StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Credit where credit is due.

Breakout is the creation of frigidmagi

Crimson is the creation of Lady Tevar

Shellshock is the creation of Charon

Overload is the creaton of Sir Nitram

Stryke is the creation of Agent Fisher



Cybertron, Now


The door to the control chamber exploded inward. A dark red motorcycle jumped the wreckage and slid, transforming into a small fembot as she skidded along the floor, leaving a trail of sparks. The pair of autobot thralls cowered by the control panel. The two Decepticons brought their particle beam rifles to bear on the Autobot.

The control chamber was separated from the reactor by a two meter thick wall of leaded glass. The Decepticons were shorter than the fembot, Casseticon soldiers given the relatively light and easy duty of managing enslaved Autobots and fighting off raiders. The fembot's outer plates were tough, but didn't really count as armour when matched against Cybertronian weaponry. The Decepticons' guns would blow through and through wounds in her chassis.

Pink light glowed in her right hand, which was cocked back to throw. "Here you go boys," she said and threw a glowing ball at the Decepticons' feet. The resulting flash almost overloaded her optics. Pink lightning crackled up and down the Decepticons' bodies and they crashed to the ground, their systems overloaded and crashed.

Crimson sprung to her feet. "Too slow," she said, drawing her laser pistol.

"Crimson," rumbled a hulking black Autobot, "don't take stupid chances," Overload stepped into the room. He was about as tall as Ultra Magnus and about as wide too. He carried a long barreled ion pistol in one hand and sword in the other.

"You're no fun," Crimson said with a half pout. The Decepticons stirred. Crimson aimed her pistol. "Sorry boys, but this is the end of the line." She placed tight laser bursts into each Decepticon's chest.

"Stryke will never give me a moment's peace if anything happens to you," said Overload as he surveyed the room. "Nice shooting."

"I hate doing that," she said.

"So do I," said Overload. "Come on, we don't have time for this. We have to go to work." Behind them came the sound of transformation and a robot as tall as Overload, although a bit slimmer, entered the room. On his right shoulder he had a big double barreled cannon and on his left he had a missile battery.

"Can we get a move on?" Shellshock asked. "We don't have all day."

Crimson bounded over to where the two thralls were. "Excuse me boys," she said as she took hold of the control panel. It was at eye level for her. "They really need to make the size on these things adjustable," she said as she fished out a data card and slotted it. "Program is in the system and running," she said. "The 'Cons won't register the power drop as coming from us."

"Good," said Overload as Crimson touched the chest plates of the two Autobots. "Crimson we don't have-"

"I'm making time," she said and popped them open. Inside, nestled in next to their power flow regulators, were small ovals. Thrall modules.

"Not yet Crimson," Overload said sternly. "The 'Cons will know when they're disconnected. The mission first."

"Alright," she said. She tapped the control panel. "Rerouting fusion reaction power flow." She walked across the room to a massive power conduit. Her hands shimmered and then two glowing cubes appeared. She slammed one into her chest and shuddered. "That felt good." She put the other on the floor.

Overload transformed, turning into a long, cylindrical vehical that was mostly engine and cargo section. Crimson drew more energy from the conduit, forming another pair of cubes. Shellshock began to load the cubes in Overload.

The power plant was a dirty grey dome, reclaimed from the endless waste and desolation of Cybertron by the relentless Decepticon advance. To the north the planet was a great illuminated tracks and spires, the holdings of the Decepticon Empire. Lord Straxus ruled the city-state of Polyhex and its surrounding territories with an iron grip and was slowly extending his domain. The reactor was on the peripherary of Straxus's domain, newly reclaimed and only partially occupied and refurbished.

Stryke was hiding in the doorway. The olive-green Cybertronian was armed with a particle beam cannon on his right shoulder and a rapid fire laser pistol in his hand. He was a military mode, young by the standards of Overload and Shellshock, but old enough to remember what things had been like before the war. He had lived here once. He remembered when it had been full of life and power and not a gutted shell being turned into slave factories.

Lights flared ahead. Four sleek silver cars were racing down the street towards him. Vehicons, part of Straxus's clone army. Take one pattern and make a thousand bodies based on the pattern. Using the Matrix and some energon, or in the Decepticon case a lot of energon, pour the energon into the bodies and sparks would form in the laser cores. Sometimes, especially if you weren't using the Matrix, it wouldn't work. But sometimes it would and once you found a reliable pattern your success rates would be higher. Load the body with preprepared loyalty programming and propeganda and you would have a relatively reliable way of creating a uniform army of soldiers. Straxus had been doing that for milennia. An army of slaves enslaving the world. Stryke was sure Straxus appreciated the irony. He was one mean mound of metal.

The Vehicons came closer. This wasn't a standard patrol, there were too many of them. One way or another they had been discovered or someone up the chain had gotten suspicious. It really didn't matter which.

Stryke stepped out of the doorway and fired his shoulder cannon. The golden beam smashed into the grill of the lead Vehicon and blew through its armour. The Decepticon lost control, flipped, and rolled to the right and into the side of a building. Stryke fired his pistol at another one, peppering its hood with orange laser bolts. His pistol didn't do a lot of damage, but the Vehicons weren't the most well armoured 'bots on Cybertron. He did enough damage to cause the Vehicon to lose power and swerve to the side before crashing into a ruined tower.

The other two Vehicons deployed pop up missile launchers from their trunks. Stryke ducked back into the doorway as rockets streaked towards him. The explosions blew large holes in the walls as the Vehicons transformed to continue the combat.

"This is Stryke," he said over the radio. "The game's up. The Vehicons are here."

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Crimson and Shellshock had managed to fill two-thirds of Overload's cargo space. "Well that tears it," said Overload. "Go to it Crim."

The fembot darted over ripped out the thrall modules. The Autobots jerked into life. "You're free," said Crimson. "Follow us on our way out."

"Stryke," said Shellshock, "how bad is it?"

The two Vehicons had transformed into six meter tall silver-grey robots. They were armed with laser carbines and a missile launcher on their left shoulder. Stryke retreated further inside the generator dome as an explosion tore apart the area he had been standing two astroseconds ago. "They're emptying their missile racks plastering the entrance," said Stryke. "They can't keep this up much longer, but for now they're hammering the hell out of my position. I did bag two of them though. They'll be a long time in the shop."

"Good," said Overload. "Fall back. We'll be leaving by another exit."

"What do you mean?" asked Stryke. "This place has only one damn- oh."

"Right," said Overload. "Shellshock, make it happen."

The big war bot walked to the edge of the room and transformed into a gun battery on treads. He traversed his turret and locked both heavy cannons on the wall. "Those walls-" Crimson began. Shellshock fired both barrels.

Sun bright bolts blew a huge hole in the wall. "Aren't thick enough," finished Shellshock. He rolled forward. "One more to go," she said as his cannons charged. There was another explosion and he drove out into the street.

Crimson transformed and dashed through the hole, darting around the larger Autobot and then dashing up the street, holographic and electronic camouflage forming around her, shifting her colours to a dull battered grey of a Decepticon survey 'bot. She raced down the street.

Overload exited the hole and pulled ahead of Shellshock. The artillery 'bot was slow and ponderous in vehicle form. Couplings extended, connecting them. Overload wasn't the fastest 'bot by a long shot, but he had power to spare. He powered up and rolled after Crimson, pulling Shellshock behind him.

Stryke rolled out behind them in the form of a long, multiwheeled fighting vehicle with a top mounted cannon. The two former thralls, still somewhat disorientated by the turn of events, joined him in the form of silvery compact cars. "Follow Overload," said Stryke. "I'll take rear guard."

The Autobots scooted passed Stryke and trailed behind Shellshock. "Hey Crim," Stryke asked. "What do you think the odds are be of us losing them before they can sick some Dreadwings on us?"

"Can the chatter Stryke," said Overload. Off the main channel he said "kids."

"Tell me about it," said Shellshock. "Young 'bots these days . . ."

Crimson lead them through the dead streets of an abandoned metropolis. The streets were empty and quiet. "I think we're going to make it," said Stryke. "We're almost out of their reach."

Crimson started along the three kilometer bridge that used to connect two dead city-states. "Oh scrap," she said.

"What?" asked Overload as he approached the bridge.

"There's two Sentinels on the other end of the bridge," she said.

"Of all the times to move new guards into position," groused Overload. "Okay everyone, fall back. Shellshock and I will handle this. You make sure no 'Con decides to take an attack run on us while we're tangling with the Sentinels."

"What 'us' are you talking about Overload?" asked Shellshock.

"Not funny. Plan Epsilon." Crimson turned around and darted back towards Stryke.

"I like Epsilon," said Shellshock as the two 'bots decoupled. "Although this would go better if I wasn't loaded with anti-air missiles."

"Like anything the in the last forty thousand vorns has gone the way I wanted it," said Overload as he roared ahead. The Sentinels stood at the other side of the bridge. They were big 'bots, taller even than Overload, blocky white constructs with dome-like heads. They were off-white in colour and stood twenty meters tall. In their hands they held laser pistols, scaled up to their size. They could blow through the armour of the toughest 'bot with their weapons.

They were, however, sparkless. They had no mind or will, only a set of programmed responses and instructions. They were easy to make because of this, even if their size made them expensive power hogs, but it also made them predictable. Overload raced ahead as Shellshock opened fire.

The double cannon blast struck the Sentinel on the right in the upper chest. Armour was blasted away from the impact point and it staggered and then regained its balance. Shellshock shifted into reverse and began retreating. Both robots evaluated the situation and their programs came to identical conclusions: the 'bot firing on them was the targeting priority. They raised their weapons and lumbered forward.

Shellshock fired again, cratering the same Sentinel's lower torso, and then pulled up behind a shattered tower. Violet laser beams blew large holes in the rubble. Overload roared forward toward the undamaged Sentinel. Proximity alarms went off inside the Sentinels' electronic brains and they changed targets. Too late.

Overload smashed into the legs of the lefthand Sentinel like a comet strike. He literally knocked the 'bot off its feet and kept on going. The Overload slammed on the brakes as Shellshock emerged from behind the pillar. The downed Sentinel slowly began to regain its feet as the other swung its gun over towards Overload.

Shellshock fired again, strike the Sentinel in the back as Overload transformed and charged. The wounded Sentinel staggered. Shellshock's guns powered up for another shot. Shellshock fired. Flames blasted out of the wound and the Sentinel toppled.

The downed one regained its feet in just enough time to be hit by Overload's charge. It went down again. Overload drew his sword and gripped the hilt with both hands. The blade glowed orange-gold with energon overcharge. Overlord stabbed it in the chest, directly above its central processor. The point of the blade came out the Sentinel's back. "It's done," said Overload. "Let's get home before the fliers crash the party."

Other than the nitpicks I pointed out in IMs to you... GREAT JOB!

LadyTevar wrote:Other than the nitpicks I pointed out in IMs to you... GREAT JOB!

My dear I am not applying handedness to robots. Period.

Imperial Overlord wrote:

LadyTevar wrote:Other than the nitpicks I pointed out in IMs to you... GREAT JOB!

My dear I am not applying handedness to robots. Period.

Pistol in right hand, energon grenade in left... that way the grenade can be attached to the end of the pistol barrel and fired from cover. It keeps me from having to get close enough to throw it, and getting hit by the backlash.

LadyTevar wrote:

Imperial Overlord wrote:

LadyTevar wrote:Other than the nitpicks I pointed out in IMs to you... GREAT JOB!

My dear I am not applying handedness to robots. Period.

Pistol in right hand, energon grenade in left... that way the grenade can be attached to the end of the pistol barrel and fired from cover. It keeps me from having to get close enough to throw it, and getting hit by the backlash.

Again. Robot. Crimson is neither right nor left handed. Deal.

Crimson lead the group through a debris chocked canyon more than a kilometer below the surface of a dead city. "We're almost home boys, but keep your sensors peeled."

"At least there are no fliers around," said Stryke, coming up behind her.

"Yeah," said Crimson as she dodged around a pile of debris, "but 'Cons aren't the only problem. Unless you've forgotten about gatorbots," she teased.

"Forgotten?" asked Stryke. "I took me nearly ten megacylces to remove those teeth marks from my chassis."

"Gatorbots?" one of the freed Autobots quivered. "What are those?"

"For a while some of the 'Cons experimented with sub-sapient attack mechanisms," said Overload.

"Yeah," said Shellshock. "Cheap and easy to build, but not that smart."

"Anyway," said Overload, "they unleashed them with attack and scavenger programs so they would hunt us and maintain themselves. Most of them are long dead, but a few of them have survived."

"And they're the problem," said Shellshock, "because they survive by hunting at the edge of Decepticon territory where they can actually find energon to run their circuits. Which means that-"

"We might get jumped coming and going," finished Overload. "They tend to be high efficiency models that lay low until they find prey. Then they sneak up and shred them. Unfortunately, they also tend to pack a lot of armour plate."

"We're here," said Crimson as she stopped in front of a rubbish pile. She and Stryke transformed.

"Let me give you a hand Crim," said Stryke. The two robots cleared away the debris to reveal a hatch.

"Everyone in," said Crimson. The rest of the Autobots transformed and ducked inside. Crimson followed them and then Stryke. The hatch closed behind Stryke, leaving the Autobots standing on a ramp that descended into the darkness.

Stryke touched a button. "Magnet engaged, camouflage back in place"

"Good to see you back," said a strong, female voice. A female Autobot in pink armour with spires projecting off her helmet walked up from the darkness. She was on the tall side for a mid-sized 'bot.

"Elita!" said Crimson. "I didn't think-"

"Things change," Elita-1 replied. "I'll be in charge of this base for a while. Good to see you too, Crim."

"Is everything alright?" Overload asked. "Is Magnus-?" he couldn't bear to say it. Losing Prime was bad enough. Optimus had been the embodiment of everything that was right about Cybertron and Magnus had been his strong right hand as Elita had been his councillor and devil's advocate. In a very real way Magnus and Elita were all the Autobots had left of him

"Magnus is fine. There are things I couldn't tell you-," she looked at the new Autobots, "things I'll go over later."

"Alright," said Overload. He walked into the darkness, continued on for twenty meters, and then a door slid open. The room behind it was lit. The room was circular with doorways leading off to chambers that stored ammunition, supplies, and energon. Four CR chambers protruded from the walls and a computer and holo display took up the center.

Elita-1 addressed the new 'bots. "If you would enter the CR chamber we'll give you a full maintenance and recharge cycle. They complied. The doors of the repair pods closed around them with a hiss. "Now," asked Elita-1, "how did it go?"

"Two Vehicons to the repair bay, two Casseticons dead, two Sentinels trashed," said Overload. "No serious damage to us. And a lot of energon cubes."'

"Unload in the supply room when we're done here," said Elita. "You did a very good job, but the most important thing was that this raid was run at all."

"We were a distraction," said Crimson.

"Yes," said Elita-1. "We managed to sneak Blaster into the Decepticon com networks while they were distracted with you. He'll arrange for low powered burst transmissions to be sent periodically. I'm here to manage that and his extraction."

"Sounds like something that could get us all killed," said Overload.

"Yes," Elita-1 said. "I'm here to make sure that it doesn't."

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The purple Decepticon leaned back on his throne, his wings folded behind him. "Idiots," he said. The four Dreadwings in front of him cowered. "Idiots," he repeated. "You found nothing? No sign of them at all?"

"Lord Ratbat-" one began. The fliers were mid-sized bots with bat-like wings folded behind their backs. They were clones, built as smaller and more efficient knock-offs of the elite Seeker air corps.

"Silence," said Ratbat. "I'm not interested in your excuses. If my surveillance programs hadn't picked up the intrusion, they could still be feeding off the power grid. Do you have any idea how much it costs us to raid nearby systems for resources? The energy cost of superluminal flight? Take off and landing? Acceleration and deceleration? And that's just for survey missions, let alone full scale resource exploitation and transport back to Cybertron!" He slammed his fist down on his arms rest. "It is not easy to keep Straxus's forces fueled. It's not cheap, even with slave labour, to rebuild Cybertron's infrastructure. And a bunch of Autobots decided to walk in and take what they wanted and you couldn't even find them!"

The Decepticons cowered before Ratbat's wrath. "Get out of my sight," the city-governor ordered. "Now." Things had been easier back when he had been a member of the Senate. More graft, more opportunities to profit, less work, and a better class of minion. Then up jumped Megatron and the whole thing came smashing to the ground. He didn't regret joining the Decepticons. It had been the right move, just as siding with the Isolationists had been the right move in the war before that. Being made into one of Soundwave's minions had been humiliating, but Soundwave and Megatron were both long dead and he was alive. He was one of Straxus's governors now and the paranoid warlord would not be the easiest mechanism to depose, but unlike Megatron, once the deed was done there would be no problem from surviving loyalists.

Assassinating someone who had an army of brainwashed clone 'bots wasn't the easiest of tasks, of course. Most of them wouldn't be present, which would make things easier but the two Guardian Robots that Straxus used as door guards were another matter. There were, however, ways of dealing with them. An army of Guardians hadn't save the Autobots and two wouldn't save Straxus. It was just a matter of getting his hands on the right resources and the right agents to carry the mission out. The first was already accomplished. The second was a lot harder.

"Incoming transmission," the computer behind him said. Ratbat turned his throne back towards the console. It was a priority transmission, old code, from off planet. Tach com, not specifically addressed to him but decodable. Curious.

"Play transmission," he ordered. The screen lit up, displaying static. The static resolved itself momentarily. Megatron.

"Megatron to Cybertron. Come in Shockwave. I have found a rich energy source and I need reinforcements to deal with Prime and seal my victory once and for all." Data points flashed on screen.

Ratbat sunk back into his chair. Megatron was alive. Nearly fifty thousand vorns ago Megatron had taken an elite band of warriors into space aboard the Nemesis with the intent of catching and destroying the Autobot ship the Ark. Both ships had vanished into history. Forty thousand vorns ago Shockwave had left Cybertron in search of Megatron and vanished as well. That's when Straxus had launched his coup and taken over the remains of the Decepticon Empire. After all this time, Megatron was alive. And Prime too.

Straxus must have received this message as well. He would have to act on it, either to demonstrate his loyalty to Megatron or to finalize his claim on the Decepticon throne. Either way he would make himself vulnerable. Ratbat smiled. Some problems half-solved themselves.

"You have failed me," growled Straxus. The Decepticon warlord glared menacingly at his subordinates. He was on the tall side, but immensely stocky. Dark lenses looked out from a face armoured with midnight blue plates and an armoured grill served as his mouth. His strength and endurance were immense, rivaling and possibly exceeding that of the legendary Megatron.

The massively thick armoured windows of his throne room overlooked the smelting pit where those that displeased him were melted down. It was a crude, but effective intimidation technique. Eight Casseticon soldiers with heavy particle beam rifles stood guard along the walls of the throne room. "You," he pointed at Thrust, "you are my air commander. Why are my air units always too late?"

The dark red Seeker held out his hands. "Lord Straxus we have expanded so quickly that there is-"

"I am not interested in excuses," growled Straxus. He turned to the next 'bot. "And why are the troops who actually manage to reach the enemy performing so poorly against civilian models?"

"They're upgraded to military specs," said Blitzwing. "And they're veterans with independent minds not mass produced propagandized clones with no experience taking on opponents who can actually fight back."

Straxus stared long and hard at the Decepticon for a moment. "And why haven't you remedied this?"

"Our expansion requires every 'bot we can lay are hands on for one job or another," said Blitzwing. "That leaves almost no training time. And the resource budget for training is-"

"Fix it," said Straxus.

"Without resources and some freed up personnel-"

"Get resources from Ratbat. Given limited training time and a modest amount of energon, how would you fix this?"

"Assign a veteran to each squad group that we can. He'll instruct them and if there's a fight, he'll be able to provide leadership. Training exercises on low activity runs. Rotate the veterans around. It will improve performance."

"It had better," said Straxus in a voice that made clear what the consequences of disappointing him would be. "Astrotrain."

"Cybertron's course is moving us deeper into interstellar space. The costs of plundering nearby star systems for resources will increase for the next vorn, but will still result in net gains for us. I'll need more 'bots and ships to keep up the desired revenues."

"And I need results."

"I can't change physical law," said Astrotrain. "The newer designs are better at doing the job and will help, but there's a limit to what even superior engineering can accomplish. I am reaching your targets and, with the right support, I can continue to do so."

"You are all dismissed. When you are before me again, you had better impress me." Straxus looked out over the smelter pits. "There are other 'bots who want your jobs and I can always find a use for your components."

The Decepticons almost fled his throne room. The warlord of Polyhex, Supreme Ruler of the Decepticon Empire, slumped back on his throne. "I am surrounded by idiots," he growled.

A smooth and familiar voice came over the com system. "Lord Straxus," it said, "there is a priority transmission that you should watch immediately."

What in the Pit could be so important about a message that they would contact him about it? And tell him to watch it immediately. "Pipe it through here and put it on holo display," he said.

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Deep Space, Now

"I'm telling you," said Swoopback, "this is the place to be."

"Sure," said Overthrust, "that's what you keep saying. But why?" The three Dreadwings occupied the nose of a needle shaped scout ship. Their mission was to scour space for anything with resources that Cybertron could use and then return home with directions for the mining and exploitation teams.

"Yeah," said Burnthrough. "Why?"

"It's simple," said Swoopback. "Exploitation teams? Dull. I mean you run mining 'bots, load up a ship, and repeat. You know where you're going and you know what you're going to do and that's all you do. Patrol? Mostly no action and if there is action, it could get you slagged. Scouting? Scouting is where it is at. Look around new places and maybe have fun stomping on a few locals or kicking around a few war refugees."

"Until you jump onto an Autobot kill team," said Burnthrough.

Swoopback snorted. "There haven't been Wrecker teams out here in a thousand vorns."

"There haven't been reports of Wrecker teams in a thousand vorns," corrected Burnthrough. "Teams that get wiped out to the last mechanism don't report anything."

Swoopback waved his hand. "Whatever. The chances are so remote that it's still the-" a panel started beeping.

"You were saying?" said Burnthrough smugly.

Swoopback bent over a got a better look. "Contact. Too small for space ship. Pulling up an image."

The cabin window flared and a small metallic object could be seen on it. "Magnify," said Overthrust. The image grew in size.

"Is that a Seeker?" asked Swoopback.

"No, similar lines though," said Burnthrough.

"Decepticon symbol," said Overthrust. "On the nose."

"Oh yeah," said Burnthrough. "Half covered by a scorch mark. He's been beat to the Pit and back."

"Well, let's pick him up and bring him in. See what he has to say. He is one of our guys."

The vessel matched course with the drifting space fighter and opened a cargo door on its ventral hull. A magnetic grappling field brought the fighter inside. The Dreadwings gathered in the cargo bay. Burnthrough approached the fighter cautiously. "Are you conscious? Can you speak?"

The midnight blue vessel was battered and covered with scorch marks and unpainted armour plates. There was a grinding sound and then it transformed.

The robot towered over the smaller Dreadwings. He had a single flanged energy cannon attached to his right forearm with a beam generator module attached to his upper arm. Battered wings were closely folded over his back. "I function," he rasped.

"Who are you?" asked Burnthrough.

"I am Deathstrike."

You're awesome

Cybertron, Twenty Million Years Ago

The Guardian Robots rumbled forward. They were huge and ponderous mechanisms painted dark blue and purple. The average Cybertronian barely reached their knees. Their right arm ended in a massive cannon and their left hand was better at crushing than manipulation. Their armour was massive and their strength was awesome. They were incapable of disloyalty. They were their masters' faithful servants and enforced their tyranny across the surface of this world and others.

Dozens of Cybertronian rebels were strewn over the road at their feet. They had been stomped, crushed, and blasted to pieces. Their paint jobs were damaged and their armour cratered, but no weapon had yet been deployed that could inflict meaningful injury upon them. The rebels hid behind rubble and in buildings, firing futilely at them. They advanced.

A huge blade, glowing violet with energon struck the lead Guardian in the side of the head and chopped down into its torso. Sparks flew and the body toppled. The killer spun and fired his arm mounted x-ray laser cannon into the chest of the one behind it while his leg mounted mortar sent charges into the Guardian's face, blinding its sensors. One blast, two blasts, third blast. The Guardian fell, smoke rising from its cratered chest.

The killer was huge, only slightly smaller than the Guardians. Its construction was patchwork, but its movements were smooth and lightning quick. His colours were primarily red and gold and great wings protruded from his back.

The two remaining Guardians raised their blasters and fired. A shimmering globe surrounded the Cybertronian as he advanced, repelling the Guardian's fire. A rebel warrior rose from cover, a slim light blue 'bot carrying the carbine that had belonged to a fallen warrior. "Predaking!" he shouted.

The other rebels took up the cry. "Predaking! Predaking!" Predaking dropped the forcefield and smashed his fist in a Guardian's face. His other hand locked onto the Guardian's blaster arm and swung the robot around, blocking the other Guardian's line of fire.

The Guardian latched onto Predaking's arm. Predaking knee slammed it in the chest. One, twice, three times. Armour plates buckled. A fourth time and armour was breached. He fired his mortars into the breach. Flames blasted back out of the hole and he tore himself free of the Guardian's grasp.

Razorwing nodded as the com relay showed him the fight. The Autobot warrior was sky-blue in colour and his wings protruded from his back. He carried a massive rifle and wore a purple insignia on his chest. He stood guard in the corridor while his companion laboured. "We're holding Alpha," he said to the other Autobot as he worked on the door controls. "But I don't know how much longer that will last. If it wasn't for Predaking the perimeter would be breached already. As it is we've lost a lot of Autobots. Our brothers and sisters are dying out there."

"I am aware of what time is costing us," said the other Autobot. He was mauve and grey, with a flexmetal mustache and beard that often marked the most capable scientific and technical 'bots. He wore a red symbol on his chest, a face similar but not identical to that of his comrade, and matched him in height and build. "This cannot be hurried. The walls and doors are of high grade armour plate. We cannot blast our way through, not with the firepower we have at our disposal. The system must be made-ah."

The huge doors slid open. The control room was not unguarded. Two biomechanical beings turned away from the monitors they were watching and towards them. They had bulbous, green bodies that were supported by a contragrav beam. Mechanical tentacles writhed from the base of their bodies. They possessed over sized faces that took up much of their body and a weapon-limb with a pair of large bore beam weapons.

Razorwing fired first, blowing apart the closest one's face. The survivor fired, taking off half of the Autobot warrior's left wing. Razorwing blew him apart. The Autobot scientists stepped forward, getting green ooze all over his feet. He didn't pause, immediately going to the control panel.

"Hurry," said Razorwing. "We don't have much time."

The Autobot scientist opened his chest and withdrew a golden sphere with two handle grips. "Now we shall see if it works," said Alpha Trion.

"You don't know if it works?" Razorwing asked incredulously.

"I know that it works," said Alpha Trion. "I just don't know if it will be sufficient to deal with a computer as powerful as Vector Sigma." He tapped the control panel. "The link is activated. We will know soon."

"At least if we die, we die free," said Razorwing.

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Cybertron, Now

"Alright," said Elita-1 as the Autobots loaded up Overload. "Fifty cubes go back to our main base to add to their supplies, two cubes to our allies, and the rest stays here."

"I don't know why we bother giving anything to those creeps," muttered Stryke.

"Because we are Autobots and we keep our bargains," said Elita-1. "It will also keep them in the fight and Primus knows we can use all the help we can get."

'They're Decepticons," said Stryke.

"So was I," said Shellshock. "Not for long, not after I realized what Megatron really was, but I was one. Warhulk and I go way back. We're not in a position to be choosy. If Straxus is stupid enough to drive away warriors that might otherwise be serving him, we don't have any option but to ally with them. Not if we're serious about winning."

"I don't like them and I don't trust them."

"It's war," said Overload. "Its ugly and the choices suck tailpipe. That's why I like peace, when I can get it. Don't worry Elita, I'll get this load back to where it belongs."

"I know you will Overload," she said. "You're very reliable." She turned to Stryke. "The CR pods are still running a diagnostic on the two that you rescued, just in case. I want you and Crimson to do a patrol to make sure there is no unusual Decepticon activity nearby."

"Got it," said Stryke, happy to hear those orders.

"You'll go out with Overload and escort him until he reaches safe territory, then split off and do the search mission. Clear?"

"Clear as glass, ma'am."

"Good. Be careful out there."

Pretty good.

By the way, why did you choose to get rid of Shockwave and make Straxus the Decepticon leader? (I read parts of 'Transformers: Generations', IDW's reprint of the original comics. Straxus did NOT impress me there.)

Sidewinder wrote:Pretty good.

By the way, why did you choose to get rid of Shockwave and make Straxus the Decepticon leader? (I read parts of 'Transformers: Generations', IDW's reprint of the original comics. Straxus did NOT impress me there.)

Now when did I say I had gotten rid of Shockwave? Shocky's MIA. As for why I chose to use Straxus it is because he is a loathsome, sadistic, power hungry bully with enormous physical power. In other words, he's a villain people love to hate.

Knowing Shockwave, if he's functional this is all part of the plan.

LadyTevar wrote:Knowing Shockwave, if he's functional this is all part of the plan.

That's the other reason I chose Straxus. He's dumber than Shocky. How dumb? You'll find out.

Imperial Overlord wrote:

LadyTevar wrote:Knowing Shockwave, if he's functional this is all part of the plan.

That's the other reason I chose Straxus. He's dumber than Shocky. How dumb? You'll find out.

I'm curious how Shockwave will be portrayed in your story, as the cartoon Shockwave has been portrayed as Megatron's bitch, while the comics Megatron has been portrayed as Shockwave's bitch. (A credible "in-between" portrayal can be seen in Head of the Hydra, where Shockwave only pretends to be Megatron's bitch while he schemes to do what Starscream was too stupid to keep secret.)

Sidewinder wrote:
I'm curious how Shockwave will be portrayed in your story, as the cartoon Shockwave has been portrayed as Megatron's bitch, while the comics Megatron has been portrayed as Shockwave's bitch. (A credible "in-between" portrayal can be seen in Head of the Hydra, where Shockwave only pretends to be Megatron's bitch while he schemes to do what Starscream was too stupid to keep secret.)

All I will say on that subject is that I like Shocky. The Dreamwave comics had a nice middle of the road portrayal of Shockwave as someone who is loyal to Megatron as long as he believes Megatron is the best choice for leader of the Decepticons. When Shockwave believes he isn't, Shockwave makes his own moves.

Cybertron, Eight Million Years Ago

The door slid open and Megatron entered. "I do hope you have results for me Fraxyl," said the leader of the Decepticons. "Your earlier efforts have not been impressive."

"Mighty Megatron," said the Decepticon scientist. "Welcome to my laboratory. I am almost ready to begin with my second generation subjects."

The Decepticon leader looked around the spacious lab. Lining one wall were stasis tanks full of sparkless protoforms. Banks of machinery were connected to the stasis chambers. "So far your experiments have cost me valuable equipment and a lot of energon that could have gone to valuable warriors. That investment has yielded three second rate Decepticons."

"Please Megatron, this is not an easy process. To induce a spark in a protoform without the Matrix or access to Vector Sigma is a tricky process. With more experimental data I can reduce the energy cost and increase the success rate."

"I am not interested in excuses Fraxyl. I want results that are worth the investment and so far you are not producing."

"Please mighty Megatron, these ones should be superior. Wait until these ones are evaluated before making a decision. Look, one of them is moving already."

"Yes," said Megatron. "Open the pod." Fraxyl's fingers danced over the controls. The tube slid open and a midnight blue robot stepped out. He was almost as tall as Megatron, although not as broad. "Do you know me warrior?"

"You . . . are Megatron. Leader of the Decepticons. My leader."

"Good," said Megatron with a smile.

"The subjects have preloaded data banks and are programmed to be absolutely loyal to you," said Fraxyl. "There personalities will develop more fully and possibly change as they gain experience, that is out of my control. I can however, guarantee that they start loyal. In fact-"

"Quiet Fraxyl," said Megatron. He addressed the newly created Decepticon. "What is your purpose?"

"I am a Decepticon warrior. I am to fight the enemies of my lord Megatron and destroy them. Victory is my purpose. I have been made with superior strength and firepower. I strike from the air and bring death on the ground. Megatron's enemy's will fall before me."

"I like your attitude warrior. I name you Deathstrike. You will serve under air commander Starscream."

"Your will, mighty Megatron."

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Cybertron, Now

The Autobots drove down the broken and rubble strewn roads at the bottom of a dead megapolis. Starlight filtered down from above, the only light the city would know until Cybertron once again passed through a star system and the city would know a few brief years or decades of sunlight before the planet was once again engulfed by the interstellar dark.

"Clear sky," said Stryke. "No sign of Decepticreeps. Just stars. Looks good." He slowed down slightly and drifted sideways next to Crimson. "Not as good as you though."

"Flatterer," she said and sped up, leaving him behind. Stryke revved his engine and accelerated after her, leaving Overload behind.

"Hey," said Overload. "Don't get too far ahead and can the chatter. Decepticon fliers aren't the only dangers out here." Then he added, quietly, "kids these days. Give them a couple thousand vorns and they think they know everything."

"Aww," said Crimson, "isn't it cute when the old timer gets-"

"Crimson!" Stryke scream as a metal snake struck from a rubble pile just to her right. It was grey, about a meter wide, and exposed five meters of length including a meter and a half long head striking. The scout 'bot swerved to the side, just avoiding getting hit. Unfortunately, that put her close to a ruined building tower and the snake inside that one didn't miss.

Metal jaws closed on her front wheel. Her forward momentum was enough to drag all eight meters of the snake out of its hole as she skidded on the battered roadway. She transformed, slipping out of its grasp as she did so but that left her with snakes on either side.

She had her pistol in her right hand. She fired twice, putting laser pulses into the head of the right hand snake, blowing it apart. She jumped back, but the surviving snake grabbed onto her leg. A dozen snakes slithered out of their hiding places nearby. "Help!" she screeched.

"Don't worry Crim, I'm here," said Stryke as he transformed. He fired a volley of laser pulses from his pistol, holing a cybersnake in three places. Overload rumbled passed, still in vehicle mode. Two cybersnakes didn't get out of his way fast enough. There wasn't much left of them after he passed.

The big 'bot transformed as Stryke rushed to Crimson's side. She was still trying to fight the snakes off. Stryke was reluctant to fire. Crimson, by Cybertronian standards, wasn't really armoured and was quite petite. If he hit her by accident he could do serious damage to her or even kill her.

The snakes hissed and withdrew to one central spot near Crimson. "Oh no," said Overload. There was the distinctive sound of transformation as they merged their bodies into that of a single gigantic snake with a dozen heads. "Metallohydra," said Overload. "The stuff that you could avoid if the kids would just listen."

Stryke raised his pistol and fired a burst a the base of the metallohydra's necks. The laser bolts blasted smoking craters in the armour, but did not penetrate. Crimson somersaulted backwards toward Stryke. "Try something bigger."

"Got that, thanks," said Stryke as he aimed his shoulder cannon. The hyrda was slithering closer now. Overload rushed it, sword drawn, but the hydra cracked its tail against his legs, bowling the big Autobot over.

"Not good," said Overload as he picked himself off the road. Stryke fired and the golden particle beam severed on of the mid-sized necks at the base. He stepped backwards, trying to keep away from the rapidly advancing metallohydra.

"One down, eleven to go," he muttered as he fired again and severed one of the smaller necks. The largest one hissed at him and electrical discharges danced around its fangs. "Oh scrap," he said. A blue-white ion bolt struck Stryke in the chest. Lightning crawled over his torso and limbs as he toppled to the ground face first.

"Stryke!" Crimson screamed. She couldn't toss an energon grenade now. Even a high powered one wouldn't do much to a metallohydra that size and with Stryke would get a nasty charge from it as well.

"Scrap," said Overload as he drew his sword. "Time to play hero. I hate playing hero. Yo! Monster! Over here!" He waved his sword and advanced. A half dozen heads turned towards him. "Now comes the part that really hurts," he muttered to himself.

Two mechanisms leapt from a ruined building, pouncing on the metallohydra. They had round bodies with mace tipped tails and a dorsal fin. Large, staring eyes looked out over enormous fang filled jaws. Comparatively small arms and legs clung to the metallohydra as they bit chunks out of its body.

The Metallohydra thrashed and screamed, four heads closing on one of the bite-bots and tearing it to pieces. More of the monsters disgorged from buildings, charging towards the metallohydra with mouths full of steel fangs.

"Lets get out of here," said Overload, "before they add us to the menu." The Autobots transformed and burned rubber, zooming away from the dying metallohydra and the pack of Sharkticons tearing it apart.

Wow. Looks like things became VERY BAD after Optimus, Megatron, and Shockwave left.

By the way, will the Quintessons appear in contemporary Cybertron (I assume it's between 1984 and 1986 CE)? After all, they were credited with the Sharkticons' creation.

Sidewinder wrote:Wow. Looks like things became VERY BAD after Optimus, Megatron, and Shockwave left.

If you're a Decepticon, in Decepticon territory and don't mind a boss with a bigger sadistic streak, a worse temper, and far less charisma than Megatron; it's not so bad.

By the way, will the Quintessons appear in contemporary Cybertron (I assume it's between 1984 and 1986 CE)? After all, they were credited with the Sharkticons' creation.

The date stamp is "now" not "1985".

Lots of people will be making appearances, at one point in the story or another.

Earth, Three Years Ago

A single sensor went active, as it had done intermittently for nearly four million years. It took its readings and then shut down as it had always done. The data was analyzed by a subroutine that existed only to process the sensor's data. This time the result was below the threshold that had been set for it. Instead of deactivating until the next scanning interval, it triggered the awakening sequence. Optic sensors coated with ancient dust, glowed a baleful red as the ancient mind returned to consciousness. Megatron lived again.

He was lying on the floor, half pinned under rubble that filled the chamber along with his warriors. He had boarded the Ark to kill Optimus Prime and seize the survey data in the Ark's computers. Unfortunately the Ark's jump drive had been triggered during the fight and the misjump resulted in the Autobot spaceship being on a collision course with unknown planet. The odds against that happening were remote, but was no consolation. He had lead his warriors away from the battle, intent on abandoning the ship before impact. They hadn't quite made it.

He was still extensively damaged. His autorepair systems had been powered down soon after they had put him back online because he couldn't afford the energy to run them. Instead he had shut himself down and waited for an opportunity to free himself. Something, perhaps an earthquake or volcanic activity, had shifted some of the debris off him.

He pushed with all his might. The massive slab pinning him to the floor was now lying at an angle. He managed to move it slightly. Just enough to free his body. He slid out from under and let the slab drop. He was free.

Diagnostic systems showed him to be at low power and massive damage to a number of systems. He reengaged his autorepair systems and surveyed his fallen warriors. Soundwave lay nearby, battered and nearly broken in two from the amount of damage he had taken. The tips of Megatron's right index and middle fingers opened and clusters of slim tools came out. The Decepticon leader began to work on the body of his lieutenant.

Time passed and Megatron's energy levels dipped slightly lower. Light flared in Soundwave's single optic. "Megatron," he said in his customary mechanical monotone.

"Soundwave," Megatron answered. He pulled the big Decepticon up. "Scan the area. We need to get out of this tomb as soon as possible."

"Scanning," Soundwave replied. He pointed at one wall. "All other passages are filled with rock and debris. Planet's surface is reachable.

"Excellent Soundwave," Megatron replied with a smile. "Restore function to Rumble," Megatron ordered. "He can break us out of here without expending excessive amounts of energon. I will trigger the transformation cogs and drain the energon from the Reflector and the rest of your minions. Their supplies will fuel us until we can acquire whatever energy is available on this planet."

"As you command Megatron." Both Decepticons went to work. Megatron drained the energy cells all but dry from the downed Decepticons before triggering their transformation cogs, transforming the fallen Decepticons into their more easily transported alternate modes. He passed the cassette-like bodies of Frenzy, Ravage, Laserbeak, and Buzzsaw to Soundwave, who stored them inside his body. Reflector remained in his hand.

"Finished," Shockwave finally said. The small red and black Decepticon's eyes flared.

"Hey, what happened to me? I feel like I got run over by Blitzwing. Hey! We're alive!"

Megatron chuckled. "Indeed we are."

"Rumble," said Soundwave, "controlled demolition is required."

"Outstanding!" said the little 'bot as he leapt to his feat. "What do you need me to smash?"

Megatron clenched his right hand into a fist. With his other he pointed. "Bring down that wall and smash through the rock without collapsing this chamber." He turned to the downed Seekers. "Soundwave and I shall restore the last of my warriors and partially refill their energon reserves."

"Speaking of energon boss . . ."

"Get to work Rumble."

The small Decepticon transformed his arms into pile drivers. "Whatever you say," he replied and began smashing the Ark's hull. Metal dented, cracked, and fragment. "Looks like Autobot construction isn't a match for old Rumble. Yeah, look at that. So much for the ship. All that's left is rock. This is almost too easy." The little 'bot smashed his way through the side of the mountain with ease. "Oh yeah."

More rock fell away from Rumble's assault. Sunlight streamed in from a gap in the mountain side. "Hey, I'm almost through."

"Excellent," said Megatron. "Finish the job." It took Rumble's pile drivers only a few more seconds to finish smashing open a passage.

"What now?"

"Transform."

"Aww," said Rumble. He back flipped, transformed, and Soundwave's chest opened to receive him. Soundwave followed Megatron outside.

The Decepticons emerged near the base of a dormant volcano. Before them stretched a forested plain. A single yellow sun glowed overhead. "Soundwave, scan for any signs of civilization," ordered Megatron.

"Scanning." Soundwave paused for a moment. "Electromagnetic signals detected, consistent with a primitive technological civilization."

"Excellent," said Megatron. "A technological civilization will have begun exploiting this planet's energy resources, resources we can take for ourselves. We will finish reviving the Seekers, take what we want from the local primitives, and finish repairing ourselves. Then we shall return and finish off Optimus Prime and the rest of his Autobots." Megatron's optics flashed red in anticipation.

Above him, concealed by a stealth field, a small drone rose into the sky. The Sky Spy's mission was the scan examples of local technology so that Teletraan-I could adjust the vehicle modes of the Autobots it was currently repairing to fit into the local environment. The battle over Earth was just beginning.

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Cybertron, Now

Sensors scanned Straxus, confirmed his identity, and opened the massive triple-layer of security doors the separated his private chambers from the rest of the Citadel. He rarely came here, but no one else was permitted inside on the pain of death. Too many of his secrets were contained inside.

The doors closed behind him as we walked through. A pair of blaster armed Quintesson security units lowered their gun pods. Behind them floated three small, forms with bodies shaped like inverted cones. The cones were supported by contragrav beams projected from their vertex, which also supported a ring of manipulator tentacles. Their bodies were crowned with five faces spaced evenly around the top, each resembling a stylized mask. The Faces of Death, Laughter, Doubt, Bitterness, and Rage surveyed the universe around them.

"Finally you come to us," said Judge Jarzyn's Face of Bitterness. "Have you forgotten our bargain?"

"Yes," said Judge Klerjan's Face of Rage. "We sent that transmission to you over a megacylce ago. Why did you delay?"

"Watch yourself Quintessons," Straxus rumbled. "You are not my masters. I am the master of Cybertron."

"Through our doing," said Jarzyn, rotating so his Face of Death addressed Cybertron's tyrant. "We gave you the clone armies that made you irresistible and convinced the other Decepticons to bow before you. Do not forget our bargain."

"I have not," said Straxus.

"We can," said Judge Zalryn's Face of Laughter, "be of some aid to you in the current crisis. We do have an interest in seeing you win."

"What do you mean by that?" asked Straxus.

Judge Zalryn spoke soothingly. "Surely you do not intend to surrender Cybertron to Megatron."

"I do not," said Straxus.

"Then you will need to defeat him. We can aid you in this."

"My armies are vast," said Straxus. "I don't need your aid."

"Your armies are vast," said Zalryn, "but your space ships are limited. Only a few of your soldiers can be transported to the planet where Megatron now resides and they must face Megatron. Your most powerful soldiers remember him. Will they choose to be loyal to you when Megatron is closer? Surely you have considered that problem."

"There are my clones."

"Who are not as powerful as your triple changers or your Seekers, let alone as experienced" said Zalryn's Face of Bitterness. "You will need a powerful warrior to ensure a victory over both Megatron."

"And Prime," said Judge Klerjan's Face of Death. "Prime must fall. Remember our bargain. Remember what is ours."

"Yes, yes," Judge Zalryn said soothingly. "Your victory on Cybertron will never be safe as long as either of them lives. We have been experimenting with the designs to a superior warrior. He will be both powerful and skilled from the moment of his creation. We can give these designs to you so that you may see to that he is appropriately programmed to be loyal to you."

"Yes," said Judge Kerjan's Face of Rage. "Build him. Destroy Megatron and Prime and bring the Matrix to us! Fulfill your bargain!"

"I will consider your words," said Straxus. He turned around. "I will give you my answer after I have considered the problem. The Decepticon tyrant walked out. The doors sealed behind him.

"Fool," said Judge Zalryn's Face of Death. "If he didn't serve our purposes so well we would have disposed of him long ago."

"He failed to find Alpha Trion," said Judge Klerjan's Face of Rage. "His utility is not so great."

"We won't need him much longer," said Judge Zalryn's Face of Laughter. "He will consent to our plan and then destroy both Megatron and Optimus Prime. He will then try to betray us and fail. The Matrix and Cybertron will at long last be ours. Victory is in our grasp brothers." The Quintessons laughed.

The door to the CR chamber swung open, releasing a partially repaired Deathstrike. A data stream listed the parts that needed to be replaced before the warrior would resume full functionality as millennia of jury rigged repairs and use of substandard materials meant that even fully repaired many of Deathstrike's parts were inferior. The warrior shunted this information to a secondary processor. Of more immediate importance was the warrior standing in front of him. Thrust.

"So after all these years you came crawling back," said Thrust. "Fortunately for you, you might have a chance."

Deathstrike bit back a savage retort. "Take me to Lord Megatron so I may receive his justice."

The dark red Seeker through back his head and laughed. "That's why you have a chance. Megatron is scrap. Shockwave too. Straxus rules Cybertron now and I'm his air commander."

"Straxus," said Deathstrike. Only Straxus's power has impressed the Decepticon flier. "So he leads the Decepticons?"

"Yeah, and he pretty much has lead us to victory. We own the planet now."

"And this is his doing?"

"Well, Shockwave did a lot, but if I were you I wouldn't mention that in front of Straxus. In fact, I wouldn't mention Shockwave at all. Or Megatron. Follow me." The Seeker turned and walked down a corridor. An airlock cycled, allowing the Decepticons to leave the scout ship.

Deathstrike looked around. He was at the edge of a wide, flat expanse that served as a landing field. Drone mechanisms had floated or rolled over to the scout ship and were now looking it over. Beyond the field slim towers climbed into the sky, glowing with light and life. Beside them stretched kilometer long factory complexes, fed by pipes and elevated rail lines.

One building in particular stood out. It was a massive slab structure that rose into the sky. Two Guardian Robots, painted purple and red, stood as guards. In front of the citadel was a massive rectangular pit. Twenty meters down it was full of molten slag. A network of pipes slowly drained the pool. Deathstrike could see three Cybertronians floating in it.

"Lord Straxus prefers that those who displease him suffer a slow and agonizing death," said Thrust. "Their raw materials go to fuel the Decepticon war machine. Might have to change the way things work though. We don't find enough Autobots these days to keep the pit stocked. Not enough of them left."

"I see Polyhex does not suffer from an energy shortage," said Deathstrike. Contemptible, thought Deathstrike. Straxus does not have Megatron's vision and charisma nor Shockwave's intelligence. He uses cruelty in place of the virtues he lacks in order to cement his rule. And those Guardians. They reek of fear, not power. I have destroyed my own honor, but I do not seek to place my disgraced chassis in Megatron's place.

"Yes," said Thrust. "We have teams stripping raw materials from nearby star systems. Fissionables, hydrogen, helium, hydrocarbons, all sorts of stuff. Plenty to go around now." He lead Deathstrike towards Straxus's citadel.

"And what will my fate be?" asked Deathstrike, feigning ignorance.

"Straxus has been sweeping up Decepticons as we find them. Giving them a new place in the new order. Doesn't matter if they were deserters, splinter factions, or whatever. Kneel before Straxus and swear. Maybe you'll get the opportunity to follow my orders."

Deathstrike nodded. The massive Guardian Robots did not move as the Decepticons approached. Thrust flew up and Deathstrike followed. A portal near the top of the tower opened and the Decepticons landed inside. Four Casseticons with heavy rifles guarded the entrance way. They walked passed them and another door opened into Straxus's throne room. The ruler of the Decepticon Empire was seated in front of them.

Thrust bowed. Deathstrike went to one knee before Straxus. "Mighty lord," said the renegade.

"Deathstrike the traitor," rumbled Straxus. "I remember you. I remember your arrogance, the superiority to wore like armour."

Deathstrike looked down. "I have been . . . humbled, my lord."

"Yes, you certainly have. Why should I not cast you down into the slag pit?"

He wants to make me grovel, though Deathstrike. His old self would have never done it. "Mighty Straxus, I ask for your mercy. I can still serve you. The Autobots resist your rule. I can destroy them for you. I can search the depths of space for more resources to add to your empire. I can fight your enemies. You know I can fight."

"I like hearing you plead Deathstrike. Rise." Deathstrike got to his feet. "Thrust commands my aerial units. Obey him and the triple changers."

"Triple changers?"

"Yes," said Straxus. "Certainly technologies have advanced in your absence. Know that I allow you to live only because I expect you to serve me well. Do not fail me Deathstrike."

"I will not, Lord Straxus."

"Good. Get him out of my sight Thrust."

"As you command, Lord Straxus. Ratbat has been complaining he doesn't have enough combat units to handle his responsibilities."

Straxus laughed. "Yes, let the traitor serve the traitor. Report to Governor Ratbat in Helex Deathstrike."

Deathstrike saluted, fist to chassis. "As you command, Lord Straxus."

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Overload rolled into Maxima base. Ultra Magnus was waiting in the cavernous repair and storage bay just off from the entrance. "Welcome back," he said.

"Thanks Magnus," said Overload. "I have a load of energon for the base. And two cubes for our Decepticon allies."

"Pretty good job for a decoy run."

"It gets better. We smashed up some Decepticons and freed two Autobots." Overload opened his side door, revealing the energon cubes. "How are things here?"

"Good. The Decepticons have unleashed a knew kind of beast-bot though. Travels in packs. Very aggressive."

"Mostly mouth?" Overload asked.

"That's the one."

"We saw them as well. Nasty." Ultra Magnus began unloading the cubes.

"Why only you here?" Overload asked. "I'm not in trouble, am I?"

"No, I just need to convey some sensitive information."

"Go ahead."

"Blaster has signaled us. He needs an extraction."

"Already?"

"Yes. Something important must have come up. He couldn't send us a more detailed message without risking detection. I want your team to do the extraction."

"Crimson to sneak in while the rest of us have the muscle to fight off the Decepticons until she can get out."

"Yes," said Magnus. "I'll be making some trouble somewhere else, another decoy mission."

"You know you can count on us," said Overload. "What does Omnius think?"

"He left the tactical decisions in my hands. That's not where his skills lie."

"Perhaps you should take a more active role in determining Autobot strategy," prodded Overload. "You have a lot of experience and the skills to go with it."

"I'm not Prime," said Ultra Magnus.

"There were a lot of Primes before Optimus," replied Overload. "They weren't Optimus either, but some of them were great leaders."

"I'll think about it," said Ultra Magnus.

Typo in Chapter six, where you reveal the Quintessions.

Judge Zalryn spoke soothingly. "Surely you do not intend to surrender Cybertron to Megatron."

"I do not," said Straxus.

"Then you will him defeated. We can aid you in this."

Otherwise... Great Job once again!
Although I'm a little worried about the "Crimson go in while others distract" idea. There's so many things that could go wrong there...

I promised myself I would only read one chapter.

Unfortunately, I kept pressing page down like a rat wanting a cocaine fix.

Very good job, please post more.

Earth, Now

Clank, clank, clank. The line of scientists and engineers on the podium fidgeted nervously as the Autobot scientist walked by them. It was one thing to know intellectually that they were perfectly safe and another thing entirely to feel perfectly safe when giant metal feet were coming down less than a meter away from you. Wheeljack stepped up to the podium, which came up to his knees. Several microphones were lowered on booms for the Autobot to use, a practice established after the fumbling and improvised measures that had marked the first two Autobot press conferences. "I would like to say," he began, "on behalf of all the Autobots that we are very proud of our participation in this project. I must also stress that the majority of the work was that of human scientists and engineers whose expertise should not be understated.

"Combined with the new energy cell we helped develop last year, this fusion reactor and those like it that will be built in the near future should help solve the worlds energy needs. Vehicles will no longer need to be powered by diminishing and polluting fossil fuel sources and your world can move away from the twin disasters of a fuel crisis and environmental catastrophe. We are proud that our technological skills can help your world in this way and wish to restate that this technology has no weapons application. It is a peaceful power technology that can be supplied to all the nations of the world. Are there any questions?"

Hands went up from the mass of reporters. Wheeljack pointed at bespectacled pale woman in the second row. "Yes?"

"Some say the dangers of global warming are over stated and that the Autobots are exploiting this so called crisis in order to garner good will. Your response?"

Wheeljack was momentarily at a loss for words. Disbelieve clear scientific findings? Absurd. Then he remembered he was dealing with humans. "The science is clear and has been clear for decades," said Wheeljack. "I don't have any other answer than that. You," he said, pointing again.

A dark skinned human male stood up. "There has been no sign of the Decepticons since the Autobots shot down their space ship last year. Do you believe them to be destroyed?"

"We remain cautiously optimistic, but vigilant," Wheeljack lied. He wasn't optimistic at all, but Prime's orders were not to panic the humans. "Next question."

A man with light brown skin stood up. "How do you answer charges that the Autobots are exploiting these crises for profit?"

"We aren't," said Wheeljack. "I am announcing one half of the solution to a pair of catastrophe's that could devastate your civilization and these are your questions?" Wheeljack asked. "Does anyone have something more actually on topic?"

At the back of the room Optimus Prime suppressed a chuckle with his chief scientist's exasperation. Humans were a wonderful species, but sometimes they could be trying. A black man, rail thin and nearly two meters tall, approached the Autobot leader. He wore a conservative dark blue suit, but Prime did not need to see the uniform to recall who he was. "General Hastings. Are you here for the announcement?"

"A great thing your people have done for our planet Prime. If both the power cell and the fusion plant technology is fully implemented, you may have saved hundreds of millions of lives. Maybe more."

"It is our pleasure, general."

"I know it is. Some people are suspicious of your motives, but I know better. I'm just here on account of my Pentagon job. Can I talk to for a moment Prime? In private?"

"Yes, general, but if the conversation is going to go the way of the last one the answer is still no."

"Just hear me out Prime."

"Very well," said Optimus. The Autobot leader left the building by ducking under the massive garage door. General Hastings followed the Autobot leader onto the tarmac. Prime started walking to the reactor building proper, which had been completed but was not yet running. "What did you want to talk about?"

"We both know the Decepticons haven't been destroyed, they're merely laying low while preparing for their next move. If smashing a space ship into a volcano didn't kill any of you, crashing a space ship into the ocean isn't going to do the job either."

"The Decepticon's ship wasn't as durable as the Ark, but your point is generally correct. I believe them to still be functional."

"We lost a sub in that area last month. I think it was them."

"Perhaps," said Prime. "They've eluded all of our searches."

"I know. Prime, they've directly killed more than five thousand people, indirectly they're responsible for ten times that number of deaths and that's with them just focused on fighting your people and stealing from us. We need the ability to defend ourselves and our weapons aren't good enough. You need to share military technology with us."

"I know that the problem looks simple from your side," said Optimus Prime, "but it is not. We both know by 'us' you mean the United States and your allies. Your military budget is larger than the next ten nations combined. You have the most resources to spend on totally upgrading your military. You view being the dominant force on your planet as the natural order of things. You view yourselves as a good people, and you are, so you have no doubts that the results of your exerting force will be good. History does not support that view."

"I know we must seem primitive to you Prime," answered Hastings, "and far too easily influenced by biological and behavioral forces that you do not feel. And you're right. We are just smart apes. America can be arrogant and her people and others have paid the price for that. That's all true. So is this: however bad America can get, even drunk on power and sure of her own virtue; we are lambs compared to Megatron and his ilk."

"That is true general. It is also true that even we Cybertonians have not used our power responsibly. Megatron would never risen to power if our own society had been perfect. The question is whether or not we should place some of that power in your hands. What are the consequences of that decision? There is one more consequence that you have not considered.

"The Decepticons view your civilization mainly as a source of resources to be stolen. They are trying to parasitize it, not destroy it. If we arm you, that will change. You are not the first alien civilization that they have met. If they see you as a threat they will destroy you. Megatron's personal weapon is a nuclear device, general. They would not hesitate to irradiate the globe if they saw you as a threat. Or spray your agricultural heartlands with radioactive cobalt. Or to blast open every nuclear reactor world wide or use fusion and fission weapons against your population centers. Those are just some of the means they consider employing.

"Such attacks would be much harder to stop than their standard raiding. They can and will use such methods if they see you as a threat. No general, I will not pass on military technology to you unless I must."

"Alright Prime. I don't agree with you, but I can understand your reasoning. Can't say that I like your answer though."

"Neither do I," said Prime, "but I can't allow your people to become casualties in our war. It has claimed enough innocent lives."

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Sharon carefully stripped off the next layer of soil with her trowel as she knelt in the one meter by one meter excavation pit. The pit was more than a meter deep now, as were the other rectangular pits carefully measured off with pieces of string. Her trowel clicked against metal. "Damn," she said.

"What?" asked David from an adjacent pit. Her fellow paleontology grad student had sandy hair and a cute smile that made him think that he was a lady's man. He had yet to talk Sharon into his sleeping bag, but that didn't stop him from trying to convince the willowy Chinese woman.

"Metal," she said. "Again."

"Fuck," he said. "The soil is disturbed this far down? We should throw in the towel and try somewhere else. Yo! Monica! Sharon hit metal again!"

Doctor Monica Stevens came to the edge of the test pit. She was a small and wiry woman with tanned skin and a long braid of black hair. She fanned herself with her hat. Alberta could get quite hot, even in late summer. "Again? David might be right. I don't know why we would be finding metal fragments this far down, but it means that something really tore up the soil here."

"So we try the B site?" asked David.

"We'll finish up the day before making any decisions," said Monica. "Who knows, we might find a crystal T-rex skull three centimeters down." The students smiled at the joke. Sharon went back to digging, moving the soil away from the metal fragment to unearth it. She frowned. It was a big chunk and it wasn't rusted at all. It couldn't be iron. What was it?

She continued digging, revealing the tip of a thick metal cylinder that was connected to another by a joint, all of it untouched by corrosion. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. "Oh my God," she said.

"What?" asked David.

"Take a look at this," she said. "I think its a Cybertronian's finger."

David hopped into her pit. "Jeesus titty-fucking Christ. I think you're right."

Monica and Jamie were both coming over to her pit now. They peered closely at the hand. "Cybertronians have had space travel for millions of years right?" asked Jamie. The bulky ex-rugby player squinted as he took a closer look. "One of them could have visited Earth, get struck by a meteor or whatever and then buried."

"Or maybe killed and left here," said Monica. "Or stranded and run out of power. We need to phone someone."

"I don't think nine-one-one handles Transformers," said David dryly. "We don't even know if its and Autobot or a Decepticon."

"And if its a dormant Decepticon that just needs to be unearthed to return to life?" Sharon asked.

"Then we're screwed," said David. "I'm with you. We need to pass the buck. But to who? Keeping in mind that cell phone coverage sucks out here."

"Satellite phones and four-one-one are a handy combination," said Monica as she headed toward her tent. "We should be able to pull up a number for the Autobots."

"Great," said David. "Let them sort it out."

"Okay everyone, we're breaking for the day," said Monica. "Might as well break open the beer cooler. We just made history as the first paleontoligists to find a millions of years old giant robot."

Are we looking at Dinobots here? Grimlock not nice dino, Grimclock King!

Transformers, G1 Style, that don't seem like a toy sales show? Very nice. I like these so far. Keep going!