Airfield

          This huge, flat expanse is a tangle of runways, lights, windsocks, guidance units and control relay interfaces. The broad vault of the sky stretches high above and while the walls of Polyhex are large, they cannot serve to keep flyers from taking off into the sky.

Diktat is walknig along the edge of a runway, examing Seekers.

Intrigue hasn't been wasting her time. She ghosts in, using the plentiful cover to shield her movements and looking rather pleased with herself. Assuming, of course, that anyone can see her expression. On seeing the purple form of her mentor, she gets the sudden urge to... surprise him. Lightening her steps even more, she drifts silently towards the mech.

Diktat's pacing is even, his hands behind his back, his head tilted in consideration of the wonders of the Empire. He seems almost tranquil - maybe even at peace. He certainly hasn't noticed the Stealthy Con.

Slipstream arrives from Hangar Bay <Polyhex>.

Intrigue stealthily reaches a nice ambu... um, surprise point and watches him for a few moments, getting a feel for his movements. It's within pouncing distance, too, though she doesn't take the first opportunity to surprise her dear mentor. Instead, she watches and waits. Eventually, the right time comes, and she... POUNCES!!! This usually gets her slammed against a wall or neatly dodged, depending on which parent she pounces... Let's see how well Diktat does. Raven-response or Mandate-response.

Slipstream looks up, taking in all of the changes since he was last outside. Slipstream notices what he assumes is a training exercise, so he backs out of the way. Slipstream thinks that he recognizes one of the combatants, but the other one is unfamiliar.

Diktat is walking along the edge of one of the landing slips. Intrigue is sneaking up behind him, showing considerable skill.

Diktat stops on the spot and releases an immediate sonic pulse from his mouth, voice occilating like the very chimes of heaven itself, like whispers from beyond the universe resonating straight at the soul. The words? "DON'T STOP YOURSELF". Momentum should tumble her forwards, if it works. As always, there's an "Does it work".

Intrigue erks as she gets neither of the expected responses. Diktat's tone sounds oddly familiar, though, as she seems to stumble forward in slow motion, her responses fast enough to make her own fall seem slow. A contradiction, no? She also makes an attempt to use her falling momentum, if only to keep her on target: Diktat.

Diktat takes a half-step back, attempting to catch around Intrigue's arm, thus turning the momentum fall into a waltz dip, eventually trying to hold the slightly smaller femme at the correct angle, turning her fall into something graceful.

Diktat relaxes into a dip, his face the accurate distance from Intrigue's face. He smile, holding the move, "Good cycle, Intrigue. How nice to see you again." He attempts to lift her to standing position, "Next time, take the first opportunity. I'm a little slow in checking points in my old age. Don't give me time to think."

Slipstream claps politely, and then prepares to depart.

Intrigue arches a brow in polite inquiry, her golden optics gleaming with mirth at the very neat turnaround of matters. "A good cycle to you, too, sir. What makes you think that all mechs are as... aged as you, honoured mentor?"

Slipstream enters Hangar Bay <Polyhex> <<W> West>.

Diktat bows to the audience before turning back to Intrigue, "Not all are - but if you're dealing with a target you know to be of a more venerable make, best not let their higher experience outweigh your sharper instincts."

Intrigue nods, then asks curiously, with a tinge of disappointment, "You detected me, sir?"

Diktat smiles encouragingly, "Only when it would have been too late if you made a slightly more hasty pounce. I'm a fairly paranoid mech, so work systematically upon the situation. You went for the better later chance rather than a relatively good earlier one. In this sort of terrain, and with your target, I'd argue you should have gone for the thinner chance."

Intrigue says, "I was trying to eliminate variables. One can't eliminate them all, but the lesser there are, the fewer chances you have to take."

Diktat nods, "Of course - and with many people your approach would work perfectly. Guards don't on average work as systematically as fellow counter-agents. They look in small areas, and act quickly there, meaning you take your time for a perfect move. Counter-agents work slowly, equally looking for the perfect angle - and the best agents are almost certainly always evalulating the area thinking "Where would I hide". Against a fellow agent, I would tend to advise to act quickly - unless you've had a chance to /truly/ prepare the area rather than quickly improvise a hide."

Intrigue notes, her optics dimming for a moment, "I've never gone up against spies, just security systems. Guards... are usually predictable, as they have a certain task to perform and a limited amount of time. There's only so many ways you can patrol." She contemplates the discussion she overheard between the mech who turned out to be the infamous Lord Straxus and her mentor. Part of her quails at the thought of killing people, but part of her wants to prove herself a worthy warrior of the Empire. "I... assume that my career has been decided for me, sir. Might I ask the particulars of it, as I'm not familiar with warfare?"

Diktat smiles, slightly sympathetically, "I take it you're unnerved by what Straxus is considering you for." He offers Intrigue his arm, and if she accepts, starts to continue his stroll with her, "He plans a black operations unit. Essentially this is where a spies work can turn darker. Rather than merely infiltrate an area to find something out, you infiltrate it to /do/ something." He pauses, "I believe Straxus has you in mind for the being who goes in, examines the area, then makes sure her team-mates arrive at the correct spot to do the most damage as quickly as possible, before leaving. Perhaps he might offer you training in demolitions, thus your tasks may involve reaching a critical area, setting charges, then leaving. Leaving without being detected is the central task of Black Ops units - making them akin to spies. Essentially, a black ops unit is when us intelligence sorts get our hands messy. Hence "Black"."

Intrigue was raised to the elegancies of life and accepts the offered arm smoothly, walking perfectly in step with the mech. "Sounds like what my father was doing when he was killed, doesn't it? Yes, I know there are always risks, even in getting past the simplest security measures. One can never account for luck." She is silent again, thinking about the definition of Black Ops. As Diktat said, something like a cross between infiltration and sabotage. "Is this something I am capable of, sir? I know how to infiltrate, but I know nothing of the enemy or his security or his warriors. They are not likely to be as easy to bypass as a paid guard."

Diktat notes Intrigue's expression, "Yes - it was your father's vocation. However it is a vocation that he performed thousands of times without an untimely end which was precipitated from within his team, not without. Perhaps it underlines how close a successful Black unit need be to suceed." He looks at the sky, noting its colour, "Yes, you're correct - Warriors are usually more efficient that paid guards. Which is why you are still to be fully formed - your career has been far from decided. You still need to be integrated into the Empire. You still need all the training of a Decepticon. And - no matter what Straxus thinks - I have other options which I will suggest towards you as the time comes. And rest assured, it is /your/ decision. I am your Guardian, not your master."

Intrigue notes simply, "He's a Lord and outranks both of us. For now... I think I will have to look into Autobot territory. The more variables that can be eliminated, the less chances I'll have to take. Fortunately, I finally found access to the public information system, so I have an idea of where to go. Maps, thank Primus."

Diktat looks slightly concerned, "You plan to walk straight into Autobot territory with only your wits and talents to protect you?"

Intrigue arches a brow, briefly amused. "No, I plan to sneak in. Not all the way the first time or second, or fifth. Little by little, and watching first. This may take weeks, if not months... I'm not anxious to be killed."

Diktat smiles, "That makes two of us. After all - if you get captured, I'll be honour bound to attempt to get you out, probably costing my hide too."

Intrigue says, "Like as not, you won't ever know."

Diktat smiles, "If you disappear, I will, and will take action. Trust me, my dear - taking action is the one thing I do extremely well." he then pats Intrigue's shoulder, "If I forbid you to do it, you would take no notice. I only bid you godspeed. And suggest you stay well clear of Iacon."

Diktat hmmms, "If I were to think someone would be smart and willing enough to take you, it would be there. If the Autobots have managed to return from this "Earth" some of the greatest of the Autobot counter-agents will have returned. I know even Allure and Grace would think twice of going against their skills - even if they would never, ever admit it." He smiles, nostalgically, before his voice sinks, "And there's always the Wreckers. If they get you, I only hope it's a quick death."

Intrigue shrugs. "I have no intentions of trying for the crown jewels when I've never even seen any of their security. I'm watching, that's all. To see who they are, where they go, what their patterns are. Maybe *then*, I'll have a look inside one of their installations."

Diktat smiles, almost chuckles, "You are your Father's daughter, m'dear."

Intrigue thinks to herself, more like her mother in regards to this, but doesn't correct him. "Sometimes you have no choice and have to improvise, but it's best to know what you're up against first."

Diktat gently slides out of the arm and half-bows, "I will leave you to think. Examine the Autobots. Revel in the freedom that's denied to me. Do not - for example - find yourself captured and tortured brutally in ways that even I would find somewhat extreme." a grins, "And a have a good cycle, Intrigue. Have fun."

Intrigue sighs. "I'm sorry that you're being treated so badly, sir. And hopefully, I will not be seen, let alone captured." She doesn't mention the torture part, it being rather unnerving. "And if I *am* unlucky enough to be spotted, I will leave promptly instead of proving what a great warrior I am not."

Diktat comments as he turns, heading back towards the underground complex, "In fact you prove you are a great warrior by leaving. Great warriors are tactical thinkers, not beserkers. Au reviour."

Intrigue says, "Good day, sir."

<Travel spam to the borderlands removed>

You enter Shield Flats.

Shield Flats

          These flat, polished metal plates form a layer that covers the huge megacity located far below. Towering spires thrust upwards through gaps in the plates, their windows, once glittering with light, now dark and silent. Cracks run through the plating on the ground and a faint sheen of oxidation covers everything.

Obvious exits:

<E> East leads to Megacity Block <Borderzone>.
<W> West leads to Lesser Worldshield.

Intrigue picks a shadowy corner and parks herself there, dimming her optics out and making sure that she has at least three lines of retreat set. No, she's not expecting trouble just yet, just being careful. Nor is she in any hurry. Leaning against one of the sturdier walls, she waits, watches, and listens. Even this time watching isn't wasted, as it gives her the opportunity to familiarize herself with this area. Knowing the region isn't a matter of small importance, either. It gives her a base on which to look for changes that would indicate that someone has passed or may even still be present.

After several days of seeing absolutely nothing, Intrigue finally moves cautiously into some of the ruined towers, exploring. There's little left inside, as these structures have been completely stripped, even down to the interior wall plating. What little is there is generally useless, rusty scrap and unrecyclable plastics. Even turbo-rats are rare, as they have nothing to feed on but each other. Systematically checking out every accessible tower, she finds much the same, save for a few abandoned hideouts: cleaner, debris-free cubbyholes where someone had lived for a time. No way to tell how long ago, or even if the prior tenant might come back. She marks these mentally and moves on. Eventually, she has a good enough feel for this region and picks a tower with a good view of the surrounding area and stays there for a while.

Eventually, a lone Autobot wanders through the silent, deserted flats. Where is he going, and why? Only one way to find out. Intrigue follows him, taking even more precautions than usual and feeling incredibly nervous. This isn't a security guard to be outwitted and dodged, it's a warrior who will kill her on sight. It's clear that he's not particularly good at moving quietly. That, or he's leading her on. She gives him plenty of room, not wanting to walk into an ambush though she's fairly sure that he doesn't know she's out there.

A soft, nagging voice whispers something unintelligible to Intrigue over and over again until she finally catches it... This Autobot is making way too much noise for a warrior about to go into enemy territory. He's there to attract attention. Attract, or *dis*tract... Instead of following him, she extrapolates his course and diverges, making her way around the area to get ahead of him, and using every scrap of cover and all the ability she has. She's in danger, she senses it, and fear adds an edge to her normal skill. He maintains his course for a time, so she gets enough distance to find a good vantage point, neither too close nor too far, and wait for him. After an hour or two, she sees, not the noisy Autobot warrior, but a flicker of movement in the shadows. Ah hah! The true danger lies in front, not behind. Even as she watches, the operative vanishes into cover for a time. Ambush? Probably, for anyone following the original Bot. Speaking of whom, the warrior trudges into sight as carelessly as before, passing his hidden comrade and moving ahead and out of sight.

Intrigue is horribly nervous, but at the same time, there's a thrill in this. The danger, matching her skill against theirs, the challenge of it all. Too close to the radlands for radio to work properly, so she continues to follow. The original Autobot drops his facade after several hours, waiting for his comrade to catch up to him, then moving just as stealthily. Intrigue follows, dread mixing with exuberance, and improvising on the fly. This isn't infiltration, this is... stalking. She gauges their course and moves ahead of them, sometimes losing them briefly as they make an unexpected change in their line of travel, but eventually finding them again. Are they going to Tyrian? Not quite the right course for that... After a couple days of travel, they swing north. She's *very* grateful for the maps she found, illegal methods or not. Vos, they're heading towards Vos.

Intrigue follows them through the rubble of the Scraplands, winds her way through the vats and machinery of Vos, and around the pools of noxious chemicals. At least until they vanish into the main processing plant itself. Not good... She circles to the side of the building, using still more of her precious energy reserves to hover up to a convenient breech in the factory wall and peer inside.

Nothing but silence and one heck of a mess. She eases inside, completely silent on her hovering thrusters, and sets down gently on one of the sturdier pipes. No, not good at all. The lack of light cripples her. Dimming her optics to darkness, she waits, not only to give her optics time to adjust to the darkness, but to listen as well. Lots of noises here, creaks, squeaks, pings, but no footsteps. If she doesn't hurry, she may lose them, but if she does, they may detect her. Damned if she does, damned if she doesn't...

The gap in the floor of the building is obvious, and despite the thrill of danger, she really doesn't want to go down there. Well, what would her parents do? She grins at that, unseen in the darkness. Never mind. Stepping off of the pipe, she slowly sinks towards that gap, down into the darkness where the Autobots may yet be waiting...

To be continued?