*

Well, now or never..... wait hang on....

*MMB paused at the opening to the alley after hearing a faint beep. Popping a remote camera out of his draw, he used one of his agile quintesque arms to probe around the corner to give him a view down the alley, the mech he saw was one of those specc'd to him by One-Sixteen.*

ok....he looks err.. friendly.

*Before Rex-RV had finished his third knock, the dimmunitive form of MMB appeared beside him waiting for a response from the door*

[Highram]

Since the door hadn't opened and a very strong looking bot, and his friends, had come down the alley also. Ramp-X had carefully placed himself behind some disposal canisters. Since he wasn't particulary looking for any sort of trouble, he decided to just.... stay out of the way until the door did open.
He wasn't a coward or anything he just, found it hard to talk to bots he didn't know.
I wish the door would open.... Oh, c'mon Ramp-X, if you're going to go against the rest of the colony you may as well start with saying hi to a few random bots!
Feeling suddenly full of determination to not be known as the scaredy bot, he stood up quickly and started to emit the words needed for a greeting, but the words froze and he suddenly stopped himself, landing hard on his hind quarters as he propeled himself to the ground.
I can't do it! I just can't do it! It's not that hard! "Why can't I do this!?" he shouted accidentaly and immediatly clamped both hands over his mouth.

[GALVY]

galvanize stepped out behind RAMP-X.

"i bid you fair greetings . my designation is galvanize. i recognize you from my meetings with 1-16. quiclky ,lets go inside"]
the pair moved quickly to the door ,where the other colonists had gathered for the meeting.

[Steel]

Finaly there was a creek from the door and a small hatch opened.

"Whats the password?" Came a voice fimiliar to them all. A couple of moments passed, just enough to let the small group realise that none of them knew a password.

The door swung open.

"Just kidding." One -Sixteen added, seeming to be in a very light hearted mood.

"Come in... was just trying to figure out how to work the datapads. Xyron here yet?" The tall mech said as he servayed each of them as they quickly piled through the door.

"Guess not. We'll have to wait for him, but dont worry everythings in order. So why dont you introduce yourselfs for the group." One-sixteen said calmly as he checked everyone was in and glanced up and down the street before shutting the door again.

[GALVY]

"well,my designation is galvanize"
"im a rescue bot at heart but my alternate form can be helpfull in mining ,but , alas ,not on this world. my particle drill form is afected by a substance in the ore here and can be , well, explosive. "
"after listening to 1-16s ,ahem, plans, ive decided to help out where i can. if you all pull the same way im sure what he has planned will work without a hitch. and i for one want to get the hell away from here, this place is the pits"
galvanize wandered over to a darkened corner of the room and sat down amongst some vapour packs, pleased that he got to speak first.

[KingGrimlock]

A sound like thunder drawing near eminated from the big 'bot's direction. Rex R.V was clearing his throat.

"Me, Rex-R.V, want to get off this stinking rock"

He rubbed his tired optical circuits with a dust caked gauntlet.

"Me, Rex-R.V, tired of all work and no play. Me want to explore, me want to see stars."

He let his shoulders drop with a gentle exhalation, optics dimming to a faint burn. He looked around at the assembled faces, gave half a shrug and plodded over to the pile of datapads. He picked one up clumsily, turning it over and over in his big hands.

It beeped.

Rex-R.V smiled. He looked at the other 'bots, the glimer back in his optics.

"Me think computers more fun than rocks. Rocks not make noise or pretty colours."

The datapad beeped again, setting off a sequence of L.E.Ds. Rex-R.V looked back at it, touching it as gently as his uncoordinated digits could manage, a large grin on his oil streaked face.

[Brawn]

*Breaking the following silence...and resisting rescuing the poor datapad*

I'm MMB, mechanical and medical specialist, bust a nut, got mouldy organics? Im here to sort you out.

....and it looks like I may be busy...

*Still not sure exactly what the mission actually entails, MMB continues watching Rex mash the pad*

[Highram]

Shifting his feet awkardly, he decided he give it a go and be the next to speak.

"I'm Ramp-X, I organize the workers shifts and also deliver reports of progress." His third arm extended itself from his back and started to sweep the ground in nervous strokes as if he didn't know what to do next. "But I do know a bit about tech" he added quietly, his voice barely audiable.

[Steel]

"Its ok guys, its natural to be nervous, but trust me all is in hand.

I should probubly reveal the plan to you now..." One-Sixteen said as he tossed one of the datapads back on the table.

"Over the corse of sevoral weeks we've been shipping spare parts from the old Colony Transport to one of the lesser used Drill Depots. Some of my guys on the inside have been making modifications to one of those huge core driller. It sounds crazy but we've almost completed converting it into a space vessle. All we need is time to install the final operating systems and... aquire a generator.

Thanks to a little sabotage one of the other core drillers has a burnt out generator and one is being shipped there tonight. We have to divert that shipment and get it to our new vessle. Then we're going to bust a hole right through that blasted dome and leave this opressive dustball behind us."

[KingGrimlock]

A sad little beep radiates from the datapad, followed by a bright flash and whisp of smoke. Rex looked up.

"Me sorry"

He placed the pad back on the desk and backed away from it slowly, the smile fade from his face. The pad let out a faint beep and a flurry of lights. Rex audibly exhaled in relief. He turned to 1-16, the smile plastered back on his face, his optical circuits glowing.

"Me, Rex-R.V like drill... me is drill! What plan boss bot? How we make distraction?"

He looked at the others expentantly.

[GALVY]

"hmm, i suppose a big enough hole in the ground could cause the shipment to alter its intended cause. and i have the means to provide the hole" said galvanize.
he stood up so he got all the attention in the room
"but if any of us are caught ,you know its forced stasis lock , and i for one dont like that idea." galvanize walked up to 1-16 and said quietly " i want some assurances that were not just here to do the dirty work. i want my place on the ship garanteed"

the others in the room looked on awkwardly