Arrival: Earth
It's a long way to Tipperary, and an even longer way to Earth, but Von Octane's Express is finally underway. Sandstorm's holding down the bridge while Octane finishes processing the last of the contaminated fuel and catching up on his reading. Frostbite and Fatima are busy putting the two Stunticons and Elita One back together, while everyone else mostly stays out of trouble. The antibiotics are taking hold in Daniel's system and his lungs are starting clear.
Shortly before the Express is due to arrive in the Solar System, Octane pumps the last of the salvaged fuel back into the starboard tanks and heads back to the bridge to relieve Sandstorm. As tough a time as his passengers have had lately, they didn't need the trauma of a Sandstorm Special landing.
Octane cycles the iris valve opening on the bridge. "Yo, Sandy! Go recharge for a bit, it's my turn."
Sandstorm turn his head. "You sure, Octane buddy? You've been busy since we left Tau Ceti!"
"Get real. Processing fuel is the next best thing to recharge, and twice as boring. G'wan, git!" Octane says, pointing his thumb at the bridge hatch.
"She's all yours, buddy! Don't break her while you're at it!" Sandstorm grins as he sidles past Octane. "Hey, don't forget to get that busted wing fixed!"
"I'll worry about it when we're safe on the ground, with the Stunticons and Combaticons off my ship!"
"Autobot City never looked so sweet?" Sandstorm grins again, idling just inside the hatch.
"Eh, I wouldn't say that. Looked even sweeter when I was coming back from Charr with a half-dead Autobot and two all-dead ghosts as my passengers. Speaking of which, I wonder where Screamer is these days?" Octane slides into the captain's chair and toggles the ship's restricted channel.
//Octane here. I've assumed the helm and the bridge watch. Break-out in ten minutes. //
Right on schedule, the Express drops out of warp space into normal space somewhere between the Asteroid Belt and Mars.
// Free Trader 'Von Octane's Express' to EDC: We're inbound to Autobot City, Earth Ambassador Witwicky, one human medevac and three Transformer medevac cases aboard. Please expedite clearances. //
"That should get their attention," Octane observed.
Shortly before the Express is due to arrive in the Solar System, Octane pumps the last of the salvaged fuel back into the starboard tanks and heads back to the bridge to relieve Sandstorm. As tough a time as his passengers have had lately, they didn't need the trauma of a Sandstorm Special landing.
Octane cycles the iris valve opening on the bridge. "Yo, Sandy! Go recharge for a bit, it's my turn."
Sandstorm turn his head. "You sure, Octane buddy? You've been busy since we left Tau Ceti!"
"Get real. Processing fuel is the next best thing to recharge, and twice as boring. G'wan, git!" Octane says, pointing his thumb at the bridge hatch.
"She's all yours, buddy! Don't break her while you're at it!" Sandstorm grins as he sidles past Octane. "Hey, don't forget to get that busted wing fixed!"
"I'll worry about it when we're safe on the ground, with the Stunticons and Combaticons off my ship!"
"Autobot City never looked so sweet?" Sandstorm grins again, idling just inside the hatch.
"Eh, I wouldn't say that. Looked even sweeter when I was coming back from Charr with a half-dead Autobot and two all-dead ghosts as my passengers. Speaking of which, I wonder where Screamer is these days?" Octane slides into the captain's chair and toggles the ship's restricted channel.
//Octane here. I've assumed the helm and the bridge watch. Break-out in ten minutes. //
Right on schedule, the Express drops out of warp space into normal space somewhere between the Asteroid Belt and Mars.
// Free Trader 'Von Octane's Express' to EDC: We're inbound to Autobot City, Earth Ambassador Witwicky, one human medevac and three Transformer medevac cases aboard. Please expedite clearances. //
"That should get their attention," Octane observed.