Series: The Ghost Unit
Title: Recruitment (23)
Setting: IDW Transformers, inspired by the "What's Wrong with a Little Destruction" 'verse by ajremix
Note: Many thanks to rexlapinii and ajremix for beta-ing!
Summary: In which Fallout returns from her vacation, decisions are made and someone somewhere ends up in way more trouble than he ever anticipated.

Recruitment
"There is no 'I' in team."
~ Vernon Law

"I won't be enough for the kind of infiltration field work we've been planning lately." The words had surprised them all, except it seemed Flagship and Deadline. To hear their second-in-command so plainly admit to being lacking in some way wasn't something any of the others expected to hear, well... ever. All had to admit though that something had been weighing on her ever since their first failed mission. Fallout had always admitted her failings honestly enough. Even if it was only to turn around and practice until she got whatever it had been right, with Deadline sometimes knocking her out to make sure she got some recharge time, as he had done with every single one of them during their most intense bouts of training. But she'd never before even hinted that she wasn't enough.

"I know Intel is usually composed of a single bot out in the field, and we already turn that around by working as a team unit instead through the use of long-range data, varying fields of expertise and combat back-up... but we need someone else. I need a fieldwork partner." She paused, as though finally saying out loud what she'd been working herself up to say still felt surreal. "I see no other way if we're going to make this team be what it is truly meant to be. Every single operation we've taken on recently with me on the field would have been optimally served by the presence of a second agent present, particularly one with a specialization to complement my own abilities." She paused. "This has become more evident to me of late, particularly when it comes to the proper deployment of my own type of enhancements."

The pained tone to Fallout's voice was enough to make Salvo frown dangerously and Wildside straighten up a bit, no longer quite so affable or serene. Longshot was shaking his head slightly in negation and the sound of Callsign's sensors whirring and clicking in confusion could be heard by them all, echoing in light, clear cast pings through the room. Deadline still didn't say a single word, merely leaning back in his seat while observing the team's reactions.

"What do you suggest, then?" Flagship stood tall, looking as though not only he'd expected this statement but also as though he'd actually guessed when it would come. For all they knew, perhaps he had. Their leader had been looking like that more and more lately, as their training neared its end and the missions assigned to them took them deeper into enemy territory, or off on longer and more dangerous missions. They no longer questioned it though, still too intent on cementing the bonds growing between them and integrating the new dimensions added to each of their innate abilities as a result of the settling confidence in their teamwork.

"We need someone else other than myself for actual field work," she repeated herself, that she would do so alone a clear sign of the effect this was having on her to all in the room. "Someone smaller than I." Even though she was taller and bulkier than most traditional femme models, Fallout was still the smallest of them, by far. "Someone street wise, unconventional. An extreme lateral thinker who won't follow procedure as a reflex, but rather work from his own instincts first while giving the rules a thought if he's so inclined. Someone who doesn't think like a traditionally trained field operative. Someone with a very specific set of skills and expertise when it comes to compromising information networks." They'd never expected her to say they needed someone who would emphatically disobey the rules if so inclined, but she never hesitated as she said as much and her conviction was clear. Each also knew without a doubt that the tone of her voice had nothing to do with the rules being broken, and much more with her dented pride at not being able to fulfill the field operative role entirely on her own.

The urge to protest was written in the lines of every mech in the room, to various degrees, save for Flagship and Deadline. The first seemed satisfied while the second merely indicated his agreement with a short nod, a clear sign that he'd known what Fallout was going to say beforehand. The satisfaction on their leader's faceplates seemed to grow with Longshot's frown and the grumbling coming from Salvo. They could all tell Wildside was dying to reach out and pat the stiff and solid shoulder of their second-in-command, even as Deadline leaned back, offering her a brief, thin smile of amusement. It wasn't hard for anyone paying attention to him that the usually restrained mech had known this was coming and had predicted every single reaction around him. But before Flagship could ask his next question - the only question - Fallout had already tilted her head to the side slightly, one sensor panel flicking in a silent command to bring life to the screen behind her.

"I already have someone in mind." There was the briefest of pauses before she went on. "But I'll need everyone's help on this." A mech's features sprang to life on the screen, information scrolling next to the picture.

"WHAT?! But! That's him!"

The tenseness disappeared from her frame at Longshot's outburst, and her expression shifted towards mild reproof as he kept spluttering in protest. Before she could put words to her reproach however Flagship started to laugh, long and loud, not even trying to hide his amusement. It didn't take too long for the rest of the team to join in on the hilarity, except for Longshot who kept pointing at the screen while protesting in incredulous indignation. Salvo actually leaned forward to whoop in laughter, slapping a hand down on the conference table. Even Deadline sat back and looked ever so slightly smug, instead of keeping to his usual emotionless mask.

"HA!" Frame still shaking with laughter, Flagship shook his head - the selection made sense, but it still showed how twisted his second's sense of retribution could be. He supposed this was one way to get even, well enough. "Do I get to tell him what we thought about his first audition when we reel him in?"

"You can tell him whatever you want," Fallout said, not quite managing to hide a glimmer of something deeply satisfied, "so long as I get to be the one getting his signature when we catch him."

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