(( OOC: Wait up, Starshadow. I didn't get to post yet, so Optimus hasn't dismissed her or anyone.
Blazemane hasn't posted either. But since this will probably be my last post until next Sunday night, or possibly a whole week from today, I'm going to go ahead and wrap things up so the Maximals do their own thing in the mean time while I'm away at BotCon this weekend. Please don't go wandering off and getting yourselves killed. Just because I won't be posting doesn't mean Optimus isn't charge or is off-line.
))
Optimus had suddenly felt someone grab his arm, tugging it a little. Looking down to his surprise, it was Aurora. He made no motion to pull away from her grasp while mixed emotions rumbled through him again; anger, intolerance, and concern. But studying her innocent face and kind voice, he appeared to relax a little. Just a little.
"Hold up, both of you," "We're all tired, we're all on the edge, and we are all hurting right now from one thing or the other. Turning against each other will not solve any of these issues." "Optimus has been trying his best to weather this storm with the crew. We're all trapped here, all learning as we go, so how can anyone expect him to be able to predict the future and how to act accordingly?" "Optimus never asked for the responsibility of leading us, and given the circumstances I don't think any of us could ask any more of him than what he has already provided. I haven't been here very long, but it's blatantly obvious for me that Optimus cares greatly for his crew and is willing to sacrifice anything for each and every one of us." "Yet I understand your frustration, Ironclaw, and your impatience. But please do not take it out on Optimus."
"Aurora is right. We have been through and seen alot for the past hours, not to mention the past weeks. We are all tense, saddened, and frustrated by the events that have befallen us, but arguing will get us nowhere. We need each other to survive. We need to stay together or we will get nothing accomplished."
Although annoyed that both Aurora and Whitegrazer had intervened without knowing what they had just stepped in, what they said was true, and Optimus was a bit impressed with the young ermine's mental attitude on the situation and her mature approach to it. As Aurora released his arm and stepped away from him and Ironclaw, Primal took a breath looking at them, and explained in a calmer tone,
"My temper wasn't driven by those we have recently lost. I'm merely re-establishing authority and who gives the orders here because some seem to enjoy disobeying me and it can not continue like this." Optimus paused, studying Aurora and Whitegrazer for a moment before adding,
"That goes for you two, as well. I told everyone to stay at the command center." Granted something had obviously bothered Aurora to cause her to run off the way Rattrap had mentioned, and Whitegrazer's instinct would've been to follow her and comfort her, but orders were orders. Even the simplest ones were being ignored. Disobeying them caused more trouble than necessary and more recently costed lives. Was no one grasping this yet?
"Optimus, I believe he needs some time..afterall, the situation is in total chaos."
The Maximal leader didn't expect anyone to understand what was really going on between him and Ironclaw. It seemed a bit more personal than they realized, but it wouldn't have been the time or place to bother explaining it. The tension between the two wasn't just because they were tired and were mourning two Maximals lost. What was going on with Ironclaw had started almost the day he arrived, questioning everything Optimus did and expecting him to somehow be like the Optimus his Autobot ancestor Ironhide knew during the Great War.
"our priority is to find a way to survive from whatever the aliens will be throwing at us. I wouldn't mind launching Sonar to their deadliest weapon. Right now, we don't know when will they be coming. It's getting late, we should rest.
"Our priority right now is to rest," he corrected Starshadow, following her, Wintersong and Ironclaw back to the bridge. Like many of his Maximals there, he hadn't rested much or even slept for over a day now as dawn was approaching.
"It's diffcult to prepare for the unknown when we don't know what to expect next from these aliens. Rhinox and Frilla can work on that tomorrow... or rather, later today if there's anything that can be done with the knowledge we have gained from their tricks, tests and strange anomalies." He specifically looked at Starshadow when he said,
"And no one is being sacrificed if the Vok do attack again." It was diffcult to tell if she was joking about Sonar or not, so he thought it best to clarify any tendacies she might have in order to get rid of the Predacon bat that seemed to bother her greatly. Fortunately, no one would be able to get into the brig now anyway except for Optimus and Rhinox.
Standing there before his crew, new, young, experienced and old, Primal's crimson optics scanned across their faces around the room, exhaling a quiet sigh.
"As it has been a very long and tiresome day and night for everyone, please try to get some rest now. If you're going to exit the ship, then log it and report via comm. link every four mega-cycles." ((That's four hours, people!
Not that it really matters with the game, but, you know.
))
"Okay everyone...good night! Don't let the bed bugs bite unless it's me~"
"Wintersong, please assist Starshadow with her quarters," Optimus asked her, after having blinked at the awkward kiss Starshadow planted on his cheek plate. He certainly wasn't expecting that. Taking her for a more eccentric individual with her sometimes unusual antics, Optimus hoped she would warm up to the Maximals, and vice versa.
"And I thought you were judgmental Rattrap, think someone took your crown."
"Eh," Rattrap glanced at Frilla,
"I couldn't do it forever," he grinned.
When things finally calmed down thanks to Aurora and 'Grazer, sort of, and Optimus started dismissing everyone from the meeting, the rat spoke up.
"Yo, uh, Optimus, you wanna see what I found? No specifics, but I got a time frame."
"No," answered Primal with a dismissive wave to Rattrap.
"Save it for later. I want everyone to take some down time and relax." Although, he still wanted to speak with Orcariner and Feralnight, and definitely needed to spend some quality time with Whitegrazer; and ask her about this Predacon she met with that Ironclaw witnessed and to just be in her company privately.
Shrugging, Rattrap said,
"Okay," and made a note of the data he found in the ship's logs before exiting the screen on the monitor and switching it to an external camera that showed the slow sunrise from outside.
Noticing Starshadow spontaneously giving out kisses - of death, no doubt - he cringed when she came at him and tried curling into a ball in his chair.
"No, no, no, no!" Feeling her kiss his head, he screeched into his legs and gagged. Quickly he jumped up and frantically rubbed her Predacon germs off of his beautiful paint with his hand and reached over to wipe his hand onto Feralnight's fur like she was a towel.
"Thanks," he said to the wolf/raven fuzor.
"Haven't the aliens already been here?" "We saw a clone of optimus and some flying heads in the underground labyrinths. What is meant by 'them coming here'? What is it that we already saw?"
"Perhaps they were only here in mind or spirit for those visits," Tigatron suggested, looking into Airazor's emerald green optics.
"And this time we will meet them face to face." Shaking his head, he added,
"But why the violence and hatred from them? I just don't understand."
"We can worry about that later," Optimus told Airazor and Tigatron.
"I insist on everyone finding some much needed rest. We'll need to be energized once they do make their next appearance."
The white tiger nodded in agreement, standing by Airazor's side. He took in her beauty, scent and energy. For a moment, he wondered if he had ever known her from before. Had they crossed paths back on Cybertron? Neither of them could remember, of course, but they were certainly drawn to one another. He couldn't imagine his time on this planet, or anywhere in the universe without her.
I always thought he was maybe 7 and thought maybe he reached to Whitegrazer abdomen or a bit lower. XD Well, now we know! 
))