Shattered

Chapter Seven

As the officers gathered into the meeting room, none of them noticed a pair of optics watching from above.

The young spy perched on a beam above their helms, listening in.

As Mirage walked in, the spy froze, pressing further into his corner, hoping that his superior didn't look up.

Or sense him there.

He had on other occasions, but not usually.

Steeldust wasn't sure that Mirage really cared anyways. He figured the head ops considered it a second pair of optics and audios present.

Soon enough, all the chain of command was present and Optimus Prime straightened in his chair to begin.

"Thank you all for coming this evening," he rumbled. He glanced to his right. "Prowl, start the reports."

Ultra Magnus shot the current second-in-command a jealous glare from across the table, but turned away before the Prime could catch it.

Steeldust was certain he seen the Praxian smirk before he began speaking.

"As you know, my lord, myself and your third-in-command run a very strict schedule. Most of your troops are willing to accept our rules and obey them. The few who do not are punished accordingly."

Up on the beam, Steeldust fidgeted.

"Were there any offences since the last meeting?" Optimus inquired, placing folded hands on the table as he leaned over to glance at Prowl's datapad.

The Praxian nodded once and turned the datapad towards him.

"Yes. Two accounts of misconduct that included racing in the base by Hot Rod, Streetwise, and Bumblebee.

"Sunstreaker was involved in five brawls, two being bar fights and the other three were in the halls. Cliffjumper was involved in all five of them as well. Gears and Huffer were taken to the medbay as a result once while the other two visited the brig or were assigned cleanup duty each time.

"Steeldust was warned three times by various officers and you sentenced him to the brig three times. All for talking back I believe."

Steeldust made himself sit still and keep his mouth closed at that.

Ironhide spoke up then from further down the table.

"I got something to add to that."

Prowl simply nodded for him to go ahead.

"Didn't get a chance to report to ya about today's fight. Swerve was running his mouth and happened to be talking at the wrong time. Steeldust got involved and it resulted in a fight."

"I believe Swerve started that one though," Whirr said. "I was present for part of it, though I didn't see it all."

Ironhide glanced at the helicopter. "Yeah. Steeldust finished it though. With my permission."

Optimus nodded. "Smokescreen already informed me of this instance. Is that all Prowl?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Magnus. Do you have anything to add?"

"No," grumbled the large mech, sitting stiffly in his chair to the Prime's left. "I believe Prowl updated everyone last orn on the energon status and mine raids, so there's no need to go over that. Nothing has changed this orn."

"Agreed. He's very efficient," Prime said smoothly, eyeing his top two commanders. "Very well. Ratchet. The medical report please."

Steeldust tuned most of that one out.