This was war. This wasn't Prowl first time in the field in such a situation. Things were dim, new players had been added to the Autobot side in order to win the war. It was a good thing too, their numbers were dwindling and their morale was low. Elita and her team would hopefully change that though all it seemed to do was give Elita more power, which in turn gave the Decepticons more juice for their propaganda on how Autobots felt about the caste system. Elita forcing herself as SIC in return for helping the Autobots would mean that all of Autobot command was filled by high caste players. Prowl had been on the fast track to SIC, he had been a Tier 6 - two levels above the bottom. He would have been the lowest caste officer the Autobots had ever had.

That was part of the reason he had requested a mission like this. He needed to blow off steam. Having what would have been proving their ideologies torn away from them because Elita thought she was the end all be all didn't sit right with him. He was still angry the post he had been working hard for was taken from him by someone they hardly knew, and hardly trusted, but he was more angry that the 'Cons had started using it as propaganda fuel. Optimus Prime: Tier 1, Prime. Elita-1 : Tier 2, Previously Councilor current SIC, Ultra Magnus: Tier 3, TIC, Jazz: Tier 3, So far every one with in command was tier 3 or higher. Prowl was certain that 98% of the Decepticons were Tier 6 or below.

This was a solo-mission and Prowl was glad for that, he was in a worse mood than usual. People didn't tend to like him when he was in a good mood. This mech so far had been easy to track, a sloppy mess here, a ped imprint there, and Prowl was hot on his tail as he was headed toward the ruins of Tyger Pax.

He finally caught glimpse of the mech the Autobots were looking for, he had been able to put his tracking skills to work and finally catch up with the mech. He had valuable information regarding the Decepticons and Optimus Prime was willing to make it worth his while to stay on their side for a little bit, and give them all the information they needed.

Prowl glanced up to the sky hearing a non-familiar noise. It sounded like flight engines, he had read reports from those under his command who had spotted a bounty hunter of sorts that piloted a ship who would work for whoever paid more. Prowl was miffed such careers still existed but they were hardly a civilized planet anymore. 1 million years into war and their planet was slowly going grey.

He wasn't keen on meeting the fellow who piloted the ship - nor did he really want to share the mech either. He just wanted to bring the mech back or at the very least just get information from him. He wasn't sure if this mech was on his side or if this Bounty Hunter wanted the mech dead or not. Prowl needed him alive.

Prowl watched as the Bounty Hunter landed his ship in front of him. Likely scaring the Bounty away in the process. Prowl hummed, knowing he likely would have done the same thing had he the resources to pull it off and the competition was closer to getting the target than he was. Dust was kicked up as the ship creaked and howled as its weight settled and its engines went silent.

Prowl sighed, annoyed that tall the tracking he had done was for naught. This idiot had scared off their target and Prowl was now going to have to work against not only the clock but this asshole too. This was not turning out to be a good day. At all.

Prowl stood, his weight leaning on his left leg, his hip pointed toward the ship as the paneling covering the ramp decompressed with a loud release of air. Prowl rested his hands on his hips as the ramp slowly descended, the Praxian made sure to stand at the very end of the ramp once it stopped descending from the ship.

Prowl could immediately tell the color scheme of the other, green and black. There were a few things that Prowl could tell about the mech exiting the ship in front of him. One: He looked like he could take on a whole swat team if he really wanted. Two: He had a hook for a hand - obviously it hadn't been a clean break, Prowl could tell where his original frame ended and the new paneling started. It was also a different color than the rest of his frame.

Prowl almost growled at the other as he started making his way down the ramp, "Who the frag do you think you are?" He was angry with the other, he had been so close to getting that other mech into Autobot Custody to getting information that he could use to win the war!

"Whoa there officer," started the mystery mech, his voice rough, he sounded much like a gladiator, the Kaonite accent was thick. He had probably been a part of the disposables class. "Didn't mean to spoil your fun."

Prowl just stood there, his mouth agape as he attempted to figure out what to say to the other. The other slowly walked down the ramp, toward the officer whose wing doors were angled up high and his aggravation levels were climbing every time the other took a step forward.

"Names Lockdown kid, and it seems you and I are after the same mech."

"Back off 'Con," stated Prowl as he got a good look at the other, he felt his spark flutter finding the mech attractive but knew there was no way in the pit they would ever work out.

"Me? A Decepticon? No. I'm just a Bounty Hunter," answered Lockdown his voice low and rumbling. "And you officer friendly?"

Prowl glanced to his old Praxian Police decals on his wings and he knew there was one on his chest, though in the middle instead of a police decal there was an Autobot Symbol. "What are you doing here?"

"Same as you I reckon, after a mecha with information," answered Lockdown. Prowl could see the smirk painted on the taller mechs face as he made a complete stop a foot away from Prowl. Under normal circumstances it was probably normal that the taller mech might get a scared reaction from someone shorter than him, but not from Prowl. He had been described as Feisty. He had taken on the Prime, he had argued with Elita-fragging-One. Lockdown was a walk in the park compared to going head to head with Elita.

So he was after the same mech as him. This mecha was someone Megatron didn't want falling into Autobot servos. He must have one pit of a heavy price on his dainty little head. Especially his this Bounty Hunter was after him. And where one Bounty hunter was after a mech there were bound to be other looking for the target for the reward.

Prowl stared into the deep red optics of the taller mech, as his digit ran across his jaw line. The feeling sent a tingling sensation down his back struts. It was an odd feeling not one that he should probably have felt for someone who he was supposed to be leaving behind to chase after the target that was no doubt running away.

With Lockdowns finger holding Prowls chip up so Prowl couldn't look away another ship could be heard approaching. This time it was an Autobot bounty hunter, Devcon if Prowl remembered correctly. "So you're okay with Devcon getting away with my target?"

Lockdown looked up and scowled before removing his hand from Prowls chin. His spark fell when the other lost contact with his frame. "I think you mean my target, Officer Friendly."

The bounty hunter grinned and winked to the Autobot officer before he ran up his ship with the ramp returning to its home settled under the cargo bay door. Prowl would have a bit of a head start as he Transformed and drove off to where his target had run off two. Lockdown and Devcon might have had ships on their side with big fancy instruments but Prowl had has intuition and he didn't have to wait for the lift off engines to get enough propulsion to chase after the target.

Prowl wasn't the first one there to get the target, that honor belonged to Devcon. He had somehow found a place to park his ship and was currently working on wrestling the target to the ground. Prowls engine was steaming hot, condensation running down his chest plates as he attempted to figure out the best way to get the target while getting Devcon away from him. He and Devcon might be on the same side but he needed to bring the target in - he had had his position taken from him by her merely demanding it. Threatening to not help unless she got what she wanted like the high caste toddler she seemed to be. Catching this target? No one was going to tear that victory from his servos. Not even a mecha that wore an Autobot badge but didn't fight on alongside them.

Prowl launched himself at Devcon, only barely taking him down. Had he done any more calculating to make it work he would have missed the bounty hunter. The two feel to the ground with a clatter. Devcon growled attempting to pry Prowl off him. Prowl glanced up to the target as he ran from the two Autobots and toward where Lockdown was taking his ship. Prowl let out a growl this time, giving Devcon one last punch before getting up and going after the target.

Prowl attempted to run after the target only to be stopped by the mecha he had tackled to the ground moments before. He fell to the ground with a large thud and metallic ringing as hit metal met with the metal of Cybertrons ground. He glanced back to Devcon his blue optics lit up in fury, "Some Autobot you are commander."

Prowl could feel the heat of the others anger and the electricity of his fury travel between the two conduction materials. Prowl kicked at Devcons hand holding his ped, a wince from Devcon and a few more strategic kicks before he kicked Devcon in the face, he had attempted to crawl closer to Prowl hold him down, make him pay for getting in the way of the target. With the last kick to the face plates Devcon let go of the commander, a cracked optic and a couple swearwords could be heard as Prowl hastily got up and ran toward the target, and where Lockdown had parked his ship.

He glanced behind him watching as Devcon rose from the ground, he transformed once more in a desperate attempt to beat Devcon to where Lockdown had no doubt cornered the target. Prowl had transformed to the ship, seeing the Bounty Hunter had the target in his custody. He studied the ship as Lockdown dragged the target up the ramp. He had to get on that ship he had to get the information from that mech.

Prowl made his move as soon as Lockdown had gotten the target onboard the ship. The ramp had begun closing and he was dragging the target further into the bowels of the ship. There was still some time before Lockdown would be able to take off, a ship this large and heavy requires a lot of propulsion to fly. So long as he could make it into the ship some other way he's be golden.

Prowl glanced around the ship, his spark pounding as he attempted to find the best way into the ship without being detected. This wasn't how he expected to spend the rest of his day - this wasn't exactly how he planned to spend a majority of his life but he had been able to adjust.

He made a quick look up and down the ship looking for anything, a maintenance hatch, manual access. He had been able to find a small hatch just big enough to get his wing doors through. This wasn't going to be the end, and so long as Devcon didn't notice where he had snuck into Prowl would have to say that things could turn in his favor.

Prowl did his best to climb up the maintenance hatch quickly before the outside of the ship heated up in lift off. There was no doubt that Lockdown was going to take his ship to meet with the mecha that wanted the target in the first place. Prowl was finally able to find a hatch that lead to the inside of the ship, he wasn't sure where exactly but he'd have to make do.

Prowl stayed as still and as silent as he could attempting to listen for anyone on the other side. The sensors on his doors would be able to pick up signatures inside the room. He was starting to feel claustrophobic as he completed the scan it showed no one was on the other side of the wall.

He started unscrewing the hatch with a small twisting motion as to not catch the attention of anyone that was nearby. The grate fell to the floor with a rather large clatter and an echo. The room he was in was dark, and cold. There was a distinct smell in the air as well. He wasn't sure what it was but he wasn't sure he wanted to know either.

The Praxian carefully climbed out of the maintenance shaft before turning on his orange parking lights, they were less likely to draw attention then the headlights on his chest plates for now. The subtle orange light washed over the room, Prowl hummed as the outline of boxes illuminated the storage room.

He gave a sigh of relief when it was only boxes that greeted him in the dark room. He made his way to the only other source of light, what Prowl assumed was a door. There was no window to see out of the door, only a small crack between the door and the jam that would grow wider when the door retracted back into the ships wall.

He hummed moving slowly attempting to make sure that he wouldn't draw attention to himself in the storage room. That was the last thing he wanted was to draw the attention of the mecha that had taken his Bounty. Prowl was in enemy territory and didn't know his way around the place, he wanted the element of surprise. That was the only real advantage he had against Lockdown right now.

He stuck close to the door, hoping there wasn't a sensor involved with the door. He didn't want to the door open and give away his position. Prowl waited quietly on the inside of the room before slowly making his way out into the ships hallway.

"Lookin' for somethin' there Officer Friendly?" asked Lockdown.

Prowl jumped in surprise, well - his cover was blown and Lockdown was surely going to sell him to the highest bidder, and recent data had showed Prime didn't care enough about him to actually come and get him. After all he sold Prowls position to a greedy councilor, demanding power in return for her services. Services that had yet to be proven accurate or in the Autobots favor.

Prowl remained silent as Lockdown spoke, "You know what kid, you have spunk. I like that. I got a proposition for you." Lockdown grinned widely, something that caused something to stir with in Prowl deep inside somewhere. The recent sell out by the Prime and the recent demotion Prowl had gone through had made him angry. He didn't want to fight on either side any more, he didn't want to be sold out again, but he didn't want to give up on enacting revenge for his Frame kin.

"Why don't you join me?" offered Lockdown. "I heard about the recent shake up in command. You were supposed to get that spot right? SIC of the Autobots? Last minute some high class broad comes in out of nowhere and Prime gives her the command position. Doesn't seem right. Join me, help me track down Bounties. Seems to me like they're using you. They aren't your friends, not one bot or con will ever make friends with each other. You're skilled, I've seen you in action. You'd be a huge asset to any team."

Prowl remained silent even as Lockdown finished speaking. He had some though choices to make. His spot had been a guarantee, he had expected betrayal like that from Decepticons. Not from the mech he had promised Jazz he would give a chance. Prime was no commander, not a good one anyway. Prowl looked Lockdown straight in the optics his own burning behind the visor; "I'll join you."

Prowl for a second felt his tanks drop. Maybe he had made a mistake joining Lockdown after all they had only just met. But something about him made Prowl think there was more to him than his rough bounty hunter exterior.

"So… you wanna do it?"

Okay, maybe there wasn't much underneath his Bounty Hunter Exterior.

The Autobot base had been mostly clear and quiet for once, a month had passed since Prowl had gone on that mission, never having returned. Many of the Autobots had been glad, He wasn't exactly a well-liked mech. Looking for Prowl mostly consisted of barely efforts to find him, despite the fact he could win them the war given the correct and accurate information.

It had been a month with Elita as SIC, most were still wary of her position, not entirely sure what she did to get there overnight, many had thought she might have terminated Prowl to secure her position. Some supported her for that, others still put very little trust in her abilities, after all she was one of the councilors that got them into the war, whether she was active in Cybertrons downfall or not. Doing nothing was the same as supporting the functionist agenda.

"Commander!" Yelled a spec ops mech. He had spent the last month on a mission, attempting to see if maybe the cons had gotten ahold of the commander. Well tonight they had finally heard word about Prowl and it was urgent it got to the head of Spec Ops. "Commander! Get up I have important information!"

It didn't take long before Jazz opened the door and allowed the mecha inside his hab suit/office combo. "Hey, mech cool your jets, tell me what's happening."

"It's commander Prowl Sir. He's not missing, he defected. On my way back to base I saw him and a black and green mech, he was spiky – one orange arm, red optics. They were both chatting with a Decepticon over that mech Prowl took that mission for about a month ago."

"Hold on," stated Jazz as he held up a digit, and sent a quick emergency ping to the Prime. "We have to tell OP about this. He's up and in his office. You have to tell him what you just told me. ASAP."

The Spec Ops agent nodded, before following Jazz as he ran. What Prime did with the information now was up to him. The rest of the Autobot army just needed to follow orders.