Dart Origins Part 1 - Phreak
Dec. 22nd, 2007 09:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
measured_wordsI liiiiiiive! *mad cackling laughter*! I have been almost too busy this term to write, but I have got some bits done nonetheless. I have a Pieces installment to type up. I might be behind typing up Shadows too, I'll have to check. And then there is this! And a few other bits and pieces I've got either started some place or another, or rattling around in my head. Anyway, here is the completed first bit of the Dart story. for thwe whole 2-3 of you who are interested ;) Enjoy :D
Dart: Origins
Dart’s story starts with Phreak.
Jin-Ahnir 9, just outside of the Ahnirese Capital Metroplex.
I’ve been monitoring transmissions here for almost six mega-cycles, and I’ve finally confirmed a Decepticon presence – Insecticons. With that little bit of information, all the reported behavioral discrepancies among certain political elites suddenly make sense. Now I’ve just got to figure out what those sneaky little slag piles are up to. Strange as it sounds, now that I know what I’m dealing with, it could almost be too easy.
Shrapnel’s a fun guy – he can control electronics using powerful signals that he emits from his antennae. Good for him. Those signals he uses have a very particular energy signature, if you know what you’re looking for and have got sensors powerful enough to pick out his interference from all the other random background noise. And I do. With the transmission data I’ve acquired, it shouldn’t take too long to pinpoint the location of their local HQ. It’s the same with Bombshell. The Cerebro-shells he uses to control the minds of his enemies likewise have a distinct transmission signature. With time and luck, I could likely isolate all the infected targets. The question then, is how much time have I got, and how much luck? I need to move in closer, but first I need to make my report.
. . . . . . . . . .
“…I don’t know yet if they’re working for Megatron, or on some initiative of their own, but I’ll find out.”
“Good work, Phreak. Proceed with caution. I’m going to send you some back up, in case the situation escalates. Remember, you’re there to gather intel – do not engage.”
“Don’t worry, Prowl, I’m not some hot-head punk with an itchy trigger finger.”
“That’s why you’re out there – I wish all our troops had a bit more patience.”
“Right, thanks. Have that backup signal me on the secure channel once they’re in range, and I’ll report in once I have a better idea what the Insecticons are after here. Phreak out.”
. . . . . . . . . .
Prowl’s compliment is high praise. A lot of the veteran Autobots tend to look down on us younger bots. Just because we haven’t been fighting as long, they think we don’t take it seriously. I don’t know about that. We’ve never known anything *but* war. I think I just know my limits a little better than some others. I’m not really built for combat, though I’ve seen my fair share of firefights. I‘ve got some tricks up my sleeve, but who doesn’t? The EMP Null Blaster has saved my circuits a few times now. Mostly it helps make for a good escape. Not everyone can be a soldier.
What I can do is a little more specialized. Some bots think my job is boring, but I figure that’s only because their processors aren’t up to speed. The things you can pick up from even the most innocuous transmissions! And there is little that is as satisfying as figuring out just the right algorithm to turn what seems like grey static into the latest communiqué from the Decepticon High Command. It buffs my chrome to know that they *try harder* if they know I’m out here.
Which of course means that it is best if they don’t. I’ve got some options that help with that, mostly tech I’ve copied from others, like a limited variation of Hound’s holo-emitter. It also means that a lot of these missions run solo, like this one. Helps keep the profile low and the ‘Cons off their guard if there is no obvious Autobot presence in the area. The job can get a little lonely, sure, but the truth is that I work better alone. To that end, as much as I appreciate the backup, I’m going to have to move in now to pick up what I can before the Bugs tighten up their security.
It takes a few cycles, but I manage to circle in on their location inside the metro. They’ve picked a nice neighborhood, of course. No doubt the legitimate owner of this estate, a high-placed aide to the Foreign Affairs Minister, is under Bombshell’s control. They might have the minister too, at this point. The Insecticons are tricky, though. As efficient as Bombshell’s control is, they’re certainly not above letting Kickback sucker in unwitting allies with plain old-fashioned blackmail. From what I’ve seen of some of the ‘secure’ transmissions from the Ahnirese high castes, there’s plenty of material available.
These people have made some pretty impressive leaps in their engineering and bio-engineering fields, but their communications and encryption lag behind. That’s what took me so long to find the enemy – they were hiding pretty well, relying on local technology for all their internal transmissions, and they almost passed right under my radar. Almost.
The layout of the estate could be a problem. There’s a lot of open space at ground level, which means it will be harder to remain unobtrusive. Even with my alt-mode formatted to resemble one of the native janitorial drones, there’s only so much legitimate lurking I can get away with. If I could get inside the complex, that would be a different matter. The terraforming used on all the Jin-planets takes advantage of heat energy from the core, so they all build down. I start looking for blueprints while configuring my sensors to penetrate the complex’s shielding and scan for Decepticon energy signatures. It’s great to be able to multitask.
. . . . . . . . . .
Another two solar-cycles, and I’ve managed a fair bit. Visual confirmation on all three bugs. Back-up is on the way, in the form of Mirage and Bumblebee. At least Prowl sent bots with some discretion. I think I’ve got an angle on what’s going down here – the Ahnirese are developing more superweapons, this time with Decepticon help. In violation of any number of galatic demilitarization initiatives, I’m sure. Ever since they moved into this system, they’ve been bad neighbors. According to local media there’s a strong peacenik grassroots movement, but the government isn’t listening this time. No doubt someone’s got their ears plugged.
I still don’t have the details I need to put everything together. I’ve tried looking into military inventories, but there’s nothing that jumps out at me as new and dangerous. Give me a few cycles back in a lab to analyze the data more closely, and then we’ll see. For now it’s a waiting game, and mostly pretty dull. I’ve reprogrammed the cleaning drones that pass through this area so that I can make closer sweeps in person. I’ve got one more sweep to make before I rendez-vous with ‘Bee and Mirage.
The first thing I notice as I approach the compound is that short-range communications have increased. I can’t filter them all, but the general buzz is that there is some kind of meeting about to go down. This could be big – lots of security, that’s for sure. This bears further investigation, and I’m not sure it can wait another cycle. I prep a message to my backup filling them in on the situation, and bounce it back through the Ahnirese communication network. It’s dirty, not as secure as I’d like, but it’ll be fast and less risky than sending a direct transmission. Time to get into gear.
My current guise isn’t enough to get me through the gate. The drones have an override so they can be sent off if they aren’t wanted or needed, and when the guards broadcast it my way, I veer off as ordered. No sense on blowing my cover at this stage. I’ve still got some other options, though things are going to get a little more hands-on than I’d prefer.
There are any number of craft heading this way, radioing in their security clearances. It’s just a matter of picking one on a good route, with about the right build… And that I don’t figure will put up much resistance. Then the EMP comes in handy again, disabling the vehicle and their chance to radio for help. The occupants I secure inside their now-disabled transportation, and hide them as best I can. And then it’s time for my holographic camouflage, and I dress myself up for the party.
I’m confident I can shield myself well enough to slip by their sensors as long as I don’t give them any reason to look too closely. A wave of relief washes through my processors after they wave me through, but as I follow the road down to the parking lodge, I feel another kind of rush. Now there are armed men between me and my backup, and nothing good between me and the enemy. It’s a little bit scary, to be honest, and a little bit exciting.
So, now I’m in. At least, I’m in the parking garage. The Ahnirese are built on a smaller scale than most Cybertronians, so it’s not going to be easy to get further into the estate. The Insecticons will have their own special access somewhere, though, and I’m betting I can get what I need once I find that. I drive up to an access panel near a door, and reach out to make a direct connection – yeah, there we go. This only lets me look at the security grid, but its enough to know where the big doors are. Should have figured that it’d be the kitchen, with those gluttonous bugs at the wheel. Looks like they dug the tunnels themselves. I’m going to have to spin my tires a bit in here before I make my play – there’s still too much traffic coming in for me to slip out.
. . . . . . . . . .
I’m running out of time here. I’m pretty sure by this point that the ‘cons are operating on a separate computer relay from most of the estate, so until I find their headquarters there isn’t a whole lot more I can do. I’m inside, and I’m close, but I’m also stuck. Bumblebee and Mirage ought to have gotten my message, and they’d be making planetfall right about now if they kept to the schedule. The transmissions tell me that whatever meeting is being held here should be starting soon. This will be my perfect chance to sneak in and grab what I can from their secure network, but I don’t know if anyone’s home. There’s something close by interfering with my basic sensors – whatever they’ve got on auction here is emitting some quite interesting radiation. I can tell Shrapnel’s gone, but that leaves the other two. Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained. I’d hate for all this to come to nothing. I keep my EMP to hand, and round the corner.
Well, well – I’m not as religious, if that’s what you wanna call it, as some bots, but someone’s looking out for me. Looks like the bugs don’t trust Ahnirese security. It’s a good call on their part, but the key pad will still give me an in to their system, and maybe let me know who’s inside.
I’m not working very long, though, before trouble finds me. I’m just getting to the good stuff when I hear distinctively Cybertronian footsteps. I reach for my gun, but Kickback is faster, and it skids down the hallway out of reach. Slag!
“Phreak, right?” He smirks, red visor reflecting nothing but the smarmiest malice. The pistol he pulls is some Ahnirese design I don’t recognize. It is giving off low levels of that strange radiation. “I’m pretty sure you’re not on the guest list, but here I am without a date.”
“Stuff it up your circuits, bug.”
“Oh, that’s okay. You’re more Shapnel’s type anyway. Bombshell can be quite the convincing matchmaker.” He keys in some code – I can’t see the numbers, but it seems pretty long – and the doors slide open. He waves me inside.
They’ve got a good set-up here, I‘ll give them that. It isn’t as simple as I thought, either: they’re transmitting through local tech, sure, but the rest of their gear is pretty advanced. There’s no one else here, either – if only I’d been a little quicker, or a little more alert… The fact that I am alone in here, captured and disarmed, runs through my mind – it’s a sobering systems check. My backup won’t know where I am at this point.
“Are you alone?”
“Of course, not,” I lie.
Kickback just broadens his irritating smirk. “You know what I think, sweetheart?”
I scowl. I’m not a good enough liar for this – I’m not answering another question if I can help it.
“I think you should have stuck to radio surveillance.” He raises the blaster, and suddenly I’m hit by a burning white-green light-
. . . . . . . . . .
Through the blinding incapacitating pain, I become aware that someone is shaking me. The galvanized spikes piercing into my discombobulated positronics are just Mirage calling my name. I can barely bring my optics into focus enough to recognize him. I manage to groan.
“Those bugs really fried your circuits, Phreak!” He helps me to my feet. “Was it Shrapnel?”
I shake my head. The headache is starting to tone down to tolerable levels, but a quick systems scan doesn’t give me any good news. “ Kickback. Some kind of neuro-disruptor.”
“Can you transform?”
“Yeah, I think…. My sensors are shot though. I’m practically running blind.” Optics are still a bit fuzzy. I still feel confused, like there’s something, a lot of things, even, I should be thinking of, but I’m not. Things I should be noticing, too. It’s disconcerting, and I feel a little lost.
“We’ll get you out of here – Bumblebee’s giving us a distraction, but we don’t have much time.” He starts to guide me to the exit, but I resist. There’s something here I need – something I need to know.
“Wait.” I break away from him, staring at the computer terminal. Staring blankly. This should be second nature to me, but my servos are still reeling. I can’t find what I’m looking for if I don’t remember what it is. But I remember how to take it – and I do. I take it everything, wiping their system. I know it’s a bad idea, dangerous. Mirage is yelling at me, pulling me away. I let him. We can go now.
The building shakes – Bumblebee, I hope. Hope he’s okay. Mirage and I book it back through the tunnels. I follow him, keeping close so I don’t loose track. My head is still spinning, pounding, and it’s not getting any better.
. . . . . . . . . .
Iacon City, Cybertron
I vaguely recall the escape. We took some fire, and I froze up. Bumblebee and Mirage got me back to their ship somehow. I went into a full defensive shutdown shortly afterwards and didn’t wake up until Ratchet managed to sort out my scrambled circuits, the information dump from the Insecticon’s computers, and the various viruses and other offensive security programs that came along for the ride. Apparently the only reason I didn’t completely fry myself is that my positronics were too thoroughly disrupted for the nastier viruses to do their worst. I’m not sure if I got a harsher talking to from the doc or from Prowl. They’re threatening to saddle me with a partner now, but that’s not going to happen. I work better on my own, regardless of this last botched job. So, I’ve got a better plan. I’m going to build my own backup.
Dart: Origins
Dart’s story starts with Phreak.
Jin-Ahnir 9, just outside of the Ahnirese Capital Metroplex.
I’ve been monitoring transmissions here for almost six mega-cycles, and I’ve finally confirmed a Decepticon presence – Insecticons. With that little bit of information, all the reported behavioral discrepancies among certain political elites suddenly make sense. Now I’ve just got to figure out what those sneaky little slag piles are up to. Strange as it sounds, now that I know what I’m dealing with, it could almost be too easy.
Shrapnel’s a fun guy – he can control electronics using powerful signals that he emits from his antennae. Good for him. Those signals he uses have a very particular energy signature, if you know what you’re looking for and have got sensors powerful enough to pick out his interference from all the other random background noise. And I do. With the transmission data I’ve acquired, it shouldn’t take too long to pinpoint the location of their local HQ. It’s the same with Bombshell. The Cerebro-shells he uses to control the minds of his enemies likewise have a distinct transmission signature. With time and luck, I could likely isolate all the infected targets. The question then, is how much time have I got, and how much luck? I need to move in closer, but first I need to make my report.
. . . . . . . . . .
“…I don’t know yet if they’re working for Megatron, or on some initiative of their own, but I’ll find out.”
“Good work, Phreak. Proceed with caution. I’m going to send you some back up, in case the situation escalates. Remember, you’re there to gather intel – do not engage.”
“Don’t worry, Prowl, I’m not some hot-head punk with an itchy trigger finger.”
“That’s why you’re out there – I wish all our troops had a bit more patience.”
“Right, thanks. Have that backup signal me on the secure channel once they’re in range, and I’ll report in once I have a better idea what the Insecticons are after here. Phreak out.”
. . . . . . . . . .
Prowl’s compliment is high praise. A lot of the veteran Autobots tend to look down on us younger bots. Just because we haven’t been fighting as long, they think we don’t take it seriously. I don’t know about that. We’ve never known anything *but* war. I think I just know my limits a little better than some others. I’m not really built for combat, though I’ve seen my fair share of firefights. I‘ve got some tricks up my sleeve, but who doesn’t? The EMP Null Blaster has saved my circuits a few times now. Mostly it helps make for a good escape. Not everyone can be a soldier.
What I can do is a little more specialized. Some bots think my job is boring, but I figure that’s only because their processors aren’t up to speed. The things you can pick up from even the most innocuous transmissions! And there is little that is as satisfying as figuring out just the right algorithm to turn what seems like grey static into the latest communiqué from the Decepticon High Command. It buffs my chrome to know that they *try harder* if they know I’m out here.
Which of course means that it is best if they don’t. I’ve got some options that help with that, mostly tech I’ve copied from others, like a limited variation of Hound’s holo-emitter. It also means that a lot of these missions run solo, like this one. Helps keep the profile low and the ‘Cons off their guard if there is no obvious Autobot presence in the area. The job can get a little lonely, sure, but the truth is that I work better alone. To that end, as much as I appreciate the backup, I’m going to have to move in now to pick up what I can before the Bugs tighten up their security.
It takes a few cycles, but I manage to circle in on their location inside the metro. They’ve picked a nice neighborhood, of course. No doubt the legitimate owner of this estate, a high-placed aide to the Foreign Affairs Minister, is under Bombshell’s control. They might have the minister too, at this point. The Insecticons are tricky, though. As efficient as Bombshell’s control is, they’re certainly not above letting Kickback sucker in unwitting allies with plain old-fashioned blackmail. From what I’ve seen of some of the ‘secure’ transmissions from the Ahnirese high castes, there’s plenty of material available.
These people have made some pretty impressive leaps in their engineering and bio-engineering fields, but their communications and encryption lag behind. That’s what took me so long to find the enemy – they were hiding pretty well, relying on local technology for all their internal transmissions, and they almost passed right under my radar. Almost.
The layout of the estate could be a problem. There’s a lot of open space at ground level, which means it will be harder to remain unobtrusive. Even with my alt-mode formatted to resemble one of the native janitorial drones, there’s only so much legitimate lurking I can get away with. If I could get inside the complex, that would be a different matter. The terraforming used on all the Jin-planets takes advantage of heat energy from the core, so they all build down. I start looking for blueprints while configuring my sensors to penetrate the complex’s shielding and scan for Decepticon energy signatures. It’s great to be able to multitask.
. . . . . . . . . .
Another two solar-cycles, and I’ve managed a fair bit. Visual confirmation on all three bugs. Back-up is on the way, in the form of Mirage and Bumblebee. At least Prowl sent bots with some discretion. I think I’ve got an angle on what’s going down here – the Ahnirese are developing more superweapons, this time with Decepticon help. In violation of any number of galatic demilitarization initiatives, I’m sure. Ever since they moved into this system, they’ve been bad neighbors. According to local media there’s a strong peacenik grassroots movement, but the government isn’t listening this time. No doubt someone’s got their ears plugged.
I still don’t have the details I need to put everything together. I’ve tried looking into military inventories, but there’s nothing that jumps out at me as new and dangerous. Give me a few cycles back in a lab to analyze the data more closely, and then we’ll see. For now it’s a waiting game, and mostly pretty dull. I’ve reprogrammed the cleaning drones that pass through this area so that I can make closer sweeps in person. I’ve got one more sweep to make before I rendez-vous with ‘Bee and Mirage.
The first thing I notice as I approach the compound is that short-range communications have increased. I can’t filter them all, but the general buzz is that there is some kind of meeting about to go down. This could be big – lots of security, that’s for sure. This bears further investigation, and I’m not sure it can wait another cycle. I prep a message to my backup filling them in on the situation, and bounce it back through the Ahnirese communication network. It’s dirty, not as secure as I’d like, but it’ll be fast and less risky than sending a direct transmission. Time to get into gear.
My current guise isn’t enough to get me through the gate. The drones have an override so they can be sent off if they aren’t wanted or needed, and when the guards broadcast it my way, I veer off as ordered. No sense on blowing my cover at this stage. I’ve still got some other options, though things are going to get a little more hands-on than I’d prefer.
There are any number of craft heading this way, radioing in their security clearances. It’s just a matter of picking one on a good route, with about the right build… And that I don’t figure will put up much resistance. Then the EMP comes in handy again, disabling the vehicle and their chance to radio for help. The occupants I secure inside their now-disabled transportation, and hide them as best I can. And then it’s time for my holographic camouflage, and I dress myself up for the party.
I’m confident I can shield myself well enough to slip by their sensors as long as I don’t give them any reason to look too closely. A wave of relief washes through my processors after they wave me through, but as I follow the road down to the parking lodge, I feel another kind of rush. Now there are armed men between me and my backup, and nothing good between me and the enemy. It’s a little bit scary, to be honest, and a little bit exciting.
So, now I’m in. At least, I’m in the parking garage. The Ahnirese are built on a smaller scale than most Cybertronians, so it’s not going to be easy to get further into the estate. The Insecticons will have their own special access somewhere, though, and I’m betting I can get what I need once I find that. I drive up to an access panel near a door, and reach out to make a direct connection – yeah, there we go. This only lets me look at the security grid, but its enough to know where the big doors are. Should have figured that it’d be the kitchen, with those gluttonous bugs at the wheel. Looks like they dug the tunnels themselves. I’m going to have to spin my tires a bit in here before I make my play – there’s still too much traffic coming in for me to slip out.
. . . . . . . . . .
I’m running out of time here. I’m pretty sure by this point that the ‘cons are operating on a separate computer relay from most of the estate, so until I find their headquarters there isn’t a whole lot more I can do. I’m inside, and I’m close, but I’m also stuck. Bumblebee and Mirage ought to have gotten my message, and they’d be making planetfall right about now if they kept to the schedule. The transmissions tell me that whatever meeting is being held here should be starting soon. This will be my perfect chance to sneak in and grab what I can from their secure network, but I don’t know if anyone’s home. There’s something close by interfering with my basic sensors – whatever they’ve got on auction here is emitting some quite interesting radiation. I can tell Shrapnel’s gone, but that leaves the other two. Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained. I’d hate for all this to come to nothing. I keep my EMP to hand, and round the corner.
Well, well – I’m not as religious, if that’s what you wanna call it, as some bots, but someone’s looking out for me. Looks like the bugs don’t trust Ahnirese security. It’s a good call on their part, but the key pad will still give me an in to their system, and maybe let me know who’s inside.
I’m not working very long, though, before trouble finds me. I’m just getting to the good stuff when I hear distinctively Cybertronian footsteps. I reach for my gun, but Kickback is faster, and it skids down the hallway out of reach. Slag!
“Phreak, right?” He smirks, red visor reflecting nothing but the smarmiest malice. The pistol he pulls is some Ahnirese design I don’t recognize. It is giving off low levels of that strange radiation. “I’m pretty sure you’re not on the guest list, but here I am without a date.”
“Stuff it up your circuits, bug.”
“Oh, that’s okay. You’re more Shapnel’s type anyway. Bombshell can be quite the convincing matchmaker.” He keys in some code – I can’t see the numbers, but it seems pretty long – and the doors slide open. He waves me inside.
They’ve got a good set-up here, I‘ll give them that. It isn’t as simple as I thought, either: they’re transmitting through local tech, sure, but the rest of their gear is pretty advanced. There’s no one else here, either – if only I’d been a little quicker, or a little more alert… The fact that I am alone in here, captured and disarmed, runs through my mind – it’s a sobering systems check. My backup won’t know where I am at this point.
“Are you alone?”
“Of course, not,” I lie.
Kickback just broadens his irritating smirk. “You know what I think, sweetheart?”
I scowl. I’m not a good enough liar for this – I’m not answering another question if I can help it.
“I think you should have stuck to radio surveillance.” He raises the blaster, and suddenly I’m hit by a burning white-green light-
. . . . . . . . . .
Through the blinding incapacitating pain, I become aware that someone is shaking me. The galvanized spikes piercing into my discombobulated positronics are just Mirage calling my name. I can barely bring my optics into focus enough to recognize him. I manage to groan.
“Those bugs really fried your circuits, Phreak!” He helps me to my feet. “Was it Shrapnel?”
I shake my head. The headache is starting to tone down to tolerable levels, but a quick systems scan doesn’t give me any good news. “ Kickback. Some kind of neuro-disruptor.”
“Can you transform?”
“Yeah, I think…. My sensors are shot though. I’m practically running blind.” Optics are still a bit fuzzy. I still feel confused, like there’s something, a lot of things, even, I should be thinking of, but I’m not. Things I should be noticing, too. It’s disconcerting, and I feel a little lost.
“We’ll get you out of here – Bumblebee’s giving us a distraction, but we don’t have much time.” He starts to guide me to the exit, but I resist. There’s something here I need – something I need to know.
“Wait.” I break away from him, staring at the computer terminal. Staring blankly. This should be second nature to me, but my servos are still reeling. I can’t find what I’m looking for if I don’t remember what it is. But I remember how to take it – and I do. I take it everything, wiping their system. I know it’s a bad idea, dangerous. Mirage is yelling at me, pulling me away. I let him. We can go now.
The building shakes – Bumblebee, I hope. Hope he’s okay. Mirage and I book it back through the tunnels. I follow him, keeping close so I don’t loose track. My head is still spinning, pounding, and it’s not getting any better.
. . . . . . . . . .
Iacon City, Cybertron
I vaguely recall the escape. We took some fire, and I froze up. Bumblebee and Mirage got me back to their ship somehow. I went into a full defensive shutdown shortly afterwards and didn’t wake up until Ratchet managed to sort out my scrambled circuits, the information dump from the Insecticon’s computers, and the various viruses and other offensive security programs that came along for the ride. Apparently the only reason I didn’t completely fry myself is that my positronics were too thoroughly disrupted for the nastier viruses to do their worst. I’m not sure if I got a harsher talking to from the doc or from Prowl. They’re threatening to saddle me with a partner now, but that’s not going to happen. I work better on my own, regardless of this last botched job. So, I’ve got a better plan. I’m going to build my own backup.
