Zabgoth

Zabgoth's Story

Terranoir : A junk yard

    "This sucks.
     This sucks bad.
     This sucks neutron exhaust fumes.
     This sucks neutron exhaust fumes from Unicrons big, fat...."
     It was another day, and another tirade.
     You had been stuck in this pit for about a hundred years or so.
     You kick a heavy lead pipe out of your way... or at least try.
     A hundred years ago, assigned to scout duty, and your ship malfunctioned. Now, you sat on this scrap yard... TRYING to repair what's left
of your ship... WHEN you can find the parts, and what help do you get. NOTHING!
     SLAG the bastards that sent you on the trip!!
     "A simple run they said... Just take these bots to Marachar... No problems... They could have at least offered to come pick me up!!"
     But they didn't. That's what you get for trustin a Pred. You plop down on the trunk of a rusted hovercar. It's not like there was really much
else to do in the galaxy. The Great Wars were over, no brains to warp, and no one wanted to listen to your theories on Chaos as the supreme
decider.
    This planet wasn't THAT bad... Just boooooring. You had already scared away most of the populace of this particular small town. Convincing
them that their world was about to plummet to it's doom.... You thought it might spur them to build a rocketship or something. Whoda guessed
that mass suicide was the alternate solution?
     Now, you're only companions are the robots that you were shipping. About fifty of them. Reprogrammed, of course, to keep you 'amused.'

     Now one danced a ballet while another threw live rodents at it... Always good for a chuckle.
     But still, after a few decades, even chaos can be boring. No new sites, no matter how many colors you painted them. Even making a
working water fountain out of one, and building a home dining room set out of ten others didn't amuse you any more.
     So you sat.... and sat... day after day.
     "This sucks."
     Then, you're sensors go off. You fall off the hovercar and into a pile of widgets that you had meticulously ordered one rainy day.
     You're sensors hadn't registered anything for seventy five years... and then it was just a solar flare!
     You scramble up and over to the highest pile of garbage you can find. As you reach the crest, the heavy wash of hot air from a cargo ships
engines buffets you and nearly pushes you back down. You cover your optics, and nearly jump for joy at what you see.
     A thick, dark purple plated cargo ship hovered over the junkyard.
     A Destron ship.
     A form jumps out of the ship and lands about twenty meters from you. You skid down the pile of garbage, nearly tripping over a robot that
was in the process of making a slug pie.
     "Zabgoth?" queries the blue and gray robot over the roar of the engines.
     "Yeah!"
     "I've been sent by the Destron high command to acquire you for needed services."
     "What!?"
     "They need you're abilities to help to uncover a Maximal plot."
     "What?!?!?"
     "You will be given details on Cybertron." He jumps up toward the ship and transforms into a two nosed jet as you stare after him dumbly.
     "Well," you shrug, "Who'm I to turn my nose up at a ride home!"
     You transform into your flight mode and follow the Destron into the ship.

Terranoir: a junkyard

    You follow him into the clunky freighter. Much like it's outside appearance, the inside is a pile of slag metal waiting to be scrapped. The
council spared no expense sending for you. That much was for sure...
    The blue Destron sets the ship on autopilot, heading towards Cybertron. As he works, you sit and think, the old paranoia kicking in.
    --What do these guys want with me? Why now, after 75 years? Hey! If they knew where I was, how come no one ever offered me a
ride?--
    You turn toward your 'savior', "So, I am needed by the high counsel to uncover a Maximal plot? What is it?"
     "I dunno, I'm just the driver. I was just told to recover you."
    "Is that so? Well, then it is plainly obvious that the high council has known where I was for the last 75 years and made no attempt to rescue
me until it needed me?"
    "Probably, I don't really know, or really care. You can always take that up with the high council. I'm sure they'll give a rat's a..."
    SQUARK!!!!!!
    Sounds of rent metal and spilled mech fluid is heard as you thrust your hand through the torso of the bot, sending it into stasis lock.
    --I'll go back to the high council, but on my own terms now. I'll hear out their proposal, but it better be damn good if I'm going to
start doing their dirty work again. Oh yes... very good indeed.-
    You hoist the Cybertronian out of his seat and toss him on the floor, rubbing your hand. That kinda hurt. His armoring was a little tougher
than you bargained for.
    You plop down and look at the controls, reconfiguring the autopilot to land somewhere else on Cybertron.
    You hear a click behind you, "That.... Hurt!" You turn slowly to find yourself staring down the barrel of the Destron's rifle.
    "Now, uh, let's be civil about this." You start.
    "Just because you've had a bad century, doesn't mean you can go around punching bot's gears out!"
    "Well, there's always therapy sessions."
    "What?"
    "Therapy, I'm sure I could find some nice help in a psycho ward. Of course, you'll have to join me."
     "Why?"
     "Because this is all obviously a delusion on your behalf."
     "It is?"
     "Of course, why would I, a perfectly rational bot, go about punching your spark out and then continue to head towards Cybertron? After all,
aren't you my savior?"
     "uh..."
     "I mean, it just makes no sense, daffodils in the winter pond."
     "I"
     "Next you'll, monkey burgers served cold, think I'm just spouting out, hemerroidal chill out, nonsense or some such, dare to be stupid, nonsense."
     The robot merely blinks in bewilderment, and lowers his gun a fraction.
     "Oh, don't worry, I'm sure the rooms are nice, asylum with a view, and the caretakers I hear a lovely, whalelike aboriginies, humaine people."
     "They are..." He drops his gun a little more.
     "Of course, oh, could you hand me that drink the elephant is proferring?"
     "What"
     "The elephant, behind you. He's bringing my martini."
     The Destron turns dumbly, you smack him on the head with your hammer.
     "There, that's done, now on to Cybertron."

     The ship lands on top of a small, Cybertronian, garage. The garage crunches a bit, as the ship collapses it's roof.
     You hop out of the ship, leaving it's owner to be found by whomever.
     "Let's see if the Generals leave you to rot for a century."
     You transform into your car mode and make your way across Cybertron.

     The streets of Cybertron were every bit as beautiful as you remembered. Energy ran constantly, and life was everywhere. The main streets
were busy with life, Cybertronian as well as many other races. Mostly Cybertronian though. There were more Beast Cybertronians than you
remembered, but nothing untoward. Cybertron was still a planet at peace.
     --And here I thought I might get to have some fun.-
     You make your way across the winding streets and toward the Building that housed the Destron High Command, and with it the Destron
Generals.
     The building was squat and rounded. Mirrored glass glittered across the surface, shining back the energy that dotted Cybertron's surface.
     --Now, let's see what the old General's want...--

     "Zabgoth, you have been summoned here for a required deed."
     --yeah, I thought I was here cuz I was cute...--
     The room you were in was round, and made out of a purple, marble like substance that seemed to shift hues as you looked around. Inset
into the walls were large crystals. Five of them, through these crystals the Destron Generals watched you. The lighting here was low, and
shadowy. The crystals pulsed as they spoke.
     "There is a Maximal who threatens to push blame for a recent set of attacks off on unknown source. We believe that it is a Maximal ploy to
point the fingers and eyes of the Collective Councils away from the true culprits."
     "And the true culprits are....?"
     "We are still uncertain, but we feel it is the Beast Warriors trying to shatter the Pax Cybertronia and seize control from the elder races."
     "So, the Maxi's and the Pred's may be linking up to force the Cyber's and us outta a job."
     "They have a rebuilt Maximal, one that the Maximal's and Predacon's rebuilt, that claims to have memories of one of the attacks. He must be
proven a fraud."
     "So I kill him."
     "Negative, death would prove nothing. You must debunk him. Convince Cybertron, and even the bot himself, that he is insane. Once his
sanity is an issue, we will have the time to uncover the Beast plot."
     "Who is this Maximal?"
     "Our sources tell us his name is, Lightslayer. He is currently en route to his previous base. Go there. Make sure he can't even trust his own
mind, and if any truth is to be found, we will find it."
     Something was odd here. It made sense, but sounded awfully paranoid. And you KNEW paranoid. There was more to it than the Generals
let on...

Cybertron : Destron Headquarters

    You think to yourself for a time, despite the crystal avatars pushing you into a decision.
    Though you have no love for the Destron high command, you doubt anyone else would accept you as one of theirs.
    Plus, you certainly don't need your own people against you. Besides, you have been in exile for 75 years. You have no plans, you need a
diversion, and you could use a fight.
    If nothing else, the high council thinking you're working for their ends will give you some breathing room and give me a chance to figure out
what you're going to do.
    But their story also intrigues you, if for nothing else, this pariah of a Maximal could cause quite a bit of political chaos as well. Especially
should you decide to let him function. So you have reached your decision.
     "Veery well Elders, I humbly accept. It is an honor to serve you again"
     "We are not fooled by your sarcasm. Leave at once, details will be waiting in reception as you leave"
      "Booyeah. Later then, ya bastards" You laugh as you spin on one heel and leave, ideas chaotically forming in your brain pan.

After you leave, the dark room does not remain silent, "He took far too long to respond. This was a bad idea to even entertain the notion of
trusting he who worships chaos so much. That is his only loyalty besides himself."
"Agreed. We will send a covert agent to follow him and make sure that he completes his mission. If not, they will finish his mission for him,
and terminate him"

     Soon, after a quick trip in a small shuttle craft, you find yourself huddled in the dimming twilight, in the rain.
     --Remind me to bring an umbrella next time.-
     The yellowish-green liquid has been drizzling slowly for about an hour as you sat and watched the Cybertronians below you.
     There were three of them. One you recognized as an old Decepticon, Flatline. He was a cold bastard, and you never knew him that well.
Now he wore the mark of the Cybertrons. The next was a chrome red robot. He had some kind of wheeled vehicle transformation, also with
the Cybertron sigil.
     The third you had identified as your target. He was a shaggy bastard, black with purple pieces of shiny metal, similar to the red Cyber, but
he was a Maximal.
     He had been leading them around the ruins of this outpost for quite some time. Poking in corners, and shifting through dirt piles.
     Now, you watched as the other two had left, sick of the rain.
     Lightslayer stood for some time, staring down at something in the debris.
     Then, he reared back his head and howled in frustration, lightning cracking a poignant counterpoint to his growl.
     And still the rain continued to drizzle...

Karil : Ruined Maximal Base

    Thunder crashes down from the shock of lightning. Another peel lights the raining skies, and still Lightslayer sat staring at the ground.
     As the bright flash dims across the ruined outpost, you decide it was time to make your presence known.
     "Hoo hah! How ya be?"
     Lightslayer spins to see you standing in the downpour.
     "Who… What are you?"
     "Zabgoth, mad bastard at your service."
     "What do you wish here?"
     "Perhaps a picnic on this beautiful piss yellow rainy day."
     "What is your business." The black mutant cat seemed to be irritated.
     "My business is that same of yours. For you see, your beautiful pelt has drawn the attention of great minds from far and wide. You’re an
enigma, a mystery, a chaotic element in the collective arse of the universe!"
     "And?"
     "Well, creatures of light and darkness dance in our heads and play with our toes. The destiny of the Great Steel World seems to lie to in
thoughts and intuitions of a mutant cat with make-believe memories…"
     "Stop talking in riddles!"
     "Ah, but what are riddles but more puzzles to solve?"
     "I tire of this conversation."
     He turns to go, you pull your hammer and slide through the mud to block his passage, "Then mysteries to unravel aren't your forte?"
     The, rather smelly, cat picks you up by the chest plate, "No." and tosses you back in the mud.
     "Then perhaps your past is not your interest."
     He stops as he is stalking away, giving you enough time to move in front of him.
     "What do you know of me?"
     "Perhaps a past that is as vaporous as the stormclouds? A past that leaks through? A past that is… fabricated?"
     "Move."
     "Perhaps then a dance?" You whip the hammer around smash it into the Maximal’s ribs.
     He lets loose a growl of anger and smacks you with a powerful backhand. You’re tossed up and back over into a pile of debris.
    As you hoist yourself up you see Lightslayer standing, turned slightly toward you. He reaches back to pull two cold, steel swords from
behind. He lowers them to his sides and turns his head towards you, his eyes glowing red as the rain drips down in small rivers from his fur and
beads on the metallic parts of his skin.
    "Dare you dance on the edge of my blade?" He moves forward with lightning speed as you jump free and bring your hammer to bear.
    Quickly you find yourself far outmatched, barely able to keep him from slicing your head off. Mech fluid drips from numerous scratches and
cuts across your body, and you had only landed two hits in return.
    His metallic skin proved to be tougher than you thought possible, your blows only bouncing from the chrome-like black armor.
    Then, a sudden explosion rips up the ground beneath you, tossing both of you apart.
    You turn to see a dark shape transform and land with a thud.
    You see the shadowy form pull two guns and start firing with deadly accuracy at you as you duck behind a wall…

Karil : Ruined Maximal Base

     You jump for cover, the gun fire from the newcomer sending showers of hot shrapnel scattering in the air around you.
     You see Lightslayer disappear behind some rubble, the remnants of an old building.
     The attacker springs toward you and throws something. A sharp object comes spinning out of the darkness. You barely manage to deflect
it with your hammer.
     It spins back into the attackers grasp like a boomerang.
     "Show yourself, bastard!" you whisper.
     The attacker leaps forward and lands in front of you, his body had a greenish skeletal armoring on it, with a pair of translucent peachish
wings that stretched out behind him.
     "Well, Zabgoth. The Generals thought you might overstep your bounds."
     "What?"
     "We were sent to make sure you didn’t do anything rash. Like destroy the Maximal puppet. After all, that wasn’t your mission."
     "Great, so you stopped me."
     "Well, we were also told to eliminate you if you crossed the line." The winged assassin leered at you, "And the line is crossed."
     He brings his blaster up and fires again, but you had already ducked away. You transform and drive up a handy outcropping of metal struts
at full speed.
     At the top you transform again, and come down from the height onto your attacker.
     Your hammer delivers a viscous blow, but the Destron blocks it with his arm. Sparks fly and he staggers backward, the arm going limp for
the moment. He transforms into a winged pterodactyl and jumps away from you.
     As he reaches a descent height, he shifts form again and begins to fire on you.
     You duck and pull back, throwing your hammer at the Destron. He’s fast, however, and ducks out of the hammers deadly arc.
     He had already regained use of his arm as well.
     Lightslayer pounces out of the ruins and crouches in cat mode, tail swishing through the muddy rain, as he sizes up the situation.
     Suddenly, he pounces, bounding across the short distance and jumping onto the Destron’s back.
     The Destron screeched in pain and climbed, with Lightslayer attached, another few hundred extra meters.
     Segments later, the cat landed with a thud on his feet. He seemed a little shaken, but still mobile.
    Something slams into you from either side.
    Two cats clung onto you suddenly, each about half your size, but strong, with solid grips. They appeared identical. Skeletal frames, similar to
the Pterodactyl, but one with deep metallic gray bones and a translucent blue under skin. The other with golden bones, and a reddish
translucent skin.
    Their claws seemed to spread fire and draw the life from you at the same time.
    You hear more blasts coming from Lightslayer and the pterodactyl's direction, but were too absorbed in pain at the moment to bother with
watching them.
    After a few segments of struggle, you manage to get a solid grasp on the red cat. You use your size to pry him off of you, and toss him
heavily into a pile of rubble.
    You see him turn and pull a weapon in Lightslayers direction.
    Then there was an explosion under the red Destron.
    You looked up to see one of Lightslayers companions, Flatline, standing on top of a tall pile of rubble, a huge gun in either hand. He lowered
the other and blasted at the pterodactyl.
    Lightslayer seized the moment to leap at you and tackle the dark blue cat that still clung tenaciously to your side.
    You spin and see your opening.
    Your hammer spins in a mighty sweep, splintering the metal skeleton of the cat.
    "Let’s go." Calls Flatline, and behind him, the shuttle rose up with a sweep of engine wash.
    He disappears over the hill, and Lightslayer turns and looks at you, "C’mon, while we still have a clear chance."
    You shrugs and laugh.
    --What better way to drive them mad, that to make friend-like for a while—
    You transform into your car mode, and then shift shape slightly again, extending wings and hood. You take to the sky in the direction of the
ship.

In orbit around Karil : The Deathmonger

    Back on board the ship, "So, Zabgoth," begins Lightslayer, "this is Hubcap and Flatline."
    Hubcap was a shiny red Cybertronian that had a similar chrome armoring to Lightslayer. The other, Flatline was a dark black Transformer.
Something about him seemed, familiar.
     You give a flourish of a bow, "Zabgoth, mad bastard at your convenience."
     Hubcap chuckles, "Welcome aboard, Zabby, watch your feet, Flatline is a bit touch about his upholstery."
     Flatline never even acknowledges you, but rather seems intent on moving the ship back into orbit.
     "So, Zabgoth, What exactly do you know about me?" questions Lightslayer.
     "Well, you see… there’s a story to be told. I, being bored for the past few decades, decided to take an offer from the Destron General’s
themselves. But… apparently that offer wasn’t a good one, since they seem to have sent a cluster of assassins after us. Maybe they just
decided to eliminate you and take me out in the process. After all, who wants a loose end like me running about telling of their malignant
planning?"
     "So why were you sent?"
     "To find the truth? Or maybe to proliferate a lie… Not too sure what is where. Told you were a little Frankenstein that had some
manufactured memories. Something about a beasty plot to put blame out for these attacks."
     "What?" blurts Hubcap, "That’s crazy! Why would the Cybertron council be responsible to watch over Lightslayer if that were true!"
     "Hey, I don’t know. I just take the orders and the pay. But from what they say, the Predacon’s and the Maxi’s were responsible for the
creation process, and the Cyber’s and the Destron’s had no part in it."
     "Well, I don’t like all this talking about me as property…" Lightslayer rumbles.
     "Heh, get used to it, kitty. They’ll always use who and what they need, until you learn the truth, you’re no more than a shaggy pawn on the
chess board of Primus. And that reminds me, you havn’t spilled your guts, what’s your true story at any rate? What’s locked up in that silent,
brooding, slicing, dicing mutant body of yours?"
     Lightslayer pauses, staring past you into nothingness, "All I know is that I’m supposed to have the spark of some great warrior that died in
that outpost. But they didn’t tell me who… They just want me to magically remember what happened here!!"
     "And do you?"
     His eyes focus on you for a few seconds, "No."
     "hmmph, then it seems that until we can rid ourselves of Destron entanglement… There is always safety in numbers!"
     "Then tomorrow, we return to the site and see what we can discover about our attackers." He sighs.
     "Then might I avail you gentlemen to point me to the nearest CR?"
     Hubcap points down the short hatchway, " Down the hall and to the right…"

In orbit around Karil : The Deathmonger

    You head out from the CR to go find Lightslayer. He’s sitting in the darkness on the bridge, watching the planet float below. He had switched of the blacklights that usually lit the
area, and lounged in a large fur covered seat, "So, kitty cat, what’s your plan?"
     He gives a heavy sigh, "Don’t really know. I’m not so sure I want to know."
     You giggle –This is going to be easier than I thought-- , "Oh, but the game’s a foot, and that foot has been shot right up your exhaust!"
     He grimaces at you, "And just what would YOU do?"
     With that, you plop down in a chair next to him, and lift your feet up to plop them down on a control panel, "Well, you’d best know what’s going on, and better learn who’s who
around you."
     "For example?"
     "Take, me. You know exactly where I stand. I’m nuts, I’m crazy, and you can’t trust a thing I say. And, I’m the only person you can be certain of."
     "Hmmph."
     "No, seriously, what do you really know about the others? Flatline? Yeah, I’m sure he’s discussed his whole life history to you… And Hubcap? Nice guy… a little too nice. Can’t
trust types like that."
     "And why trust you again?"
     "Because you know you CAN’T trust me. I’m the only safe bet, everyone else is swimming in the toady pool of ambiguity. Can you trust them? Can you fear them? Who knows.
Ask me, we’re all out to get you." With that you drop your feet back down and gets up, "Night, sweet dreams." You saunter out of the room.

    The next day the Deathmonger returns to the surface of the planet.
    You, Lightslayer, and Hubcap return to the ruins. Flatline remains aboard
the Deathmonger, and continues to circle the ruins.
    Your attackers left little behind except a few fragments of the fallen one’s armor, and shell cassings.
    Cold winds blow across the ruins, giving low moaning sounds as it passes through the rubble.
    Lightslayer stands near a shelled out building, staring down into what was once the basement floor.
    "Something’s wrong. There......there used to be a door there." He points down into the pile of rubble below, "Lets move this wreckage." He jumps down with a light spring, and starts
to move the ashen rubble aside. Hubcap quickly moves to help, while you just prop yourself against a nearby wall and… supervise.
    As the pile is cleared away an armored door can be seen, still standing strong. "Where does this go?" Hubcap asks.
    "I have no idea....I remember the door but I cant remember where it goes........DAMN! I hate this slag!!" Lightslayer growls as he pounds a fist on the door.
    "Calm down buddy, you'll get it back." Hubcap says as he puts his hand on
your shoulder.
    He shrugs off Hubcap’s hand, "That’s just it, I DONT WANT IT BACK!! I hate
having somebody elses memories. I am LightSlayer! Not some great commander."
     "I'm sorry," You interrupt, "but right now it doesnt matter, you can’t change it, so let’s get this door open." You move over to the control pannel and inspect it.
    "Damnable, its slagged."
    "Thats ok I have the key right here," Hubcap hefts a blaster gun.
    "No.." Lightslayer interrupts.
    "But...."
    "I have a better way," the cat pulls out a shaped charge.
    "I like your style, pal," Hubcap grins.
    "Indeed, bwahaha." You laugh merrily, "We best duck before your charge goes goose." you motion with a flourish towards a large pile of debris.
    The explosion shakes the ground, knocking ash across your group.
    You’re on your feet first, even as the dust is falling.
    You look at the door, and see the wall around it has been melted for about a meter in most directions, only a few fragments of metal holding the door solidly in place.
    "Wow…", you comment, "The door’s still standing."
    "What!?" Lightslayer scrambled down to you in distress.
    He stared at the still standing door in surprise.
    "Good door." You reach up and pry enough of the wall away on one side to slide into the darkness beyond.

    The tunnel was cold and dark. It has a shallow incline, and stretched for several hundred meters, out away from the base.
    Hubcap had transformed and was using his headlights to show the way down. The smell of smoke was still heavy here. The vents had apparently shut of with the power, probably
when the base was attacked.
    The hazy air shifted lazily through Hubcap’s headlights as his wheels softly grinded along the floor.
    "Where the pit is this leading us?" Hubcap’s voice trails off into echoes.
     "It’s a museum." Lightslayer states.
     "A museum! I hope they have a gift stand!" you tease, "I could use some of those damnable little rubber froggies!"
     Hubcap interrupts, " Yeah, I remember something about an old museum here. It used to hold weapons or something. The new bot’s from the school here could see some remnants
of the Great Wars!"
     His headlights shift up as you near a large doorway with heavy blast shielding on it.
     You walk up and looks at the panel next to it. "Needs power."
     Lightslayer walks up and look down, his fingers flitting across the panel, tapping in a registry code. The lights shift on, and the soft hum of the ventilation systems fills the silent tunnels.
     The door gives a heavy shifting noise, and it rolls back the shielding. A highly ornate door sits behind it. Half of the door bears the ancient symbol of the Autobots, and half of it has
the Decepticon’s.
     You step up to the door, they shift noiselessly apart.
     "Bruhaa! Who’s got the polaroid?!"
     The museum was lit brightly, wisp of smoke fall into the room and dissapate into the open space.
     The museum floor was littered with collections of weapons from all ages.
     Immediately it was obvious that two large areas were empty…

Karil: The Maximal School

    As the unlikely trio walks into the room filled with weapons of the past, you notice the two, empty areas.
    You lets out a shrill whistle. Hubcap, startled at the sudden noise, gives you a menacing look.
     "What?"
    "Nothing," snaps the usually good natured Hubcap.
Lightslayer walks over to the empty areas, moving slowly. He suddenly shifts to beast mode, and starts to sniff around the area.
     "Um, kitty if you have to go, go back up to that litter box of a dessert," you joke. LightSlayer simply ignores the comment and keeps sniffing around the open areas.
    "What is it LS?" asks Hubcap, as he moves over towards him.
    "I'm not sure......something I've smelt before....I....I...think.......DAMN, I can’t remember."
     "Right now I think the really important question is, what were in those two empty areas?" you ask as you point to the open areas.
The cat reverts to his robot mode, "I'm not positive but I think it was a weapon, a big weapon."
     "Great!! And now the 10,000 credit question, whare is it?" you add.
     "If we knew that, we’d know who attacked here." Snaps Hubcap.
     Both of you turn toward him.
     "So, How come little buddy is in such a grumpy mood?"
     "Cuz’ I have an idea of what was taken."
     "Ooo, the red bot with the shiny butt has knowledge!!" you jumps up onto a large dissection of an older shuttlecraft engine, you crawl out on a strut and hang upside down in Hubcaps
face, not unlike a monkey. "Pleeeaase, share you knowledge and wisdom with us oh wise sage of the great lost planet!"
     Hubcap fixes you with a withering glare, one that makes you want to roar with laughter.
     "One of the things that was shipped here centuries ago was part of what was left of an artifact that had at one time orbitted Cybertron?"
     "ooooooOOOO! Artifacts mean POWER. I like power!" you giggle with maniacal laughter.
     "You won’t want this. No one wants this. It was one of Unicron’s horns."
     You go stiff and drop to the ground in a pile…

Karil : in The Maixmal School's Museum

    You clamber up, using Hubcap as a ladder, "Unicron, eh. He’s no threat. I’d trounce his fat arse with a swift booty kick!"
     "Yeah right." Grumbles Hubcap.
     "But I am intrigued. Who else would take this horn. Perhaps one of the cults? You know, like the Bearers of the Void?"
     "Maybe, who else would be crazy enough to take the cursed thing?"
     "Why was it here at any rate? How was it here? Last I heard it was orbiting Cybertron on his head."
     "Yeah, well something happened at one point which caused further damage to the head. I think it had to do with the cults and some attempt to ressurect him. The Maximals stopped
them, but most of the head was lost in a huge explosion. This horn was the largest piece left untouched. It was decided by the Council that it should be taken to a place where it could
remind the future warriors of Cybertron of the horror of Chaos gone unchecked."
     "Hmmm… I…"
     You were interrupted by a scream of anger from Lightslayer. You both turn to see the Maximal hunched over and clutching his head.
    You both run over and shake the Maximal out of his state.
    "What the hell happened?" you ask
    "I..I had another vision......I saw who took it, I know who it was!"
    "Great, I’m right…tell me I’m right! It was a cult right?" you give the catbot an excited shake.
    "No! It was…"
    The explosion muffled his reply.
    The ceiling started to cave in with an onrush of the tons of dirt that were above it.
    "Save it!" you yell, "Chicken little was right! Everybody abandon the room, the sky is fallin’ in!!"
    Everyone transforms and with a roar takes off back up the hallway you came through. Hubcap was the first through, and as his wheels hit the soil an explosion knocked him up and
forward.
    "Hubcap!" Lightslayer roars as he leaps through the entryway.
    You changed to flight mode and shot through the doorway and up out of the basement of the ruined building.
    Fire was everywhere. And the sound of a titanic roar caused you to spin around.
    A massive beast, a combination of prehistoric bird and reptile, meshed with massive cybernetic parts reared up above the outpost. It was as large as the shuttle you came here on!
    It roared again, and as it did, you could make out a symbol on its chest. A Decepticon symbol.

Karil: Ruins of the Maximal School

     As the group stares at the massive Decepticon, you roar past them in flight mode and out into the smoking skies.
     "GET TO THE SHUTTLE, I'LL TRY TO HOLD IT OFF!!" Lightslayer yells behind you as the giant Decpticon raises its slathering jaws and unleashes another wash of fiery energy
at the party.
     You, however, had diferent things in mind.
     "YEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAWWWWW!!!!"
     BAM
     You slam headlong into the massive chest of the creature.
     And stuck there, smoke pouring out of your crumpled hood.
     It hurt a lot more than you thought, and you unfortunately found yourself a little… stunned.
     The creature jerked back at the impact, obviously unhappy, but another creature darts out of the smoke and grasps roughly onto you. Ripping you free.
     This one was smaller, still larger than you were, but smaller than the behemoth. It had a combination of feathers and scales, and a sharp beak on its twisted head.
     You hear more commotion from below as you realize that you were being lifted upwards.
     "Zzzzzzzzzzzz…. Agagagagg." Great, your processors weren’t processing still.
    You feel the creature drop you.
    "ZAGAGAGGBBBBBBBBBBBBBb"
    --slaggitslaggitslaggit!!!—
    Before you hit the ground, something slams into you from the side, breaking the downward momentum of your fall.
    Something… furry… slammed into you that is.
    "Zagboth, transform!" you spit out.
    You hit the ground in a tangle of arms and legs with Lightslyer
    "What a ride!" you gasp jubilantly.
    The sound of explosions draws your attention.
    "They’re attacking the shuttle." Lightslayer snarls.
    "Well, its name IS Deathmonger. It’s got to have SOME kind of weapon systems." You begin to extract yourself from the tangle.
    "Not really, not anything that will hold up for long against these…"
    A blast of heat singes the rubble above your heads.
    You look to see the winged creature flapping it’s wings, not too far from where you landed. It stopped and gave an odd squawking noise, "Well, well what DO we have here, a
Maximal and a Destron cuddling from the flames!"
    You were feeling better, badly dented, but better. You give Lightslayer a grin, "I’ll take care of this chicky, you go help out the shuttle."
    "Right, roadie mode!" Lightslayer transforms to his car mode and spins out across the ground, right underneath the bird. The bird loops to follow and spit a gout of flame that missed
its target badly.
    You take advantage of the moment and jump onto its back.
    It gives an awkward squawk as you bear it to the ground.
    "Jest like chicken wrasslin’ with your mom." You pull your hammer free.
    It turns, "Sparkstalker, transform!" and changes into it’s robotic mode and pulls a heavy, mace-like weapon to block you. The hammer smashes into it, sending a shower of sparks
flying. He pushes you off, and regains his feet.
    "Ah," you grin, "First, before basting the fowl, we must be sure that the meat is well, tenderized!!" you jump forward with a slashing sweep of your hammer. He barely brings his mace
up to parry, and so, the battle is joined.
    Back and forth the two of you rain powerful blows from your weapons, but while he was stronger, you were just as skilled and far swifter.
    Several thick dents were soon placed in his armored hide.
    The two of you stood staring at each other. You hadn’t taken any more damage, but the wounds from earlier were making your joints stiff.
    "So, tell me bird boy, what’s it like being part of a dead alligence. After all, Megatron died centuries ago, and don’t tell me your following that looser Starscream.
     "Ha! Megatron is alive and well, fool. He shall lead us to conquer ALL of Cybertron."
     "Oh, great, don’t tell me you’ve fallen for the old, ‘yeah, I’m the great Megatron, I live again’ line. He tried to pull that on us all the time, back in the day!"
     "Eh? No, really… I mean… I havn’t SEEN him…"
     "Oh, man, are you a rube. C’mon isn’t it obvious, it’s just one of old Megs tricks. He just wanted everyone to remember his name. And now, you’re going around blowing things up
because SOME idiot took him seriously. It’s like I always say, the greatest Con is the one with the most cons."
     By now, the Decepticon seemed thoroughly confused, and no longer stood in a fighting stance.
     "That was the worst pun I eve…"
     GURK.
     He fell like a sack of spare fingers.
     You hit him once more to make sure he didn’t et back up for a few days, and then turned to go back to the shuttle.
     Over the tops of the ruins near you, you see a tower shift and slide down in the distance, over were the shuttle had been. It hits the ground with a crash, and you can feel the rumbling
quake even at this distance.
     "Looks like Sylvester’s gonna need a hand."
     "Oh, I think we’ll keep you here for a few minutes longer." Came a purr behind you.
     You spin to see one of the cat bots from the previous day, the red and gold one, prowling out of the rubble.
     There’s a screech and something landing behind you. You turn to see the pterodactyl there.
     And out of the corner of your eyes, you see a shadow alter to become the steel and blue cat.
     "Slag."

Karil: The Ruins of the Maximal School

     "So, ya bastard Destrons, you really think you can succeed this time!?"
     The red cat gives a loud roar, "OH, I think so. You see, those big Decepti-monsters are hopefully keepin’ your kitty friend busy. Add to that the fact that you have been fighting for a
few minutes and that we are quite healthy, AND the fact that the shuttle that saved your skidplates last time just went and parked itself in the hills over there…"
     "AHHHHHH!!!! You roar and jump, your hammer spinning downward at the red and gold cat. He leaps swiftly out of the way, leaving you to slam your hammer into the ground with
a heavy thud.
     The sounds of transforming come from behind you as you spin to face the three Destrons. The cats had pulled sharp, saw-edged whips out, and the bird had a bladed boomerang in
hand.
     Your joints felt stiff, and smoke still leaked out from the crumpled place that had been your hood.
     --I won’t be beat by these dino-bone brained morons!—
     You pull your thoughts inward and began to shift power outlays into your hammer.
     But the process was disrupted as the cat-bots lashed out with their whips, grappling them around your arms. You react but are caught, and barely manage to deflect the boomerang
weapon as it spun toward your head.
     --SLAG!   I need a moment to power up, and there’s too many of them, gotta split them up, or get in…--
     At that moment a ferocious roar echoes off the ruins around you. The three of you turn to see Lightslayer crouched on a strut of metal, silhouetted against the fiery background
coming from where he had fought the Decepticons.
     --One distraction, made to order!—
     You rerouted power again, your hammer crackling with an ichorous green energy that seemed to drip off of it in a sizzling smoke.
     The three Destron’s jerked their heads back as they realized what was going on, but it was too late.
     With a burst of power you leap up, jerking the two cats off the ground with you. Green energy flickers down your arms and into the whips as you fly up and come down with a
thunderous smash into the green and peach bird Destron.
     Sparks fly as he takes the hit full on. Part of his chestplate rips free, sending circuitry scattering across the ground.
     The two cat-bots hit the ground with heavy thuds as you hear, "LIGHTSLAYER, MAXIMIZE!!" followed quickly with the bursting sounds of his shoulder cannons.
     You stagger as the energy output leaves you severely drained. You can see that the red and gold cat took the energy blasts from Lightslayer straight on. The ground underneath him
exploded, and he flew back in a cloud of fire and dust.
     But the black cat seemed to disappear, ducking off into the shadows.
     Lightslayer is at your side suddenly, and you realized that you had been blacking out.
     "You ok?"
     "Not dead yet, want to go for a walk." You say in a high, strained British accent.
     "We’d best get out of here, neither of us are in good shape, and there’s no telling where that last Destron went, or if there are any other Decepticon’s around."
     You stagger over to the critically damaged bird, "Hold on…"
     You drop down to your knees, and pull out a small energy siphon unit. You hook its leads to yourself and the Destron and activate it.
      "Ahh… much better. I can at least walk, if not fly… use heavy weaponry… recite Shakespere…"
     "Shakewho?"
     "Never mind. Look, Lightslayer, here’s how the old Zab sees things. We’ve got some common nutbots chasing us around. So, we help the other fulfill their goals. You help me frag
the Destron high counsel, and I help him track down the horn."
     "Yeah, sure, makes sense to me. I’m not too thrilled about the games they’re playing with me, but where on Primus would we start?"
     "Hmm, let’s see", you look around. Off to the side, the crumpled body of the Decepticon lay in a heap.
     He wasn’t too damaged, you had only konked him on the head once. The other hit was to his chest. You walk over and kneel down next to him.
     --Hope this doesn’t use too much energy..—
     You pull a wire out of your side and jack into the Decepticon’s processors.
     Static clouded your vision, and a distorted set of images began to flash through your mind.
     --Clench, an old Decepticon sat on a throne, overlooking all of Cybertron. The planet itself was colored purple, a Decepticon sigil carved in the surface.
     Off in the distance, a star twinkled, and in from the star, a great armada appeared, with Megatron sitting on the nose of the main ship. His black fusion cannon blasting
at helpless passerby ships as the armada flew toward Cybertron.
     The scene whirled out, flying away until the armada and Cybertron were mere dots on the black velvet of space.
     The dot seemed to turn purple, and began to grow larger, as you watched it continued to grow, until you could see that a sphere of purple energy washed out, spreading
and covering other stars, other solar system, turning everything it touched to purple.—
     Your optics cleared of the static and you shook your head, "Whoa, real bad trip."
     "What’d you find out?"
     "I think the course we should set is Cybertron. According to the birdies memory banks, there’s something big going down with these Decepticons. I didn’t see the horn, but then, I
didn’t have enough energy to probe very deep, just on the subconscious levels."
     --Of course, it could all have been the delusional dreams of a looser Firecon too…--
     But then, if it was you, and you were having delusional dreams, you’d be the one on the throne and screw Megs and Clench.
     "So, then it’s back to the shuttle, and off this rock."
     Something occurs to you, "What about you? What about your memories?"
     Lightslayer turns away, "I’ve ‘remembered’ enough. The past is dead, it’s time to carve a new course for myself."
     "Ahh… That’s what I always said." You stand up and start walking toward the hills in the distance, "Why worry about who you killed yesterday. What’s more important is who you’ll
drive nuts tomorrow…."

Scvenger's Labs... missing unfortunately, but you can see Lightslayer's perspective in his Email logs.. We pick up as Zabgoth is awakening after a rebuild in Scavenger's vehicon teched CR chambers...

Scavenger's Asteroid: CR
    A steady throb suffuses your essence, and peace embalms you with its silent warmth. You find yourself floating in void…
     Below you, the cyberscape of your home planet sparkles into brilliantly glittering silver.   You float over, thinking about the darkness that now brews
across it’s troubled landscape.
     Then a sparkle catches your eye, a single streak of light in the infinite black that you and the planet floated in.
     --A falling star?—
      But there are no stars, there is nothing.
     The streak seems to shoot out of a small vortex of light and energy and smashes into the planet. An explosion seems to shake the very planet , and
sends a tidal wave of energy sloping around the sphere.
     In the brightness of the energy wave, you see a silhouette. So briefly that you can’t be sure you even saw it.
     It seemed to unfold, as if birthing itself from Cybertron itself. Great wire framed wings stretched out from a massive, hulking form… two curved
horns rose out from the head, and beneath them, vivid green eyes shone out.
     --I am rejoined—

     You bolt forward, knocking your head on the glass of the CR. The room is pitch black, no lights shone anywhere.
     "Lightslayer?"
     Nothing.
     "Computer?"
     Some lights shut on, on the console unit across the room.
     "Status."
     "CR unit shut down during critical process. Spark terminated."
     "Kay, why?"
     "Orders of Scavenger."
     "Replay orders."
    --Computer. Terminate all work on CR chamber 7-13--
      --Unit Zabgoth in critical rebuild of influx engines. Aborting process will risk life termination.--
      --Override and terminate.--
      --Termination of life support. Spark offline.--
     "Time of termination?"
     "Five cycles ago."
     "And where is Scavenger now?"
     "On the work deck."
     You stride over and reach out, stopping for a second as you see your own hand.
     The metal was definitely new. Dark black fading away from a deep blood crimson.
     --Interesting, but no time for that now…--
     You plug into the computer…

     A visual scan through the drones shows Scavenger and Roadblock whipping the tar out of the others. Hubcap was down, and Scavenger was drilling into
Flatline with his gattling gun. Lightslayer was pinned in a gigantic grasper arm.
     "Great, it’s up to me to save the day. Ok, Scavy, you try to offline me? I’ll give you a repair bill to remember."
     Quickly you pull up the security files and scan them. The termination file for the station is way to encrypted, and the scan shows that if Scavenger goes down,
then auto base defenses would shut on in a matter of cycles.
     You set in a final code and unhook from the console. Spinning you make your way back to the main hangar with all due haste.

     "And then there was one…" Scavenger turned back towards Lightslayer.
     You were in luck, the pompous bastard actually believed you were offline! He wasn’t paying any attention to you as the door into the hangar slid silently open.
     Lightslayer seemed at a loss, his eyes fixed on the smoking carcasses of Flatline and Hubcap.
     --Charge up!—
     Energy pulsed into your hammer… Instead of the minute it usually took, it was almost instantaneous!!
     --I could get to like this new body!—
     You swung back and hurled the hammer through the air, targeting the claw that held Lightslayer entrapped.
     As you released, you propped you back against the door frame and crossed your arms, assuming a casual position.
     There was a noise like a thunderclap that shook the landing bay.
     The claw arm was ripped to shreds as your hammer arched through the air and began it’s sprialing path back to you.
     Lightslayer twisted in surprise to look at the claw, then twisted back, landing on his feet, "Lightslayer, MAXIMIZE!!!!!"
     You snag the hammer out of the air as it returns to you.
     All eyes centered on you and Lightslayer cried out, "ZAGBOTH!??!??!?"

****Propped against the door that leads into the base was a robot, black and brimstone with an engine that sparked chrome with colored
highlights. Two long and narrow wings stretch out behind him, and his face was almost like a robotic skull, with two long outstretched horns. He
smiled, smoke and steam pouring from his engine with a reddish glow that made a terrible shroud covering his glittering eyes.****

     "Time to play boys."
     Scavenger didn’t hesitate, but rather turned to unleash a volley of missiles at you.
     Lightslayer’s shoulder mounted cannons blasted into his back though, knocking him off kilter.
     You leap up, a greenish and purple crackle of energy surrounding you in a corona of maddening energy. With all your might you come down on Scavenger, your
hammer giving a deafening crack of energy as it smashed into the Decepticon.
     The Decepticon falls to the ground, sparks flying.
     Roadblock fires a set of missiles, but Lightslayer spins again and fires countermeasure blasts in the air, smashing the missiles to nothing.
     Scavenger transforms and rolls at you, smashing into you with the massive claw-grasper of his crane mode.
     Roadblock closes with Lightslayer as you are pushed back by Scavenger.
     "I don’t know how you survived…"
     "Just dumb luck, or bad machinery!" you retort.
     Then, twisting under the claw before it pinned you down, you land on top of the vehicle.
     You grab a loose plating from your previous rip and yank back on it.
     Savenger roars and skids to a halt. You clench a fist instinctively, and a gun rolls out of your forearm. The arm-mounted blaster fires hissing blasts of what
appears to be energized goop into the circuitry you just exposed.
     Scavenger roars in pain and transforms, grappling with you as he comes up, "DRONES!! Take them!!!"
     You smirk and yell, "Drones, LAMBADA!!!!!"
     From the corner of your eye, you see the spherical drones start doing to rather odd… and strangely provocative gyrations with each other.
     You twist and grapple with Scavenger, and once again instinct seems to activate, and you begin your power buildup, but something was different.
     This time the power was rerouted, not to your hammer, but to your very exterior casings!
     There was a snap and the sizzling of electricity as the energy surrounded both of you and ripped into Scavenger.
     He fell in a smoking pile at your feet.
    Looking up you see that Roadblock has been dispatched as well.
    You smile a wide grin, "Well, so much for our refits. The computer said that the ship was finished, and the drones can complete the power hookups for the
weapons and the engines. I think it’d be best to get out of here as soon as possible.
     "These guys are taken care of, what’s the rush?" shrugs Lightslayer.
     "Station defenses."
     "What?"
     "Scavenger’s no slouch, he’s got safety protocols in case he goes offline. We’ve only got about ten cycles until they shut on!"
     "Then let’s hit it, grab Flatline, I’ll get Hubcap."
     Quickly you have the drones stop their dirty dancing and start up the final repairs on the Deathmonger.
     You tote Flatline in, dropping him unceremoniously in a pile next to the CR chamber. Then return the the hangar. Looking down at Scavenger’s body, something occurs to you. You grab him and begin hauling him into the ship.
     As you board, Lightslayer looks around at you in bewilderment.
     "What are you doing?!?"
     "I figure he’s our best bet at safety leaving this place. Not to mention, maybe we can learn something from him, and I don’t really think we should leave him back there with his gadgets to create anything else to help the Con’s.!"
     "Right, Hubcap’s in the CR, Flatline’ll be next. Let’s get outta here."
     With that the Deathmonger’s engines burned into vivid life, lifting it up and out of the asteroid’s center.

Hyperspace: the Deathmonger
A few days pass, and Hubcap and Flatline take the time to check the ship as thoroughly as possible. The circuits all look good, and everything should work fine… they think.

Beyond that, you took the time to partial test the new body you had. Most of what you could do was simulations, but the results were promising, very promising!

You also spent some time sparring with Lightslayer. You had a new speed that almost made you a descent opponent for him… but still, the cat was fast, and good. You had never seen anyone with as much sword skill as he had… and his style reminded you of someone…

You rigged it so all that Scavenger could do was talk. His body sat like a useless lump in the corner of the Deathmonger.

You quizzed him on what he knew, and even tried to access his databases once or twice. But he was smart, and kept anything important away from your probes.

Of course, you also took the time to drive him as mad as inhumanly possible…

Finally, the ship dropped from hyperspace. Outside, a set of stars were denoted with red circles, marking off the set of planets that formed a small solar system. In the center was a star, but from this distance, it was no more than a bright light.

An asteroid belt spanned below you, spinning in a giant circle around the star.

“Well, here we are.” Mutters Hubcap, “Wherever ‘here’ is!”

Lightslayer shrugs, “I guess we’ll just have to move in and see what’s out there.”

“I’m reading a ship not far from here. It’s moving in on a parallel course.” You inform him from the comm panel you sat at.

“What’s it’s designation?”

“It’s some of my Destron buddies… Designation, Draco, it’s a defense cruiser. Big nasty warship they retooled for ‘Defensive’ operations.”

“Great.”

“They don’t seem to care that we’re here, and their just making their way inward, to the… third planet.”

“Follow that ship.”

Earth Orbit: The Deathmonger
As your shuttle nears, a hail clicks on from the planet.

“This is Backdraft, Captain of the Maximal Ship Soulfire. Welcome to Earth… Deathmonger?”

Lightslayer flips on the comm, “Greetings Earth. What is the situation here?”

Backdraft’s picture appears across the screen. He was a rust colored robot, with a dusty, charred exterior, as if he’d been in a fire recently, “Situation is we’re amassing a return force to take back our homeplanet. All the allegiances are representated here, Maximal, Predacon, Destron, Cybertron, even Autobot’s and Decepticons.”

You jump up and push Lightslayer out of the way, “Decepticons?!? Are ye DAFT charbaby!?!?”

Backdraft looks surprised at the outburst, but he seems to have expected it, “This is a different grouping than that on Cybertron. This group is lead by Megatron, and had been trying to live on this planet in peace. They have agreed to return and help us to stop the other Decepticons.”

You shake your head, “Great, they are daft!”

Lightslayer shoves you out of the way again, “Sorry, we understand. We have something that may interest you at the same time. We’ve… collected a Decepticon Scientist that was working on some new armoring for the Decepticon’s on Cybertron. He and my friend here are both modeled with the same armoring. It more advanced than even the Transmetal II technology that was used on me. Also, I think the Decepticons may have taken an artifact from a Maximal School on Karil. The artifact was a piece of Unicron. I don’t know if they are truly mad enough to use it…”

Backdraft interrupts suddenly, “Interesting. Tell you what. Bring your ship down to the cities and land on Earth. Most of the fleet we’re having stays out at the satellite stations, but I think we’ll make an exception in your case. I’ll transmit the coordinates. Backdraft out.”

You shake your head, “I don’t like it.”

Hubcap snickers, “Oh, c’mon, you don’t trust anyone… do you?”

“No, but this is different. Why’d he look like he just got through wrestling an inferno? And Decepticons? Didn’t we just have a couple run ins with them that went bad?”

Lightslayer shakes his head, “Yeah, but we’ve also had a bad run in with Destron’s, but you’ve proven good to have around.”

You grin, “Booyah, but I’m a special kid!”

Hubcap grins back, “I think the cat’s got a point though. Let’s give these guys a chance. We don’t know what the situation here is. Let’s not make any snap judgements.”

“Ok, but… hey, those the cities?” You look out the windows to see a glittering blue ocean, with a tiny speck floating out in the middle of it’s surface.”

“Those are the coordinates.” Hubcap answered.

“Hey Flatline, do me a favor… fly over top of them before landing. I’ve gotta do something…”

Five minutes later you’re standing at the hatch, holding Scavenger in front of you.

“Wakey wakey!”

The robot’s optics slowly light up.

“Greetings, I hope you enjoyed your little nap, something unfortunate has happened since you were last with us. You see, any information we can pull out of you, I figure we can pull out of your scrapped pieces. Sooooo, it’s time for a little game called, ‘Respect mah authoritay.’ The way we play is you respect my imminent godhood, or else I push you out of the shuttle.”

“You slaggin’….!!”

“Oops, you loose, byebye!”

You hoist the robot over the ledge, in the brief second before gravity catches him, you see the sudden realization in his optics that you weren’t kidding. You think if you had turned on his motors, he would probably be flailing right about now, but instead, he merely drops like a sack of lead.

You watch as his form hits the landing pad several hundred meters before. A robot runs out and looks down at the crunched scrap and then back up at the shuttle as it begins it’s swoop around, you give a cheery wave and a thumbs up before ducking back into the hatchway.

Earth : Metroplex

Lightslayer enters the room and looks down at where several emergency drones were looking to the scrap metal pile down below.
“You threw him out… didn’t you?” The smaller bot groans.

“We played a game. He lost. Don’t worry, just means he’ll have a stint in the CR chamber. They’da thrown him in one for analyzation at any rate.”

Within a few cycles, you and the others were making your way down the Deathmonger’s gangplank. Outside, the sun shone down warm and comforting in the breezy ocean air. There was a great deal of hussel on deck as te Deathmonger’s engines were being cooled off and a few engineer bots, as well as some worker drones that had been brought on the various ships, worked to make sure that the shuttle was safe and sound.

Flatline and Hubcap were in the lead, with the former donning a thick black leather trenchcoat. Unusual for a bot, but not unknown. Sometimes it was handy to have a cover for a large weapon…

Hubcap strecthed and had a large smile as he breathed in the ocean spray.

Personally, you just hoped this new body wasn’t prone to salt corrosion.

You hear a voice from across the shiny chrome deck, “Lightslayer!”

It was the large robot, Backdraft, from the commlink. You were maybe three-quarters his size, actually a little less.

“Lightslayer, greetings.” He called again as he got near. His armoring was definitely charred, giving him a sharp contrast to the spotless… except for the Scavenger parts… deck of Metroplex’ landing pad.

Lightslayer looks up at the Cybertron, “Greetings Captain. I believe you’ve met Zabgoth?” he jerks a thumb in your direction, “And these two are known as Flatline, and Hubcap.”

Backdraft nods at each of you in turn and then starts in, “Welcome to Earth. I’ve asked that some rooms be set aside for you here, and feel free to explore as you wish while here. We would ask that you help with the preparations to return to Cybertron, but you can take a day or so to settle yourselves.”

“Bwah, how generous.” you guffaw.

Lightslayer jumps in, “Thank you, Captain, but you’ll have to excuse us. We truly know little about why we are here, and what is truly going on.”

The large robot sighs, “Well, the short and simple is that a group of Decepticons has banded together and managed to construct a monster war station. They’ve taken control of Cybertron with the station and a small fleet of other warships, using bluff and bluster as their primary weapons. We have our reasons to believe, however, that they don’t have the sheer numbers to withstand a solid counterattack.”

--Yeah, except maybe that’s why Scavenger was working on developing that drone control computer… and those plans for the drone armor and master control unit in the Warworld!!!--

You snort, “Yeah, well, they may have BEEN shorthanded, but I think you may have a few surprises to deal with when you get back home.”

Lightslayer shakes his head n resignation, “Perhaps we should sit down somewhere and speak in more detail.”

The large robot catches himself, remembering that he WAS the host, “Of course, of course. Take a while to settle down and meet me in the forward observation deck a-3 in building four. Ask Metroplex for directions if you need them. Oh, and what about your prisoner?”

The group looks at you, and you struggle to suppress a giggle.

“Uhm… He’s over there. Seems he got out a minute early.” You snicker.

You point to a hovercart that was steadily following around a robot who was scooping up the remaining Scavenger pieces from the deck. He bent over opportunely at that moment and scooped up a large, silver claw from the ground.

Backdraft jerked his head back toward you, “What in the…???”

“Ah, he’ll be fine. Just be sure you don’t activate his weapon systems when you toss that refuse into a CR. Now, about those rooms…”

Earth : Metroplex

Sometime later, you and the others sat around a large table. Backdraft as well as another robot you didn’t recognize sat across the way from you. The other robot was in grays, reds, khakis, blues, and whites. He had two blue-crystal windshield-wings stretching from his back, and an Autobot symbol surrounded by two wings on his chest. His face was covered in a faceplate and his eyes sparkled with a blue youthfulness.

As you sat down, Backdraft started in, “Lightslayer, Zabgoth, Flatline, Hubcap, I’d like you to meet Optimus Prime.”

With that you let out a whoop that shakes the table, “Now I KNOW you’ve lost your minds! Optimus Prime died centuries ago, if he ever even truly lived!!”

The other robot shook his head, “I’m afraid it’s true, I am Optimus Prime. I did not die after the wars. Rather, with the signing of the Pax Cybertronia, myself and several others who did not want to abandon the sigil of the Autobot’s came here to Earth, to stay and live in peace. The Council’s decided to allow us this freedom for ‘services rendered.’ However, the Earth Defense Force would only allow it on the addition that all contact to Cybertron was restricted or lost. The location and significance of the planet was deleted from the core computer on Cybertron, and after two or three centuries, only remains a vague memory to most of those who did not live here.”

Lightslayer shakes his head, “Then how, or why was Earth chosen as the rendezvous point?”

Backdraft answered, “My ship, the Soulfire started the signal after a Council member sought refuge onboard our ship before we left Cybertron. He had the coordinates, and knew that here we would find Optimus Prime, who still held the Matrix of Leadership.”
“Hah!” you cry, “More Autobot mythology! What good is a Matrix going to do us?! Even if it does exist, it has to be on Cybertron, robots have been created over and over again in the past three centuries! If the myth was true, then the Matrix was the only thing that could build a new bot!”

“You’re right,” Prime answered, “The Matrix was the only thing that could create new life, but I used the Matrix to create a place to hold sparks and create new bodies to house them. The chamber used the Matrix power outlays and copied them, in effect, it was a downloaded copy on a much larger scale. It took some doing, but eventually, the Vat was created.”

“Oh great!” you exclaim, “More fairy tales! No one has ever seen the Vat!”

“Not likely. The vat was created near the end of the Great Wars. It was made to process a new race of warriors, and then it would test out those warriors.”

“Test out?” Lightslayer questions.

“In fire… The new warriors would have to fight their way to reach the surface of Cybertron. Many did not make it, but those that did became most of what we now know as the Maximals and the Predicons. After a while, the Wars ended, and before we left, we used the chamber for one final use. We mass created sparks, enough to last for millennia. These were removed and taken to the Council’s new chambers where they were, and still are, used for the protoforms on Exploration and Defense crews.”

You sit back again, “Ok, nice history lesson, but what does it have to do with us now?”

“Perhaps everything. If the Decepticon’s have taken over the Council chambers, then they may have the means to access those new sparks. If that is the case, then they may have the means to create a new army from scrap metal!”

“Oh, that’s bad.”

“That brings all of you here up to speed on why our situation is so critical. We have to know everything we can about the Decepticon’s and be able to use it to our best advantage!”

Lightslayer sit’s back, “Ok where do we start?”

Where you started was at Lightslayer’s beginning. His creation from a spark found at a ruined outpost early on in the seemingly random Decepticon attacks. A wave of energy hit the station where his new body was being made, and from that wave, the odd mutation of Transmetal and organic had been created from some unknown format.

From there, he was sent to Karil, where his spark had been found, in the hopes that he might uncover memories of who had attacked the school there.

That was where you came in. You went ahead and told them that you had been sent by the Destrons to make sure that there wasn’t any funny business involved in Lightslayers’ memories, and how the attacking assassin squad had made you decide to join up with the cat and his cohorts.

Then Lightslayer told about the museum, and the missing horn, then of the Decepticons who showed up to try to pound you into the ground.

You mentioned Lightslayer’s split second timing and his strategies, as well as his incredible skill with the blades. He looked surprised, but pushed on with the story.

The secret workstation came up and you spoke on how you had found the document files linking Scavenger to the Decepticons, as well as the plans for a master control unit that could possible control hundreds of heavily armed and armored drones, perhaps even thousands!

After that was over, Backdraft told of how he had come to be here. He had been a member of the Cybertronian Security Forces on the planet Charr when he had ‘fallen’ into a Decepticon planning meeting. In attempting to get away, he had managed to loose all the proof and set a large portion of the area on fire, subsequently getting put on leave from the Force.

He didn’t let go that easily, and with the aid of a robot named Retrohopper, went and found the Decepticons again, going even so far as to sneak onboard a shuttle through its fuel tanks cycles before it took off!

The shuttle linked up to a larger destroyer by the name of the Darksky who attacked a small Predacon scientific outpost. Backdraft and Retrohopper managed to forewarn the station’s residents and with their help took control of the Darksky, leaving the shuttle of Decepticon’s on the planet. They then returned to Cybertron via an unfortunate meeting with another Predicon outpost. There they picked up another transformer with the same style of armoring as Lightslayer.

He had been a Predacon experiment with the Transmetal technology, and had been built as a super warrior. Only the interference of another Predacon made it possible for him to choose his own path and become a Maximal.

After finally reaching Cybertron, they met up with a Destron mercenary named Skyjammer. He too was looking for the Decepticons, and decided that Backdraft was destined to find them one way or another. However, after taking the story to the Councils, they were all but ignored. The council refused to prepare for anything, but did allow the Darksky to be rebuilt into the Soulfire, the ship that sat outside the two massive cities here on Earth. Skyjammer’s ship was added to the ship, in place of the shuttle that had been left with the Decepticons. The Soulfire’s mission was to find proof of the Decepticon’s in the galaxy.

Right before they took off on this mission, proof found them. The Warworld, a massive Decepticon battle station, showed up in Cybertron orbit with a collection of other Destroyers in tow. The collective ships of the Cybertron armada had been scattered to the ends of the galaxy in an attempt to cover their outposts from the random attacks that had been staged over the past few months.

The Warwold took over Cybertron with little effort, and the Soulfire was barely able to escape. Before it took off, however, just as the attack was starting, a member of the council boarded, Cerebrus. It was he that gave the orders for a retreat, and for the emergency signal to be sent out, gathering the remaining ships here, on Earth.

Now, the Cybertronian Armada grew in size. It was a collection of Autobot, Decepticon, Cybertron, Destron, Predacon, and Maximals. Backdraft had been signified as the admiral of the conglomeration, and was overseeing the refitting of the Soulfire as a link between the two cities, Metroplex and Trypticon, to enable them to be used for space travel.

You shake yourself, “Bwah… that’s a lotta stuff. But one thing still is unanswered.”

“What’s that?” asks Backdraft.

Lightslayer finishes it off, knowing exactly what you were getting at, “Megatron. Megatron and his Decepticons here on Earth.”

Optimus sighs, “Three hundred years ago, Megatron went down with his warship here on Earth. He sank into the ocean, and was thought lost. However, a few months ago, an Autobot named Flood found that ship and the carcass of a robot at the command. He did not know who or what he had found, but he did know that somehow, after hundreds of years, there was still an active spark inside the skeleton that lay there. He removed it and brought it to SeaBase. There he placed it in a CR chamber that rebuilt the spark a new body. The robot called himself Megaplex and was critical in the fight against a mad Predacon that was here on Earth.

“To help cut down the story, let’s jump ahead and say that he found Trypticon, and was joined by the Combaticons as well as a few other Decepticon’s that came her with Starscream. The Tripredicus Council somehow knew he was here, and decided that he had to be taken back to Cybertron, in chains. They came and tried to take him by force, and the short war that followed led to their failure and Megatron’s even newer body, that is linked to Starscream now.”

“He has decided to assist us in the re-conquering of Cybertron.”

“And we trust that?” you arch an eyebrow.

“We trust that.” Backdraft states, simply and plainly. “We’re all separated by political differences, but now, we have to put those behind us. We can not allow the Decepticons to overtake our homeworld and control it through a vice like grip of drones!”

“Pretty speech, but I wonder how practical it truly is?” you regard the charred robot and the ancient leader with an amused look.

“Regardless, we will work with the Decepticons here on Earth. Zabgoth, if you wouldn’t mind, we’d like to run some tests on your armor. “

You shrug, “As long as there are lots of needles and drills!”

“Right… the rest of you take some time to relax. We have a long road ahead of us…”

After the tests, you head for a drink in Metroplex’ forward lounges. You find Backdraft and Hubcap sitting at a table overlooking the wide expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. It was night, and the lights of the cities glittered off the waves in a sparkling sheen.

“Hoorah boys, how goes it!” you plop yourself down, making yourself at home.

“Hey Zab.” Greets Hubcap with a little wave, “We were just talking about the old days of the Wars.”

Backdraft nods, shifting his cumbersome weight, “I don’t have many memories of the Wars. I was in a Decepticon raid. Lost most of my memories and this charred exterior.”

“You know, a good scrub with lacquer thinner might help that.”

“Nope, I’ve tried, even painted over it a few times. The char marks always reappear. It’s a reminder of what war can do…”

Hubcap grins, “ Yeah, but there was nothin’ like blastin a few of you Decepticreeps, Zabgoth.”

You return the grin with a leer, “If you kiddy bots hadn’t been such easy targets in those days… Say Backdraft, you were a victim of Decepticon raids, what station were you at?”

“Zeta 12-11. Why?”

The name was familiar, but you couldn’t be sure if you were on that raid or not. There had been so many, and it was so long ago.

“Just wonderin’…”

Then something clicked, a recognized face and a misplaced memory.

You remembered being on board a Decepticon ship, on your way to a raid.

“…and Zabgoth, we need a broad band scramble on their communications. Also, see what you can do with their electronics. Cause as much mayhem as possible so Flatline and his squad…”

You shake off the memory, after all, it didn’t truly matter anymore.

--Did it?—

Earth: Metroplex
You invited yourself to Scavengers official interrogation. He had been transferred to Trypticon for the event, and there was a Predacon by the name of Hornet that was chosen for the process.

The purple and blue robot grimaced again as he set aside another chip on the small table next to the chair where Scavenger… rebuilt… lay face down, with his cpu panels opened.

“How can I do anything when you’ve already muddled his processors three ways to Unicron!?” Complained the wasp-bot. His shiny transmetal skin reflected the bright light that shined down on the workplace with a dangerous glitter.

You shrug, “I just had a few laughs… It was a long ride here!”

His crystaline wings flutter in annoyance, “And they say that the Destrons were more civilized. I’ve rebuilt seventy-five percent of his reasoning circuitry so that I might have a chance of pulling anything useful out of him. However, needless to say, he is now far more operational than he should be, and I’m struggling to finish before his autorepair sensors hit his primary systems.”

“You can’t just keep his primaries shorted, or take the autorepair off-line?”

The robot looks at you with multifaceted eyes, “Whatever this new armor is, it also has an advanced system that seems… resistant to normal control methods. If the bastard had retained half a brain… he probably was nearly repaired when you dropped him from the shuttle. Probably could have reactivated his weapon systems at any time.”

“Oops.”

“Oops indeed. He coulda blasted you before you even realized he was perfectly fine. I suppose that he just wasn’t quite right in the head at that moment though…”

“So my monkeying with his brain was a good thing.” You decide. Hornet looks back up at you in annoyance again.

He goes back to his work, finishing up several connections to the rather impressive machinery around him.

“Your weapons are active, right?”

“Yeah, why?”

“I can’t assure that he won’t get up and start walking while I’m working with him.”

“What about those leads, he won’t access Trypticon, will he?”

“This room is physically separate from Trypticon’s data banks. There are no connections, no transceiver lines, nothing. It is just a generator and a diagnostic computer. The only thing that might happen is he pops up and starts taking pot shots at the two of us,”

“Bwah!”

“Here goes…”

The computers hum, and you watch as the Transmetal bug leans over the robot. Electricity sparkles across the chrome-metal frame of the Predacon, and down into his hands where he touched Scavenger on the temples.

A screen flares to life behind them and images seem to pass over. You see Scavenger and his old team, the Contructicons, as they were centuries ago. Several changes pass over them, restructuring of different members, finally focusing on the rebuild that Scavenger currently boasts.

Stats scroll across about the metal armoring, information on the technology and its style begin to flash past.

Then came the drone workings. Quickly a definite pattern came up, the building of a drone army based on the designs specified. Tanks, jets, cycles… vehicles that could transform into robotic slaves that would mindlessly carry out the Decepticon order. All of them would bear the new armor, and advanced weaponry, making them nearly invincible.

The transmission flickers, and you look down as Scavenger’s clawed arm comes up to grab Hornet by the throat.

The Predacon twitches in the massive claw, but is unable to free himself.

You spring into action, grappling the claw and prying it open, allowing the Predacon to slump to the floor. The other claw comes up and slams into you from behind, knocking you back as he turns around and sits up from the chair.

Your hammer was in your hands and energy started to crackle across it, but already his gattling guns were firing, drilling into your shoulder with a powerful hit.

There was a twang and you see energy ripples begin to arc across the Decepticon’s left side from a dart missile that protruded from his back.

He turned to target the new threat, a recovered Hornet, giving you the chance to move.

You leveled the hammer, and instinctively fired off an energy blast. Electricity ripple off of the weapon, crackling into Scavenger’s backside. You charged forward as the energy still crackled and shoved the Decepticon to the floor.

There was another twang and more sparks as another one of Hornet’s missiles buried itself into Scavenger’s joints.

The Decepticon transformed, but slowly, bringing his claw to bear down on you. You bring the hammer up to block, locking yourself in a hold with the massive claw.

His gattling gun fires again, catching you across the exposed stomach, but you held your grip.

There were two more shots from Hornet, one of which reflected off of the tough Decepticon hide. The other burying itself, spreading more cyber-venom through the obstinant bot.

Finally the hold on your hammer weakened, and with a twist and a wrench you pull the Decepticon around, smashing it into the chair and computer equipment with a smashing explosion.

Scavenger transforms and lies still.

“HAH! Bastard!”

Hornet was moving over to the ruined scrap of the chair, “Good job, except that you may have ruined the data we just extracted.”

“BAH, You’d rather be chomped by Scrapenger here?”

Hornet was rummaging around, “Ah, good.” He stands with a sliver of a crystal in his hand, “Safe and recorded, best get him back to stasis and this to Megatron and Prime…”

As you leave the chamber, you see Lightslayer coming toward you. He seems intense and worried, "Zabgoth, we need to work out a plan."

--Can’t resist… let’s poke at the cat and see how serious he is about all this…--

"Yeah, for what? All we have to do is follow these guys here and were all set. We'll let them take care of all of the major battle's while we site back and drink energon."

Lightslayer’s eyes widen in alarm, "You can’t mean that! These bots are gonna head in to a major offence against a very powerful force..."

You cut him off, "That’s my point. These guys are gonna commit suicide, oh don’t get me wrong, I'm sure they'll win but at a great cost. And I don’t plan on loosing my shinny new butt just to get back on Cybertron."

You see shock cover Lightslayer, and he begins to quiver in anger, "WHAT THE PITT DO YOU MEAN COMMIT SUICIDE, THIS IS A BATTLE FOR OUR VERY SURVIVAL!!!!!"

--Oops, maybe I pushed a little much…--

You laugh and give him a big, skull faced grin, "Calm down buddy, I was only messin’ with ya, Now lets go and find Hubcap and Flatline and make a plan of action." You turn and walk off down the hall.
There’s a loud thump behind you, but when you turn, you see a disgruntled Lightslayer starting to follow you… and a rather large dent where he punched the wall…

The two of you find Hubcap and Flatline both in their quarters. You talk for a while about your options at this moment. Flatline makes no comments, movements, or sounds during the proceedings. Hubcap, however seemed more than happy to talk the subject over.

You tell them about the interrogation session and Scavenger’s attack. Also, what you learned about the drones and the armor.

“Yeah, that fits in with some things that Backdraft was thinking.” Comments Hubcap, “He said that it didn’t seem like the Decepticons truly had enough forces to hold Cybertron, and he was wondering if it had all been a large bluff on their behalf.”

Lightslayer nods, “Sure, it’s easy. They used the Warworld and the Horn of Unicron to scare us into retreat, then while we’re gone, they build up an army of these transformable drones to solidify their grasp on the planet.”

You lean back, “Which means, the longer we wait, the harder things get.”

“So, while we’re here waiting for the armada to assemble, he’s actually filling his defenses into a solid fighting force.” Hubcap adds.

“More than that,” Lightslayer counters, “Not only is he adding to it. If it’s a drone army, and he’s controlling it through one master control, that means that the force will be coordinated down to deadly precision. Imagine it, with the master control, he might be processing the data instantaneously, then giving correcting commands at the same rate. He would be able to strategize a war from one point with an almost godlike knowledge!”

You sit forward, “Impossible, no bot could process that much data and stay active.”

Lightslayer shrugs, “With the technology changes we’ve seen? Can you really rely on what we know? And what if he was almost in a shutdown mode, rerouting all his energy and resources to the control of the army? It’s a stretch, but then, I’ve seen some weird things in the past month…”

“So then, ”asks Hubcap, “What are the options?”

“How many ships are here, anyone know?” Lightslayer asks.

Hubcap starts ticking them off, “The Soulfire, The Draco, The Minotaur, Carnivor, Claw, Cavalier, and Thunderhead are the main cruisers. There’s also apparently and Autobot Guardian Robot that goes by the name Omega Supreme.”

“Guardian robot?” The cat-bot queried.

“Yeah, big fortress bot. Lots of firepower, and he’s spaceworthy in vehicle mode. So that’s two Cybertron Defenders, two Destron Defenders, a Predacon Defender and a Hunter, and a Maximal Defender.”

“Seven ships and a Guardian.” Lightslayer restates.

“Yeah, and the Deathmonger and another shuttle owned by some merc named Skyjammer… and the two cities.”

You snort, “Can they fly?”

“Actually, that’s what they’re working on. They’re using the Soulfire as a link between the cities in their hovering fortress modes, and they think that they’ll be able to take them as one massive war fortress out into space.”

“Bwah…”

“Backdraft also told me that there were at least ten ships in the Decepticon’s armada.”

“So we’re still badly outgunned.” Lightslayer finishes for the small red bot.

You shrug, “So we wait?”

All of the sudden, Flatline spoke, “Or we split the armada.”

The three of you turned toward the black robot in surprise.

“You mean take a force back…?” Lightslayer whispers.

Flatline doesn’t move a circuit, but you felt obliged to answer, “Whoa, that’s nuts! If we split the force, and we’re WRONG, then we get annihilated and the rest of the armada is that much weaker!”

“And if we wait, we may be giving the Decepticon’s the chance they need!” Lightslayer throws back at you.

Hubcap shrugs, “Whatever we decide, don’t forget, we’ll have to get passed by Backdraft, Optimus, AND Megatron.”

“Or we could go alone, “ Lightslayer ponders.

“That might not accomplish squat.” Hubcap shakes his head, “If we go back, that’s four of us in a crappy shuttle against ten plus ships!”

You sit back, all of you considering your options. The future would definitely be… interesting.

--Shoulda stayed on that scrap heap of a planet…--

Earth : Metroplex

"But if only one or two of us goes back, sneak's in and destroys the Bot in command of all of the drones. We will stop all of this before it gets WAY out of hand," Lightslayer comments.

"Yeah and let me guess, you want me and you to go, huh?" you shrug.

"Well yeah, that was my plan. We get some small, fast little ship cloak it and sneak in right under their noses.”

You look at him like he’s nuts, but at the same time… it kinda sounded fun.

“You ARE a Deception after all Zab, it shouldn’t be that hard to fool them. And I can change my activation codes to Pred codes and that might also work to convince them that I want to be on their side."

“I WAS a Decepticon, and that was a couple centuries ago. Who said these nut balls are even related to me?!”

Hubcap snickers, “Well, you are all kinda loopy.”

You clack you teeth at him and shrug in resignation, “I don’t like the plan, but I don’t have any other ideas, and there’s nothing much going on here… But I think we should pass it by Backdraft first and see what he thinks. After all he is the ‘great Admiral’ around here."
Hubcap stands, well… I wish you guys luck, and if there’s anything I can do…”

“We’ll let you know, thanks Hubcap.” Lightslayer shakes the small bots hand.

Flatline doesn’t move.

Metroplex tells you and Lightslayer that Backdraft is currently in a meeting, and is not to be disturbed. The two of you decide to wait and get back together a megacycle later in the morning, and for now just go cool your heels.

The cat goes off to get some air outside in the city streets, and to take a look at the world outside. You however think that your needs can best be filled with a nice drink in one of the lounges.

You head to a lower lounge, situated in the same building that your rooms were in.

The lounge was quiet as usual, and no other bots were around.

--I leave a deserted planet to come to an almost deserted city…--

The droid-waiter takes your order and produces a sparkling drink with a rather crisp tinge to it.

As you put your feet up, a large, white robot with silver lining and a solitary red optic walked into the room. It didn’t have a sigil on it, and something struck you as odd as you looked at it. It walked over to the sofa chair where you sat.

“You Zabgoth?”

“Harum… Ya, I guess so, who are you.”

“Name’s Lietenant Phillip Haysworth."

--Ah, not a transformer, but some kind of Earth mech?!—

“Our group got some freetime from working on the city connection, and I wanted to take a look at the robot with the new armoring system. I’m something of a dabbler in technology…”

You sit up, “And?”

“Not impressed. What puts you above any of the other bots.”

You snort, rapidly loosing interest, “Same stuff that puts them above a toy robot.”

He give off a low chuckle, “Tell you what, after lunch, if you want to prove that statement, you can just meet this ‘toy robot’ in the practice rooms on Trypticon. We’ll see what your new armor can really do.”

With that, the mech turned and walked out of the lounge.

--Fight a fleshy, yeah right. Though it might be fun to pound on the pompous bastard.—

You sit back again, pushing the matter from your mind at the moment, and you start to think about the raid that Backdraft had mentioned.

You were pretty sure you hadn’t actually seen Backdraft, you hadn’t spent that much time down below. From what little you recall it was just a firestormer mission.

There were about twenty five of you, and the ‘great leader’ Megatron had decided that it might be a good idea to slam the Autobot’s supply bases. This was the third that you had hit, and you were getting pretty good at them.

You hacked into the transmission codes of the base and began to lace them with a form of feedback that you had been working on. The low level signal would broadcast itself from every station and every radio on the base. It was kind of a lulling effect. It fuzzed the operation of CPU’s by giving them a steady stream of useless info to play with. To the bot’s below it’d just come across as some static, and a quiet sense of peace.

It’d give the firestormer’s about five extra cycles before they were even noticed. Enough to drop all the troops, and send out a few well-placed blasts to knock out the major defense systems.

Then the true havoc would begin. Canceled door commands, scrambled transmission signals, and remote control of the bases labor drones. It’s amazing how many bots will just sit and scratch their heads when their lifter drone starts a dance routine in front of them…

Yeah, just a typical raid. What was more interesting is Flatline. He had been quiet, even then. And had ALWAYS gone by the letter of the command. He was a cold bastard, and you vaguely remember him being one of the Con’s no one wanted to cross. Which probably meant he’d shoot you in the face rather than talk to you.

The weird thing was that he was a Cybertron now…

A Destron, that’d be one thing. That’s what you did, toss the title, pick up a lesser on… But to go Cybertron. That just didn’t seem right…

Later, you and Lightslayer got back together. Metroplex informed you that Backdraft was alone on one of the lower struts near the water below. The two of you were led to an access hatch, and climbed out and down to find the large, rusty robot dangling his feet over the edge into the Atlantic waters.

“Metroplex told us you’d be down here.” Explains Lightslayer with an apologetic shrug.

“What’s up?” He turns to look back at the two of you.

“Well, we were talking…”

You interrupt him with a snort, “The cat wants to return to Cybertron to kill himself.”

“Not to kill myself! But from what Zabgoth told me, I think I see what the Decepticons have in plan. If they make a drone army with that new armor… Well, we can’t just wait until all of Cybertron can gather here. I think I can lead a small advance group that can harry the Decepticons, maybe even take out their leader. Anything that will slow them down.”

“So you want to split the armada?”

“No, but we’re low on choices. If we don’t hurry up and do something to slow them down… And maybe I can find some more forces to rally on Cybertron itself. After all, if they really have made a new force, we’re going to need all the help we can get.”

Backdraft turns back to the water to consider your proposition…

Earth: Metroplex

Backdraft nods his head, “I want no more talk of this without secure conditions, understood?” You both nod your heads.

“I’ll arrange a meeting this evening, outside even of Metroplex, where we can finish planning.”

Zabgoth opens his mouth to say something, but you forestall him, “Ah, no more. Consider your proposal accepted, but I want to make sure it is absolutely secret. Now, I have some things to see to…”

Meanwhile, you decide it’d be fun to knock the human around a bit. You head on down to the lower practice chambers on Metroplex, but on arrival, find that there seems to be a problem.

Maintenance bots were running around, and there was the lingering smell of smoke in the air. You see a red robot that was about the same size of you, “Hey!”

“Yeah, what?”

“What’s going on?”

“We had an accident with the sim. A bot kinda overstressed himself and the system and shorted out the whole deck. Sim rooms are unavailable until tomorrow.”

“Aw, I had a match!”

“Trypticon agreed to allow access to his sim rooms, and we’ve already transferred the scheduled sparring matches over there. Just go there and practice.”

And so you do.

The rooms in Trypticon were easily a match for the rooms on Metroplex. The only difference would be a less stringent set of safety protocols.

In the room that you found scheduled for your duel, you found that the Lieutenant was already present.

His mech was standing at ease and had added to its weapons array a heavy scepter. It was a long staved weapon with a hefty, mace-like end.

“Greetings Zabgoth!” the Lieutenant waved from a hatchway on the mech’s chestplate. He was tall and lanky, with long black hair. His eyes had a slightly slanted look to them, and his skin was pale white.

“Ready to get trounced?”

“I hope that we may both have a far more challenging fight than either of us expects.”

“Bwah! Think a lot of yourself fleshy!”

He steps into the hatch, which folds up after him. The amber orange optics of the black and silver mech flared to life.

“Computer, randomized training scenario.” He starts the command code, “No enemies, one on one sparring range with obstacles.”

The surrounding chambers shifts appearance, and you become vaguely aware of the gravity buffers forming to keep the two of you from actually reaching the walls. There would be a distance distortion between the two of you, making it appear optically that you were as far apart as necessary, despite the limitations of the room. Really, it was quite an amazing system…

The room became a thick jungle floor of vegetation, hot and humid as thunderclouds rolled by in the dark skies.

Ruins of white stone buildings and wrecked vehicles littered the jungle floor and seemed etched in an almost surreal vividness in the dimly lit jungle.

A pulsing red orb hung between the two of you, a signal for when the match would start.

You pull your hammer and grip it with a crackle of ichorous green energy.

His mech lowered itself to the ground, swinging its staff into a position of readiness with a rather fluid movement.

The orb pulsed red one last time and then switched to green.

You jump sideways as the tanks heavy rail gun tore into the ground with a swatch of energized heat.

The hammer flew from your grasp with a flash of green swirling power, but the human jumped up with amazing speed for a piece of junk machinery. Your hammer flew past and smashed into a building, turning it into a pile of rubble.

You transform into your car mode, which also had altered in the rebuild. Thick armoring and new piping gave the exterior a throwback look to the days of Road Warrior. Your engine roared, spouting a halo of plasma off of your hood and your wheels threw up a sandstorm of dirt as you move past the mech.

“See if you can keep up with this!” you cackle.

There is a thud as the robot lands and then the familiar sound of gears shifting and joints moving.

--He TRANSFORMED!!!!—

The mech folded down into a heavy hover tank that had no problem mowing through the vegatation that you were winding between.

Again the rail gun fired, clearing a thick path through the grounds. As you rolled over flaming trees, you transformed again, catching your hammer and throwing it into the mech.

It hit this time, knocking the tank sideways and forcing it to transform.

However, the hammer itself was knocked to the ground.

The tank jumped up and tossed a handfull of small beads out. As soon as the beads hit the trees near you they began to explode, sending sprays of napalm spinning out in a firestorm.

You jump back, but the flames do little to your armor. Two twin gattling cannons spun out over your shoulders and began to fire at the mech.

You hit, but he doesn’t seem overly effected as his railgun lowers itself to fire again.

You move, but get caught in the wash of the powerful cannon. It throws you back, hard. Into another small building that shudders with the impact.

--Ok, that hurt!—

You transform again into your flight mode and move directly at the mech, slamming into it with the foreblades on your ship.

Sparks fly as you push it back, but it responds quickly by digging into you with its claws. It was strong, fast, and tough!

For several cycles the two of you continued to pound on each other. Each gave as well as they took. You find yourselves eventually sparring with the hammer verses the staff. His staff suffered from the energy fields that roared across the hammer’s surface, but still, he was no slouch in skill, and it’s superior length kept you far enough at bay to keep you from doing any damage.

Now, the two of you sat facing off across a battle-made clearing. Smoke wrapped around each of you, and exposed panels on each of you showed sparking wires lying underneath.

Rain began to slick down from the skies, coating everything in a gray haze.

“Had enough?” you panted.

“Have you wondered…” you were gratified to hear him panting as well, “Why the two of us have taken so much damage?”

“Because we’re fighting?” Talking was a good way to reserve energy…

“We’re fighting in a sim chamber. The safety’s should be keeping us from actually pummeling each other.”

“Hey… good point. Does it matter?”

“Not really, just adds an air of excitement.”

“Good, should we cont…”

A blast ripped open the ground beside you.

“What the…!?”

A dark figure blasted at you from atop a thick tree. You dodge, his blast missing you by a micron.

“Ambush?!?”

You see a league of marching shapes form out of the rain.

You turn to see the Lieutenant looking at the same thing, “Computer, simulation abort.”

No reply.

“Computer! Trypticon!?” he repeats, but the marching league was raising their weapons.

You jump and push him aside as about ten blasts rip into the ground around him.

“Truce?” you ask with a skull-like grin.

“Truce.”

And so the pummeling commences.

Earth: Trypticon’s training rooms

You bring your hammer to heft, charging it with energy. The first wave breaks and heads toward you, firing their weapons and burning up the trees around you.

You leap forward, into the spray, and swing with all your strength down into the groupings of holo-mechs. They shatter and fly apart in a burst wave of green energy flame. You see the human transformed into tank mode again, and firing huge break lines into their ranks with the rail gun.

Cycles cranked by as you smashed through their ranks, nearly obliterating them all, the sounds of battle heavy in the air.

You notice that another set of mechs seemed to be present, these looked like an amalgamation of you and the tank drone, and seemed to be fighting on your side.

--Curiouser and curiouser…--

Most of the field was soon demolished, and you found yourself face to face with one of the few remaining mechs on either side.

This one had pulled a sword, and seemed intent on using it to shred you where you stood.

You heaved your axe free of a mechs torso plate and gripped it with a grim sneer on your face.

--Ok, roboto, let’s do it.—

With a roar you burst forward, swinging your hammer around madly, but the mech was far superior to its holographic buddies. Its sword deftly dodged and parried every blow, sending showers of sparks flying out, only a few segments passed before you were on the defense, struggling to parry the quick shower of razor swipes that darted down and around you as you fought.

--What the slag, this thing puts the others to shame. In fact, he’s putting me to shame…--

Granted, you already had a thousand open panels, dripping wires, and burning circuit boards in your system, but the new armor and tech had been serving you well. It had quickly and efficiently rerouted most systems to keep you at a fair level of activity.

The mech steps in and draws his sword up across the haft of your hammer, knocking one of your hands free of its grip. Before you could recover it, he dodged in and cleared your other hand as well. The hammer dropped to the ground with a thud.

The sword darted forward until its point was at your throat…

--Crap…--

Earth: Trypticon’s training rooms

Thinking fast, you decide it was time to ‘experiment’. You snatch up at the blade, pouring energy into it, just like you did to your hammer.

There is a humming whine as green electrical fire arced up across the steel blade. A shattering explosion tosses both you and the mech across the jungle floor. Hot metal shards rip into your face and chest, leaving smoking scars embedded in your already damaged armor.

You struggle to your feet, just in time to see the mechturn toward you as well. A shoulder cannon was rotating toward you and preparing to fire…

At least, you notice, he was now missing his arm.

Suddenly, the room glitched.

There was an explosion and everything went dark for an instant. Red lights filled the smokey interior, and you find yourself looking at Lightslayer, who was armless and standing not ten meters from you. A look of surprise was on his face, and his shoulder cannon was poised to fire.

Across the smoke filled room, you could make out the shape of another beast-bot, this one a blue and silver tiger. In his hand was the arm of the Earth mech, ripped free. His claw was buried in the mech’s head, and massive burns and loose panels were arrayed across his Transmetal body.

There was also a light filtering in from the doorway, and there stood several silhouetted forms.

“STOP!!” Yelled a familiar voice. It was Backdraft, and you could see his large form move into the room behind the shape that already stood turned toward the now shattered control panel.

“What the slag?!?”

White lights flickered on, revealing the four combatants, you, the Earth mech, Battlestripe, and Lightslayer, all in very damaged form, and alone in an otherwise bare walled, empty room. Backdraft, and a couple of Decepticons were rushing into the room, and Megatron stood where he had apparently blasted the control panel for Trypticon’s sim room.

Backdraft rushed over to help extract Battlestripes claws carefully from the Lieutenant’s mech, “There was a hidden security protocol in Trypticon’s circuits. It was activated when a non-Decepticon tried to use the chamber.”

You recall the Lietenant activating the sim, and no doubt it was one of the Maximals who activated their session.

“Security protocol?!?”

“Yes.” Megatron turned toward your group, “Apparently it locks down the room and overlays holograms until it managed to confuse it’s prisoners into destroying themselves.

Lightslayer grasps at the charred remnants of his arm, “Works pretty well.”

“Shoulda guessed… no Mech fights like that!”

He shakes his head, “I should have known also. I was wondering why a mech was throwing a mace and then the whole charged weapon thing…”

Backdraft pries open the command module of the EDF mech. The Lieutenant staggers out, a little bruised and beat up, but relatively undamaged. “You mean we almost got scrapped because HIS people didn’t find a SECURITY BREACH!?!?”

Megatron glared over at him, “Be glad we got here before you were terminated.”

“Be GLAD?!?! I’ve got over a billion in damages to this mech!”

Backdraft stepped in, “We’ll take care of the damages. It was an accident, you can’t expect us to be sure…”

“I don’t expect YOU to be sure of anything on this scrap, I expect HIM to be sure. It is HIS city. Why should…”

Megatron seems bored with the conversation, “Take his mech and repair it.” He motions to Blastoff and then trudges out of the room.

“I’m supposed to repair THAT piece of insignificant technology?” The Transmetal Combaticon complains.

Backdraft shakes his head, “Just do it. I’ll have someone from Metroplex help you in the labs. Maybe you could even work on a few upgrades just for kicks.”

“Yee… haw…” droles the insolent Decepticon, “Spacecase, give me a hand with this thing.”

“I believe I will help oversee the repairs?” The Lieutenant asks.

“You know anything about tech?” Blast-Off looks down at the human.

“I am fully versed in the standard technology of your race, as well as in heavy armaments and explosives.” He turns back, “I quite enjoyed our match, Zabgoth. Perhaps sometime we can do it again?”

Later that evening, you and Lightslayer meet Backdraft and one other bot on a far away cliff. The ocean below roars with the incoming tide.

“Lightslayer, Zabgoth, I’d like you to meet the captain of the ship that will be taking you to Cybertron, Skyjammer.”

“Hoohaw, a man without a sigil.” You note, looking at the gray blue and gray green camoflauged robot and seeing no form of insignia.

“Greetings, Skyjammer.” Lightslayer nods.

Skyjammer nods at the two of you turn.

“Ok,” Backdraft starts in, “We’ve got the three of you. I also want to send two more. One will be an espionage agent and the other I was thinking of an expert in demolitions.”

“Any ideals?” Skyjammer asks.

“Yes, I think I’m going to send one of the Decepticons with you. His name is Bladewing and he was responsible for wrecking the Tripredicus’ plans in the earlier battles here last month. As for the demolitions, I did some checking after the problems on Trypticon earlier. That human that you were sparring with, Zabgoth, he’s certified in a rather impressive amount of demolitions expertise as well as four or five technical fields of study. He better matches the bill than any Cybertronian that is currently on Earth.”

You shrug, “Well, with that mech of his, he can take care of himself, that’s for sure.”

“Then it’s decided. You have twenty four hours until you leave. Your mission, return to Cybertron and slow down any production of drones, and any activity of the Decepticons possible until the fleet returns to reclaim Cybertron.”

Earth: Metroplex

You and Lightslayer return to Metroplex. All the while, you spend turning over thoughts in your head. You just couldn’t bring yourself to let Flattline go yet. He was a loose cannon, and you didn’t like getting shot in the oil pan.

As you land and transform on the deck of Metroplex you turn to tell Lightslayer… but the cat was already gone!

You shrug, “Well, guess this is best done mano y mano…” and head off towards Flatline’s quarters.

The door slides open to a darkened chamber. There was a low beat pulsing through the room, more of Flattline’s ‘music’. You step inside and let your receptors adjust.

Flatline sat in a large chair in the center of the darkened room, staring out at the ocean beyond. You could see brooding clouds beyond the large tinted windowpanes of the room.

“I need to talk to you.”

No answer.

“Seems to me that you’ve been withholding some vital information from us…”

Nothing. The music continues to play, you can make out words low in the rumble of the bass.

“Don’t play the silent game with me, bastard, I know who you are!”

Still he stares out at the darkening skies. A flash of lightning crossed the watery horizon.

“RAH!!” you grab hold of his chair and spin it in anger, only to be met with a impressively large gun under your chin.

“Slack.” The only phrase uttered by the bot, some kind of slang, but his meaning was clear enough.

You ease back carefully.

He doesn’t move, but does finally answer, “So you know what…? I was Decepticon?”

“Yeah, you were a Decepticon. You were a killer! Why were you with us, why were you with the Cybertrons?!?”

“I AM a Cybertron.”

He lowers the gun and shifts it into the darkness around his chair. You aren’t even sure where it goes, only relieved that it went.

“What?! You were…”

“Key word, were. So you remember me. Only cuz’ YOU were there slaying and laying aside me.”

“Yeah, but…”

“But? But you chose the Destrons, I chose the Cybertrons. It’s all hype.”

“From what I remember the Cybertrons weren’t REAL accepting of ex-Decepticons.”

“No, but there were considerations.”

“Considerations?!?”

He turned back toward the windows, “I stepped up as special op.”

“Special Op?”

“Black missions, the ones that the Council didn’t want to soil it’s hands with. They took a few elite that were willing from the Decepticon ranks and turned us to their loyals.”

“… but if that’s true…”

“Why was I with Lightslayer? Why you think?”

Thunder crackled in reverberating waves as another flash of lightning lit the room. Sheets of rainwater had begun to pour down across the Atlantic’s waves.

“To kill him… but why?!”

“To kill him if he decided to turn.”

“Turn? Why would he…”

“The Council was afraid that he might discover the truth about himself.”

“The truth?”

“The cat’s spark wasn’t a mighty hero’s spark like they told him.”

“What?”

“The Council found one viable spark in the wreckage of the lab, and it was in the body of a bot called Star Sabre, but the spark wasn’t his. “

“Whose was it then?!”

“Whose? Try ‘what’s’. It was mutated. Probably why the cat’s a Transmetal II. They decided it was just from energon burn when the school slagged out. Hoped he would come out Maximal, but weren’t sure. Even after his resurrection they feared him.”

“Why?”

“The spark had two sides, one dark and one light. The councils did sense that much, but they didn’t know what would end up on top.”

“So the cat’s got a split personae?”

“Somethin’ like that. Truth known, I think the cats figured the play.”

“Then why didn’t you kill him?”

“Same reason that I became a Cybertron.”

“And that is?”

“Something’s comin’. Don’t know what, don’t know how, but something is on its way to usher us out of existence.”

“What? What are you talking about.”

“Three centuries ago I had a sight, a vision. It was like connecting to the All-spark itself. It showed me Cybertron as it will be, a Cybertron that is dead and lifeless. As I walked through its streets, I heard the screams of millions dying, and above it the laughter of one, solitary voice.”

“Ooooookay.”

Another set of lightning crashes outside, the music seems a little louder, a little more legible.

“The fleshies on this planet have a myth. About an eternal struggle between good and evil, between a place called Heaven and Hell. Hell is where the bad men go when they die. What I saw that day was hell. I won’t be found there…”

You can hear the words of the song… “where do I make reservations to… when I die…”

You shake your head, “You think we’re gonna die.”

No answer.

You turn and open the door, as you step into the hallway you turn slightly, “You still didn’t answer me, why didn’t you kill Lightslayer…”

“Something I saw. He may be the only chance we have to live on…”

The door slid shut behind you with the click of a lock. You feel a chill pass over your frame as you stand alone in the hallway.

Later, morose, you find yourself wandering around Trypticon’s hallways, remembering the past, and remembering the Decepticons.

Flattline was right, you too were a Decepticon at creation. You stood beside him and fought, killed, even massacred.

No more than the Autobots had.

The Wars were a time of confusion, a time for murder. It was a fun time…

And at the head of it all, that cackling maddest bastard of them all, Megatron.

You look up just before you smack into the large green and gray camouflaged leader. He wasn’t paying you much attention.

“Megatron!”

He looks up, “Ah, Zabgoth, yes?”

“So, big and green and back in machine eh?”

He looks at you as if you were… well insane.

“I hear tell that you don’t want anything to do with the ol’ traditions of the Great Empire!”

“As do I hear, Destron.”

“Ohhhh, touché, I’m really not siding at the moment, after all, what’s more important allegiance or Cybertron.”

“Perhaps Legacy?”

“Aren’t you a ball of joy.”

“Do you have a point, or are you just wasting time?”

“Just wasting time.”

He stares at you for a few seconds, and in his eyes, you see the ghost of what was once there. You see the smoldering anger hidden behind the calm silver optics. Hidden, but no less there.

“Then waste it elsewhere.”

He turns and leaves.

But you had seen it. You knew the look behind those eyes. Something was eating at Megatron, something was driving him mad.

The next morning found you outside in the pre-dawn mists. Skyjammer was here, as was Lightslayer. Shortly, the Lieutenant joined you. His mech had already been loaded in the shuttle.

Finally, the last member of your group showed. He was a lanky black Decepticon with long sharp silver wings that stretched upward from his back. His solitary optic glittered in the misty air as he stepped past without a sound and boarded the shuttle.

You shrug and step up the plank way, you feet making hollow clangs as you stepped into the dangerous looking black ship. The last of the morning vapors misted off of you almost immediately as you stepped into the interior. Quickly, silently, your grouping finds their seats. The Lieutenant boarded his mech to make seating him somewhat easier.

The multicolored lights glittered around the small bridge area. There was just enough in the way of seating for the four of you at the computers. Skyjammer had his own seat raised above the others, with a rather impressive set of controls around him.

The engines softly hummed and there was a feeling of vertigo as the ship lifted from its moorings and made it’s way out into the upper atmosphere.

Hyperspace: Skyjammer’s (still un-named!!) ship

As the stars outside smeared into a blur of light, You popped your seat back and threw your legs up on the controls.

“So, now that we’ve had our cheery beginnings into the realm of espionagggggay, guess it’s time that we figure out who we all are….”

Skyjammer’s control area lowered a bit , giving him a better view of you. The gray green robot smirked, “Your ideal, why don’t you start the class off… tell us your name and what you did last summer.”

“Harumph,” you snort, “Very well… I… amtheillustriousmadbastardwhatcalledthescourgeofspaceandthementalpathwaysofthecerebrallyweakminded… Zabgoth.” You smile, spinning your chair around as you talked.

“I, was one of the two who brain-mastered this daring adventure!”

Lightslayer shook his head in amusement, “I guess I would be the other one, Lightslayer. My story is pretty simple, while investigating the ruins of a Maximal school that had fallen victim to the raiders… I met up with our Mad Bastard and a contingent of Decepticons that we had to dispatch. From there we made a stop off at a Decepticon hideout, stole some secrets… that led to this mission… and made our way to Earth.”

The dark Bladewing looked up from his seat where he had been brooding, his optic glared red in annoyance as he snapped, “And I don’t suppose anyone would be willing to queue me in on WHAT our mission is?!”

Skyjammer looks over at him, “You don’t know?”

The black and silver robot stood up and began to pace in the fairly limited room, “NO, I do NOT know. All I know is that commander Shaftdraft told me to be on that deck early in the slaggin’ morning! I don’t even know anything about you people!!”

“Well, my name’s Skyjammer, I’m captain of this ship. You apparently have been drafted for your espionage capabilities to return to Cybertron on a mission of seek, determine, and delay.”

“Can you be a little more cryptic, my processors haven’t had their daily oil cup this morning…”

“Yes,” adds the human, “I only have the vague notion of what’s going on… Why don’t we all share what we know.”

“Ok, boys,” You start, “Here’s the scoop. Me and Lightslayer there stole some plans that, when pieced together with other information, led to the theory that back at Cybertron, Clench is building an army to prepare for our return.”

Bladewing shrugs, “So he’s recruiting… big deal.”

“No, not recruiting, ‘building.’ He’s got a setup that is rigged to mass produce an army of drones.”

“Oooo, drones,” sneers the Lieutenant, “Our Admiral’s afraid of a bunch of mindless go-bots?”

Lightslayer shakes his head, “No, he’s afraid of thousands of transformable, heavy armored weapons that are controlled under a single sentience and armed with weapons of unparalleled destructive power!”

Bladewing folds his arms, “What do you mean?”

The Lieutenant answered, “The Vehicon armoring, like what Zabgoth boasts.”

You grin at Bladewing as the Lieutenant continues, “The drones will be built with that armor… but what do you mean about ‘a single sentience?’”

Lightslayer finished, “Clench has built a control harness… we think… that can control all of the drones at one time.”

Skyjammer shakes his head, “Not possible. The processing power…”

“Is amplified by the harness. It would take most of his concentration, but the scientists think that it IS possible.”

Bladewing plops back down in a chair, “So what are WE supposed to do about it?”

Skyjammer answers, “I fly you in, find out if it’s true, if so, destroy the manufacturing plants.”

“So we ARE returning home.” Bladewing mutters.

“Yep, that’s write!” you slap Bladewing on the shoulder, “Neon lights, energon bars, wide steel covered streets… Y’know it’ll be nice visiting the ol’ shack!”

Lieutenant Haysworth looks up, “What about planetary defenses. Won’t we get shot down as soon as we show in Cybertron’s orbit?”

“In it’s system is more like it,” answers Skyjammer, “The moons that orbit are all armed and populated, and if the Warworld…” he trails off for a second before picking up, “If the Warworld has control of those defenses, we may have a bumpy ride.”

Lightslayer looks over at Bladewing, “That’s where you come in…”

Skyjammer nodds his head, “Backdraft left us several logs of old codes for the Cybertron defense net, plus I have a few in the ships databanks. He even managed to pull a few old Decepticon codes from Tyrpticon’s memory.”

The black robot shook his head in disbelief, “You mean I’ve got some archaic codes from a few centuries back, and a handful of codes that any sane conqueror would have erased as soon as assuming power, and you want me to glide us on in, without any problems!??!?! This is a SUICIDE mission!!”

You lean back a little farther in your chair, “I prefer to think of it as having a prolonged continuance deficiency…”

The Lieutenant shakes his head, “Don’t you think you can handle it?”

Bladewing looks affronted, “Of COURSE I can handle it, fleshling!”

“You just sounded a little doubtful… or scared.”

“WHAT?!?”

“I mean, if you don’t think you can do your job, I can always…”

Bladewing stands up, his optic glaring red, you jump between the two, “Hey, hey, no fighting on the bridge, after all, I’ve seen what his rail gun can do, and I really don’t feel like free floating back home!”

Bladewing sits back down, glaring at the Earth mech, “I will do my job, just fine.”

“Now back to introductions…”

The lanky black robot looks around, “Names Bladewing.”

“Oooookayyy, and what about our good Earth man?”

“Names Lieutenant Phillip Haysworth. Technician, First Class, Demolitions, First Class, Mech Pilot, First Class. I’ve worked on upgrading my ride until it’s more than a match for any Cybertronian.”

“You’re dreaming! I had you!” you laugh.

The Lieutenant shares in the laughter.

For quite some time you had waited to get Lightslayer alone for a few minutes. An impressive feat considering there were only four rooms to the ship. There was the command bridge, barely big enough for the five of you, then a central room with energon facilities, prepping tables, and a CR chamber crammed together, a weapons locker, that was rather impressive, and a small bay with a couple of small personal sleds for travel. All in all, the ship was built for one person to crew.

Finally, though you got a few minutes to talk to him while perusing the weapons cabinet.

“Hey Lighty, did I find some dirt on you!”

“What?” the cat-bot turned his silver mask from the blaster he had been carefully examining.

“Looks like your Maximal Elders and Cybertronian Council fibbed a bit when they told you your past.”

“Aaaand…?”

“And, it seems that they didn’t have a CLUE as to who you are.”

“What? They had a clue…”

“No, they had a hope. Apparently, your spark was mutated beyond recognition. It was found inside of the body of an old soldier, but it was two sparks molded into one! And there’s more…”

You had his apt attention.

“Seems that ol’ Flattline was sent along to kill you if you’re dark side took control.”

He turns back to the guns, “My dark side?”

“Yeah, they knew that your spark had a good side and an eeeevil side. They were afraid that you would figure it all out, and if so he was to kill you!”

“I did figure it out.” He put the weapon down.

“That’s what Flattline thought.”

“Then why…”

“I don’t know, something about a ‘vision’ he had.”

Lightslayer seemed to consider this for a moment.

You pushed on, “So, what did you find out?”

“I am Lightslayer.”

“But who WERE you?”

His eyes narrow, but he continues on, “Their names were Star Saber and Rampage.”

“STAR SABER!?!?” Even you had heard of him. His name was legendary, up there with Optimus Prime and Megatron even!

“Yes, Optimus Prime knew… I think. I’m not sure how, whether he just guessed or what, but I think he knew.”

“Wow.”

“The other was an even older spark, one of the ancient Decepticons. He was also teaching at the school, and he was responsible…”

“Responsible?”

“He betrayed the others in the school. He brought the Decepticons in without warning. It was because of that half that all of them died.”

“Wow. Hey look, don’t blame…”

“I don’t.” his eyes popped open with a flare of anger, “I wasn’t there. I am not the two of them, rather the composite of their beings. I am Lightslayer, and that is all there is now.”

You nod, at a loss for words…

Crusader-1: Hyperspace

Three days passed uneventfully. You and the rest of the crew talked over several scenarios and things that could be done upon reaching Cybertron. You even suggested stopping at other planets, more places where you had ‘friends’ that may be able to help.

However, the voting majority decided that it would be best to get to Cybertron as quickly as possible to assess the situation from there.

You did finally decide to pay a visit to some friends on the surface of the planet… provided they were still there. You thought that you might be able to get some information, and at the least it would give you a starting point. Everyone agreed that to run in with guns blazing would probably be one of the dumber things to do…

The ship was cramped too, that urged everyone on to wanting to make landfall as quickly as possible. So, on the third day, spirits were tense, but hopeful as the ship dropped out of hyperspace, just beyond the arc of Cybertron.

“Dead Space Jammers on.” You report, switching on the powerful static dampers. The ship would now be surrounded in a bubble of ‘dead’ space with only a small window open for transmission purposes.

“Shields off, and stealth skin active.” Reports Lightslayer.

Skyjammer nods, most of his attention on piloting the ship. The Lieutenant was manning a gun pod, just in case. Bladewing was already working feverishly on the sensors, trying to realign them and shelling out encryption codes in a vein attempt to pass the security codes on Cybertron’s defense net.

A cluster of asteroids floats past the ship as Skyjammer dodges deftly toward the outer rings.

You look down, “We’re nearing the outer defense satellites now. I hope you boys put on clean your filters this morning.”

Off in the darkness of space, a twinkle appears. At first it could be thought of as an illusion, but then the twinkle picks up a definite pattern.

“That’s one of them.” reports Lightslayer.

It would be a small satellite, not one of the main weapons. In fact, they were more decoys than anything else. The really deadly things wouldn’t be seen so easily.

Pulse-less seconds floated by as the blinking light became clearer, and as Skyjammer veered to the side to avoid the satellite’s visuals.

The satellite dropped behind without mishap.

“Does that mean we made it?” you chuckle.

Just then, one of Cybertron’s moons came into view. It rapidly grew in size on the monitor until it was clearly visible. Cybertron itself was still lost in the darkness of space, but the moon twinkled with life. Skyjammer kept the ship pointed dead at the moon, planning on using its atmosphere to cruise through and slingshot you into Cybertron’s orbit.

“Do we have a lock on the Warworld yet?” Skyjammer asks quietly.

Lightslayer taps a command in and a small section changes on the forward screens. On it, you can see Cybertron, and a large red moon in close orbit. You can also make the expanded ring of moons which you were now entering.

The black surface of the moon below you veered away as Skyjammer pulled the Crusader-1 alongside and around the sparkled surface.

You could make out low lying lights that crawled along the dark surface… vehicles that moved or transformers that flew through the chilled darkness of the moon.

Still, Bladewing worked rapidly and desperately, trying to draw away the attention of a million different electronic eyes.

The moon shot out from below you, and over the horizon appeared the great mass of Cybertron, far, far away from you.

The planet should be dark, being near no direct light at this time, but instead it was spotted with an incalculable amount of lighting, enabling the silvery orb to sparkle in full detail. Unlike the moon, it was never dark on Cybertron. Lights moved and swept the planet’s surface. Always, it was a breathtaking sight.

Two more moons were in orbit, considerably closer to the planet, one enormous, almost a third of Cybertron’s size, the other much smaller. Smaller than the one you just passed. Both were arrayed off to the sides from the approach pattern that Skyjammer had chosen.

An approach pattern that put the Warworld on the opposite side of Cybertron…

Already, you had been in Cybertron space for most of a megacycle, the Crusader-1’s engines burning steadily, driving you home with a swift wing.

Time crawls by as each of you stays alert and wary.

Then, as if it were nothing, you were entering Cybertron’s atmosphere.

Skyjammer moved the ship across the surface, staying low , but not low enough to attract undo attention. Most of Cybertron still had regular air traffic, and keeping to those traffic lanes seemed to work fine.

You pointed him to a city called Prosiphony. It was on this side of the planet, meaning there would be some travel involved in returning to Iacon, but it would be easier to do from the ground than in the warship.

A few kilometers outside of the city sat a Cyber-plain. Flat expanses of metallic ground, dotted with the occasional housing station, or vast smelting pool. It was out in these areas that stores of raw materials were created, and it was here where you hoped your friend still stayed.

“He’s a bit of a loner.” You say as you step down from the Crusader-1’s gangplank.

Lightslayer prowls down next to you, in cat mode, sniffing the unfamiliar Cybertronian air, “This isn’t anything like your last… ‘friend’ is it?”

“Who was his last friend?” the silent Bladewing seemed to appear in the shadows below the ship.

Skyjammer turned at the entryway as the Lietenant’s tank hovered out and started locking the hatch, “The Decepticon they brought back in pieces. Apparently he tried to hijack and kill them.”

The tank’s hatch opens and the Lieutenant’s head pokes up, “Oh, great. Aren’t we here to look for help?”

“It’s cool, he’s nothing like that… This one is a real friend. He had me run a lot of shipments for him…”

In fact, it was he that gave you that load of toy-bots to ship about seventy five years ago! It wasn’t his fault, the Destron’s wanted the shipment carried, he just tried to hook you up with some work to keep you busy.

“So, where is he? It’s not like he could miss a ship landing in his backyard.” Bladewing scanned around nervously.

“Over there!” Lightslayer called, he had walked out from under the wings of the Crusader and was looking out at a low-lying factory about a kilometer away.

“Yeah, that’s his place alright.”

“Then let’s go…” Skyjammer transforms and hovers for a second, while the rest of you change as well…

Cybertron: The Ranch

Skyjammer looks around, “I’ll go ahead and scout around. Zabgoth I want you to come with me to contact your friend. The rest of you stay here with the ship.”

Lightslayer grunts, “Wouldn’t it be better to stay together?”

You shrug, “Why put all our necks on the line? Whazza matter kitty, you gonna miss my purty face?”

Lightslayer hangs his tongue in disgust, “Now that you mention it, maybe a little lone time would be welcome…”

“Ok then, Zabgoth?” Skyjammer transforms into his V winged jet mode. You scramble to transform into your flight mode and follow him as quickly as possible.

Within segments you both had arched across the warm metallic plains and reached the outlying building that Lightslayer had seen. Of your friend there was no sign, but the shuffling of some creatures could be heard from a nearby pen.

You both transformed and landed.

There was a small, rectangular building that sat squat to the ground, surrounding it was a fair amount of imported ‘sand’ that had some odd looking gray scrub brushes growing all over in it and all was enclosed in a thick barricade-like fence.

“What’s that noise?” Skyjammer looked uneasy.

“Hmmm, Bonecrusher was always a little weird. Not much for an exterior decorator, though.” You pluck one of the scraggly looking bushes from the dirt.

A snuffling noise came from around the corner of the building and then a strange bellow.

Thundering toward you there appeared an immense beast. It’s bulk was supported on six thick trunk like legs that all worked in a shuffling unison to propel it angrily in your direction.

“Holy cows Batman!” You jump to the side as it nearly tramples you. It was twice your size, far larger than most flesh beasts.

Skyjammer pulls a blaster and fires at the creature, hitting it’s flank with a shredding charge. It turns in range and glares down at both of you.

“That was good, piss it off next time why don’t you!” You scramble back and away, toward where Skyjammer was standing.

“Should I shoot it again?” Skyjemmer looked unsure as the behemoth pawed at the ground.

It lowered it’s head, a dangerous looking ‘Y’ shaped nose horn pointed toward the two of you.

“No, let’s just sit here and see if it goes away.” You snap back as it began it’s charge.

Another blast smashed into the creature, shattering it’s horn and sending a spray of dark blood across the ground… but it was still coming.

The two of you ditched to either side, your hammer in hand.

Two loud shots cracked out as it began to turn. It suddenly looked unsure and began to back off.

“Great! It’s getting the message!”

Skyjammer stood up, “Yeah, but I didn’t fire the shots.”

“Nope.” Came a voice from up above, “An’ I’d appreciate it if’n you didn’t go shootin’ at mah cows.”

A cocking noise sounded from the voice’s source, and as you looked up you saw that the shaggy brown source held two thick double barreled guns aimed directly at both you and Skyjammer.

It was your friend.

He stood on top of the small building. His coat was brown and shaggy, and golden horns were atop his head. The beast mode head of a buffalo made up his torso plate.

“Now, I expect I’m lookin’ for an explanation’ how you two are sitting here shooting up mah cattle?”

“Bonecrusher! You shag brained excuse for a backwoods inbred Maximal! It’s ME! Zabgoth!”

From beneath a mop of fur, the Maximal peered at you for a second before his face split into a wide grin, “ZABGOTH!” His guns were up in a flick, and the thick bodied Bonecrusher was on the ground, shooing away his ‘cattle’.

As he works to get the creature back in the ‘barn’, he explains that he’s been working on supplying the rather large demand for meats that have become more and more a favorite delicacy for the Beast Warriors on Cybertron. Of course, it wasn’t a necessity, but a great many Preds, and none too few Maximals like to ‘dine’ as sort of an entertainment activity now.

The large creatures supplied a great quantity of meat per, and were fairly cheap to raise. He just had to make a stock pen that could hold them, and vegetation that they liked. Hence, the barricaded fencing and the scrub bushes.

“We’ve got a few others back at the ship, and we’re looking for a place to hole up for a few days.”

“Hole up? You in trouble?”

“Well, sortof. You see, we’re just returning to Cybertron now, and we were sent here from the Cybertronian Armada.”

“The Cybertronian Armada!? HAH! That’s a good one!” He slaps you on the shoulder.

“No, really. We’re advanced scouts to see how Cybertron’s holding up.”

“Holding up?”

“After the siege?”

“Oh, you mean that mess over in Cybertropolis?”

“…yeeeeaaahhh…”

“Cost me a pretty penny in shipments. Shut the slaggin’ city down for nearly three weeks! Now, Iacon is nothing but hot slag, but I hear their even allowing that to be rebuilt.”

Skyjammer butts in, “You mean that Cybertropolis is open again?”

“Sure, Decepticon’s just wanted control. Nothin’ but a political battle from what I understood.”

“Political battle?!” you gape, “They slagged a city, shut it’s surrounding cities down, killed thousands, and you say it’s just political!?”

“Hey parnter, back up. I’m no soldier, not anymore. What they fight over is their business. So they say they’re in control, big deal. Don’t effect my work none too much. But hey, you want a place to hole up, you got it. Get your friends and we’ll head back the homestead. It’s about five kilometers East of here…”

Cybertron: the Ranch

You and Skyjammer quickly accept Bonecrusher's offer of hospitality. Once the animals were locked down, the three of you made your way back to the ship.

As you reached the ship, Bladewing greeted you. "I think that after a short rest, I should be the one to head to Cybertropolis."

"Whoa," Skyjammer stepped up to the black and silver robot, "Who said anything about splitting up?"

"It's what you two just did."

You grin, "The bladebot want's to risk his wings, let 'im."

Skyjammer thinks about it for a second and shruggs, "We'll need some preliminary mappings at any rate. I guess if any of us couldmake it he could. C'mon lets go talk to the others."

The four of you board the Crusader-1.

You walked in at the end of a conversation...

An unknown voice was saying, "ok, I can take you there..."

As you poked your head into the bridge, you could see the Lietenant, Lightslayer, and a small, green and yellow Maximal.

"Boohaw? Who be this?"

The small Maximal jumped up from the oversized seat and uttered a squeal.

Bladewing and Skyjammer stepped in. The camoflaged captain of the ship grimaced, "Oh great, another fuzz bot to shed on my seats."

Lightslayer shrugs, "Zabgoth, Skyjammer, Bladewing... this is Springback. We were just discussing a little recon trip to Cybertropolis. It seems that the drone army is active and running."

You grimace, "Well, this is Bonecrusher..." as the thick coated Maximal squeezes into the already overcrowded bridge area, "He's offered us shelter at his ranch so we can map out a strategy."

Skyjmamer ducks out and reappears in the overhead captains seat, freeing some floor space, "And Blades there just volunteered to take a trip into Cybertropolis as well."

"I can handle it alone..." snorts Bladewing, "The others would only be an impediment."

Springback shudders, "He's creepy, where'd you pick him up, the cutlery section at Bot-Mart?"

Bladewing's red optic glared violently at the small Maximal.

Bonecrusher holds up his hands, "Y'all need ta jest comn over to the Ranch, settle down and then decide what to do from there. Won't do much good to go running around in the dark without a plan!"

Skyjammer nods, "Yeah, I think that's our best bet..."

Lightslayer holds up his hands, "but what if the drone army IS already operational..."

The Lietenant shakes his head, "Then it won't make a slag bit of difference whether we go today or tomorrow... now will it."

The engines begin to hum outside.

Skyjammer leans over, "Now, where exactly is this ranch?"

Cybertron: The Ranch

The hot wind around the old Maximal's ranch blew hotly across the dusty plain as you watched the others unload some components from the Crusader-1. At the same time, several ranch hands were tossing a netted mesh over the ship for camouflage. On of them called to his friend and gave a signal, waving a thickly clawed hand. He was orangish and had a tough armored exterior. You think his name was Armordillo or something dumb like that.

You sigh, shuffling over into the shaded area. Cybertron was passing relatively near a star, and its bright reflection off the smooth metal surface of the plains sent shimmering trails up into the gray skies.

You hear a snort behind you, "Well, looks like your boys are setting themselves up real nice in one of my exterior buildin's." The gruff Bonecrusher stared out at the ship, "Beats me why you boys wanna go monkeyin' with the 'Con's though. Sure, there axle burners, but seems like your Armada'll do more damage than good. 'Sides that, isn't it somethin' of a suicide mission this Admiral of your sent you on?"

You shrug, "Sounded kinda fun. You remember the ol' days, the wars."

"I remember charging down your throat with a load of fire missiles more than once." the Maximal snorted.

"Yeah, well at least I didn't have my entire force wake up coated in neon slugs. You shoulda seen you guys jumping around trying to wipe off the slimy pink bastards!"

Bonecrusher chuckled, "Yeah, well, that still doesn't explain why you've gotten your nose buried in this pile of slag."

"Just say I've got a vendetta..."

"A vendetta!? Now that sounds like the Zabgoth I know. Starting up a war and picking a fight, just to get even with some loser bot! Who is it this time, the maintenance droid for the Decepticon's little bot's room?"

"Actually, I'm lookin' for the whereabouts of the Destron Council."

"The Council!? Boy, have you come a cycle late and a sparkplug short. The Destron High Council is either on Earth... or their dead!"

Later, the group of you sit around a large table. On it was spread the mapping consul from the Crusader. Cybertroplis was displayed in minute detail across it. The massive city rose like a 3D hologram, illuminating the areas that Springback pointed to.

"Like I said," the small Maximal shrugged, "They're moving from spot to spot, on patrols and such."

Bonecrusher leaned against the wall, with Armordillo in the shadows behind him, both watching impassively as your group bickered about what was to be done. Now, the shaggy bot leaned forward a bit, "Y'know, he's right. 'dillo here's been on the delivery runs. Sez that you gotta register and sign a few documents and passports to even get into the city. Apparently everything is under lock and key by the new government. It hasn't slowed anyone down really, not now that there's the chance to get back to business."

"So then, how do we get back inside?" Skyjammer was looking at the limited access ports. The city was fairly easily defendable, at least from land assault. Of course, the massive blasts and sheer brutality of the Warworld's attack was enough to bring it to its knees...

"We don't. I do." spoke the silent Bladewing from his spot in the darkened corner. You had almost forgotten about the black and silver Decepticon... or former Decepticon. You had noted that the Cybertronian had removed his sigil sometime since leaving Earth.

Lightslayer stood up, "You can't just go waltzing in there alone. Springback and I..."

"Can stay here. Where I'm safe!!" snapped Bladewing with considerable venom in his voice, "You brought me along for just such work. You are a warrior, a tactician! He... he is a rabbit! I'll be far safer alone than with you taggin on my heels."

Skyjammer holds his hands up, "Look, I see both of your points, but if we send one out, then the chances for his being destroyed, and the rest of us never finding out is multiplied by a thousand."

You shrug, "Yah, well why should any of us sit on our carburetors then?"

Lighstlayer shook his head, "We'll be most effective in two teams. You, the Lieutenant , and Skyjammer can be one. Me, Bladewing, and Springback can be the other."

"Whoa!" The little Maximal rabbit protested, "Why do I get to go on this party?! I wasn't the one who got volunteered for this suicide run!!"

Lightslayer grabbed him by the scruff, "Because you are a Maximal. And the peace and health of Cybertron is a load that you must bear!"

Bonecrusher claps his hands, "Bravo, bravo, bravo... Touching and sincere, but I still think your plan has a problem."

Lightslayer glares across the room at the hefty Bonecrusher, "And that is?"

"Well, seems to me that you've lost one of your numbers already."

"What?" Lightslayer glances around, as do you... for the first time realizing that Bladewing has disappeared.

"HAH!" You laugh, "Looks like the old razor head is the most suicidal of us all!"

The Lieutenant jumps up and heads for the door, "He couldn't be far. I can catch up to him!"

"You?!?" Lightslayer grimaces.

"Me! You'll have to trust me. I figured a way to trace him, but I have to stay near to him. My tank will make sure of that!"

Cybertron: The Ranch

Skyjammer quickly radios to the tank as the Lieutenant's hoverjets set into action, "Okay Lieutenant, find him and cover him. The rest of us will wait for a call from you then decide how we are going to deploy."

However, you were already transformed and moving out in car mode, "I'm goin' too. The fleshy needs some backup!"

"Wait! Zab..." Skyjammer yells, but you ignore him and shut off your comm.

--I need answers, and I'm betting that black and silver freak has some!--

Besides, you knew you could work with the human, and knew where he stood. Bladewing you weren't so sure of.

--Slayer'll have to watch his own skids for a while. G'luck buddy, hope we meet up again!--

"Hey Lietenant, I'm gonna try and follow you. You sure about this lock you got on that bladeship?"

"I'm sure. I'll try to keep a tab on you as well, but I don't know if I can promise it. He's already scanning behind him. Change your broadband jammers to 4.34.2.42. That should hold his scans off for a while!"

"Alrighty. There and gone!"

You hunker your engines down for the first long ride in quite some time.

As you made your way through highways and passages that connected the massive surface of Cybertron, you wondered at the Lieutenant's uncanny ability to track the stealthy Bladewing. In fact, nothing showed on your own relays, not even a shadow of the black blade-ship.

"This is Skyjammer!" your radio suddenly crackled, nearly sending you leaping out of your skins, "Don't reply to the message, don't risk it, but I hope you do get this. I'm sending the encoding for a frequency and a signal that will gain you a temporary advantage over the drones of the city. I hope it helps you. It will only be effective on close range, and I'm not sure for how long. Apparently Springback was holding back on us a bit. Good luck guys, Skyjammer out."

"Well isn't that spanky..." you saw a flash of lights from the Lieutenant's tank, and returned a flash as well, signifying that you had both received it, "Well, looks like we'll at least be able to get inside that city without a fight..."

A few megacycles later, and you found yourself nearing the walls and battlements of the city of Cybertropolis.

Every kilometer there was a weapons bank, set to scan for ground and air movements, and armed with some rather impressive artillery.

You stopped short with the Lieutenant. The human poked out of the hover-tank's hatch and examined the massive city walls with a pair of binoculars.

"Well?" you asked, transforming, "What's the plan?"

"I think we should hit a smaller door..." he grinned, "In case we still end up having to fight our way through. There's one about two kilo's east from here, it should do. There's guards, but I think it's only a few."

"First to reach it is a crankshaft!" You transformed into your jet mode and burned out into the skies.

As you reached the door, you both slowed, intrepidly awaiting the need to attack. You started sending the signal as soon as you were in range.

There were two guards, they were huge, blue-gray monstrosities of identical nature. Huge rail cannons sat on their shoulders, and their legs were heavy, thick treads. Their arms were massive clawed apparatus and their faces were steel plates that gave them the image of a jutting jawbone topped with a red visor eye that rotated to and fro.

You applied a signal code and were surprised as one began to raise an arm in the air... just as you had told it to.

"That's it then, the signal works!" the Lieutenant signaled.

"Oh... does this ever have possibilities..."

"Save it, let's just get inside!"

And so you did.

From here on out, it was locate Bladewing, and figure out what he was up to...

Cybertron: Cybertropolis

Locating Bladewing was the easy part... or at least making an approximate location. Once inside the city, you achieved a certain amount of anonymity. The roads weren't as busy as they had once been, but still, there was a solid amount of life here. Patrols constantly made their way around the city, patrolling the alleys, the streets, the massive tanks standing out starkly in the crowds of cars and typical Cybertronian life forms.

Within a few mega cycles, the Lieutenant had picked up on the patterns of Bladewing's movement.

"He's doing search patterns..." the white and silver tank stood, transformed, looking up in the sky with it's red glaring optic. You had both stepped out of the mainstream traffic, and now sat underneath an overpass.

"Almost like he really was scouting..." you snort.

"You still think he's out for his own goals?" the tank looks back.

"He's and ex-Decepticon isn't he?"

"So are you."

"Exactly. What do you think he's looking for?"

"He's done repeated buzz' on the paths being taken by the tank drones..."

"Yeah, that was what he was supposed to look into..."

"He's... he's hungering..."

"What?"

"I don't know... it's just an impression I've got. He wants something."

"How could you know that?" you look at him, puzzled.

"You recognize the Decepticon in him? Well, I recognize the ambition in him. "

The tank snaps tow of it's fingers, "That's it! He wants the drones!"

"Wants the drones?"

"He's looking to see where they lair. You find that, you learn how they're controlled!"

"Bruhaw... You think he wants an army of his own!?"

"Sure! It makes sense. But there's more."

"More?"

"He's not alone, not anymore. There's someone else with him."

"How do you know all this?!"

"I... picked him up on the sensors. He's a Decepticon, and not really well covered. I don't know where he came from though, but I'm betting he's as much an alien in this city as we are."

"Well then, what if we went up and announced ourselves to them."

"I don't know if that'd be smart. If Bladewing's correlating the same data as I am, he'll realize that these drones are just doing holding patterns."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning they aren't coming from or going anywhere, they just patrol."

"Gee... sounds like a fun life."

"They're very organized, and the pattern is complex, but it is a pattern from what I can tell. It'd take weeks to figure it out though. If I were he, I'd be getting very frustrated... very hostile."

"You think he'd attack us?"

"Probably. Keeping a low profile for now might be better."

"Where do you think he'll look next."

"From a military perspective, if you can't follow the enemy home, you'd have to consider where their home would best be."

"Where would that be?"

"Well, let's see, there's Iacon proper... it's the heart of Cybertropolis, and whenever we got near to it, traffic started dying off. Almost as if it still wasn't populated."

You frown, "Yes, but that was where the brunt of the attack occurred. Everything we've heard signified that it was almost liquidized. That'd be enough to keep me out of it."

"True. If there were factories there, it would have been some feat to rebuild them so quickly after the attack. Another option might be the warehouse district."

"The Warehouses? Why there?"

"It would be on the edges of Iacon, near the heart of Cybertroplis, and it would have had a plethora of raw materials."

"Hmm, So we have Iacon, the warehouses, anywhere else..."

"Depends. There's something that's bugging me."

"Gee... tellmetellmetellme...." you sigh sardonically.

The Lieutenant ignores you, "If I were a commander, I don't think I'd put my controlling device where the warehouses were."

You shake your head, "Of course not. If one gets bombed, then the other would be safe."

"Exactly. I'd bet even if we find the place where they're manufacturing these things, it won't be where the control center is."

You shrug, "I'd put it on the Warworld."

"Yep. So that leaves us with Iacon, the warehouses, and the Warworld."

"Great. A dead place, a bunch of storage bins, and a place that's got more guns than brains." You sigh, this was going to be a rough work week...

Cybertron: Cybertroplis

"My vote is for Iacon... there's something there I'd like to check out..." you glare toward the darkened center of the busy city.

--We'll see just how dead the place is... If the Destron Generals are still there...--

You flexed a hand in anticipation of wringing their collective necks.

Both of you head out carefully, blending into the stream of traffic across the vast roadways of the city.

"Hey, Lieutenant..." you as you dodge a small go-put Transformer that didn't have the common sense to stay out of the main stream of traffic.

"Yeah." the hover tank was just behind you. Most bots slid out of his way on their own.

"I'm reading a group of thug-bots up ahead. I wanna experiment..."

"Exper.... hey! wait-up!" the Lieutenant had to move quick to keep up as you dodged off to the side. As you slid under the tank drones noses, you sent out a short burst of the command frequency.

They immediately reacted, transforming and falling into line with you.

"Bruhaw! We'ze got some chassis guards!"

The Lieutenants tank pulled up beside you, "Are you sure about this?"

You make the two tanks weave back in forth across the road in synchronization, "They seem harmless enough..."

A drone rolled over another small Cybertronian that didn't get out of the way.

The Lieutenant groaned, "Yeah... real harmless."

Iacon was dead.

The dark center was filled with charred buildings, rubble strewn streets, and hardened streams of molten lead.

No signs of life had yet populated into this dark reminder of a short but violent slaughter.

As the four of you rolled slowly through the abandoned roads, you couldn't help bot feel as if every ounce of life had been drained from here.

The presence of the two mindless tank drones seemed to emphasize the loneliness here. Their red pulsing optics without emotion as they rolled through the rubble... even the Lieutenant's tank seemed cold and distant here.

You couldn't shake the knowledge that you were the only true Cybertronian around.

Carefully, you headed toward the Central Court, where the Cybertronian Council Chambers had once been.

Where once, a breathtaking set of buildings and courtyards spanned the center of activity known as the Central Court. Art and Architecture of living energon, crystal and other, ancient artifacts collected from a million worlds sparkled in the neon world of the Cybertronians.

Now, nothing but a great crater remained.

As you stared down at the crater, it was obvious that the blasts of the Warworld had been very precise. even the underground levels of the building had been scorched and collapsed in a messy cauldron of molten slag.

"So... why are we here?" the Lieutenant stood, tank transformed, staring over your shoulder.

"You said this was where Bladewing is..."

"No... I said Bladewing was that way... we're off of his position by a few kilometers. What the hell was this place?"

"Cybertronian Council." you stood up, even your boisterous nature was subdued here. The enormity of the destruction was unlike anything you had seen in centuries.

Even in war... there were signs of resistance. From what you had heard, there was nothing, just destruction.

--Could the Destron Council even be this cold hearted?!--

Suddenly, something felt off...

You turn to see the two tank drones standing, transformed, and looking down at you.

--Wait... I had them on standby...--

The ominous cannons began to spin... and only a primal instinct forced your feet to push back, tumbling you down into the great pit behind you.

The ground ripped open above you, where their rotary cannons turned the metallic scrap of the ledge to nothingness.

In seconds, you could see the lieutenant sliding down beside you, "I thought you had them under control!!"

You sent a signal pulse, to find that a jamming field was in effect.

"Someone else is jamming us!!"

The roar of jets overhead drew your attention up. Over the pit soared a purple and khaki jet. It moved fairly slowly, and you noticed several panels open on it.

"Move!" roared the Lieutenant, dragging you to your feet, "It's bombing us!!!"

You transform, taking wing as the bombs shattered on the sidewall of the massive chasm where you had sought refuge. You look back to see the Lieutenant fall down, into a dark hole of sliding scrap metal.

"Slag!" You turn around to help him, when the skies around you fill with heavy blasts from the two tank drones below.

Spinning skyward, you dodged the heated plasma blasts. You see the jet also turning around, transforming and landing with a thud beside the drones.

"Great, outnumbered..."

You dive past the three, doubling back and transforming.

You land with a metal crunching thud, hammer drawn and fist to the ground. Green energy crackled around you in a deadly halo of energy.

"Ok, one Decepticon and two numbskulls... you really think you can take me on?"

The Decepticon holds his hands up, "Wait a minute.... First, let's just see who you are. A Decepticon, who has technology matching these metal heads, AND has a signal to control them. But yet, not on our payroll... Who exactly are you?"

"Who are you, oilshaft!??" At least his delay was giving you time to build up power.

"Name's Blitzwing. Ground and Air Commander of the Decepticon Legions. And my boss will be most interested in hearing about you."

"Whose your boss?"

"Ah, ah, ah... first things first, I gave my name... now what should be engraved on the box we'll store your scrap in?"

"Zabgoth... Mad Bastard."

"Mad...?"

The rest of his sentence was cut off as your hammer roared through the air, smashing into his chest and sending him flying.

Unfortunately, the tank drones didn't even flinch, rather they fired.

One hit you in the leg, sending hot mech fluids spraying out across the ground.

You lilted sideways, but were still mobile enough to dodge the other blast before it slagged your head.

Transforming, you're wheels spin, sending metal fragments spraying across the road.

The tanks transformed as well, and you could see Blitzwing getting up, most of his chestplate was missing though.

You roll out at top speed, but the tanks were more agile than you gave them credit. That, and the lack of a straightaway kept them close on your wheels, their cannon blasts tearing apart the road around you.

--This is bad...--

You checked and were reassured that transforming into flight mode would be a fatal mistake. The leg damage was interfering with your stabilizers, and you'd likely fly straight into the ground.

About then, the road ended.

Transforming you spun and threw the hammer again.

It slammed into one tank, sending sparks flying up from it, and knocking it sideways into the other.

But right behind, you saw a third.... different tank. Blitzwing.

He fired, nearly hitting you through the chaos of the two tanks transforming between you.

They stood, though one looked a bit disoriented, and a lot damaged, and began to lock their guns on you.

This time there would be no dodge.

Then, a sharp hissing sound sounded from above.

The tank drone you hit burst into flame as a fireball struck it from above.

Blitzwing and the other drone jerked upward, taking in the new attacker.

You didn't waste time.

The hammer flew from your hand again, hitting the other tank drone in the face, as you transformed and drove underneath him.

There was another hissing and you saw Blitzwing fly back, pieces scattering from his smoldering carcass.

As you passed beside the tank drone, a quick release of some incendiary bombs made sure that he was slowed down from following.

As the small bombs burst into hot fire, melting the ground beneath him, you transform again, launching yourself upward, and firing several chest missiles into the tank drone.

Another fireball hit him from above, sending him toppling in deactivation.

You land, and look around to make sure nothing was moving.

Then, to your surprise, Blitzwing stood, transformed, and flew off... as straight and clean as if half of his torso hadn't been hulled from the unknown attackers flameball.

Turning, you look up on top of the dead-end alley's wall. There stood a large Transformer, a Destron by sigil. He was silver, and had a heavy dragon-head for a hand.

Turning to regard you with cool, purple eyes, the unknown transformer seemed to wait.

You shrug, "Thanks?"

"Who are you." rumbled the deep growling voice, "A Decepticon traitor? Why do you bear that sigil."

You shake your head, "Name's Zabgoth. And you are?"

"Gigano." the robot raises the dragon-head-hand at you, it's mouth flickering hungrily with orange heat, "Now, answer my questions."

Cybertron: Iacon

You shrug, "My name's Zabgoth! Some like to call me the Mad Bastard."

Gigano didn't seem impressed.

"Look, I come from a planet called Earth..."

"Earth?" The taller bot jumped down to your level. His dragon head held up to your face, "What do you know of Earth!?"

"Whoa! Look, I was going to say, that I changed my sigil there! I'm not one of these crankcased Unicron kissing Decepticons! I follow Megatron. He and the rest of the Cybertronian armada are heading back here to reclaim Cybertron!"

"Reclaim?"

"Yeah, look, it's a really long, convoluted story, but let me just say that Destrons, Cybertrons, Maximals, Predacons, Decepticons, and Autobot's are all working together... equally... to come back here and depose the new Decepticon wannabe's!"

The silvery Destron looked at you, eyes narrowed, then threw his head back and began to laugh. The dragon head was no longer aimed at you, nor was it charged. You breathed a sigh of relief at that.

Gigano's head snapped back to you, amusement still glittering in his purple eyes, "You truly believe that!"

"..." you didn't know what to say.

"Do you truly hate Unicron and everything that he stands for?" he asks.

You spit, "Bwah! I'm a Cybertronian! I may be mad... but I'm not crazy!"

"Excellent. Then help me to destroy the Warworld."

You look up in the skies, to where the orange ball floated high above Iacon, "Heh! No problem. But first we gotta get a ride up there."

His eyes raise, "I can supply the ride, Zabgoth the Mad Bastard.... but first, I want one thing. Renounce your fealty to Megatron and rejoin the Destron ranks."

"What? I think not. You're slaggin' bosses lied to me! They sent assassins after me!"

A wide grin spread across the Destron's face, sharp teeth glimmered under the light of the stars, "And so has Megatron."

Your head snapped around, "Bwah! What do you know."

"I know that the Decepticons have only taken control of this planet because they know that Megatron is returning. I know that it was Clench that organized sending the Combaticons to Earth to revive Megatron. And I know that the Predacon council failed in their mission to stop the inevitable from happening."

"What do you mean?"

"The Tripredicus Council went to Earth for one purpose. To stop a war. They knew that Megatron was planning to return with his fleet, planning to return to conquer this planet."

"Yeha, nobility. Predacon's are all about saving the universe." you snort sarcastically, turning to lean over one of the charred carcasses of the tank drones. You begin to rummage to see if there's anything worthwhile that the Destron's fireballs didn't melt.

"Of course not. They had their own agenda, as I am sure we all have. But they were right, and the other councils were unwilling to listen. Too late the end came for those in the Cybertronian Council Chambers."

"So I hear. All of 'em fried like chikun." You tug on a powercell, pulling it free from its imprisonment.

"Indeed. Meanwhile, on Earth, Megatron came up with a new plan. He needed off of the planet, and what better way than to use his greatest threat. He played the innocent and promised his aide in return for an easy ticket home. He now returns to join Clench and Unicron in a new era of Cybertronian history.

You stop what you are doing and look up at him, "And... I should believe this because..."

"Come now, you were a Decepticon once. You know how they think. Tell me, would Megatron become friends with Optimus Prime, his greatest enemy, just to return and destroy a legion that would welcome him with open arms and a parade. Even over some hatred of an ancient relic that didn't have any power, or any use?"

You stand up,"Then what makes you think I'd join or help you?"

"Because, I've been there." he points upward at the Warworld, "and I know, Unicron's horn is far from powerless. Something grows there, and Clench is learning to revile in it."

Memories of a dream flooded your mind. Something was out there, something larger than Clench, and you knew it.

Gigano smirked, "Join the Destrons again. Help us to rid Cybertron of Unicron's influence. Help us regain Cybertron..."

Cybertron : Iacon

You look up at him, "Renounce the Decepticons, join the Destrons... Sure, sounds like fun!"

--Hell, everyone else is lying, why not me!--

"Let me just change my..."

"No!" The massive Gigano held up a clawed hand, "Leave your sigil and signature markings."

You look up at him oddly, "Okeeedokey."

--He needs me to get onto the Warworld!! -- You realize suddenly. -- He needs my Decepticon signature to sneak on board!! Bastard!--

"Just swear your fealty to the Destrons."

"Ok. Until death do us part." you give a ghastly smile at the thought of performing this deed.

Gigano glares at you, but seems satisfied with the answer. Holding up a claw he gestures.

"I'd like to introduce some friends... I believe you know them?"

From the shadows suddenly there is a flare of red fire and a flash of green. Out steps the skeletal frames of two of the Destron assassins that had tried to kill you!!

Pulling out your hammer with a growl, steam blasts out of your engine, "Firecat! Pterra!"

"Now, now... you sword your fealty." sneered the deadly red cat.

Anger was quickly replaced with cold logic. you were slightly injured and had to affect internal repairs. These three were not injured, and you were quite sure that Gigano alone was far more than a match for you.

Swinging your hammer back onto your back, you went with the other alternative...

"BROTHERS!!!!" grabbing the cat, you gave him a bear hug from which you could hear bending metal, a you dropped him, you turned to Pterra, giving him a 'friendly' slap on the back that sent him sprawling forward.

"I LOVE THESE GUYS!!!" you laughed whole heartedly.

FIrecat picks himself up muttering, "I liked him better when we were trying to kill him."

"Enough!" Gigano's voice rode over your laughter. "Pterra, Firecat, is the ship in ready?"

"The ship?" your curiosity was aroused.

"Yes, Gigano." bowed Firecat, then, turning to you, "We have a Destron Defender ship a short ways from here. We managed to sneak it in on the far side of Cybertron. Thanks to the assistance of it's 'late' engineer."

"It is our key to the Warworld. With the signature codes you have, we can recloak it to appear to be one of the Decepticon ships. We can get it close enough to do as we will."

You smile, "Sounds good... but what will be our will?"

Gigano sneers, "I want Clench's head on a platter."

Maelevolence glittered in his eyes. And for a moment a thought strolled past your mind.

--Why is he so set... sure, Clench is a retread, but why the intensity of his hate?--

The three of you turn to head for the ship...

Cybertron: Iacon

The ship was not too bad.

The Destron defender, The Medusae, was long and sleek, bristling with weapons. The Defender classes were merely renamed Destroyers, with a few weapon systems taken offline and rerouted to defensive arrays.

Looking at it lying on the ground, you couldn't help but wonder... a.) what is a group of Destron assassin's doing with a full destroyer, 2.) how did that destroyer LAND on Cybertron without the Warworld slagging it, and finally, do they have any good coffee on board.

You shrug and follow the skeletal Destrons onto the large ship.

"So... you build this thing from scratch. Or did you 'borrow' it from the Destron fleet." you poke at the instrument panel on the control bridge of the Medusae.

Pterra pushes your hand away from a particularly shiny red button marked 'fire' with a grimace, "We commandeered it for our needs!"

You look over your shoulder, Gigano and Firecat seemed to be... preoccupied with themselves at the moment, so you decided how much you could work out of the peach winged pterodactyl.

"Sooooo, you stole it."

"No. We commandeered it."

"But a captain wouldn't just hand over their ship to a bunch of assassins."

"We had plenty of clearance. We are far higher in the echelon of Destron command than a mere ca..." Pterra cuts himself off, realizing what he was saying.

"Than a mere captain?"

Pterra jerks his eyes back to the control panel. So, you decide to press a little farther, "High enough to consider a captain scrapple, eh? Let's see, we know you're not ON the Destron council. Pitt, I'm not even THAT vain as to think they would come after little 'ol me themselves... so, perhaps... personal assassins?"

That hit a loose wire, you found yourself pinned against a far wall with a bit of a concussion from the speed in which the green Destron jumped at you. A sharp blade pressed into your throat,fraying the wires there. A drop of hot oil seeped down your steel cables.

"Pterra, Zabgoth!" Gigano's voice sounded from behind Pterra, "Stand down!"

The bird-bot's voice rasped in contempt, "He pushes too hard. None who know our identity must survive!"

"If he knows of who you are, than it was no doubt due to your own incompetence, Pterra. Now... stand... down!"

The Destron's eyes narrow as he releases pressure on the boomerang blade he had held to your throat.

You reach up to rub at the minor cut.

Gigano steps up to you, "Zabgoth, I would not suggest upsetting the carnivores in our zoo. You still have your purpose, and as such are under my protection at the moment," the heavy dragon head-hand suddenly pinned you back against the wall, "but continue to test the bounds of civility and you will find yourself in quite a dangerous predicament."

Releasing you the silver robot strode back to where he was conversing with Firecat.

--Yeah, well, we'll see who pushes who about.--

--Besides...-- you reflect -- once we're on that ship, my usefulness is over. And if what Pterra said was true... 'None who know our identity must survive'... then I'm not ticketed for a return flight.--

Turning you head for the bridge's door.

"Zabgoth." Gigano's voice sounded as you neared the exit, "Please make sure not to leave the ship. If I have to, I will hunt you again, and this time it will not be your foes that end up piles of melted slag."

You storm out of the bridge.

Wandering the hallways, you see that the ship was really in pretty damn good shape. It didn't even seem to have taken any damage recently. Odd that it should have made it through Clench's defense net so easily.

Soon, you find yourself far back in the engineering section. Sitting down at a console near the door, you jacked into the system.

Records flew past your eyes as you scanned the recent activity logs. Seems the ship had previously belong to a Destron captain named Spectre. It was legally signed over to Firecat by her. There were even tapes of the moment if you wanted to bother to access them. Not really caring at the moment, you pushed forward, closer to the current date. It seemed that they had used a complex signature scrambler to make it onto Cybertron. Looking at the specs for it and the timing needed to land a whole ship, you realized that perhaps at least Firecat wasn't as sloppy as Pterra was. There was no previous mention of Gigano, and you hadn't seen the silver dragon on Karil when the others attacked you either.

--They must have picked him up here.--

Something about that tugged at the back of your CPU.

You lean back, spinning the chair around to mimic the circles that were spinning around in your mind. You stop the chair after your stabilizers were blatantly off-balance and stare out into the dark engineering bay.

As your eyes adjust to the low lighting here, something odd resolved itself on your optics.

"Computer, lights."

Across the bay the lights shut on, making you squint momentarily from the sudden onslaught of brightness.

As you re-adjusted however, you find that there are three massive forms on the floor.

The three Decepticon lizard-bots that attacked before the assassins did on Karil!

The monstrous creatures were strapped down to the floor. Deactivated, with wires running to and fro from them.

--Whoever this captain Spectre was, she musta picked up the Destrons AND the Decepticons!--

You lean over one. He was the largest of them... Sparkstalker or something... or was it Cindersaur. Yeah that was it, Cindersaur. He was nothing more than a head and a bunch of wires leading to his spark chamber. He was being kept stable by a bunch of stasis equipment, as were the others.

--They chopped the poor bastard to bits just to fit 'im on board!--

There was a draggin, clang from off on the other side of the wide area.

"Helloooooo?" you called out into the darkness.

The noise stopped suddenly. Quickly, you pulled the hammer, charging it with a low hum of green energy. Moving swiftly, silently, you made your way into the shadows and across the room.

Turning around a bank of computers, you nearly trip over the culprit.

Propped against one of the computers was a slagged out Destron. He was missing his head, and one of his legs. Wires ran from his sliced up cadaver into the computer above him.

"What the pit are you?" you kneel down over the oily, dripping carcass.

A monitor flipped on, "I.... I... still... online..."

Cybertron: The Medusae

You reach down and grasp a clutch full of the corpses circuits, "Who are you?"

"Name... Deadcircuit."

"Very apropos... What happened to you?"

"Left.. dead... assassins..."

In the monitor above the carcass, there had been only static, but now, a glitching representation of the face appeared. You released your grasp on the body and straighten up looking down at the image. "The destrons, eh? Figured. Real pricks ain't they?"

The voice was coming a little clearer, "Who are you... you scan as Decepticon... not Destron!"

You look down at the chestplate and see a charred Destron sigil, "Eh, They tried the same slag wit' me. I joined a real team! Now tell me, who used to command this crate?"

"Spectre.... she abandoned us, handed the ship and crew over to the Destrons. Never even argued with them when they pulled rank."

"What happened to the rest of the crew?"

"Don't know. I think they must have been assassinated on Earth. Probably the same thing happened to Spectre."

"Earth? You mean this ship went to Earth?"

"Just after your ship went AWOL."

"AWOL?! Heh, so Backdraft really did keep the mission a secret then!" you chuckle to yourself.

"Mission?"

"Look, here's the game. I've got to goals right now. First one looks unlikely seeing as the Destron Generals seem to be dead. Second however is to do some serious hurt to Clench and the Warworld before Megatron and crew come back from Earth. I just want to know where you stand."

"I have a choice?"

"Well yeah, help or be deactivated."

"Sounds fair."

You smile, "I thought you'd see it my way. First of all, we need to get you a body. There's the Firecon's over there. We could use some scrap off of them to get you operable, but I'm no technician. I could carry you to the CR chambers..."

"No... the Destron's will know I'm here then."

"Good point."

"I've got the technical knowledge, I can tell you how to repair me. " The screen changes, flashing images of the technical specifications of the Firecons. Parts were highlighted and zoomed in on, connection points being detailed and noted.

The ship had yet to take off, so hopefully you had some time. Quickly you began to work.

Deadcircuit had the forethought to repair his own arms and optics first. From there he was able to quickly assemble what you brought him. The patchwork job was done within a megacycle.

"Don't jump into a fight, but there ya go!" you finished sautering the last connection just as the humming of the engines started up.

Deadcircuit looked around, "The ship is getting prepped. We are nearly out of time. While connected to the computers I made sure that the others didn't pry into the engineering bay to see us, and I managed to find out a few useful facts." the robot's voice was almost monotone and came out as a slow grating noise.

"What's that?"

The skeletal exostructure glimmered where green and orange armor still had not been rebuilt on him as he leaned over and tapped in some command, "You stated previously that the Destron Generals were offline. This is incorrect."

"Brahw?"

"There is one member on board."

"What?! You pull him away from the monitor and look at the readout. There was a heavily encrypted security document there, and attached to the listing of the council members accomplishments was a name and a rotating image.

Gigano.

--Of course! How the pitt else was he ordering high assassins around like they were moron fodder!!--

You plop down heavily on a chair.

"I have also learned Gigano's plan for infiltrating the Warworld."

You stare at him blankly for a few seconds before realizing he was waiting on a response, "And?"

"We will be using your signal to tap into the full systems of this ship. He needs a true Decepticon sigil to reformat the computer banks. The equipment is already in place. It was merely a modification of the systems they used to cloak themselves on entry. They plan to retrace the route that got them here, moving us to the edge of the system. Then they will activate the sensors and display the Decepticon signature proudly. You will then explain that you have brought a 'prize' warship from Earth for Clench to use in the upcoming assault, as well as having important information as to the workings of the Earth assault force. All sent by Megatron himself."

"Ok, two problems. First, they've seen me, 'B' they've seen me."

"A simple holographic projector and a signal alteration will hide you."

"Until a set foot in front of him."

"I do not believe that they care at that point. The assassins will no doubt be in place by then, and Gigano will be ready. Their plans at that point are unknown however."

You feel the ship shudder underneath you, "How long then?"

"Approximately one megacycle to get the ship back into outer orbit, another half megacycle to return to the Warworld."

Cybertron: The Medusae

And so, in two megacycles time, you sat on the bridge of the Medusae. You sat as Gigano 'explained' the plan to you. It was just as you had already figured, you were to introduce yourself as part of the fleet from Earth, come to join his side.

Of course, now the plan had a few alterations of your own. They had yet to discover Deadcircuit's presence, and so, the two of you had rigged the comm channels to 'piggyback' a secondary signal on it. That signal explained what Gigano was up to... well, sort of. It left out a few details, and mainly hinted at the deception.

After all, you didn't want any one side to have too much of an 'advantage,' but you did want whatever side that was left to think you had helped them. Just enough to let their defenses down.... slightly.

The transmission was sent, and a silent signal opened the bay doors to the massive war moon.

The hangar was far was empty. Small worker drones flew to and fro, working on loading and unloading ships from the surface. You didn't see any sign of any big drones, or of the other Decepticons.

Gigano stood, "You first, Zabgoth. We don't want them to suspect an ambush, now do we?"

You stand with a sigh. Already though, you knew exactly what to do.

As you stepped outside, the others waited in the shadows, moving out from a 'rear' door on the ship.

You activated your drone signal. Immediately, about fifteen nearby worker drones shuddered, and turned.

Search lights near each of the orb-like drone's singular round optic clicked on, shining into the dark underbelly of the massive Medusae. There was no pause in Gigano's response. Immediately a fire bolt slammed out into the center of the huge hangar. You ducked away as smoke roared away from the charred spot in a wave of heat that scatter many of the drones.

You transformed to flight mode, streaking up and to the top of the Medusae, where Deadcircuit was already waiting, "We must make it to the central core. There is where we can do the most damage to the ship, and we may stand a chance of dispatching all of our adversaries."

You hover, scanning the bay. The Destron's were making quick work of the drones now. You didn't have long, "Then let's hit it!"

He transformed into a thick, hovering flatbed ship that was decked out with sensor equipment, "Follow me."

His sensor arrays lead you through the mazes of the Warworld's hallways. You had both managed to make it out of the bay before the smoke cleared out. That left the two of you on your own for the moment.

The hallways were dead. completely empty of any signs of life. You still had yet to see an armed drone, or any sign of a real Decepticons!

Deadcircuit transformed and landed outside of a large door, you fell in behind him, "This is it, my sensors read the greatest amount of energy output here."

You move toward the door, "Then let's see what in here!"

He grabbed your arm, "Wait. This doesn't make any sense."

"Eh?"

"There hasn't been a single alarm raised, no sign of guards, no sign of the Decepticons? These do not fall into the parameters of Clench's previous planning."

"So, why shoot the gift horse in the leg. Just jump on and ride 'im to the sunset."

With that, you opened the door.

About fifty red optics glared at you from the darkness beyond.

Cybertron: The Warworld

You stare at the red optical glares. Listening to the soft sound of targeting systems locking onto your soon to be slagged carcass.

"Crap monkeys."

You begin emitting the signal to control them. But an immediate backwash of static burst through your systems.

"Now, now, now, Zabgoth." Clench's voice echoed from the chamber. You look inside to see a large, floating viewscreen with Clench's face on it, "You really didn't think that I would let your ship land, and then not put a guard on the main computer core of this battleship? And since I knew from earlier that you had the ability to control the drones at close range, I made sure that several signal jammers were set up here... to make sure that none of my tank drones got conf... ," you see Clench look up from the screen, "What... How did you get in..." the screen blanks out.

You pause for a second, unsure of the status on the drones.... Unsure until their rotary cannons begin to spin....

"Super crap monkies..."

"Use my amplifiers for the signal!" Deadcircuit yells, transforming and knocking you onto his back. He dives into the room, ducking clear of the first blasts that rip apart the doorway and hallway where you had stood. You quickly plug in and immediately here a resounding wave of signal send.

Then, all the drones simple stopped.

Optics didn't go dark... So you tried, "Hey, dance on one leg!"

No response.

"They aren't under our control." Answers Deadcirtuit, "The signal is still being rejected..."

"Maybe Clench is dead?"

Deadcircuit lands on a long walkway, transforming as you jump off, "Not enough data to draw a conclusion."

"Then let's slag this joint and get outta here before they decide to take more shots at us!"

The room itself was a column room in which a massive conglomeration of wires ran in a thick cord up and down. The room stretched away down below you, and above you, but not so far as to see where the cord-column ran into the walls and continued out through the rest of the ship. Computer banks ringed the massive column on a platform that was where the drones stood staring out into blank space. Thin strips of walkways stretched from the doorway to the center platform. It was on one of these walkways you now ran toward the central column...

As you came up on it, you realized just how large it truly was... and how grotesque. The column was made of cords of wires that shifted and writhed as if they were living eels. It was all covered in an odd gel that shimmered and sparked as impulses shot through it. The whole of it was at least thirty times thicker than you were!

Deadcircuit didn't even spare it a glance. He simply went up to the control panels and began to tap into it.

"Some of the systems are stalled."

"Stalled? Is it running on Windows?"

"What? No... they just seem preoccupied. Not many systems though. It doesn't account for the drones inactivity.

"Can you jack into anything important."

"I... AHHHHH!!!!"

Deadcircuit flew back, smoking. You reached down to help him up, but were met with a vicious kick and a scream.

You staggered back as the Destron jumped up, grasping the sides of his head.

"What the pit!!!" you roar.

Deadcircuit looks at you, his optics blazing with an odd orange light! Still screaming, he launched himself at you, hands extended!

This time you were ready, you ducked aside and brought the hammer to bear, smashing him in the midsection.

He flew to the side, relatively unhurt, but still struggling and screaming.

You quickly give the hammer a small charge as he got to his feet. He jumped again in an insane fury. You sling the hammer up and into his face, releasing the charge. He flies back again, small bits of metal flying from his face.

As he landed, he stopped screaming.

You keep the hammer in hand and slowly approach his twitching body.

His optics open, and their color had returned to a light green, "What... happened." He spoke through a chipped faceplate.

"You tell me..."

At that moment a new scream rang out in the chamber! Both of you spun to the column... electrical bolts arced around it in a frenzy as the terror driven scream reverbed throughout the chamber. The cords twisted and convulsed as something fought within a great knot of slimy tentacles.

A faceplate, charred and skeletal stretched forward in a splash of gelatinous goo... as it did so it screamed one word.

"ZABGOTH!!!!!!"

You recognize the voice, if not the savaged face.

It was Lightslayer.

The Warworld

"Hold on Slayer!" You realize that there was some strange barrier in between you.

Quickly, your hammer was in hand. You bring it down with a resounding ring on the shielding that was there.

But nothing happened... it merely bounced off as if he had hit the shield with a feather.

Anger flared within you...

--No WAY am I leaving Slayer with these Go-bots!--

You roar, dumping energy into your hammer. With every ounce of your strength, you brought the hammer down. Still nothing gave way.

"GRAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!" Anger swirled around you... a tidal wave of hatred and loathing that kindled in your spark and surged to every molecule of your body. You would rip apart the whole Warworld if you had to bolt.. by... slagging... bolt...

You couldn't even think, all you knew was that you would not be beaten by these throwback, Unicron spawned, piece of slag-ridden...

"RAWWWWGGGG!!!"

You begin charging the hammer, dumping more and more energy into it...

You vaguely heard a voice, "No..... wo.... no.. n... Zab.... lis... oo... eee.."

You shoved the bot making the noise away from you.

You would strike, and you would destroy, then you would destroy every tank drone, every Decepticon... everyone!!!

"ZAB! STOP!" something rang through your mind... a familiar voice...

You stop in mid swing, heaving with anger.

"LISTEN! ....HAVE TO.... FIGHT.... ANGER! THE.... IS..... FEEDING .....IT!!!!"

The Warworld

Everything was becoming blurry in the heat of rage. You tried to quelch it, but to no avail. Wave after wave of intense hatred threatened to suffocate you.

You felt someone try to tackle you, but you shrugged off whoever it was, spinning to find something to vent your anger on.

There was something, you jumped, ripping with hand and hammer in a blaze of smoke and energy, ripping apart thick armor and circuitry as if it was nothing.

Your first choice vanquished in a fiery explosion, you leapt on the next... tearing into it with similar vengeance.

Then it stopped.

In an instant, the anger snapped and disappeared, leaving you standing on a pile of bolts that HAD been a tank drone, you looked around to find that two other drones had perished in the same fashion...

--Funny, only remember one...--

You look down at your hands where pieces of your armoring had ripped free to show the wiring underneath. Sudden waves of pain shot up through your arms!

"GRAH!"

"Zabgoth, the shields!" you hear Deadcircuit yell.

You spin to see that Lightslayer had disappeared, submerged again in the grotesque column of wires! But Deadcircuit was right, the shield was flickering and fading.

You leap up onto the control panels, shoving an arm deep into the column where you had last seen Lightslayer.

Stinging jolts of electricity shot up your arm, and surged through the raw surfaces of your damaged hands, but still you fished for something solid.

You grab something, giving a viscous yank.

You see Lightslayer's head poke through, barely, "Hold on Slayer! I'ze got you!"

He looked dead.

You give another yank and rip at the wires surrounding him. The more you pull off, the more show and try to drag him back under, "PITTSUCKIN TENTACLES, LET GO!!!"

A few separated from the column, swinging out to lash at you, but you hear laser blasts as Deadcircuit cleared them away from the ground behind you.

There's a sudden shift, and you tumble backwards with Lightslayer in tow. The two of you crumple into a pile on the floor.

"GaWHRUHAH! GOTIM!"

"Just in time, look..." you hear Deadcircuit yell, "The shields are back up!"

Sure enough the shielding units had been brought back up.

"Bwah! Was gonna get to throw in a few kicks befoe we left... ah well... Whoa, Slayer, you look like pipe cleanings!"

Indeed, Lightslayer's exterior was almost completely fragged, most of his face plate was cracked and missing, his cybernetic skull leering out from beneath it. His fur was gone, leaving ripped and shredded flesh, the transmetal was scuffed and dented badly, and one arm was missing completely. Wires hung loose from his chest, below the cracked crystal that HAD held his sigil...

Lightslayer groaned, "Don't... feel.. great... either..." you were back in robot mode, though you didn't recall Maximizing...

"Heh... can you walk?"

"Yeah, I think..." he pushes up on shaky legs, catching a reflection on a computer screen at the base of the massive column.

He stares at it mutely for a few segments. Then turns, disgustedly, "Ok... how about we get outta here."

"Hah! First I gotta score to settle!" you turn and starts walking across the catwalk that lead out to the center of the large room, "Let's find the bridge of this joint. Me and whoever survived are gonna tussle!"

Halfway across a low, mechanical voice filled the air, "Targets reacquired."

You hear the spinning sound of the tank drones cannons as they powered up...

The Warworld

You quickly push Lightslayer onto Deadcircuit's back, "Get outta the way, boyZ!" as you pulled out the hammer, charging it.

But there were still a lot of drones here, and you were already depleted on energy.

This was not a good fight.

You leapt at the first drone, smashig it's head with the cannon, and ducking as another blasted past you, nailing one of his comrades with the powerful plasma bolt.

--Not a bad start!--

But five more were blocking the exit, and four were taking pot shots at Slayer and Deadcircuit.

The doors to the room slid shut... locking behind the drones.

This was definitely not a good fight.

You transformed to flight mode, clearing the catwalk as several bolts charred the surface of the bridge.

"Bwah!" You charged another firing rockets from launchers that rolled out of your side panels.

The missiles splatter against them, taking out one of their numbers, but then a blast from another drone hit you near the tail, forcing you to transform and land with a thud.

You weren't severely damaged, the vehicon armoring soaking up a rather good amount of the energy, but it definitely stung. A direct hit could do some permanent damage, you roll away as three more blasts streak past you.

Then there was a loud explosion and smoke from the shut doors, a thick, fury foot kicked in the door and you heard the sound of two guns being cocked in unison.

Before the drones by the door could turn, two of them fell forward with smoking holes in thier backs, and another staggered as his head was smashed by a thickly spiked ball.

In the smoke behind them stood Bonecrusher and his ranch-hand, Armordillo.

Bonecrusher's two shotgun-blasters were smoking from the blasts, and Armordillo was pulling his spiked weapon free of the drone's face, and firing with a blaster gun at another.

"You boys need some help!" yelled the thick bodied Maximal.

You grin wickedly, "It's hammer time..."

Soon the fight was finished, and nothing but scrap was left of the drones. You took a moment to collect yourselves...

"Slayer... I got these...." you pull out the undamaged powerpacks, and unsling the large rotary cannons you were carrying, "Think you could use them?"

Lightslayer grinned wickedly, "If Deadcircuit can help me install them!"

Deadcircuit looked at the pieces and then around at the other drones, "I believe there is sufficient material around here to properly contruct a weapon suit for you."

"Sufficient mateeriaal?" Armordillo giinned, "Let's just say I got a roll of duct tape and a tool case in my shell... we'll have you fixed up in no time, kid!"

You turned to Bonecrusher, "Whoha... you guys turned up in the nick... where'd you come from?"

"Slaggin'st thing." the massive bison-bot scratched a horn, "We were locked up down below, when suddenly, the shielding just blinked out. We didn't bother to waste the time to ask why, we just took off, found our weapons, and figured we'd do some damage before we bolted. Wasn't a bot in the halls, so we figured there must be somethin' tyin' up the drones."

"Bah! The drones were trying to tie US up..."

"I dunno, seems like there should be a lot more drones here..."

"There may be, up top, but now that we got a few extra guns... what say we go and see what damage we can do before we leave?"

Bonecrusher grinned, "Sounds like it's time for a good ol' fashion' bar-be-que..."

The Warworld

Soon, your group was on the move. The suit that Armordillo and Deadcircuit had made for Lightslayer was bulky, but would provide much needed armor and weaponry. It looked like an exoskeleton of sorts, with huge cannons on either shoulder. Only Lightslayer's head showed through, and you could see where his arms were controlling the thicker struts of the stripped down drone arms.

Quickly, you made your way through the hallways of the warworld. you stayed at the lead, Bonecrusher at your side. Armordillo and Deadcircuit stayed in the middle, and Lightslayer took up the rear.

It was impossible to stay quiet, the struts on 'Slayer's suit made sure of that. Besides, it just didn't seem to be in Bonecrusher's or in Armordillo's nature to be quiet.

"So..." the thick, burly Maximal continued, "You're thinkin' we can get a few likcs in on Clench, maybe even take down this station while we're here?! You got some chrome ball bearin's you know, Zab?"

"Bah, this place is emp..."

Suddenly a transmission breaks through on a Decepticon channel.

--This is Vulcan on board the Warworld. We are under siege! There are Destron, as well as Maximal boarders. I can not raise Clench's command chambers. Get your tinplated butts over here pronto! I repeat, we are under siege!--

"What is it, Zab?" The others had stopped and were looking at you.

"We got problems. The alarms been raised."

"And so are my weapons!" you heard the same voice, Vulcan, as a thick robot stepped around the corner On his shoulder spun a huge Gattling weapon, "Now, die!"

The cannon let loose with a firestorm of bullets. At the same moment, panels on his chest opened, firing a barrage of mini-missiles, and acid pellets.

Lightslayer turned, taking on the first wave of firepower. The exosuit and it's vehicon armoring absobed some of it, but he was knocked back as the destructive wave tore up the walls around him. Armordillo grabbed him pulling him back, "Armordillo! BEAST MODE!" The orangish Maximal converted into a thick hided armadillo, throwing himself into the path of the weapons, "Bonecrusher! GET HIM!"

Bonecrusher's two shotguns were in hand with an ominous click. There was a loud blast as they fired in unison. Your hammer was already in hand, and even Deadcircuit had a thick pistol out and was firing at the Decepticon warrior.

The hallway filled with explosions and smoke.

As it cleared, you could see the Decepticon tearing off down the hallways.

"Grah!" you throw your hammer, sending it roaring after him, but it only slammed into a wall as he turned a corner in a cloud of dust.

"Get him!"

"Wait!" Bonecrusher was leaning over Armordillo, "He's hurt, hurt bad!"

You look over at Lightslayer, but he shakes his head, "I'm ok, this armor really is tough!"

Deadcircuit looks at Armordillo, "His armor is shredded, and his internals are exposed, without a CR... plus..." the robot stood to look at you, "If we chase after that Decepticon we may not get him to help, or get to the control room before the rest of the Decepticons arrive."

The Warworld

"Ok, here's what we'll do... Deadcircuit, you take Armordillo back to the Medusae. Me, 'Crusher, and 'Slayer will head after this Vulcan fella..."

Deadcircuit nods and hoists the wounded Maximal over his shoulder.

Bonecrusher snorts, "What'll we do once we hogtie the tank-bot?"

You sneer, "He's gotta know something about this place... perhaps even the keys we need to get into Clench's chambers."

Lightslayer adds, "Then let's get going. He's got a few cycles head start to hide out there... and we might want to be cautious... after all, he's got homeground advantage here."

You nod in agreement, "No doubt." you move to the end of the hallway, retrieving your hammer from the wall, "Bonecrusher, you think you can find him?"

The burly Maximal transforms into his Bison mode, sniffing the ground, "I'm no bloodhound, but it looks like at least one of us hit 'im... he's left a bit of a grease smell on the floors.

"Good... let's go then..."

You quickly and silently make your way through the halls. As you sit pressed against a sidewall, waiting for Bonecrusher to scout out another path, you turn to Lightslayer, "So kitty... what happened while you were in there?"

"I...It's a long story.... suffice it to say that we might want to destroy this place if at all possible..."

Bonecrusher motions from the hall, you see that he had transformed and was now pressed against the wall beside a doorway.

With a motion, he pointed at the greasy smear on the ground.

You nod in understanding. The Decepticon Vulcan had gone into that room.

As you throw yourself to the other side of the door, Lightslayer moves out to where he would have a clear shot of the doorway.

You look at the other two and nod.

There is the low humming of the rotary cannons on Lightslayer's shoulders as they began to spin. Both fire in unison at the door, ripping through the metal with shattering force!

Bonecrusher spins around ready to fire his shotguns, but a hail of bullets fly out of the ruined doorway, slamming the Maximal back against the wall, his chestplate torn apart! He rolled to the side, smoking badly from the wounds.

Another blast flew into the room from Lightslayer's cannons, and then something rushed out in the aftermath, and you feel a strong claw grab onto your throat, pulling you around to the side, between him and Lightslayer.

Quickly you bring the hammer up into the gut of the attacker. There was a grunt as the claws ripped off of your throat, unfortunately they take a chunk of circuitry with them.

You were mute for the moment as your systems re-routed vocal circuitry.

The black tank-bot rolls back as Lightslayer fires again, ripping up the hallway in an explosion that separated you from the other Decepticon.

The hallway was too narrow to throw your hammer, but that didn't seem to impede the Decepticon from opening fire with his Gattling cannon. You transform dropping below the hail of bullets, and peel out as the hail of destruction splatters the hallway above you. Diving into the smoke, you slam into him, unfortunately, it doesn't knock him over, just dents your hood.

You transform immediately though, bringing the hammer to bear in a quick strike that smashes into his powerful shoulder cannon!

You hear him roar as her reaches out and picks you up in a bear hug, plucking you off the ground and slamming you into the corridor wall! His oversized arms squeeze with a terrible pressures, and it was only made worse as you feel saw blades within his arms begin to cut into your arms!

"....................AAAAAAAHHHH!!!" you roar, unable to free yourself. You reflect later that it was a terrible use of the newly rerouted vocals...

Then there was the quaking jolt through his body as you both fall to the ground. You push him off, seeing where two smoking hole were torn in the bot's back. Lightslayer stepped through the smoke and hauled the Decepticon up with one massive arm. The barrels on Slayer's armor-suit were still smoking as he smiled, "Got 'im."

"Thanks.." you wheeze, "you still owe me a few more though." you stand up, your arms were wakened considerably, with axle grease dripping down through the jagged rips in them, "Bonecrusher?"

"I'm functional, but slag that hurt!" you see the massive, shaggy bison shuffle around in the smoke filled hallway, "I might be stuck in beast mode for a few cycles."

Lightslayer laughs, "This was a tough friggin Decepticon... I've never seen anything like it... look at this, I hit him with five out of the eight shots!"

You look at the smoking con, who was even now twitching with the slow return of consciousness. Indeed, there were massive holes straight through his armor and circuits, "I hit him with at least two solid blows as well... Barely even slowed him!"

"He's slowed now." Bonecrusher comments, "Best disconnect that gun completely before he wakes up."

Lightslayer's other exo-arm reaches over to pluck a few wires deftly from the Decepticons badly damaged weapon, "That should do it. He may still have missiles though."

You look where you had previously seen missiles launch from. For each panel, you slam your hammer into the bot, denting them enough to jam them without some repair time,"Let's hope that holds him."

You note that your pounding has knocked him back into a stasis state for the moment.

Bonecrusher nods,"Ok, now, the only problem is that the only two tech heads just went back to the ship. How are we gonna get what we need outta him?"

You grin, "You forget crusher, my specialty is Psychological Warfare." You pull open a small panel, drawing out a connector wire from it, " Gimme a few minutes and we'll know all we need to..."

The Warworld

Your mind melts into the Decepticons mainframe. Immediately his format name and designation became apparent. He was Vulcan, a warrior. Not much more than a mere grunt. You begin to quickly flip through recent files.

He had lost contact with Clench not but five cycles ago... that much you had already known. Unfortunately, he also appeared to have no more useful information...

Wait...

--Files: Warworld Decepticons--

--Tracks: Orange Virus.--

--Recent discoveries: Hatred surges through my frame, as well as most other Decepticons. Something about this hatred has linked us all, and increased our power outputs tenfold. However, I fear that to give in to it, is to give in to a berserker like rage. Useful for battle, but still worrisome. Data is still being gathered by Diagnostic Drone on Warworld.--

Lightslayer's warnings of hatred feeding something came to you from a hazy dream... when you had gone berserk trying to free him!

You downloaded the data needed to scan for the plague, you may find it useful yet. Then quickly disconnected.

"That's it. He knows nothing."

Lightslayer hoist the body over his shoulder, "We're taking too much damage right now. We have to get back to the ship and regroup before we try and tackle destroying this place."

You didn't like it, but the ideal of checking in on the ship did sound like a good one, "Ok, let's go..."

"Zabgoth!" a strange echo reverberates through the hallway as something black drops down in front of you.

You transform to robot mode, skidding to a halt before plowing headlong into whatever it is!

"What the...." you gasp, getting a look at the black armored creature. His head, wings and arms were made of a skeletal bone, running with wires pumping blue and red liquids! A single red optic sat in the center of his skull, above some impressive fangs...

"Zabgoth, " he repeats, "It's me, Bladewing!"

Lightslayer steps forward, "Bladewing?"

You interrupted the Maximal, "What are you doing here!?"

"I've been trying to find you! Some Destron's in control up here now... his name is... Gigororna or something."

"Gigano!"

"Yes. He has already done our job of displacing the Decepticon leader, but has assumed control with the intent no better than Clench's had been."

Lightslayer drops the body of the Decepticon to the ground, "Our job?! If your still with us, what happened to the Lieutenant? We sent him after you... as the rest of us came looking as well!"

"I... I am the lieutenant as well... I'm not sure I can explain.. we've been... reformatted into one being." you recognize the echoing voice... it was a mix of Bladewing and the Lieutenant... and something else.

"Then you never really left the team?" you ask, confused.

"Left? What the pit are you talking about?! We're here to destroy this ship... right?!"

Lightslayer smiles, "Then welcome back... both of you? We're heading back to the Warworld with this pile of scrap to throw him in stasis and then we're going to do our best to make sure this pit is destroyed."

The black, monster-bot nodded, "Then let's go... this place is none to safe, even with the lack of Decepticons around!"

Soon, you are back in the hangar bay. Drones lay about, slagged and melted, Most likely from these Destron's assault before you landed. You, Lightslayer, Bladewing, and Bonecrusher carefully stepped out, making your way quickly across the bay to where the Medusae sat.

Then, the spotlight hit you.

"Please hold position for identification." a computer generated voice asked pleasantly.

Of course, the pleasantness was lost a bit with the sound of the Medusae's guns swiveling around to lock on you all as targets.

The Warworld: The hangar bay

You squint into the bright lights coming from the Medusae. Lightslayer's weapons power up and you hear him whisper, "I'll distract them by launching a few rounds... you guys take out the launchers..."

Holding up a hand you quickly mutter, "Wait... let's not do anything rash. After all, that's the ship I was planning on using to get us out of here!"

Lightslayer looks over at you, "Good choice, I don't suppose we could just steal a shuttle?"

Shaking your head violently you address the ship, "If you're inclined to help me kill some Destrons, then I'm not the kind of guy you want to slag."

There is a pause, then a new voice address you, a female one, "Zabgoth, eh? I think we do hold a common enemy. Board quickly and I will meet you in the hold."

The lights shut off and the missile launchers power down. Turning you shrug, "See? Violence doesn't solve every problem."

Bonecrusher snorts and trundles past you, "That's rich comin' from the Mad Bastard..."

Inside the hold, you find a Decepticon waiting for your entrance. She was thin and smoothly built, all in black with an obviously jet-build transformation. Her gun was held loosely in her hand as she watched you dispassionately from a featureless face, save for two jet black optics.

"Greetings," she starts in a cool voice, "My name is Spectre."

You recognize the name from something that Deadcircuit told you, "You were the captain of this ship!"

"Indeed. The Destrons took it from me and left me stranded on Earth. I came here through a spacebridge on a mission to eliminate a robot that followed your group on your covert mission."

"What?" Lightslayer gaped, "Followed?! We weren't followed by anyone."

Bladewing chuckles with his eerie echo voice, "No, she's right. We were followed, and by Deathspire. Why exactly were you sent to kill him though?"

"Because he was Unicron Spawn." she states matter of factly, "His position was unknown and therefore he could not be allowed to continue existing."

"You talk in past tense." you interject.

"My mission has been completed. At least in part."

"Part?"

"The next part was to eliminate the horn that is on the Warworld. It is a blemish that can not be allowed to exist."

Lightslayer nods, "Then I'm all for it. She's right Zabgoth, " he turns toward you, "This 'Warworld' must be stopped. There's something.... unnatural about it. Something that's feeding on the anger generated by others."

"That's what he said." Spectre indicates the deactivated body of Vulcan, "He had found something... and found some way to scan for it. He referred to it as a virus."

Bonecrusher snorted, "Then maybe we'd better bring him back online and see what he kno..."

The ship shuddered.

"What the pit was..." Lightslayer starts.

"Spectre, Zabgoth." It was Deadcircuit's voice on the loudspeakers, "You guys better get up here."

The Decepticon battleships were lining up outside of the Warworld. Still confused as to what was going on, they merely wandered in a defensive formation.

"What are they doing?" you look at the monitors, confused.

Spectre's eyes narrow, "They aren't sure. They were called here because of Vulcan's communication. They think the Warworld's under attack, but they were expecting the Cybertronian Armada to be doing the attacking."

Deadcircuit adds, "They tried to hail the Warworld, and when that wasn't successful they fired a warning shot."

"Why hasn't Gigano attacked them?" Lightslayer wonders.

"There's too many of them." you point out, but Lightslayer shakes his head in the negative, "Those ships are running on skeleton crews at the best. The Warworld could easily wipe them out. Even with only one person at it's helm!"

Spectre leaned over, you note that her metallic armor wasn't pure black, but rather held a fine tracing of white 'veins' on it's surface, "There must be some reason... Deadcircuit, scan on all frequencies. What are we missing."

The Destron moved to reply, and in seconds an overlay of an energy-prismatic effect was displayed over the surrounding space.

"What the pit..." Bonecrusher started.

"It is the early warning signs of several Warp signatures." Deadcircuit answered.

"The Cybertronian Fleet!" Lightslayer breathed.

Space began to warp into a prismatic vortex as ships begin to appear all around. Maximal Explorers, Destron Destroyers, Cybertronian Crusaders... at the center of the formation appeared a massive complex of a creation, as if two city-sized vehicles were attached to either side of a ship. You recognize them as Trypticon and Metroplex, both attached in the middle through Admiral Backdraft's ship, the Soulfire.

Time had run out.

End of NWNG: General Statement