DOOMSDAY DEVICE The Ark --Aft Corridor (Command) One of the Ark's many cross-corridors, this is among the most important areas in the Autobot's spacecraft. From here corridors lead off towards the Command areas of the Ark, including most importantly, the Command Center, home of Teletran Two, the spacecraft's recently repaired mainframe computer. The sound of gunfire drifting along the northern corridor indicate the direction of the Autobot's training rooms, while to the south a massive blast enforced door leads to the Autobot briefing room. Apart from those major exits, a number of smaller doors and corridors lead of towards other less vital parts of the Ark, but these are seldom used for the most part. Hound slowly walks through towards Teletran II, not bothering to greet Candice as usual. Candice is walking just out of from the command center shouldering a small backpack behind her. She looks up at the scout, happy to see he's returned...but...taking note of his features almost immideatly. "Welcome...back..." she states with uncertainty... Hound slowly sits at one of Teletran's side consoles, and opens a panel on his right wrist. Candice retraces her steps into the center, features displaying her concern. For some reason...she keeping some of her distance now. Starnge...since when Hound repeatedly told her to do so *last* time...she refused whole heartily. She watches him quietly...confused. "Hound?" Hound carefully extracts a TINY wafer, and sets it carefully into a tray extended from the computer system... a tray that soon retracts into the wall. "Candice, go away. You... you don't want to see this." He begins to load the small disc's contents into Teletran II. Candice stiffens quite a bit. She bites her lower lip in sudden nervousness...but doesn't move from where she's standing. Instead, she does quiet the oppisite. "What...don't I want to see?" Hound begins to record a message into Teletran. "I'm... back, Autobots. And... I have bad news, pertaining the Proton Bomb, that the Decepticons alegedly stole. On this disc is human information regarding the bomb. It's waiting at Teletran II. I suggest you all read it." He pauses, looking down. "And Primus help the humans, if it's true. Hound out." Hound finishes the recording, then sits back in his chair, looking... very preoccupied. Candice pauses in midstep and simply listens. Her face pales considerably, suddenly gripped by a sudden fear. She presses her lips together as she forces herself to move closer. "Disk?" is all she questions. Hound says, "A CD-Rom. Given to me by a military General, from Camp Pendleton." Candice swallows. "What about the bomb mentioned? I...I know from the news reports they stated something about it having...thermal nuclear potential..." Hound says, "More than that." Candice quirks a brow. "How...do you mean?" Hound says, "Candice, I... I don't think you want to know." Candice releases a breath she wasn't aware of holding. "Please, Hound. I do. What is it?" Hound says, "It's...Well... here." The scout pops the disc from the computer, and offers it to Candice on the tip of one finger. "See for yourself... but sit down before you do...it's not pleasant..." Candice gives Hound a curious glance. But she knows well enough that it might be wise to do as instructed. She nods wordlessly and reaches for the offered disk. "Thanks," she says quietly and she handles it carefully as she goes to a nearby terminal designed for the smaller Transformers as well as Blaster's cassettes. As she sits down and sets her pack on the floor she tosses him another look before playing the CD... Hound looks away. "And before you read it... I wanted to say...I'm sorry I couldn't find it... if I could, I'd do anything to locate it..." Candice places the program on pause before it really begins and glances up. "I know you did your best," she replies. Hound says, "I wish I could say the same." Candice sets her jaw and mentally chides herself, realizes how hollow she must have sounded. She turns back to the terminal and unpauses the program. As she begins to look over the information the disc contains her complexion pales three shades. Department of Defense -----------------------* PURPOSE The original concept of the Proton Bomb Operation was to create a successful and effective replacement for the Neutron Bomb. Able to decimate all biological lifeforms, while leaving physical structures intact, the Neutron Bomb was a valuable but costly weapon for the U.S. Arsenal. The Proton Bomb is hoped to exceed the Neutron Bomb in power, while being far more cost-effective. ----------------------------------------------------------- DESIGN As expected, the Proton Bomb has surpassed all expectations. Both effective and cost-efficient, the weapon will be a welcome addition to the arsenal of the United States of America. Able to eliminate biological matter of any kind, while leaving non- biological structures virtually intact, it is a weapon of terrible power, that I pray we must never use... but one that we must keep on hand should the need ever arise for it. ----------------------------------------------------------- SCHEMATICS ----------------------------------------------------------- Hound spins away in his chair, hanging his head, and facing the monitor wall. "I'm so sorry." Candice reads through the purpose over a few times...followed by the design a number of times. The schamtics themselves she wouldn't be able to understand. But what she reads is bad enough. As the program ends her hand limply ejects the player. But all she can do is merely stare at the CD itself. It's awhile before she is able to find her voice. "Tax...dollers at work," she words numbly. Hound says, "I told you that you shouldn't see it. If the Decepticons get a hold of that bomb... and then learn how to create their OWN..." He shudders. "It's too horrible a fate to think of..." Candice asks, "And the...effects would be any differnt than if Iran or Korea got a hold of this...?" By her estimation...the effects would still be the same. Of course, where the Decepticons are concerned it would be more...global. ""I...don't know why. I...don't feel too suprised. More...angered than shocked." she confesses. But then...she's seen the brunt of what certain sections of the US government is capable of as well... Hound says, "We need to get all Autobots on alert about this..." He turns towards Teletran II. Candice offers an unseen nod. She retrieves the CD from it's nook and holds it for a few moments before setting it back within it's case. "Brawn said...the Decepticons *lost* it from what I heard..." Hound says, "I interrogated Rerun as well. He didn't seem to know of its whereabouts." Candice gets up from her seat and walks back to the scout rather slowly...and offers him the CD back. "What if...someone else found it already?" Hound slowly takes the CD. "They didn't. That's what I have to believe. Because if someone did... Earth could be doomed." He seemingly takes a deep breath, or whatever the Autobot equivalent of it would be. "I have some leads, at least, now. I just need to follow up on them." Candice comments, "Too think such a thing would even be *created*..." she muses. She already had known such a thing was possible. Human beings have already shown what they are capable to doing to one another. "What...leads?" Hound says, "Almost nothing so far. Disconnected facts and rumors. I have a very big puzzle, missing half the pieces, to put together, before the Decepticons do." Candice offers, although a bit lamely, "Disconnected facts and rumers are better than nothing at...all." Hound begins typing furiously, configuring 5 or 6 monitors to operate from his workstation. "That's what I figure. You'd better get going. Spread the word. Keep the CD Safe. I have my own job to work on." Candice flickers a glance towards the computer screens and acknowledges with a small nod. "Yeah...I gathered." She stares at Hound as he asks her to hold the CD and act as its guardian. She reaches for it and agrees to do so. "You rather I show the disc to Optimus first? He's going to know about it one way or another." Hound says, "It doesn't matter. Just make sure that word gets around." He glances back at the wall. "I might be gone again, shortly." Candice again nods. And begins towards the terminal to retrieve her backpack. "I...gathered as much. You...going to be alright?" Hound says, "If I don't see you before I leave, tell everyone that I'm sorry I couldn't do more." He continues typing. Candice bends down and slips the CD within the front packet of the pack. "I'm sure they already know you did what you could..." She then begins heading towards the center's door to take leave. She then turns around one final time. "Take...care of yourself, Hound." Hound pauses for a moment, then looks over his shoulder. "You take care, too." He then resumes typing, various images popping up on the screen... Candice either doesn't, or merely can't, say anything more at this point. She turns around and disappears back into the corridore...leaving Hound to his duties...