Altima Stratus

---

Cybertron: Sector Kappa, level G-100

    You stare moodily at the monitor.
    For three centuries everything had been quiet up there... no one wanted an Autobot, no one cared about heroes.
    Now, things were once again changing.
    In the center of the huge screen, the floating station, the Warworld, hovered.   It's massive bulk crowned by a great horn, the unmistakable remnant of the Chaos Bringer, Unicron.
    The despicable ship had appeared above the skies of Cybertron four weeks ago, and in a matter of cycles had subjugated Cybertron to Decepticon rule.  The great Cybertronian Council had scattered to the winds as their capital city of Iacon was turned into a great slagpool of superheated death.
    They had disbanded the elitist forces in the name of peace, outlawing the Decepticons and disbanding the Autobots.
    Centuries of peace had made them soft, pliable, weak...
    You had spent the time well though.  Taking off-world missions and keeping your allegiance a secret, you had kept your skills sharp, and kept your lair filled with updated tech.
    Still, the times of war were long gone, and the harder trials had long since disappeared.  When your Binary-bonded partner had grown old, and passed away, you had not replaced him.  The suit was a drain on your power supplies, and the extra energon usage may have drawn attention.
    Now, staring at the floating Decepticon palace, you wish you had his talents again.

    Your accommodations were supplied by an old friend.  An inventor named Exodus.  He had long since disappeared, leaving the bulk of his inventions to you...  The rest had gone to his 'son', Streetfire.  Streetfire had abandoned most of it though, and left you to watch after his father's war relics.  He was a Cybertron after all, not one of the elite.
    You didn't know how to operate most of it, but you learned what you could, and used it to forge a rather impressive lair.

    Now, Cybertropolis has been reopened.  The rest of Cybertron had accepted the Decepticons as their new rulers, and reports had come of a massive, unified police force that kept an iron fist of law in the streets of Cybertropolis.  The burning desire to charge in and cause as much destruction as possible soared through your processors, but to do so now... it would achieve nothing.  Its not what Prime would do.
    Optimus Prime.
    Where was he now?
    With the disbanding of the Autobots, the legendary hero and the mythical Matrix of Creation and Leadership had disappeared.  The Vat was the source of life now.  The Matrix and its bearer had passed into the halls of mythos.
    Now was the time to plan, now was the time to rebuild...
    There were rumors of an legion of Autobot's that were rebelling in Cybertropolis, and for a week, you had been transmitting a low frequency signal on an old Autobot channel.
    Now, there was finally a response.
    It was a vague blip, but it confirmed acknowledgment.  Soon, someone would come to the transmission point, a small radar station about a kilometer above you, in the upper levels of section Kappa.
    Now, the computer scanned that area, an area devoid of most life, for any sigil markings, and energon signatures, and signs of life...
    A soft beeping announced it's arrival.
    You stand without a sound and head to the door.

    Through the darkened tunnels and labyrinths of the Cybertronian underworld you swept, your nimble jet form careening quietly past the dangerous pipes and wires that cluttered the deep recesses of Cybertron's past.
    You began the scan as you approached the station.  Quickly, the signal resolved itself into a sigil... but not an Autobot one, a Maximal one.
    You transform, landing with a clunk on the ground by the radar module, weapon in hand.
    "Come out.  I have you on scan."
    The clicking of claws announced it's position in the darkness.
    "Come on, Maximal.  I haven't got all solarcycle."
    "Ma..Maximal?"  The voice was scratchy, as if unused to being used.  The clicking claws came closer, stepping into the light.  It was in beast form... or what it must have had for a beast form.   Silver, gray, red and blue, it was some kind of mutated owl.  Feathers stuck out at odd angles between shiny chromatic blue plates.  Robotic parts covered areas in a way that was almost haphazard.
    A large, reddish plate covered one eye.  beneath it, machinery rotated and shifted, "Who... are you?"
    "My name is Altima Stratus.  How did you pick up the signal."
    "Signal...?" his head cocked to the side and a wing fluttered metallic blades, "The calling."
    "Uhm... yeah, the calling."
    "Was drawn here, don't know why."
--Oh great, first one to respond in a week, and its got faulty programming!--
    You lowered the rifle you were holding, "What's your name."
    "Name...? Circuits register name as... Prowl."

---

Cybertron: Sector Kappa, level 100

    You look down at the small mass of feathers and parts.  You dwarfed him with your large Autobot body.  You had scaled down a bit in the years, but still, the small Maximal owl only came up to slightly above your knee.
    You look at it intrigued.
--Curious.  A Maximal heard the call.--
    "What news do you have of Cybertron's situation, Maximal?"
    "Situation?"
    You felt like you were talking to a parrot, not an owl.
    "Yes, situation.  What is going on up top?"
    He shakes his head, "All I remember is a red flashing, then waking up in fire and molten slag... somehow... my body resisted the heat, and I struggled...  but the pain..."
--Molten slag?!  If he really woke up in a pool of melted metal, that might explain his memory loss!--
    "Then there was darkness, and slowly, I recovered... slowly my circuits rebuilt themselves... then I broke free.  I was in a desolate landscape.  Massive dried rivers of cooled steel were around me.   I began to look around, but was chased off by a group of these tank-bots!!  That's when I found an opening underground, and I felt the calling."
--Rivers of melted steel?!  Pools of slag?!--
     There was only one place where these things existed up above, and his mention of red flashing lights supported your theory.  He had to have been on ground zero when Iacon was attacked!!
    Something about the Maximal seemed... familiar.
    Normally, if you had found a bot this slagged out, you'd give him the thruster into space, but something about this Prowl seemed different.
    "C'mon, let's head back to the base and see if we can do something about this memory glitch."

    You shut on the lab computers and began using the equipment to scan the Maximal.
    A heavy laser scanning table was sending short multi-colored beams of light through him in an almost chaotic pattern, from the maelstrom of beams, the computer cranked out detailed reports on the physiology of the Maximal.
    He was right, the Transmetal armor had undergone some intense heating about a month ago!  The computer registered the stress from the heat, but also showed that the armor handled it admirably well.  However, some of the cerebral circuitry seemed overloaded.  Probably from the pain receptors flaring up. In fact... you hit a switch, sending a short, sharp electrical jolt through the bot's infrastructure.
    He didn't flinch.
--His pain receptors are completely burnt out.  That can be as much of a liability as an asset.--
    You turned off the computers.
    The owl pushed itself up as best as it could,"So... what's the prognosis?"
    "Well, the good news is that your processing circuitry is intact.  The bad news is that your memory circuits are wiped almost completely clean."
    "You mean I've got amnesia."
    "Yeah, more or less.  I don't know if its recoverable or not.  There's also some problems with your pain receptors, but I think that will correct itself with some time."
    The bird shuffles and waddles down off the table, "So worse comes to worse, I'm just a new bot."
    "Perhaps... but that still leaves us with why you responded to the signal."
    He shrugs his wings, "I don't know.  Really, the last few days I've been in a state of shock, I think...  Most of it is really a blurr, until you forced me to say my name."
    He stumbles, awkward on his owl-legs.
    You frown as you rescue some equipment from his reach, "Why don't you transform?"
    "Transform?"
--Here we go again...--
    "Yeah, transform.  You know shift to robot mode?"
    "I have one?  I just thought I was an owl!"
    You shake your head, burying your face in a hand, "Yeah, just say your name and 'Maximize', the Maximal transformation code."
    He looks dubiously at you, "Prowl, MAXIMIZE!!"
    Quickly the owl rotates and flips, the wings moving over the shoulders, the owl head rolling down to the chest, and the legs folding out for length.   As he finishes, the newly transformed robot looks over it's arms, "Not bad.  That'll make life a little easier."
    An alarm goes off from the other room.  You spin and walk out to investigate.
    Switching on the computers there, you find that there is a rather large squadron of Transformers moving through the tunnels at the edge of your land space, about ten levels up.
    "What are they doing?" you mutter to yourself.
    "They?"
    You turn, remembering the Maximal, "Yeah, some of your friends from the city it looks like.  They are awfully low for a regular patrol."
    "Well, I've got this new form, what say we go investigate?"
    "Wait, I don't know about taking a glitching..."
    "You said I was operable, just no memory!"
    You look back at the screen, you did need to see what they were up to.  And it's not likely that an Autobot legion would show up while you were gone...

---

Cybertron: Kappa Sector, The Lair.

    You made up your mind quickly.
    "Come with me."
    You stalked off into the inner part of the laboratory with the small Maximal following.  Making your way to a table amidst the tangle of wires, circuitry boards, tubing, and probes, you flipped a switch.
    With a whir of gears and the lighting of several panels, the table revolved, and was bathed in a pool of light.  On it lay a body, slightly smaller that the Maximal at your side.   Panels were open, and several of the pieces were still in a skeletal state.  Wires ran in and out of its frame, and it's head's cranial circuitry was exposed and incomplete.
    You noticed Prowls sudden distress at your side, turning to him, you explained, "During the Great War I was a Targetmaster..."
    Seeing no comprehension in his features you tried a little more, "I was paired with a biological creature who wore this armor to turn him into a Cyberternetic half-breed of sorts.  His mind and logistical skills boosted my own, making the two of us together more powerful than either one could be alone."
    "A half-breed..." Prowl pondered, "The Targetmaster project was our first attempt at the joining of the biological to the Cybernetic..."
    You look down at him in surprise, it almost sounded like he was remembering... as if he was there...
--Impossible, the Maximals weren't even alive then, and most of the bot's have long since become retired, or became Cybertron, not Maximal...--
    Even if he were Autobot or Cybertron turned Maximal... a typical memory bank would only keep memory like that for a few hundred years at the most... It had been a good five centuries since the Targetmaster experiment had been started.  You weren't even outfitted with a Targetmaster till a good hundred years later... You didn't even remember the original outfitting!!
    You shook it off and continued, "Well, at any rate, this body is pieced together from scrap I found after the attack on Iacon.  I'm no scientist, only a second rate hack, but I've got it almost operational.  Of course, it won't be quite the same, not yet.  It needs a spark, and that I don't have."
    "Why not?"
    "Why not?  I haven't found a willing volunteer!"
    "Volunteer?  Why not use the Vat, surely Prime would give permission?"
    "Vat...?  Prime...?  What's gong through your head?!?"
    There hadn't been a Prime in centuries, and the Vat was just a myth... just an explicative used to swear by!
    "... I... I'm not sure... memories I guess.  They're scrambled, but I remember a massive Vat filled with the energies of creation.  I remember... I remember helping with it's planning... during... during a time of need..."
    "Holy slagpit..."  you plopped down on a chair.  The things he was suggesting... it was impossible, he couldn't possibly remember that... It was myth, legend... a legend of a great pool of power used to spawn the first of the Maximal's and Predacon's...
    Prowl noticed your distress, "I don't know where they are coming from, but they are definitely memories..."
    "Do you remember where  it was?!?"
    "Where it was?  Yes, I think I can... It is below Iacon... far below.  But the tunnels were sealed."
    You looked at him, and then at the targetmaster skeleton.  You had altered it with more current parts, scavenging them from the dead in the slagged city.  It had been nightmarish, but it was something that had to be done.  It's weaponry was far more advanced than your old targetmaster had been, and you new you could make it transform and move, but for now, it would only respond as a droid... it had no intelligence of it's own.
    Prowl moved over to it, and began to connect several wires...
    "What are you doing?"
    "I'm no technician, but I think I can help you make this thing operational... at least as a drone."
    "It will take a few megacycles..."
    "Not together, we can finish it within the megacycle."
    The Maximal looked at you steadily, "My hands are smaller, working on him will be considerably easier than it would be for you."
    You nod, "Then let's do it.  We may need him down below."
    Below, the Vehicons awaited there, for now, that would have to take precedence over any lost treasure hunt, no matter how incredible the treasure may be.  Something about the Maximal's story stuck you as true, something about it you believed.  You weren't sure why, but perhaps there was a reason Primus had brought him to you.

    Prowl was right, forty cycles later, you threw the final switch.  There was  a sparking and a burning smell that worried you at first, but then, the automatic controls implanted within your own system responded.  A small sub window appeared on your optics, an overlay of what the smaller Targetmaster was seeing.  Sending a test pulse of commands, you made him sit up, and then stand.
    Quickly, your circuits adjusted to the controls.
    "He looks operational." You mutter, still running scans on the datalink.
    "Then I think it's time we go and see what those Vehicon's are up to?"
    You nod, signaling the small Targetmaster to do the same.

---

Cybertron : The Lair

    Mentally, you ordered your new targetmaster to transform.  With a whirring of gears it responded, flying into your hand in weapon mode.
    You smile.  I felt great going out once more as a warrior of old.  In fact, you found yourself holding back oily tears of joy in remembrance of days long gone.
    So much had changed, yet here again, the Decepticons were back as a threat.  Now they threatened his home.
    You sent an order, and the weapon cocked and loaded the rail gun's heavier ammo supply.
    "Let's go.  You have a flight mode, so I assume you'll have no problem keeping up?  Here take this, my mobility in vehicle mode will be limited in the tunnels, so you'll have to play scout."
    You attach a small disk onto the side of Prowl's head, then attach a similar one to your own.
    "These will mask our energy signatures.  One of Exodus' little inventions from the last War. Let's go."

    About twenty cycles later, you came across the Decepticon Patrol.  Prowl had given you plenty of warning, and you had transformed to get a closer look.  The targetmaster now nestled snuggly in your hand.  You had been pleased to find that his weapon mode fit well on your jet mode's undercarriage.
    You shoved yourself up against the side of the tunnel as Prowl landed in beastmode behind you and transformed as well.
    The nine Decepticons were rolling along in eerie silence, their searchlights scoping the walls.  Each were identical tanks, with heavy rotary guns along side a cockpit mount with a rotating red optic.  They were all blue-gray and had yellowish markings. The heavy framed lights along the cockpits lit the walls on all sides, flashing past your hiding spot.
    You whispered to Prowl to follow you as they moved down a different passage.
--They are down deep indeed.  What the pit could they be looking for around here?--
    You move toward the tunnel taken by the Decepticons.
    They had stopped at a junction.  Seeming to scan something with more interest.
    You found a grating above you and crawled up onto it, shuffling your way as quietly as possible until you were over them... Prowl had followed you noiselessly and effortlessly.
    Once your foot had glanced the grate at an odd angle, and the echo rang out.
    The con's, however, seemed more interested in whatever they were scanning, and took no notice.
    Quietly, you drew the targetmaster drone, and take aim.
    The shot rang out, and announced chaos descending on the group below.
    Your head swam as your own energon levels seemed to dip.  The rail blast had completely sheered off it's head, but left you dizzy with the power output it had required.
    Prowl jumped away as a heavy blast tore apart the grating you were lying on!
    You tumble and recover, clearing your head, and switching to a lighter weapon setting.  A firestorm of blasts followed, nailing one of the tank drones head on.  To your dismay, despite the number of direct hits, the drone didn't seem to care.  You rolled away as one of the transformed tank drones smashed a heavy arm down into the ground with the spinning whir of saw blades.
    They had folded up in transformation, to stand at a height that was even larger than your own, their legs were two parallel treads, and their arms were thick claws.  The cockpit was now their head, and the cannons sat on their shoulders.
    You faded back, trying to back down one of the tunnels as Prowl jumped in, Red disks of fire flashing out into the fray.
    Explosions resounded as they hit, and you upped the power on your ammo, taking a few better placed shots as you fell back.  This time one of the tank drones was hit hard.  But it was still standing.  Prowl made sure that it was only a momentary respite.  His feathers let loose a hailstorm of pellet-like bullets, which splashed and hit with a hissing across the tank's frame.  It reared back and staggered, tripping up it's comrades.
    Unfortunately the small Maximal was too far in to retreat.
    This was bad.
    Then a roar from another tunnel, and the flare of light swinging down announced the arrival someone new.
    In segments the tunnel had become a chaotic inferno of firepower as a team of bots joined into the fight.   Through the chaos, you couldn't make much out, but you did know that the first comer was a heavy built robot of orange and black armor plating.  He had massive arms and legs, and wielded a flaming staff of some kind.  His armor had a thick, almost steam-engine look with the thick rivets and the large pipe structures on his back.
    You kept up the fire power on your side, laying down a blanket of blasts, and risking one or two more rail hits.  None were quite as successful as the first, but each did at least dent the heavy drone armor, enabling the ape to smash into it, and Prowl... who seemed to be literally everywhere... to finish them off.
    You had never seen an Maximal move THAT fast!!  He was blasting with red disks and acid spray in one corner, then suddenly appeared in another blasting off charges of electricity to fry the circuits of another tank... THEN he's be on another face in owl mode, ripping into it with steely, sharp talons!  It was unreal!
    The battle raged for Cycle upon Cycle,  but it finally ended.  As the sounds of battle faded into the dying struggles of the massive tank bots, you could hear sounds from the other side of the now blazing tunnel.  In fact, as you made your way past the burning carcasses, you recognized the voice...
    "I don't know how you did it Hunter!  No wonder you're these guys leader!"
    Prowl's voice answered in return, "Hunter?"
    "What the... who the slag...?"
    You poke through the smoke and catch your first glimpse of the group, and the first glimpse made you doubt your optics.
    "Prowl?" A robot had approached Prowl where he and the owner of the first voice stood.  This robot looked... identical to Prowl!
    Prowl turned, looking confused, "You... you know my name?"
    "Prowl!" The other owl grabbed him, "It's me!!  It's Silver!"
    You hurried over to help set things straight...
    Prowl was already stammering, "Who... I'm sorry, I really don't know..."
    The bot whose voice you recognized held his hands up, "Whoa!  What exactly is going on here!?!?"
    You step through the smoke, "I think I can answer."
    The robot turned to stare at you, optics wide with surprise.
    The owner of the first voice you heard was Streetfire.

---

Cybertron: Sector Kappa

    You step toward the newcomers. 

    "I appreciate the assist."  Looking around, you find a motley crew.  They ranged from a massive ape-like creature with heavy rivets and an odd, antiquated steam-powered look, to a female transformer of blue and silver colors.  There were five of them total.

    You nod to where Prowl stood staring at... his clone? "You know Prowl?"

    The other turned and nodded, keeping an mutated eye on Prowl, "You could say that."

    You continued after a pause, "He wandered into my tunnels.  We were here to track down these 'cons."

    Prowl interrupted, "How... do you know me?"

    A small, purple ape-bot lumbered up to them, "And why'd you call yourself Silverbolt, HunterOwl?"

    HunterOwl shook his head, "Not here, not out in the open.  Lets at least get to a tunnel where we aren't surrounded by Decepticon circuitry."

    You look down at the still smoldering tank-bots, "I must be rusty... A couple centuries of inactivity'll do that."

    The massive orange and black ape picked up one of the carcasses, "Don't be sa hard'n yeself, mate...  These blokes 're tougher 'n anythin' I've ever fought!"

    The blue and silver female gave you a saucy wink and a nod, "Yeahifwehadn'tfoughtthembeforewewouldhavemadethesameunderestimationyoumade."

    You shook your head in confusion.

    Streetfire moved over to you, "You'll get used to it.  How's it going Altima?" the red and orange Cybertron extended his sizeable smaller hand.

    You shook it, "Better.  Seems I was right."

    His eyes narrow in annoyance, "Yeah, whoda thought the Decepticons would have really returned."

    --I would...--

    Instead of voicing the thought you cleared your throat, "So, who are you guys, and why are you in my tunnels?"

    The smaller purple ape snorted, "Your tunnels?  I wasn't aware the underwarrens and sewers had a king."

    Silverbolt, or HunterOwl, held up a hand, "Altima Stratus?  We came down for the same reason.  These Con's were a little too close to home.  I see we're on the same team?"  he points down to the Autobot insignia you bore.

    You noticed for the first time that all of them, except for Streetfire, had Autobot sigils on them.

    "You're all Autobots?"

    "Aye!" the big orange and black ape tossed the carcass he was studying and held out a massive hand, "I'm 'Allowenen Jack!  'Is here's a Quickfire," he points to the female with a broad grin, "BeastBox,"he indicates the small purple ape, "an you've a'ready met HunterOwl and Streetfire 'ere."

    You nod, "So how long have you all been here?"

    HunterOwl picked up, "We've been operating as Autobots since Iacon got wiped."

    "What's going on up on the surface?"

    "As far as we know, Cybertropolis is re-opened to the populace, but Iacon itself is pretty bad off.  The Warworld didn't leave much there."

    You look down, "What are these bastards supposed to be,  clones are us?"

    Streetfire shook his head, "Not clones, drones."

    "Drones?!  I've never seen a fighting class of drones like that!!"

    "No, these are new... and there are hundreds of them up above."

    Silverbolt transformed to a black and silver owl, "If we could, let us move this discussion a bit deeper, before these drones come looking for this squad?"

    You agree, and all of you move off down the tunnel, and deeper into Kappa Sector.

    Silverbolt told his story in hushed whispers once you found a safe place.

    "... we were the generals of the Maximals.  We had inherited the position when we decided to change from our Autobot origins to become Maximals.  It was a hard decision, but we felt that they would need someone in case of a moment like this... someone who had fought and could lead them if the unthinkable happened.  There were three of us, and we chose a combiner form.  We were considered the Combat Leader force, and we formed Magnaboss.  There was Prowl, Ironhide, and myself... Silverbolt.  Each of us was chosen for our experience and knowledge.  Ironhide was one of the toughest Autobots, and had fought along side of Optimus Prime himself for millennia.  Prowl was a master tactician, and had been second in command of the Autobots for some time, and I was the leader of the Aerialbots and so had vast tactical and aerial knowledge, plus I knew what it meant to be part of a combiner team.

    At any rate, when the attack came, we were caught ashamedly by surprise.  We weren't in the main Council chambers we were at the Maximal Medical Center.  We assessed the situation, and came up with one plan.  We had to scatter.  The attack would have otherwise destroyed all of our resources.  We also knew that we would be targets for the Decepticons once they landed, so we used the technology there to rebuild ourselves.  Me and Prowl here ended up with these modes... I don't know about Ironhide.  The hospital was under attack the whole time, and we knew we were each on our own.  I must have finished first, probably because I already had a flight mode to begin with... Prowl here must have taken damage while he was still in the pod..."

    You interrupt, "Which adds up with his description of rising from Iacon's ashes."

    Prowl nodded, "So your saying I'm really some ancient Autobot warrior?"

    Silverbolt nodded, "You have history before most of these guys were ever sparks in the eyes of Primus!"

    Prowl just shakes his head in amazement.

    "Now, " Silverbolt continues, "I managed to plant the idea in these guys heads that maybe the Autobot's should return... and was happy to find that they agreed.  Despite the fact here that bot's like Beastbox here used to be Destrons..."

    Beastbox added indignantly, "And Decepticon before that."

    "And Decepticon." Silverbolt concedes, "But we all agree that these Con's are monstrous.  And we all hope that the fleet is on it's way back."

    "On it's way back?" you ask.

    "Yes.  One of the last orders we issued to the masses was to separate and regroup, then return to Cybertron.  We can only hope that they all got the message, and didn't try to make a run on the Con's."

    You nod, "So you were just heading down to attack these Con's?"

    "No...  There is a group that was separated from us.  They were spotted deep within Kappa Sector.   They haven't reported for days, and we were scouting to see what's up."

    "Another group?"

    "Ay!" added HalloweenJack, "Theyz rollin' 'bout down 'ere in a Pred vehicle'."

    "A Predicon vehicle?"

    "Yes." added Silverbolt, "A very nice one."

    You turn to Streetfire, "What's your play in all this.  I thought the Autobot's were outdated notions of wars long past?"

    His eyes shimmer in thoughtful disdain, "Well, I haven't completely given up on that idea... but these guys saved me from a Transmetal locust named Scourge.  He wanted Exodus."

    "Exodus?!  He's gone though?"

    "Yeah, well he seemed to want his studies, and thought I could give them to him."

    "So he was after the lab."

    Silverbolt interrupted, "I thought you didn't remember why?"

    Streetfire shrugs, "Now that the virus is wiped, I'm starting to remember more and more."

    "Virus?"  you ask.

    "Yeah, Scourge had some rather nasty plans on how he was going to get the data from me."

    "Then we had best not go back there yet." you mutter.

    "He may still be after you, and if we head back there, he'll know exactly where to go."

    Silverbolt nods, "Then how about lending us a hand... as a fellow Autobot?"

---

Cybertron: Sector Kappa

    You nod, "I could use a bit of help myself.  As is obvious, I was a Targetmaster once.  My bonded partner has long since ceased to exist.  However, with what was left in Exodus' lab, I pieced together this replacement, and Prowl helped me bring him to life.  However, it's still missing a spark.  It does function well enough on a limited AI for the moment..."

    Silverbolt looked at the targetmaster, who was about a third of his size, "I can't help you with a spark, but things have been so strange as of late, who knows?"

    You think for a moment, "I've never been much of a leader... so I'll just hand in for the ride, but where are we going?" you nod at Streetfire, "It's obvious that this 'Scourge' shouldn't get a hold of Exodus' lab, or his inventions... so that's not safe for us."

    Silverbolt shook his head, "I'm afraid 'safe' isn't in the job description today.  Like I said, we're following some friends.  They've been separated from us for a while, and we think that they've been spotted down here."

    After a mega cycle of searching the dark warrens of Sector Kappa, a signal finally registered to the group.  Picking up the pace, you quickly found a heavy set of treads marks in the loose metal on the ground.

    BeastBox shined a light on the treadmarks, that were twice as wide as you were tall, if not more so, "That's what B'boom reported.  A big Predacon vehicle.  We must be on the right track."

    Quickly, you began to make your way down the huge tunnel.

    Then, the sounds of battle became apparent, intermixed with the signatures of multiple tank drones.

    Streetfire shook his head, "Something's being attacked, and attacked hard!  there's at least thirty or so drones, and something large.  It's got a shield up, whatever it is.  There's no doubt that the tunnel is hot though..."

---

Cybertron: Sector Kappa

    You sigh, "Targetdrone, transform!"

    The small robot shifts shape and lands solidly into your hand as you scan the area, "Here we go again..." you mutter.

    Ahead, the drones cannons could be heard, and answering fire from loud autocannons.

    Already, Halloween Jack and Beastbox were pounding down the tunnel, their thick gorilla legs driving them toward the sounds of battle.

    Prowl suddenly grabs your arm, as you turn to look at him, an odd feeling comes over you.

    The silver and blue Transmetal's eyes rotated up at you, but you had a feeling that something else gazed upon you through them.

    They shimmered a silvery blue color, and an odd, echoing voice emanated from his vocal emitters, "You have a different path than they."

    Confused you jerk your arm away as if burned by the smaller Maximal's touch.  He seemed not to notice, and continued with his plea, "Beyond the battle there lies the beginning of life.  There, you must stop those that would jeopardize all that Cybertron was made to protect.  Hurry... else all shall be lost."

    With that, the eyes returned to their previous color, and Prowl shook his head, "What the..."

    You know that whatever had spoken to you was already gone.

    With the same uncanny assuredly, you know that if you pause, that something important will be lost.  You had no clue what, but you knew that you must do whatever you could.

    With a roar, you transform, to dive into the chaos ahead.

    And chaos it was.

    Thirty or so tank drones now surrounded an immense Predacon ATV.  The vehicle was well armed and armored, but so were the drones.  Each drone barely spanned the width of one of the six enormous wheels, but their cannons tore holes in the shielding and shattered the thick armor.

    In the two forward turrets, you could make out the forms of gunners, one orange and yellow, the other pale blue.  Both were firing with abandon at the drone forces below.

    Immediately, you knew, however that it was a loosing battle.  Only two tank drones were smoldering, the others bore marks of damage, but none were immobile, or even slightly impaired.  Already, one of the massive wheels of the ATV was shredded and melted, but the ATV was still moving down the enormous tunnel, albeit slowly.

    Halloween Jack had transformed and was using his heavy lead-like body to pound through the backs of the drones. Beastbox was by his side, firing with the two thick cannons on his back.  Quickfire was a blur of movement, dodging blasts, and firing her own weapons.

    Beside you were Prowl and Silverbolt.  Streetfire burned along the ground below you in bike mode.

    You all hit with the power of a thunderclap from behind.  Causing the tank drones to turn some of their ire away from the huge vehicle.

    The battle was pitched, and you found that it was impossible to stay in the air above them.  You had landed, and were firing with the targetdrone, but you could constantly feel the pull toward the tunnel, past the battle.

    However, you didn't think you would make it, not alone.

    "Streetfire!"

    Your comm activated, "Yeah, Altima?  I'm a bit busy here!"

    You couldn't see him from where you were, and you didn't have time to worry about it, "I need a distraction and a clear shot.   Need to clear a path."
    "With one shot?  You still a bit delusional, aren't you?"

    "Look, trust me, just get as many of the drone's attention away from me as possible."

    "Gotcha, got a lock on you now, , can get about seven of them in a row leading you off on vector 3.45 from your current local."

    "On it.... ready and set."

    With that, you see a huge flare of yellow and orange fire... one of Streetfire's patented fire balls.  He probably didn't even scratch any of them, but you watched as a slew of tankdrone heads turned toward him.

    "Targetdrone, Railgun!"

    The gun shifted slightly, realigning it's powercells for direct access.  You brace yourself and squeeze on the trigger.

    Your optics fade as the blast roars through the drones, knocking the massive bodies aside.

    Five of them were hit hard, only one was destroyed, however, the others just knocked prone.

    That was good enough though.

    You shook your head, clearing it of the dizzyness of the sudden power drain.

    Transforming, you roared to action, zooming through the newly cleared line of bots.  Unfortunately, you quickly found that your engines were only about fifty percent operable due to power loss.  Still, it was enough to outpace the slow-to-recover drones.

    You quickly became aware of Streetfire below you, "Where are you heading??! The battle's back there!"

    "There's something else up here... something that is more important!"

    "More important than a bunch of Autobot's getting slagged?!"

     Out of the darkness, the tunnel ended abruptly, you transformed and landed, skidding to a halt a few inches from a doorway.

    You suddenly realize that the tunnel had narrowed immensely.  Your power levels were slowly climbing back up, but you still weren't at even three quarters power.

    Transforming beside you, Streetfire muttered, "What the Pitt..."

    And something inside of you told you that it was just that.

    For beyond the door lay a room bathed in a bluish glow... there were several others here, all Decepticons. 

    But what drew your attention was the massive hole in the center of the room.  The pit emanated the glow of a thousand sparks... and immediately something within you recognized it.

    "The Vat..."

---

Cybertron: the Vat

    --A living partner again...--

    You knew what the Vat was, and what it was supposed to be able to do.  This was your chance to replace the mindless targetdrone with a real Cybertronian.

    Quickly, turning toward Streetfire, you whisper urgently, "We must secure the Vat!  Help me find a way to activate it!"

    Streetfire's eyes glitter in the blue light, "And what about them?"

    There is the report of heavy gunfire and the hiss of missiles from the massive bot standing directly in front of you.  Luckily, it was all directed toward the two Decepticons that stand at the lip of the Vat.  Not so lucky was that at least one of the Decepticons was quick enough to dodge the blast.  Huge chunks of ground shattered upward from the violent explosions.

    "The Vat!  We've gotta distract that bastard from firing any more rockets in here!" you activate the targetdrone and blast the tank bot from the back.  The blast, however was deflected off of the thick armor, but it does make him turn an irate, red optic around to you.

    You move as the heavy gattling cannon on his shoulder swiveled and began to fire.

    Streetfire had already transformed into his streetbike mode  and was making tracks to the edge of the Vat itself.

    You slide across the floor from your dive and fire back at the hulking robot.

    The blasts scatter across the thick armoring, charring it's surface, but not seeming to do any real damage.

    "Crap.  Computer, scan that Decepticon!  What am I facing?!"

    --Decepticon armor similar to previously encountered drones.--

    "Great," you mutter underneath dodging a missile blast that shatters the wall above you, " What about weak points?"

    Immediately, red crosshairs appeared on your optics registering a small patch near the midsection of the tank bot.

    "Bingo..." you fire, blasting through his armor at the point, sending the robot staggering back.

    Only to straighten up with an even angrier glow.

    "SLAG!!"  you bellow as his guns rip open the ground below you.

    The other three Decepticons at least saw fit to stand aside as the battle continued.  In fact, from the glances you allow yourself, it appeared that one of them, a gray-green bat-winged robot, was helping Streetfire bring the Vat systems online!

    Meanwhile, you were leading this Con's fire against... as far as you can tell... non-critical walls.  The chamber was huge at least, and you could use your jets to fly about,  but even at full speed, you found it difficult to keep ahead of the blasts as they echoed around you.

    "Altima!" your com unit snapped on, "I've got it online!"

    Just then, there was a loud explosion from above.   The sound of tearing metal filled the large chamber, and the ceiling, above the Vat, collapsed in a thunderous onslaught.

    You landed on the ground, covering yourself as fragments of rubble, mixed with energy sparks from the Vat, flew around the chamber.

    As the smoke settled,  you glanced around to see that Streetfire and his Decepticon helper were ok, as was the tank bot.  The insectoid was nowhere to be seen, but then, you don't remember seeing him for some time.

    Rubble had collapsed onto the Vat, partially covering the wide, glowing blue hole in the center of the room. 

    Instantly, the rooms lights flickered and died, and emergency klaxons began to sound.  Red emergency lights flashed around the room, and an odd sense of urgency mixed with a timeless pause of all activity, as if something had reached into your spark and frozen you to the spot.

    You felt your whole frame go cold, your CPU reeling with a sense of vertigo that tore through you.

    The blue energy that shined up from the vat gave an odd shadow wash to the rubble that was situated above the back half of the pit.

    Then, a distinct red glare shown up from the interior of the vat. So intense it was visible through even the shimmering blue radiance of the energy from below.

    Unable to move, you watched as an arm reached up from the pit.  It was bonelike, with shimmering red and blue 'veins' running up the skeletal structure.  Steel claws extended as it slammed down on the lip of the Vat.  Two bone wings appeared, stretching up with a noise not unlike the cracking of bones.  A dark form hoisted itself up with a haunting, echoing roar.  It's head, cyclopean and made of skeletal matter.  It's arms also bone, and bone ran across the thick black armor that covered it's body, shoulder and legs.  A black and red cockpit sat atop it's shoulder, and red and blue veins seemed to pump a glittering liquid across the whole of it.

    You felt the cold of death emanate from the creature as it looked around the room in the flashing red lights from the sirens.  It's one, large red eye taking in each of the transformers that stood around.

    One of the Decepticons that had stood, you assumed watching the fight between you and the tank-bot, stepped forward.  This one also looked as though he was made of bone, but his was smooth, and covered with red, archaic writing.  The robot reached forward hesitantly toward the hideous apparition, recognition flashing in the black depths of his eyes.

    "Bladewing....?"

    The skull-bot looked down on his with a crack of his neck, his jaw twisted into a skeletal grin of hideous aspect as he answered in the same, haunting echo, "Bladewing has gone to hell. We remain."

---

Cybertron: The Vat

    You look at the strange newcomer.  His black armor and bone structure gave you the chills.  There was something definitely non-Cybertronian about him, and something that reached down into you on a primal level to create the darkest feeling of horror.

    Turning to the other bone-armored Decepticon.  He was smooth armored, with red etching up and down his legs and wings.  His dark eyes stared in astonishment at the freakish monstrosity, "You! Decepticon!"  The Decepticon turned to look at you with some effort, "You know this.... thing!?"

    The Decepticon's head jerked back to look at the monster, "What has become of you?"he asks the creature, his vocal circuits still a bit shaky. "What are you now?!?"

    "I am as I always was. Not as the pathetic coward you once knew, but as the champion I was always destined to be."  the echoing voice stayed cold and contemptuous.
    "Champion? Champion of what?"  The Decepticon's fist began to ball up.
    A low chuckle... one that seemed to boarder on madness came from the creature, "The champion of Death. I am what you fear, what all Cybertronians fear. I am the Reaper of sparks. Stay clear of me herald. Your time will come soon enough."

    You had had enough.  The monster stood in your way, and Streetfire seemed mesmerized in shock where he stood to the right of it.  You begin to move towards the control panel, where Streetfire stood staring at you in astonishment, "I require use of that machine.  You had best find a way to control your 'friend.' "

    There is a crackling noise of bones as the dark creature turned to look at you, his jawbone stretching even further up in his horrible grin.

    "Foolish Autobot.  Your spark shines with a brilliant light that will be joyful to extinguish."

    With that, the robot reaches back and with a noise, like bone snapping in half,  he pulls forth a thick, short bone.  He lunges at you, a blade stretching up from the bone 'handle'  A glittering green arc slashes down at you in the blink of an eye.

    At the last moment, something slams into you from the front, knocking you clear.  There is a agonizing scream and the splatter of hot mech fluid.

    As you land, you find another robot on top of you, you quickly push yourself up,  pulling the other bot with you.  That is, until a hot splash of fluids and the smell of smoke registers to your CPU.  Looking down, you realize that you are holding the top half of Streetfire.  The light was rapidly fading from his eyes, "... find... Exodus..."  His body rapidly turns the dull gray of death, loosing all of the brilliant colors that he had marked him as living.

    You stood, dropping the body to the floor with a dull thud.

    You and Streetfire hadn't always seen things eye to eye, but regardless, he had been in many ways your brother.

     Suddenly there was a shuddering thud... and explosion from the Vat.  The green and gray fleshy robot that had been helping Streetfire yelled, "It's going to go critical in a matter of cycles!"  And dove for the massive swirling blue pit of energy, as if to carry out the sparks held within by hand!

    You raise your head, the flashing red lights shimmering around you.  The monsterbot gave a wicked glare, his solitary optic glowing brightly.  In it's red depths you could see a swirling blue apparition... a spark.

    "He is mine now, Autobot.  Soon, you shall all join him."

    Sheer anger welled within you and you leaped at him, the robot was ready, however, and twisted and threw you to the side.  You twisted as well, and managed to block his wrist, keeping his sword from claiming a new victim.

    But immediately you realized the strength of this new creature.  Despite his relatively smaller size, he yanked you around, pulling you nearly off your feet and throwing you past him, where he readied himself for another strike.

    You jump aside as the strike slices into your arm, nearly severing it!

--This is going badly...--

    "AUTOBOT!" you hear a yell... You quickly identify the source as the gray-green batwinged robot.  You glance to see him over the body of your targetmaster.  It's chest was open, and the robot was doing something to it.

    You nearly dodged another blow, but ended up loosing the rest of your arm instead.

    Suddenly a voice in your head cried...

--Call on me!!--

    You reached out, a name appearing in your CPU, "Shatterblast!  TRANSFORM!"

    There was a screech as a red and gold raven swooped down on the bone-bot.  Sending him back in defense.

    The,  a heavy blast struck the bone bot from behind.  He staggered forward, spinning to keep you in his optic range, as well as taking in his new adversaries.

    At the doorway, where the massive tank bot had been... and was no longer... stood two MORE newcomers.  This time an extremely slagged out Autobot in black and gold stood... or more accurately leaned... next to a tall and commanding beast-bot of orangish reddish hue.  That one's face was black, faceplated, with a red optic visor, he bore a claw-tail for one arm, and a dino-head as the other!

    "ME think that enough, bonehead."  roared this new robot as he lowered his head-hand-weapon that was still smoking from the blast that had erupted from it's jaws.

    Without even blinking the black and bone robot transformed into a bat creature with bone wings and a solitary red eye.  He silently tore off, up into the whole in the ceiling.

    You see the other bone-Decepticon transform as well, and take pursuit.

    You begin to join him, but a sharp pain from your arm made you restrain yourself.  The gold and red Raven landed on your shoulder. His design had changed slightly, causing it to look smoother, almost organic in a fashion.

    It cocked it's head at you, "I'm thinking you might wanna count your losses and wait on that fight, cowboy."  Smiled the bird.

    "I hate to interrupt," the black and gold robot spoke from the doorway, "But those lights and that smoke might mean it's time to leave this place."

    The large robot that accompanied him looked back with an inquisitive optic.

    "No," forestalls the black and gold, "It's over.  Now, the Vat will truly pass into history."

    You look at the Vat.  The gray green transformer was gone.  Now, only you, and these two newcomers were in the room.   You look at the massive pit in the center of the room.

    The Vat.

    So your instincts were right.  This was the place that was said to have spawned the Maximals and the Predacons... the place that supplied Cybertron with a new race that was capable of ending the last great war.

    As if reading your mind, Shatterblast spoke, "He's right.  This place has served Primus' purpose.  It's time to let it slip into the archives."

    You look over at Streetfire's body.

    "He's with the Matrix now.  His shell will now become one with the end of the Vat."

    You nod, and head to the door...

---

Cybertron: Sector Kappa

    Soon, you and the others were gathered in a nearby tunnel.  The explosion of the Vat had shaken the planet for several kilometers, and no doubt had a sizeable portion of Cybertropolis wondering what had happened.  Looking around, you were a sad bunch.  Besides yourself and Shatterblast, there was Prowl and Silverbolt, Quickfire, Halloween Jack,  and Beastbox.  Now, there was a new group as well, consisting of, the black and gold robot that looked like he had been through a war... his name was Dreadnought, with him had come Grimlock and his group called the Dinobots; Slag, Snarl, Swoop, and Sludge.  Also, there was a Predacon named Auquasting, two other Autobots, Whirl and Sureshot, and an inactive Squawktalk.

    "It seems our forces have grown considerably..."  All of them, however, were in sad shape, except for the Dinobot's that is... they're forms were new and powerful, each stood now in beast mode, each being some kind of prehistoric lizard creature.  They also bore neither Autobot, Decepticon, Destron, Predacon, or Maximal signatures.  Rather, they registered AS 'Dinobots' on your sensors.

    The Autobot named Dreadnought pushed himself up from where he was leaning, "Still doesn't do us much good at the moment, we all look like we took on a loosing battle against a trash compactor.  Anyone know where we might find a good CR?"

    Silverbolt nods, "We might as well return to our base.... we can repair there..."

    "But where to then?" you ask, "Streetfire's last words were to find Exodus... but I don't even know what's happened these past years while I've been holding down the lab."

    Shatterblast, in raven mode, lands on your shoulder, "Exodus?  Who's that?"

    You look at him as best you can, "Exodus was an Autobot scientist, and a good friend of mine.  In a way, you might consider him your creator.  It was from his models that I built your frame!"

    Dreadnought shook his head, "Let's get repaired, while we do that, we can all compare notes on what's happened so far.... oh, and if anyone's interested, that ATV is stocked full of weaponry.  Consider it a present from the Autobot relief fund."

    Silverbolt looked surprised, "Then I suggest we load up!  Everyone, carry what you can... Beastbox, Quickfire, try to rig a few hover sleds from those leftover tank drone pieces..."

    And so, soon, you found yourself in the Autobot's base.  Swoop and Quickfire had made sure to cover your tracks as you made your way, limping, back home. 

    There, each of you spent time being rebuilt by the repair chambers.  There were many of them, and a decent power supply to draw from.  That, combined with Quickfires skilled hands and some leftover parts from the tankdrones, helped to speed the general level of recovery.  You even incorporated a few skeletal pieces and some scrap metal leftovers from the tanks to have your own arm rebuilt, good as new.

    Dreadnought's Autobot group apparently had been sent to the Warworld to see what they could find out.  Apparently, a Decepticon named Clench was controlling the Decepticon forces from there.  They were captured though, and one of their numbers was mindwashed and placed back with them during an escape in an attempt to track them to the Autobot main base.  They did escape, and managed to find two ambassadors for  the Predacon council.  In turn, these ambassadors lead them to a place called the Armory.  It was there that Dreadnought found Grimlock and his Dinobots. They were attacked there, and one of the ambassadors was taken by the Decepticons.  Also, the Dinobots, an ancient group of Autobot warriors apparently, were completely scrapped by the tank drone and aerial drones.  They took the Dinobot's sparks, and held them in the CR chambers of the ATV that the Predacon's had also supplied them with. They also loaded it with the weapons from the armory.  Then set off again, Squawktalk, the one who had been mindwashed, still had not been discovered, and managed to trick them into heading toward the tank drone army.  The Dinobot's were rebuilt though, but Dreadnought really didn't say how they were built from scratch and how their bodies were so advanced looking, but then, perhaps the Pred's ATV had some extra technology....

    Silverbolt plugged this in with his group, that had been the second half of the Autobot forces, and had stayed on Cybertron to find out that the Decepticons were using the old warehouse section to mass produce the drones.   Apparently there really weren't many true Decepticons in the force above Cybertron, they had used sheer intimidation to take control of the planet, and now of course had the drone armies to back them up!

    The Cybertronian armada was missing,  Iacon had been blasted to bits, and the Cybertronian councils presumably with it, but with the re-appearance of the Predacon ambassadors, as well as that of Prowl and Silverbolt, the Decepticons may not have done as thorough a job as they thought.

    Other than that, life for the Cybertronians in Cybertropolis had returned to normal.  They went about their daily work now, under Decepticon control, without too much to worry about.  Iacon's borders were being rebuilt, and quickly... soon the expedient Cybertronians would have erased any sign of the massacre that had occurred little less than a month prior.

    Your CPU swam trying to conglomerate all this info.  Finally, you shook it off, getting a general ideal of the events that had taken place.

    Decepticons came, conquered, and these guys had banded together to fight them.  That was good enough for you.

    "What about Exodus?"

    "Your scientist friend?"  a large metallic blue baboon named B'boom asked.

    "If he is alive, he must not be allowed to fall into Decepticon hands."

    A few of the bots surrounding you looked uncomfortable. 

    Silverbolt stepped forward, "You'll have to forgive them, Altima. Remember that some of those gathered here were once considered Decepticons, many centuries ago.  But we all banned together during the onslaught, especially since these new Decepticons have chosen Unicron as their mastiff..."

    A general growl of agreement seemed to pass, you remember pictures of the Warworld and the grotesque horn that served as a symbol of the ancient god of Chaos...

    "Forgive me, I think of all menaces as Decepticon."

    "And in this case, we have to remember that you are right..." sighed Beastbox, "Those slaggin' repos chose the wrong god to flout as their master."

    You nod, "Then it's up to us to get rid of the Decepticons...."

    "Which is no easy task, " the lanky blue Autobot named Whirl commented, "They're cranking out those drones like there's no tomorrow."

    B'boom added, "In fact, I've even heard that they're planning on shipping the drones out to other cities soon..."

    "We can't let that happen." The massive Dinobot Grimlock leaned a thick reddish orange dinosaur head over the gathering table around which you all stood, "If Con's make way around globe, we never break grip."

    You sigh, "If we could find Exodus, he may be a great asset..."

    Grimlock turns his large head sideways, "Me heard of Exodus.  He build lots of equipment for Armory before Autobots all left.  But records show him gone, disappeared, presumed dead."

    Silverbolt shook his head, "Streetfire told me something, something about the Decepticon Scourge wanting to know where Exodus was....  Perhaps he's not dead."

    "If so," the dinobot called Swoop spoke, "Then we can not allow him to fall into the hands of our enemy."

    "Agreed." grunted Grimlock, "But where we look for him?"

    Where indeed...  Exodus hadn't been heard of for centuries...

    Grimlock turned, "What about this 'Scourge'"

    Dreadnought added, "We met him at the armory.  He's a Decepticon insect, a Transmetal."

    You think back, "He was there, at the Vat as well."

    "I saw him!" Shatterblast transformed and landed on the table, "there was something... something that Doctor Archeville put inside me... I think I can track him!"

    "Doctor who?!" you ask, startled.

    "Doctor Archeville, the one who transplanted my spark... He shared some part with Scourge, and I think he must have given me the same link!"

    Grimlock transformed, the dino head becoming one massive hand, and his tail becoming another.  He brought the tail arm down on the table with a thud, "Then that be our next step.  We find Exodus.  Altima, it your friend.  You take Swoop and Whirl with you, find what you can.  Dreadnought, you find what you can about this Doctor Archeville.   Me saw him leave, he not like most Cybertronians.  And if he smart enough to put a spark into a body, we could use his help.  Me and Silverbolt will get this base armed and set for a true war."

    And so a new quest had begun...

---

Cybertron: Autobot base

    You look at the two other robots and sigh, "Well, I'm no leader..."

    "Good," grunts the one called Swoop with a ruffle of his blue and yellow feathers, "I'm no follower.  But seeing as it is your friend, perhaps you might know someplace where we might start looking for him?" 

    You give him a good look over for the first time.  Swoop was one of the team that had appeared with Dreadnought.  He was some kind of Beast Warrior, but his technology was far more advance than any you've seen.  He had blue and yellow colors, with one wing draped across his chestplate, and an odd, almost reptilian head for a hand.   He also gave off a rather unique signature.  It registered in your systems as 'Dinobot,' the same as Grimlock and the others of his group. 

     You give him a nod, "We might as well poke around Exodus' lab for clues..."    

    Whirl, a tall, light blue, lanky robot with a solitary red optic for a face shrugged, "If it's got the technology you mentioned, perhaps we could find a few gadgets to help us out?"

    You shake your head, "Agreed then?"

    Swoop transformed, an odd light surrounding his parts as he did so.  He became an awkward looking bird that darted up into the air as if he was made from nothing!

    You looked at Whirl and followed suite, transforming into the slick silver jet.

    Whirl was by your side as a long blue attack chopper.

    Quickly, the three of you set to the air...

    Exodus' lab was dark and silent as you entered it.

    In fact, all the security devices were shut down.

    You and the others stood in a cluster outside of the underground entrance...

    "I'm not reading any signatures..." Whirl whispered, "Whoever it is might be gone."

    Swoop shook his head, "Something's here."

    "Are you sure?" you turn to look at the Dinobot, his eyes were glittering silver in the darkness.

    "I am sure, something is wrong in the winds."

    You turn back, "Shatterblast, beast mode.  Go in and take a look."

    Softly the weapon transformed into the golden bird, taking flight in through the door.  Immediately, a video panel appeared on your optics, showing you what the targetmaster was looking at.

    The lab looked untouched, everything sitting in its original spot.

    Everything was dark... except for a pale light coming from a back room.

    "Careful Shatterblast, you don't know what's waiting back there..."

    The raven dropped to the floor, stepping forward slowly, extending it's optics to get a look through the doorway.

    Inside there was a monitor still on, unmanned.  There was some information still scrolling across it.

    Shatterblast's voice crackled over your comm, "He's not here, but he left recently, I can still sense him..."

    Something in the picture seemed wrong...  There was something out of place on the control panel.

    You see Shatterblast beginning to move forward.

    "WAIT!"

    The movement stopped, "What?  Do you see something I don't?"

    "Zoom in on the lower left, under the panel..."

    The video screen zoomed in as directed.

    There was a bomb under the table.

    "I see your point..." Scattershot muttered, "It looks like a motion sensor, I'm probably lucky it didn't pick me up already."

    You pause, considering what step to make next...

---

Sector Kappa: Exodus' Lab

    "Uhm.... anyone know how to disarm a bomb?" You look back at the other two.

    They both shrug and shake their heads in the negative.

    The raven lands on your shoulder, returning from the Lab, "There's no way.  If we go in, it goes off... "

    Swoop steps forward, "Tell me, is it motion sensitive?"

    "Yeah... why?"  Shatterblast cocked his head sideways and looked at the brightly plumaged bot.

    I have an idea....  I think I might be able to get something there to contain the brunt of the force... but I'm not positive.

    "What is it?"  you look at Swoop inquiringly.

    "I can channel a bubble of air around it, a thick wall of pressure, and try to move it...  It may set it off, but at least the pressure should cushion the explosion."

    "Cushion it how much?"

    "I'm not sure.  I won't lie, it will still likely do considerable damage if it does go off, but at least it's something, and at least we may be able to salvage something from the lab afterward."

    You look back.  If damage was done to the lab, you might not be able to do anything more with the equipment there.  Then again, if you didn't try something, then there was no point... the lab would be lost for all eternity at any rate...

---

Cybertron: Exodus' Lab

    You looked startled, "If ANY explosion goes off, we may lose valuable equipment.  I'd like to exhaust all options before we do that.  I do have another idea."

    You moved into the lab, very carefully staying away from the inner lab's doorway.

    When in position, you transformed to jet mode and fired up your afterburners.

    Tons of dust flew about...  As it fell, much of it passed in front of the varied beams sent out from the little bomb.  They formed a massive pattern across the room, seeking out any movement around it.

    You smiled, " Ah... yes, I thought it would."

    Finding a crystal panel in the main room, you shattered it, making a collection of small, reflective shards.  Then taking one of the shards, you moved towards the closest beam.

    Whirl grabbed your arm, "What are you doing?  Trying to get killed?"

    You pulled away and turned back to the lasers, "This requires my total concentration.  Get back out of the blast radius in case this doesn't work!"

    Immediately Swoop and Whirl transformed and careened out of the lab area. 

    You look down to see Shatterblast standing in robot mode with his arms crossed.

    "You too,"  you motion for him to leave.

    "Nuhuh... we're bonded , remember?  You die, and you take me with you.  I'd rather stay here and find out if you screw up first hand.  Beside, you may need an extra pair of hands."

    You sigh and turn back to the deed...

    Two megacycles of excruciating work later, you had a small path cleared to the console.

    You shuffled forward, with Shatterblast leading the way ... since he could walk without crouching and crawling.

    Upon reaching the console, you look at the monitor's screen.  It had been used to scan some maps and old documents...

    "Shatterblast, work on downloading that, I'm gonna see if I can make a path to anything useful."

    You move back out a bit, giving you more space to separate the beams, and begin to align more small crystals.

    "Hey Stratus..." the comm unit crackled, it was Swoop's voice, "How's it going?"

    "I'm in the lab, Shatterblast is seeing what was accessed in the monitor, and I'm slowly making a path toward the storage areas..."

    "Move any slower and Scourge is likely to find your Exodus before we ever get outta here!"

    "Good point, but I want...  uhoh..."

    Shatterblast turned to see where a flaw in the crystal you just used was reflecting a beam straight into your chest.

    "Oh... crap..."

---

Cybertron: Exodus' Lab

    You winced.

    "Shatter... get that info and run!  I'm heading for the lab to grab as much as I can, then  I'm getting out of here... MOVE!!!"

    You run.  the clock beginning to tick as the bomb arms itself.

    With blinding speed, you opened the locker that Exodus gave you the key to so long ago, and grabbed it's contents.  Three packages, wrapped in an opaque plastic substance.  You then grabbed the designs for the targetmaster shell and ran.

    Once you reached Swoop and Whirl, you collapsed to the ground, as the lab exploded behind you.

    Your optics welled with emotion, energon tears burning down your cheek as you stood, "My entire life... all I had in the world... gone..."

    You hang your head.

    Soon, you and your group were at a computer module, one of the access stations to Cybertron's mainframe.... above ground.  Whirl and Swoop kept an eye out for any patrols that got curious as you had Shatterblast play the information.

    There were graphs and diagrams on fusion technology.  Bits and pieces on the implementations that Exodus had worked on, from energon fusing to weapons capabilities.  Also, there was a cross reference on nano-technology, but that really hadn't been Exodus' area of expertise.

    Finally, there was an odd encryption.  A layover examination of directory structures...  You puzzle at it, as you watched it seem to fall into each other overlapping and...

    "Forming a map!?"  Shatterblast interrupted from your shoulder.

    Indeed, the final step of the overlay was to superimpose it onto a map of the city of Greater Cybertropolis.

    It did indeed create a map. 

    Within the megacycle, you and the others stood in a dilapidated station...  a transportation conduit.  There, you stood, looking up and down the long tunnel.  It hadn't been used for centuries, perhaps then only by Exodus himself.  There were no rail cars, nor even energy running through the ancient tunnel.

    "But Scourge has been here." Shatterblast grimaced.

    "That same feeling?" you turned and look at him.

    "Yeah,  I can sense that he was here some time ago... if he followed the tunnel, he's a good ways ahead of us."

    Suddenly, a light filtered through from the entry door, and there was a sudden explosion.

    "DRONES!" yells Swoop, as you and the others drop back, moving onto the railway itself.

    "How'd they find us.... WHY did they find us?!"  Whirl yells.

    "Who cares!  They found us...  Time to do some damage!"  you're eyes sparkle...

---

Cybertron: Iacon

    The first of the drones moves onto the station platform from the large hole he had made through the entryway.

    "Shatterblast, rifle mode!" you yell.

    The golden raven converts into a rifle, landing in your hand.  You unleash a volley of blasts at the first of the thick armored tank drones.  He falls back, his forward chestplate torn open.

    You hold back your surprise as you roll to the side, behind the nearby wall of the tunnel.

    "I suggest we radio for backup!"  you yell.

    "Why bother?!  There's only twice our number... You afraid of a challenge?" Whirl yells back as you hear a series of explosions that shake the tunnels. 

    There is also the low hum of a wind that has seemed to pick up within the tunnel as you see Swoop jump into the air, dodging a blast from one of the drones.  His spark crystal was glowing underneath the feather wing that was draped across his chest.   He released several well placed shots, and his opponent exploded in a ball of fire.

    You shrug and spin around the corner, firing several powerful blasts at the drones. 

    Again, the drone falls, torn open by the firepower of the Targetmaster.

    "They didn't fall like this earlier!" you yell.

    You hear Shatterblast, "You forget, you've gotten an upgrade!"  

    You see one fire at Swoop, but his blast is bent in midair, causing it to soar past the Dinobot.   You could almost see the air shimmering around the Dinobot.  A vicious wind blew around the tunnels now as he aimed his own weapon and fired three shots, sheering the Drone's head from it's shoulders. 

    Whirl gave a cackle and flexed back, firing missiles from several packs on his body.  They smashed the entry of the station, sealing off access by  any more drones.

    "That should do it!"  he yells over the echoing rumble.

    "Not quite." Mutters swoop, "There's something foul in the air..."  Sure enough, you hear a whining noise from down the tunnel, back toward Cybertropolis.

    "More drones."  You grimace.

    "More targets." Whirl's solitary red optic glittered.

---

Cybertron: tunnel station on the outskirts of Cybertropolis

    You quickly and carefully assessed the situation, "Alright then... Swoop, can you raise HQ?  Tell them that we're heading out... use a secure channel."

    Swoop shakes his head, "No can do.  If we signal them, there's still a chance one of these zombie bots picks up on it."

    There's a snort from Whirl, "We can handle the bug alone at any rate.  C'mon let's go!"

    You nod, not happy with not warning the base, but Swoop may be right, "Then that's that, we're going after Scourge."

    Tossing Flashfire into the air, where he transforms to raven mode, you convert to flight mode and blaze along the tunnelway... out of Cybertron's city limits

    "How far do you think this Scourge got?"  you yell over the echoing of your thrusters.

    Swoop was loping along side of you, his wings somehow managing to keep pace.  Whirl was slightly behind, but not by much.

    "Well, he's got several mega-cycles of a lead on us.  So it's hard to say!  What exactly do you think this 'Scourge' is up to?"

    "I'm not sure.. probably wants a bigger firecracker, figures if he finds Exodus, he can force some techno secrets out of him!"

    As you were talking, there was a flash of blue-green light!  Suddenly you were tumbling, in robot mode, across the ground of the tunnel.  Sparks shot out as your armored frame skidded along the ground!

    You reach out, grabbing onto anything that comes into reach with frame jarring contact.   Within segments it is over, and you find yourself under a pile of rubble.

    "What.... what happened?!"

    You hear Whirl moan, "I'm not sure, but it sure hurt like hell."

    There is a flapping noise, "What the pit was that all about." comes Swoop's voice, "You two loose your senses?  You just transformed in mid flight!"

    You push yourself up.  Your hands were smoking still, as were several other pieces of your body!

    There was another groan, and you see a small pile of your rubble shift.  Shatterblast pushed his way out from under.  He too was in bad shape.

    "A trap?"  you mutter.

    Swoop spins and flies back up the tunnel a ways.  Quickly he returns with a small , round device.

    "Swoop, Maximize!"  screeches the bird.  He falls to the ground, looking at the small module, "Here's the culprit.  It's some kind of field generator!"

    "Great,"  Whirl was standing, you can see where several of his smaller wings were bent badly along his legs and arms, "And we waltzed into it..."

    You flex, the damage you took wasn't too bad, you were pretty sure you could still fly, "Why didn't it affect you?"  you look at Swoop.

    "I don't know..."  he pushed something on the trap, and a blue field shimmers around the tunnel.

    Instantly, you transform down into your vehicle mode, plopping on the ground like a beached whale.  Whirl and Shatterblast also transformed, but landed a more upright.

    "Do you mind not doing that!?"  you grunt, the ringing force of landing without landing gear still reverberating through your frame.

    "Oops... sorry." the bird shrugged.

    "Nevermind that,"  Whirl grunted as he transforms back to robot mode, "We've got multiple contacts closing fast."

    "Aerodrones?" You transform as well.

    "Yeah, looks like it,  they were keeping pace with us...."

    "Then let's make sure they don't gain any more ground."  Your optics flash dangerously.

    Whirl nods, "My thoughts too, but in a slightly different way... I'm too damaged to keep up with you two.  I'll stay here and delay 'em.  You two get after Scourge."

    You shake your head violently, "No way, we're not leaving anyone behind!"

    Whirl chuckles, "I'm not talkin' sacrifice here.  Even if things could get to hot, I could loose those drones down in the lower levels, there's a entry every half mile or so.   I'm not sacrificin' my skidplates for you two boneheads...Now quit yer yappin' and go!"

    Swoop looks over at you and shrugs, pocketing the device and transforming back to bird mode.

    Sighing, you follow suit, and the two of you were off.

    As you thundered through the tunnels, your sensors showed a sudden dropoff of Aerodrone targets following you.  Within segments you lost track of them completely. 

    "I'm expanding my sensor range to maximum.  We've got to make sure we don't hit any more traps!"  you yell over at Swoop. 

    Cycles passed as you made your way over what must have been a sizeable chunk of this quadrant of the planet!  Then, without warning, your sensors flared...

    "I've got three contacts!  One Autobot...."  you paused to double check, and with a creeping dread in your voice you finished, "and two Decepticon..."

---

Cybertron: ??

    You slowed as you see the signatures ahead of you.  Transforming to robot mode, you land and tell Shatterblast to go to Rail Gun mode.

    Swoop lands beside you as you motion and run forward.

    The end of the tunnel was abrupt, and apparently sealed off.  Rubble lay in massive piles around the area, but you could see where one rock was hinged out, as if it was really a door.  You move quietly to the door and peer through.

    Beyond, there was another entrance tunnel, it led to a turbo lift of some sort. 

    "Well?"  asks Swoop, "The lift was used recently.  Very recently.  The air hear is still in a state of disturbance."

    You look into the car.  There were no buttons, likely it was a one stop car.

    "I don't like this." you mutter.

    "Then let's not take the chance..."  Swoop leans over and picks up a large piece of metal, jamming it into the door.  Then, he reaches up and pushes aside the top panel, "Let's make our own route."

    Quickly the two of you glided up the shaft, until you reached an obvious portal.  It was closed.

    "He's been here recently... he's just beyond the door." Shatterblast whispers.

    You look down at the weapon, remembering that he could sense Scourge's position, "Great... then there's no way to sneak a look at what's going on."

    "I can tell you this, "  Swoop whispered, his weapon in hand, "There's weapons charged up in there.  I don't know if they're aimed at us or what... but there are weapon energy signatures."

    You nod.  You had sensed the same, but not sure what to do about it.

    Swoop grins in the dark, "I say let's hit em with what we got."

    You nod.  It was the warriors way, "On three."

    The door exploded into the room, sending smoke and ash everywhere.  You rolled in after it as something fired out of the room, and into the side of the wall.  As you move to regain your feet, the wall behind you exploded, throwing you to the ground again!

    Swoop's blaster was firing off, giving you cover fire from the smoke as a wind swept into the room, clearing the smoke as quickly as possible.

    You lock onto the closest Decepticon signature, finding that he is locked onto you as well.

    "Hold it, Con'!" you threaten.

    He was black, as tall as you, with four curved scoop-like wings on his back around two tall thrusters.  His shoulder armor had flames etched into it, and on his chest was a silvery-blue globe that pulsed faintly in the smoky room. On his forearm was a silvery gun of some sort.

    "Fool.  I assume you too were here for the scientist?" his voice was low and confident.

    "Were?!?"  You look around, noticing that there was one less Decepticon, and one less Autobot signature in the room.

    Swoop lands to the side of the large Decepticon, "Stand down, you're outgunned."

    Amusement glittered in the Decepticon's eyes, "I would suggest you stand down.  Your shot may injure me, but mine will destroy the Targetmaster."

    "Swoop, what happened to the other two?!"

    The archaeopteryx-bot looked around in surprise, "Pit!"

    "Your little firestorm gave Scourge  the opportunity to escape with your scientist in tow."  The black robot stated.

    "And where did he take him? To the Warworld so you slag suckin' freaks can splice his brain?!"

    The robot lowered his weapon-arm unconcerned of your weapons.  He looked out a fresh hole in the far wall.  "He may have, I wouldn't know.  I'm not with his pitiful excuse of an army.  I was simply in the process of making sure he didn't do anything rash when you two blundered in."

    "And what interest would you have in him 'not doing anything rash.'"

    "My own reasons.  Let's just say that it seemed like I might owe him a favor."

    "And why would a Decepticon owe him a favor?"

    "Nosey, aren't you.  If you must know, it seems that he was the one who... created me."

    If your mouth wasn't behind a faceplate, it would have hit the ground at sublight speeds.

    If Exodus created this bot... that would make him... almost a cousin?!

---

Cybertron: Exodus' Lab

    The Decepticon casually turns to scan the exit hole made by the insect in his escape.  He turns to find that you still had your weapons leveled at him, albeit in shock.

    "I'm going after them." he states calmly, "You're welcome to come... assuming you stay the pitt out of my way."

    You shake off the shock and heft your gun, "Beautiful. I suggest you do all in your power to help us retrieve him, cause your coming with us. Swoop? Be so kind as to help me bind him or find some way to get him back to base.... We have to get reinforcements for this one....."

    Swoop moves forward, reaching out to the Decepticon carefully.

    He gracefully moves, grabbing Swoop's hand and twisting his arm effortlessly.  Then he shoves the Dinobot into you... hard. It sends you both tumbling backwards into the shaft.

    "I don't have time for this.  I respectfully decline your invitation."

    He spins and transforms into jet mode.  If it could be called a jet!

    His scooplike wings move around to become the primary propulsion of the mode.  Two on top, two on bottom.  There were repulsor engines inside of them that gave a warm orange glow... The thrusters on his back were on the jet's topside as well, probably for increased propulsion in a pinch.  The nose was long and narrow,  a bit flat at the end.

    His engines kick in, thrusting him out of the lab at a blurring speed.

    You detangle yourself from Swoop, transforming as you did so.

    Swoop was right on your tail, "Altima.. I'm no slouch, no new bot could move like that!  He's extremely well trained in combat!"

    You bear down, opening your engines up to gain ground on the Decepticon, "Let's not take any more chances.  Let's keep our distance and see if we can trust this Decepticon cousin of mine."

     As the cycles slipped away, he showed no sign of slowing, but neither did you try any harder to catch up.  You were content with your distance, and so was he. 

    As you roared over Cybertron's landscape, you passed over small outcroppings of industrial centers and population centers.  

    Suddenly, as you pass over a small collection of buildings... a 'town' if you will, the Decepticon stops and transforms, landing with a thud on a rooftop of one of ths small, three story buildings.

    You and Swoop land on a nearby rooftop, "What happened?"  You yell to him.

    "Scourge chose here to end the trail... for some reason ." 

    That's when the rooftop under the dark Decepticon exploded.

    A maelstrom of fire erupts around him, concealing him from sight as the building he stood on collapses in a smelting pool of hot slag.  You could see Aerodrones rising up from the streets around him, about ten of them, all turned inward, toward his position.

    The fire seemed to reverse itself, as if being sucked in by something.  As it clears, the Decepticon is left floating in midair, untouched.  His wing scoops were splayed out, and a thick synthe-material cloak flapped around his body.  In his hands was a hafted weapon, on one end of which was a silvery blue glaive like blade, and on the other was a flaming double scythe!

    He swept back the two-sided scythe weapon with a swirl, readying himself for the drones attack.

    They don't hesitate for a moment, sliding in toward him for the kill.  He reacts smoothly, diving toward them with a sweeping arc.  Three of them seperated and exploded instantly.  The others dropped back, only to run against your own firepower, which immediately splits two of them in a wave of energy!

    From the other side, a whirlwind force scatters four more, Swoop rising in the center, the spark crystal under his chest wing glowing with a bright orange intensity that shown out from the feather covering.

    The dark Decepticon spins on the tenth drone, raising his weapon arm and firing with a jolting snap of the barrel.

    A golden glob of energy shot forth, coating the drone and spreading quickly across it's surface.  One of the disoriented drones from the Swoop's whirlwind attack rose unsteadily beside his glowing comrade, in just enough time to be engulfed by the shattering force as the drone's molecules seperated explosively.

    The Decepticon spins, swirling his scythe around to create a crackling sheet of energy that consumes two others.  They spark and fall back, where you dispatch them quickly with a few lesser powered blasts from Shatterblast.

    Swoop was firing at the remaining ones.  His shots were knocking weapons off with a deadly precision, and slicing the Aerodrone's armor into shreds.

    The black Decepticon dropped down easily, his cloak fluttering around the drones as Swoop's shots still worked to cut them to pieces.  His scythe spins, ripping through the drones and dropping them in a pile of useless junk parts.

    His wing-engines splayed out, pushing him up and over to a nearby rooftop. 

    You and Swoop join him there.

    "A trap."  you mutter as you land.

    "Indeed," the tall Decepticon nodded, " but not meant to stop us.  If it were, there would have been more of them.  This was barely enough to have challenged any two of us together, much less three."

    Swoop shrugged, "So he wanted to put room between him and us.  He also had these down below.  They had already taken damage."  he hefted a piece of one that was still fairly intact and threw it at the you, where you snagged it gracefully out of the air and looked at it.  The metal was covered with small, precice impact holes.  Swoop continues, "Bullet holes, smaller than anything we used in the fight."

    You sigh, "Whirl?"

    "That's my guess," Swoop nods.

    The Decepticon looks at you, "A friend of yours?"

    "He stayed behind in the tunnels to slow down a squad of drones that were on our tails."

    He nods, "Then he likely did not survive."

    "Look... "  you pause in mid-reproach, "What's your name at any rate?"

    The Decepticon stepped to the edge of the roof, where the wind ruffled the edges of the heavy synthe-cloak, "I am Deathspire."

    "Great,  I'm Altima Stratus, and this is Swoop...  Now it seems that you aren't with the Cons, else they probably wouldn't have sent a patrol after you."

    He nods.

    "Then we have a comon foe, at least for now.  And a common goal.  We want Exodus back, and so do you.  Agreed?"

    "As I stated before you tried to coerce me to go to your 'base'."

    "Right... well... at any rate, we've got to find a way to pick up the trail."

    Suddenly, Shatterblast transformed and landed in a golden robot mode at your feet.  Looking up at the robots surrounding him he chided, "What am I, used oil?  I told you I can follow the bug!"

    "He's right.. he can sense where Scourge has been!"  You snap your fingers.

    "Then you are now in lead."  Deathspire transforms, circling the building while you and Swoop follow suit.

---

End of NWNG: General Statement

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