[A gusty laugh: he'd always wondered about that, if Optimus had selected him for some greater reason or if it was just to pacify Rodimus. The rest though, is words he's yearned to hear, to believe, for a long while now. It's maybe not the same as hearing it from someone who'd been an Autobot from the start, but it warms his spark none the less.]

I like to think that's the case...

[It's hard to believe when he keeps making new mistakes though. The hand on his shoulder makes him look up though, more open and unguarded than usual.]

I...honestly don't know. The, uh, animosity was pretty thick when I was leaving the ship. [An unconscious rub at one finial, cold memory where the pipe thrown by Atomizer struck him.] The crew might know the truth now but the truth is that I was still involved. The blame is just shared now.

[And perhaps not equally? That doesn't make it fair, but then he's the ex-Decepticon, not Rodimus or Prowl. Drift is quiet for a long time though, mulling over Megatron's words. It's a lot to take in, to be faced with. Finally he ex-vents deeply.]

I want to be where I'm needed. Where I can make a difference. The quest. Reforming Cybertron. Restoring good quality of life to all our people. Getting out of this freaky station and back home...

[That doesn't really answer the faction question though, does it?]

Broke all contact? [An understandable necessity but also harsh reality.] I wish I could be there...