For milliways_bar.

[not_toothfairy]

Finding a space to work on the space bridge project wasn't all that hard. Finding that space and making sure it was adequately secured, lit, powered, and otherwise prepped for the situation? Another story altogether. That took preparation and doing. Fortunately, Ironhide managed his end of things eventually; any Autobot more than a few days out of the factory would probably have to agree that the workspace is as ready as he's ever gonna get it.

Now it's just down to Rad and his crew.

Comments

[action_rad]

Hoist and Grapple pull up in their alt modes. Not only do they ensure that no one who shouldn't see a robot will see one, but they also make for excellent transportation of needed goods.

And riding on the back of Grapple, near where the crane part of Grapple is attached, since the box attached to the hook is swinging in such a manner as to make you nervous, is a very-in-robot-mode Rad.

Lionizer is sitting in Hoist's cab. Away from the swinging box.

They're here. Time to get to work.

[not-toothfairy.livejournal.com]

They are indeed. So's Ironhide. Cheetor's around here somewhere; he's getting an orientation and a briefing on the situation, mostly from Ratchet. In matters of tact one might well consider that the blind leading the blind.

"Afternoon, fellas," Ironhide calls out. "Welcome to California."

[action_rad]

Jumping off the back of Grapple he gets further out of the way as the box is lowered.

And Lionizer steps out of the cab. Allowing both to transform. Into robots more in scale with Ironhide.

Lionizer: "Looks pretty much the same as our California."

Hoist: "Where do we start?"

Grapple: "We're not going to be interrupted by Decepticons are we?"

[not-toothfairy.livejournal.com]

"Not unless Starscream drops in from off-planet," says Ironhide. "Rad tell you yet about our situation here? The only 'con known to be on the planet right now's Scorponok, and his last sighting was clear over in the Persian gulf."

[action_rad]

Grapple looks relieved. No one will be ruining this project unless there's a few grease-fingers amongst these strange-looking Autobots.

Hoist shakes his head. "Don't believe we were ever told about that." Then looks at Rad, who's scratching the back of his head in that embarrassed manner you see in humans.

"I ... didn't think about that when looking for assistance," he apologises.

[not-toothfairy.livejournal.com]

Ironhide nods. "Yeah, well- that's the situation as far as the enemy goes." Then he sobers. "Our situation's not a whole lot better. You four being here doubles the number of Cybertronians on Earth right now, if you leave the bug out of the picture. Y'see why we've got to make sure Jetfire and Silverbolt make it through okay?"

[action_rad]

"Two Decepticons. We'd all be lucky if we only had two Decepticons."

Hoist adds, "Even if you reduced them down to just Galvatron he'd make it seem like you were up against a whole squadron of them."

Hearing just how low the numbers are brings a pall over the other-worlders.

Four Autobots. Total. Perhaps the only ones left. Six if Jetstorm and Silverbolt make it to Earth.

If they knew him they'd know how Optimus Primal felt once he got back to Cybertron, being one of a handful of survivours on the planet and facing near-insurmountable odds for further survival.

"We understand."

"We'd better get started unloading."

[not-toothfairy.livejournal.com]

"All of us," says Ironhide. "We did the best surveys we could of the base given the data we had to work with. Far as I can tell, this is the best spot to start building, so-"

A human would crack his knuckles. Ironhide just moves forward to start unloading whatever needs unloading.

[action_rad]

Sometimes being small has its drawbacks, but he's not totally useless as Rad clears away the boxes and sets them in a spot where removing them and thus ensuring any humans unreceptive to robotic presence will not notice them.

Not hard to think what would happen if six billion humans went up against four robots and three of them with the belief you shouldn't harm them.

Within the hour everything the other-worlders brought with them is laid out and ready.

And Rad is busy putting the final initial touches to the computer components.

[not-toothfairy.livejournal.com]

It's a lucky thing Ironhide hasn't got a tongue. He'd be biting through it by now if he did. An hour of dealing with Grapple- even with Hoist's presence- has been enough to make him really want to get out on the firing range.

Preferably with live targets, but beggars can't be choosers.

[action_rad]

Rad did warn him about Grapple's temperament.

Artists as a general lot seem to have "no one understands my work!" as one of their neuroses of choice.

But it's mostly done, and what needs doing now is to get the project built.

Primus it'll be a miracle Grapple survives that.

[not-toothfairy.livejournal.com]

Yes, he did. Which is why the particularly spiky Autobot's gotten quieter and quieter as things've progressed. It's just... safer.

Eventually he stops and looks over at Rad before turning to the others. "Next up?" he inquires.

[action_rad]

Grapple, to his credit, has come to learn that when someone's silent the way Ironhide is silent, it's better to just stick to work and not talk.

"Laying down the foundation is first."

He looks about. It seems to be mid-afternoon judging by the sun. And if they continue it'll be all through the night and well into the morning.

Night offers cover, since humans don't have night vision or infrared capabilities.

[not-toothfairy.livejournal.com]

"That," Ironhide says, "I'm good at. You mind if we put some extra into beefing 'em up beyond what you've got in the specs here? This part of the landmass isn't what I'd call tectonically stable."

Ironhide nearly always thinks for the long term, at least when it comes to building.

[action_rad]

This part of the west coast is famous for tectonic grumpiness.

Infamous.

"We did send more materials than was strictly necessary," Hoist says. "In case it was needed. If reinforcement is needed, then we'll reinforce it."

Part of the long term may also be to use it in case more Autobots appear on the relative scene.

[not-toothfairy.livejournal.com]

"I got geological surveys of the area- hang on." Ironhide rummages around for a bit until he finds where he put the printouts; he figured paper was probably a better bet than forcing anybody to translate data formats. "Here. Figured they'd be more use to you, you know the materials involved better than I do."

[lissla-lissar.livejournal.com]

Some point after dark falls Lissar makes her way to where they are. On foot; she can't drive and it's not like she could get lost. Considering that the sun is down it's not like any of the 'bots are going to be able to miss her, either. The moon picks her hair and skin up as though she were made out of solid moonlight in motion.

She's got all of her protective clothing, but it's in a backpack since not even she can pick up a sunburn from moonlight.

[action_rad]

"Lissar!" Rad says, picking up the figure moving about. "Hoist, Grapple, this is Lissar. She's Ironhide's sparkmate."

And he says it without any laughter either!

"Hello, Lissar," Hoist says in the accent humans describe as "English".

[not-toothfairy.livejournal.com]

Ironhide's seen Lissar blush before, and he knows that when the blood starts going to her skin it goes in earnest, but that's a serious case of skin rush right there. He almost asks if she's all right, but stops himself in time. "Hey, Lissar," he says with as much of a smile as his face can manage (which, as usual, isn't much). "Come on over, I'll introduce you. You already know Rad. These're Hoist-" He points to the Autobot who just spoke. "-and Grapple, from his Cybertron."

[lissla-lissar.livejournal.com]

"Good evening, beloved." Lissar is more than willing to step closer to Ironhide, leaning one hand against him as long as his leg is still. "Greetings, Hoist and Grapple, and allow me to add my great thanks to those already given you. Greetings, too, Rad and Lionizer. I am here to assist in whatever fine work I might offer."

[action_rad]

Hoist smiles the way he does at Powerglide and Astoria. Being much older than Rad is he deals with the notion of sparkbonding better, so his smile is given the way your grandmother would when you're being sweet with someone.

"What sorts of things are you able to do?" Hoist asks. He's quite used to the idea of human help. "We could use someone to help us with those parts we can't reach on account of being large."

[lissla-lissar.livejournal.com]

"I have been learning mechanic workings under Ratchet." Lissar offers, "I am very good at taking direction, and have no less desire than anyone else to see the lost returned." At this point she removes the light coat she had on so that the sleeves won't get caught in anything and stuffs it in her bag.

This leaves her tattoo quite obvious.

[not-toothfairy.livejournal.com]

Ironhide just chuckles and watches for the reaction; he's aware that the situation's unusual at best, but he does want to see her in action. Lissar knows her stuff.

[action_rad]

Hey Hoist and Grapple have made use of Sparkplug's services many times in the past. It's not as unusual as one would think.

"Did Ratchet teach you anything that could be used on a stationary structure? We could use someone to do some spot welding."

Grapple will not look panicked at the idea of a human being crushed under a half ton of metal.

[lissla-lissar.livejournal.com]

"I can, yes." Lissar says, nodding, "My hand is steady." she doesn't have any fear, herself. For, well, obvious reasons involving Ironhide's reflexes.