It had been several hours since the field team was sent to investigate Grid Epsilon. Rhinox had taken over Rattrap's monitor duty while the rat was powering down in his quarters. Optimus however, remained at the console, still trying to ascertain the nature of the readings. Now, with Rhinox's help, he felt a little more assured that they might get somewhere. But there was still that nagging sensation in the back of his head.

Rhinox, noticing this, asked, "Something on your mind, Optimus?" After so many hours staring at the console Optimus could only grunt in response, so the rhino continued, "We're getting closer to defragmenting the algorithms to identify the base sequence. So why not give yourself a break? You staring at it won't make it go any faster."

"I don't want to miss anything," Optimius replied automatically.

"Don't make me pull medical rank and order you outta here," Rhinox said in a semi-threatening, but mostly friendly manner. Optimus stared at him with a raised brow ridge. "The least you could do is sit down."

With a beleaguered sigh, Optimus complied, rubbing his optics. "Any word from the Epsilon group?"

"Not yet. They'd only have gotten there an hour or two ago. If what's happening with the readings here are any indication, they'll need time to do a proper search of the area. It's a big grid, after all."

Optimus hummed contemplatively, cracking his neck. He hadn't been aware of how little he had moved in the last several hours, and was silently grateful for this brief interval.

Not long passed before heavy footsteps sounded through to the command center, getting louder with each step. The owner of said stomps walked in, the polar bear Coldstrike, and exhaled a bemoaned groan. "I'm rusting in this tin shack, Optimus. When can I get out in the field?"

Optimus grunted softly. "If you'd prefer to be kept busy, Coldstrike, there's plenty of ship-bound duties that can be performed in your off-time," he replied somewhat flatly. Coldstrike harrumphed and strode straight past Primal, planting himself at one of the work stations. Not pleased with this surly attitude, Optimus stood and suggested, "Since you're here and eager for work to do, perhaps you can assist Rhinox with the readings."

The bear let out a huff. "I suppose." However, despite his apparent disinterest, he was quick to type in a string of decoders he knew by heart, eliminating certain patterns quite quickly. "What are we looking for?"

"Not sure, exactly," Rhinox answered.

"Helpful."

"That's why you're here," Optimus chimed in with a wry grin. "A fresh pair of optics and a keen mind such as yours? We'll have it cracked in half the time."

Coldstrike raised a brow ridge, not entirely sure what the gorilla meant by that. He decided to be offended, and grumbled as he continued work. Optimus looked at Rhinox and they both shrugged at each other. Primal was determined to crack through his hard shell.

The bear kept typing away, with his attention completely set on his job. The more he worked on the codes, the more he realised how strange they were and commented, without taking his optics off the monitor, "This is quite a piece of work."

"Indeed," Optimus agreed. "But like I said, with you chipping in, we'll be done in no time."

Coldstike side glanced at the commander for a moment, before reverting his attention back to his screen. Optimus noticed that the polar bear didn't huff or sneer that time, so he took it as a positive reaction.

All the while, Rhinox was still working on the codes. As he typed away, something started to beep. He pulled up another screen. "Optimus," the rhino began, "there's been sudden tectonic activity in Grid Epsilon." The commander looked over at the screen, and sure enough, it displayed the geological spikes.

Optimus thought for a moment, before saying, "Interesting. Is it usual for that area to have this much tectonic activity?"

"Not really, but it's hard to say with this planet. It could just be a one-off. Or it could continue to increase in magnitude, which may make things difficult."

"Let's hope it's not the latter. Perhaps the field team will be able to shed some light on the situation," Optimus said thoughtfully. "Cheetor and Softpaw are due to report soon."

This caught the bear's attention. He spun around in his chair and asked, "Wait. Where are they?"

Rhinox responded, "Cheetor and Softpaw are on a scouting mission, in Grid Epsilon. They're investigating the strange readings emanating from that quadrant."

Optimus briefly explained to Coldstrike that their field mission was linked to the readings he was working on. The ice bear just stared blankly as he absorbed the information. After a few seconds, he finally spoke, "You're kidding me, right? Let me get this straight: you sent the fluff ball out on the field, with Cheetor the trouble magnet?" he asked incredulously.

Primal placed his fists on his hips, disapproving of the tone. "I did," he said coolly but calmly.

"Talk about a death sentence." When he received blank stares as a response, he continued, "You know: cat, plus bunny, plus unknown territory, equals disaster? Not to mention that Cotton Tail is less likely to survive."

Rhinox felt the need to step in. "Are you questioning a command decision?"

"If that's how you want to see it, fine by me. But what I'm saying is, Miss Fluff Ball wouldn't last long in a Predacon attack."

Optimus crossed his arms raising a brow ridge, "You're not giving her very much credit. Do you believe she's completely helpless?" he asked testily.

"No"

"Then what?" Rhinox asked hesitantly.

The bear responded, adamantly, "That she's not experienced enough to be in a fight if it comes to it. I should know, I've been..." Coldstrike paused himself before he could say more, shaking his head. "Nevermind. She's not weak, and she's certainly resilient, but that doesn't make up for lack of battlefield experience."

Optimus frowned. "I understand where you're coming from. But we would be doing her a disservice by holding her back. I wouldn't have sent her out if I thought she was incapable. I trust that she can handle herself well enough. If she'd had no experience at all, that would be a different story. Besides, it's my team, and my call to make," he added, his tone giving off a sense of finality.

Coldstike threw his arms up, giving up on the matter. "Whatever. Don't blame me when you get back pieces of scrap instead of teammates." He muttered under his breath as he turned back to the screen, resuming his decoding. While the polar bear worked, his expression slightly softened, almost like he was concerned. Optimus was beginning to lose his patience, so Rhinox stepped in.

"Coldstrike, it's just a scouting mission," Rhinox said tactfully. "Tigatron will have joined them by now. There weren't any Predacons detected nearby then, and there still aren't," he said, gesturing to the screen, devoid of Predacon signatures. Coldstrike only grunted in response.

Before anything else could be said, Dinobot entered through the elevator.

"The next time I am sent on patrol, I insist I be sent to a grid that actually contains Predacon activity!" he snarled almost straight away, his tail flicking in irritation. "My warrior skills are wasted on a mere scouting trip."

"Hello to you too, Dinobot," Optimus said with a sigh. "Did you at least complete your rendezvous with Airazor?"

"Affirmative." He transformed and handed Optimus a data pad. "Her findings from the outer perimeter of the Predacon base. Next time, I should be sent there. My talents would be of far greater use."

"Noted."

"Why not put those oh-so-great talents of yours to use here, then?" Coldstrike asked sarcastically.

Dinobot snarled, baring his teeth. "I suggest you be more cautious with your tone, young one. You should address me with more reverence. Only I have the experience to help you transition from your previous Predacon state."

"You weren't forcibly reprogrammed as a protoform," Coldstrike snapped back, his heckles rising.

"Regardless. Adjusting to life aboard a Maximal vessel was...fraught with difficulties. I suggest you heed my advice."

"If you two are quite finished," Optimus said quickly, to avoid a more heated debate between the two. "Dinobot, where was Airazor headed when you last saw her?"

"Grid Zeta."

"That's close enough to Grid Epsilon," Optimus said mostly to himself. He then recounted the situation to Dinobot and said, "Send her a message to join the field team. Perhaps they could use an extra pair of optics."

"Very well," Dinobot said, relaying the message to the falcon. A few minutes later, he returned from the com station and stated, "Done."

"Good. Now see if you can boost the signal strength of our radar."

Dinobot narrowed his optics resentfully. "Did I not just specify that my talents lie elsewhere? Not in maintenance!" Optimus gave him a weary yet stern look as he handed Dinobot a wrench, who sighed and snatched it from his hands. "Fine. I will be on the roof." He marched surlily out of the command centre.

"Ray of sunshine, that one," Coldstrike noted coldly as his gaze followed Dinobot out of the room.

"You warm up to him," Optimus said, then gave Coldstrike a knowing side glance. "Eventually."

Coldstrike harrumphed again and returned to his task.

Rhinox leaned in and spoke quietly to Optimus, "Still seems to be a bit of a sensitive subject."

Optimus nodded, and said softly back, "Agreed. It's only been a few lunar cycles since he overcame his forced Predacon programming, but I think the fact he had no say in his identity upon awakening has made it harder for him to accept his own autonomy."

"Agreed. But do you think we'll start seeing improvements in his attitude? Or perhaps even see him warm up to the whole crew?"

"I certainly hope so. I have noticed a few subtle signs of him starting to come around. Few and far between, but they're there. We just have to give him time." He paused, frowning. "However, I'm getting tired of enabling his disrespectful behaviour, not just towards myself. I'll have to nip that in the bud. If that means butting heads with him, then so be it. I survived Dinobot, didn't I?" he asked with a small smile.

The rhino let out a short, sharp exhale. "Imagine a bear version of Dinobot. One surly ex-Pred is quite enough for me."

At this, Optimus chuckled lightly and gave Rhinox a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

They all stumbled as the base suddenly shook violently.

"What in the inferno was that?!" Dinobot demanded angrily though the com link, evidently having nearly fallen off the roof.

Apparently, the tremor had awoken Rattrap, as his irritated groan asked over the com, "Yo, what's the big idea?"

Rhinox got to his feet and went to the main console. "A quake," he observed, puzzled. "This quadrant isn't near any fault lines. I wonder where it originated..."

"Uhh, fellas?" Coldtrike said slowly, his gaze fixed at the window, his optics wide. Optimus joined him and gaped. On the horizon they could see what looked like a dipped gap, an enormous fissure. Coldtrike continued, his voice a little shaky, "That, uh...that wasn't there before, was it..."

Apparently, Dinobot had seen it too, as he radioed in, "The very planet is cracking at the foundations!"

"Rhinox; explanations, theories?" Optimus asked hurriedly and with confusion.

"Working on it..."

Suddenly, the proximity alert sounded. "Now what?" groaned Coldstrike.

Dinobot's voice over the com informed them, "It is Greyback and...he is carrying something...no, someone. Tigatron."

"Why didn't we pick up their signatures as they approached the base?" the bear asked.

Rhinox shook his head, typing at the console. "I don't know...strange, I'm still not reading them..."

"Does that mean..." Optimus began, worriedly.

In response, Rhinox aimed the scanners at Grid Epsilon. He couldn't get a lock on any of their people "Slag!" Coldstrike shot Optimus a cold look, narrowing his optics to slits.

Just then, Greyback appeared in the elevator, along with Tigatron, who was drifting in and out of stasis lock.

"Grey? What happened?" Optimus asked as he and Coldstrike rushed to aid them.

The wolf, exhausted and panting, waved his arm dismissively and pointed to Tigatron. "R-Chamber first. Questions later."

After a few minutes they placed the roughed-up, semi-conscious Tigatron into a CR Chamber, while Grey caught his breath.

"What happened?" Optimus asked again, puzzled.

"Yeah," Coldstrike concurred. "Your duty wasn't even in Grid Epsilon."

"Why didn't you call ahead, Greyback?" Optimus pressed, as of yet unaware of the communications problem.

The wolf looked up at them both as he prepared to recount the day's wild events. "Strap in."