Lessons Learned...
By Matt Black
Rattrap leaned back in his chair, readjusted the volume on his headset, and propped his feet up on the Axalon's workstation. He wasn't doing any real work, rather, he was listening to some music off the data banks.
--As long as Grape Ape thinks I'm a busy little com officer...--
Looking around, he saw Rhinox at another station, and that bullheaded Razorbeast over talking to primal, on the other side of the central computer table.
--Ah... another exiting day at lamehead central...--
A small red light flashed on his panel.
--Aww... just when I was ready to take a snooze.--
Rattrap pulled up the display of the strange energy reading that had triggered the sensors. It seemed to be emanating from... "Preadhead Central !?".
Optimus Primal looked up from his conversation with Razorbeast. "What's wrong Rattrap?" he asked as he walked over to Rattrap's workstation.
--Great, me and my big yap.--
"Uh, looks like some kinda funky energon displacement coming from the Pred's homeland."
Optimus grimaced over he display, "Rhinox, see if you can I.D. this signal."
"Gotcha, big boss." rumbled the large transformer. He started tapping away on his control panel, "It was pretty big, but it's fading now. Looks like... like a transwarp signature" he finished in an awed tone.
"Are you sure?"
"It was stationary Optimus, but it was definitely a transwarp signature."
Primal grimaced and reached over to flip a comm switch, "All Maximals report to base, immediately we have a code red emergency!" He flipped another switch and the computers of the Axalon lit to vibrant life.
Polar Claw was the first to enter from the hallway.
Rattrap looked up at the burly polar bear and suddenly found himself snickering, "What would you do for a Klondike bar..." eliciting a slap on the back of the head as Polar Claw walked by his station.
"What's the problem, Optimus?" the massive transformer rumbled.
"Transwarp signature, from inside the Predicon's base. We have to ascertain if they have found a way to use the transwarp drives on their ship."
"Wouldn't it make more sense to use a flier, or send Rattrap or Tigatron in?"
"Negative. If they have activated a drive... I plan to go full scale to stop them before they get off this planet.
-A lazy summer afternoon in the sunlight, just what makes this cat purrrrr.-- The thought rolled through Cheetor's processors. He had just gotten comfortable on a large rock opposite the river and base, and now he looked forward to a good mid-afternoon snooze.
A small beeping from his comm unit startled him and sent him sliding off the rock with a thud.
-Aw, geez. Just when a bot's got hot.-- With a growl he pounced off in the direction of the headquarters.
Wolfang twitched in his sleep mode. The strange dreams of prowling and hunting were new, and unwelcome, to the half-beast transformers.
Suddenly, something caused him to reactivate with a start. The grey timber wolf looked lazily around his room.
-Quiet- He prepared to switch off again when alarm klaxons started to throb in time with an annoying beeping on his comm unit.
The lithe wolf jumped from his cot and out the door of his room.
Wolfang slid into the control room just in time to see the elevator bringing Cheetor up from outside. The room was getting a little crowded as Dinobot walked in, in robotic mode. Both Wolfang and Cheetor transformed and joined their comrades around the center table.
Above a hologram of the Predicon headquarters floated the forms of Airazor, Tigatron, Bonecrusher, and Armordillo. Also, two smaller holograms of Clawjaw and Cybershark appeared beneath a picture of Orcanoch. All of the holograms had estimated times till arrival at the Maximal base. Wolfang watched as Bonecrusher's hologram disappeared followed by the sound of the elevator pistons lurching into activity.
Optimus Primal looked around at his assembled crew. Some were still missing, but they would have to catch up as needed. No more time could be wasted if they were going to stop the Predicon from leaving.
-If they really have found a way off this planet.-- The nagging thought pulled at the back of Primal's head.
"Maximals, there has been a transwarp signature centered inside the Predicon headquarters." He paused and looked around, letting the swell of murmurs dissipate. "We must make sure that they do not make it free of this planet with the energon they have collected over the past months.
"I plan to take most of you with me for an all out assault on the Predicon base."
Rattrap groaned audibly in the back.
"Rhinox, I'm leaving here in charge of the base. Airazor and Armordillo will stay with you to guard in case this is a trick to get us away from the base."
At that moment the large form of Cybershark and the smaller Clawjaw stepped off of the elevator. Primal looked over at them. "Is Orcanoch position in the lake below the falls?"
Cybershark looked up at Optimus Primal and nodded. "He awaits his orders, Primal." the raspy voice answered.
"Excellent. You and Clawjaw will stay there with him. Use his defense systems in coordination with Sentinel to ensure against a Predicon trick.
"The rest of you are with me. We will make best time toward the Predicon base, but STAY TOGETHER. If we have to make a beeline toward that volcano, then I want us in formation and readied for any ambush.
"All right Maximals, transform and move out!" Primal switched to beast mode, that of a gargantuan silver back gorilla. The elevator was loaded in two teams, and the Maximals began the journey toward the Predicon base.
The entrance pass far up ahead was the quickest way through the mountain chain that lead towards the volcano in which the Predicon's ship rested. Tigatron had joined the party en route and now was about a quarter of a mile ahead of the group, with Cheetor, scouting ahead of the other seven Maximals. As the pair of jungle cats approached the entrance to the pass, Tigatron had a strange, uneasy feeling.
"Hold littlecat." rumbled the large Bengal tiger. "Maximize," he almost whispered as he changed to his robotic mode.
Cheetor transformed beside him, "What's up bigcat?" he said in an unusually hushed tone for the energetic little robot.
"I sense a trap. Boost your scanners up to the path ahead and tell me what you get."
Cheetor appeared to look inside of himself for a moment, "Pred signature... and a big one to boot."
Tigatron nodded, "Arachnid," he mumbled in an awed tone.
Cheetor had already changed back to beast mode, "Better get back and warn the others."
"Agreed," Tigatron growled as he too reverted to beast mode. "But, if we know they're there, then it's a safe bet they know we're here."
The duo race back toward the rest of the party.
Rattrap found himself clinging onto the wooly hide of Bonecrusher, who was steadily galloping toward the mountain range up ahead.
Looking over, he saw his favorite game making itself available to him, "Hey Dino-butt."
The scaly head of the tan velociraptor swung toward the large rat, "What do you want... vermin?" the raspy voice responded.
"I was jest wond'rin', when we do get to the ol'homestead of yo'r Predhead buddies, couldya try not to get all misty eyed with old memories of the comfy slimepit from which you crawled onto this muckball from?"
"WHY I'LL SHOW YO..."
"Stow it you two! The scouts are returning." Polar Claw grumbled as he turned from the slow but steady pace he was making toward the mountains.
Cheetor was the first to skid to a halt in front of Optimus Primal, who called a stop to the march, "Report Cheetor."
"Way bad news bigbot. Looks like the big spider's got a web out in the valley pass up ahead."
Rattrap grimaced, "Aww, what now? As if it wasn't bad enough that we had to go attack Pred Central, now we gotta face off wid dat great... big..." he exaggerate a shudder," spider."
"Stow it Rattrap," Optimus bit back, "we have no choice. We can spend fifteen minutes fighting or a couple hours taking another route. OPTIMUS PRIMAL, MAXIMIZE!"
With a roar, Primal changed into his robotic mode, ready for battle.
"Rattrap, see if you can pinpoint whether there are any other Predicons in the area."
"Gotcha, leader-o-mine. Rattrap, MAXIMIZE," with a whirring and clicking of gears Rattrap transformed into a gold and grey robot. He pushed down on a panel on his forearm, causing a small computer screen and control panel to roll out. "Uh, look s like we got three others, but that spider's signal's to strong to make out who dey are."
"Very well, full charge. Go in with guns blazing. I'll give air support. Maximals, LET'S DO IT!" Primal's jet pack ignited with a roar, and he rocketed up and forward.
Rattrap reverted to rat mode and leapt back onto Bonecrusher's back, just before the massive bison lurched into a full throttle run. Dinobot and Razorbeast flanked Polar Claw as he lumbered toward the cliff, and Wolfang, Cheetor, and Tigatron charged ahead of them in a quick sprint.
The Maximals entered the pass to find a valley shaped like a large basin. Thick webs of every shape and size covered the entire valley floor, and on top of it all rested the transformed bulk of Arachnid. A gun tower stretched from the back of the base on a long, jointed appendage. It swivelled toward the oncoming Maximal raiders and blasted a strange glowing ball at the oncoming forms.
Rattrap looked up, " Hey! Bonebrain! It's comin' dis' way!! Veer left! NO, Veer Right! Aww, SLAGGG!!" Rattrap pushed himself off just in time to miss being enveloped in the cyber web that cocooned Bonecrusher in a shimmering blue veil.
"KEEP GOING!!" Bonecrusher bellowed as he saw some of the Maximals falter and turn to help.
From above, Optimus activated his commlink, "Tigatron, Cheetor, see if you can get around and take that web launcher out. I'll try to keep it... UHG!"
A missile explosion right next to Primal caught him off guard. Looking up he saw the black and orange body of Jetstorm hurtling toward him.
"Welcome Maximal!" Jetstorm screamed as a spew of acid splashed out of the dragonfly's mandibles.
Back on the ground, Wolfang split from Cheetor and Tigatron as they scrabbled up a rocky path on the left of the basin.-Time to prowl alone.-
The grey shape became a shadow as he leapt up a similar path on the right side of the valley.
Upon reaching the to, Wolfang looked over his shoulder just n time to see a flier launch from the base. It resembled a giant fly, and was veering directly toward his position.
"Wolfang, MAXIMIZE!" He snarled as he converted to his battle mode.
The flier ship zoomed in with a set of machine guns blaring.
Wolfang whipped his missile launcher out and fired a couple of blasts as it grew near, but the pilot deftly maneuvered the ship out of the direct path of his missiles.
Two explosions caused Wolfang to dive and take cover behind a rock.
Cannons blazing, the flier knocked up a shattering storm of fragments and dust, momentarily blinding it as it dove over the hiding spot.
Wolfang jumped into action.
Leaping from cover he grabbed a leg on the flier as it passed over him. Unperturbed, the flier began to climb steadily. Wolfang looked up, looked down, and then raised his launcher towards the belly of the craft.
BAWOOM!!
A smoking Wolfang was suddenly thrown free of the fliers burning remains and found himself hurtling toward the ground. He could see some other shape leap gracefully free of the burning ship and land...
KRUNCH.
Razorbeast transformed from his warthog mode, and pulled his double barrel blaster out. Now, he was running towards the webbing under the base as fast as his slow legs could carry him.
Auto cannons had begun to litter the ground with sparks of energy and clouds of smoke.
He looked to his left and saw Dinobot, also in robot mode, and Polar Claw, who was stopping to launch a volley of missiles toward the giant spider.
Suddenly, a blast from the auto cannons hit Razorbeast dead on, throwing him back a span or so. Dinobot and polar Claw both dove behind large rocks for protection.
Razorbeast shook himself and decided to do likewise. -Slaggin' Pred spider, thinks it can push me around, I'll rip ir to tiny pieces!!-
Razorbeast began to froth with anger.
The two cats reached a spot parallel to Arachnid, and now were dodging blasts from the auto cannons.
"Cheetor, MAXIMIZE!" cried the smaller yellow cheetah. With a growl and an incredible flash of speed he leapt out from the boulder he was using for cover and lit into the base with a run of blasts form his quasar cannon.
"Blast, spider's got a shield up!" He cried as he ducked behind another rock, just in time to miss being caught by the cannons. He look over and found Tigatron already maximized and firing his own cannon at the base.
We've got to get through that shield, or else the others are going to be easy pickings for those cyber webs!" Tigatron growled at the smaller bot. The base was already launching a third web toward the pinned down Maximals at it's feet.
Cheetor did another roll and shot at the base, narrowly missing being caught in another web that had been launched toward them.
Then, he saw something that gave him an idea.
"Hey, tigerbuddy, if this thing is too shielded up here for us to punch a hole, maybe we could find a weak spot 'in the dragons underbelly'!"
"What are you... ahh, I see!" exclaimed Tigatron as he looked at the edge of the cliff. It dropped off into the cloudy haze of webs that held the giant spider off of the ground.
"Then it is time to go swimming in a sea of webbing." Tigatron growled as he stepped from cover, all the while blasting at the shield with all his firepower.
Cheetor leapt to join him at the edge, the two robots looked down, looked at each other, and...
"GERONIMO!" Cheetor let out as they plummeted into the darkness
below.
Optimus found it incredibly hard to fly, fight, and dodge, when his photo receptors burned from the acid cloud that enveloped both him and Jetstorm.
Jetstorm was having no such difficulty.
KABBOOOOM! Another set of missiles smacked into Primal. -This is getting old- He shut his eyes completely and concentrated on the sound of Jetstorm's pearlescent green wings... -There-
BOOM... BOOM... BOOM!!! Three blasts from Optimus' arm blaster cracked into the speedy little Predicon, sending him hurtling out of the acid storm. Optimus primal hurled himself at his foe, smashing into him with his fist and sending him plummeting toward the ground below.
-Now, back to business.-
Rattrap had quietly slinked his way towards the webbing with the stealth that marked him as a true master of his trade. -Let those bozos take all the firepower and attention. I'll just slip in, unseen an' take care of business, Rattrap style.-
He found the webbing varying in thickness to a meter to strands that float on the slightest breeze. -Echh. Looks like someone needs to do a little spring cleaning under here.-
He scurried inward, finding that his rat mode could easily slip toward the center without a problem.
Peering up through the grayish haze, he could still see the reddish cloud that Optimus had flown into a few minutes earlier. Several explosions were lighting the interior of the cloud.
He swung his head back toward the dark miasma that sheltered underneath the Predicon's belly.
Something was moving in the darkness.
A small skitterer ran out toward where the others were dodging the auto cannons at the edge of the webbing. It looked like a large spider, and was being piloted by Tarantulus.
Rattrap decided he better get a little closer, and see what he could do to stop it.
Dinobot had watched as the headstrong Razorbeast took a blast in the initial charge, and now, began winding his way towards the base, using the giant boulders for cover.
Dinobot jumped out and gave another blast with his eye beams. He used his cyber tail weapon for a shield as he sought out another boulder, now almost at the edge of the thick webbing.
-Blast the rat. Where did the coward slink off to!- He thought as a set of machine guns laced into the ground by his boulder. Peering out, he saw the spider-like form deep in the webbing that had begun to shoot at him.
Tigatron and Cheetor had approached the dark grey interior beneath the base. The auto cannons had not been able to target them once they were beneath the webbing. So, the duo had gone unattested as they made their way toward the base in the eerie muffled silence of the sea of webs.
They found themselves on the edge of a large clearing in the web, directly below the base.
"I don't know Tigatron, it looks a little too quiet."
"Agreed, but we must get to the other end, from there we can hit that cannon at it's base."
The two robots burst into action, pouncing across the field in a battle charge. Unfortunately, their presence had not gone unnoticed..
A grouping of giant claws came spinning out of the belly of the base. The grasping mandibles came snapping at the two robots heels, but they had already reached the other side and ducked back into the webbing, out of reach of the snapping pinchers.
They both spun and blasted at the claws that had not already drawn back.
"Now, go for the tail!" bellowed Tigatron. The two started lacing into the base of the tail, and were gratified to see smoke and char flake away from their blast points.
However, the giant Predicon wasn't finished defending itself. Belly cannons spun out and began to rip into the webbing around the Maximals. The tail swivelled back and down, towards the unsuspecting Maximals. In a blue flash of light, Tigatron was forced to beast mode and trapped in a webbing cocoon.
Cheetor stopped firing and began to move toward Tigatron, "Hold on budbot!"
"NO, take that launcher out, then worry about me!" yelled the ensnared tiger.
With a roaring battle cry, Cheetor pounced forward in a blur of movement and laser blasts. His powerful quasar cannon ripping into the underside of the cannon's armature. With a grinding squeal, the cannon lurched down and exploded, just as Cheetor ducked back into cover.
"Allll Riiight!!" yelled the enthusiastic robot.
Wolfang heard the footstep approached him as he shook himself to. Looking up, his vision began to clear until he could begin to make out the form walking toward him. Black, skinny, it was...
BAMM! A solid kick to his face spurred him into action. He rolled and jumped up, whipping his shield to block the next kick.
Blackarachnia pounded into Wolfang's shield with a succession of hammering blows, driving him backward toward the cliff they had landed on.
Wolfang looked and realized that his launcher lay a couple of paces away and to the left of him. He sprang, and a final kick from the skinny spiderbot sent his shield spinning out of his hand.
Silently, Blackarachnia sprung toward him as he tumbled head over heel, but Wolfang had his gun and let loose with a barrage of laser blasts that sent the female transformer spinning backwards.
With a cry of pain she shot a missile at Wolfang, sending a cloud of dirt up, covering her as she transformed back to beast mode.
When Wolfang got a clear view, the huge, black widow spider was scrambling off, in retreat, over a pile of rocks.
Wolfang grimaced, and reloaded his launcher, firing one final blast after the retreating form of Blackarachnia. He was granted a final screech of pain as his missile exploded over the distant rocks.
Tunning to the cliff side behind him, he dropped on his belly and proceeded to launch missiles at Arachnid. A plume of smoke could be seen rising from the rear gun tower.
Spinning free of his hiding place, Dinobot blasted at the skitter with a green bolt of energy from his eyes. A green swirl of energy surrounded the skitter as the shields caught most of the shot. A small amount seemed to seep through and burn the rear of the vehicle.
Rattrap decided it was time to act, "MAXIMIZE!" He squealed as he transformed and ripped his gun out. He sent a volley of blasts splattering against the shields of the small spider-skitter. The shields began to weaken noticeably.
Dinobot saw the splattering of explosions causing the skitter to turn away from firing at his hiding rock. He jumped out again and gave another shot with his eye beams. This time with more devastating results. The skitter was caught full force and a cloud of smoke erupted from the burning ship. An explosion followed a few seconds later. A small swath of burning webs produced a haze of smoke that blocked Dinobot's vision.
On the opposite side, rattrap winced as the small ship turned into a fireball. -He, heh, heh. I hate those spiders.- He turned to head back towards the base itself when a scattering of machine gun fire caught him across the back, sending him scurrying for cover behind some thick spans of webbing.
"Hehehehehehehehhee...." the mocking laughter of Tarantulus could be heard, chasing after Rattrap.
Rattrap looked out and found himself once again pinned down by the eight machine gun barrels, ripping at his pitiful hiding place. -And he's gettin' closer!-
Suddenly, there was a green light, a blasting noise, and Tarantulus' smoking form flying past Rattrap and landing in a tangle of webbing just a few paces away from him.
Looking out, Rattrap saw Dinobot walking through the burning webbing. "All right Dinochopper!" he called out as he gave the larger transformer a thumbs up.
Rattrap then heard a moan coming from Tarantulus, behind him. He promptly pulled his gun, turned around, looking up at the dangling form of Tarantulus, who was beginning to come around, and let off a series of shots into his hide.
A charred and smoking Tarantulus fell on the ground half a micron later.
Razorbeast tan up to join Dinobot and Rattrap, beneath the webbing. The three turned and moved towards the dark underbelly of the base. The sounds of laser blasts could be heard up ahead.
The trio reached the clearing beneath the base and could see Cheetor hiding on the other side, and Tigatron on the ground in a webbing cocoon, about midway to Cheetor.
Razorbeast immediately charged straight toward Tigatron. Blasting with his cannon at the gun ports on the belly of the massive spider-base.
Cheetor yelled, "NO! Wait! Look out for ... "
A claw spun towards Razorbeast, catching the slow moving robot squarely around the waist and lifting him off of the ground. The auto cannons redoubled their efforts to pin down the other Maximals.
Razorbeast grunted under the crushing strength of the huge claw that was lifting him away from the other Maximals. He shot at the claw, with little other effect other than to make a glowing pattern across the metal around himself. -That didn't fell real great.- He thought to himself as he looked for another way to free himself.
Then the thought occurred that he was the second strongest Maximal.
He reached down and pushed apart the claws, until his arms were fully extended and he was dangling in a cross-like shape from them. -All right! Strength will prevail!!- He thought as he let go of the claw sides, ready to drop back to the earth.
The claw mandibles immediately snapped shut, on Razorbeast's head, being that was the only part that hadn't already slipped by them.
"OOOOOOOUUUUUUCHHHH!!!" Razorbeast bellowed as he scrambled to grab hold of the claw that was threatening to crush his head. He pried them open and dropped to the ground, Immediately shaking himself off and spinning to fire with a terrible vengeance on the belly of the base.
Meanwhile, rattrap had crept around through the webbing towards Tigatron, and had cut him free with a small razor he produced from his wrist.
Now, all the Maximals were tearing into the bottom of the spider, making short work of the remaining claws and cannons.
From above, Optimus Primal was firing a continuous stream of missiles as he dodged blasts from the upper cannons. He could see Wolfang firing his missile launcher from a position on the side of the cliff wall, and Polar Claw was firing his heavy blaster cannon and launching missile volleys from his hiding place down below.
Arachnid finally decided he had taken enough. The base began to curl up and transform into the massive spider form. Smoking cannon ports and burnt armor panels curled around and were replaced by the chitinous exoskeleton. But, too much damage had already been inflicted, and in a few microns the spider went crashing down through the webbing.
"Maximals," Optimus Primal called through his commlink, "good job, regroup on the other side. Polar Claw, free Bonecrusher from that webbing." He shut off his commlink and went to land on the other side of the valley.
The others gathered around him. Wolfang and Razorbeast seemed to be the most damaged. Rattrap had taken some hits, but on the whole, the Maximals were okay. Aside from a few near hits and scratches, most had gotten through unscathed.
"Okay Maximals, revert to beast modes and lets get as much repair done as possible before we try to tackle the main headquarters." He reverted to his beast mode and turned toward the smoky skyline in the distance. -That was the easy part. At least three of them are down... and thirteen more to go.- thought the Maximal leader.
The shadowed shape leaned back from the glowing globe that contained Arachnid's report.
"Excellent," murmured Megatron to himself, "Welcome into my territory Optimus Primal."
His chair spun toward a grouping of Predicons standing in the shadowy confines of the Predicon headquarters. "You have your orders. Make sure you follow my plan exactly... Now GO!"
The Predicon leader grimaced as his warriors scrambled to obey his orders. -Incompetent fools! No matter, even they shall be able to win this Beast War after this little episode, yesss...-
Dark plumes of smoke rose from the molten cracks surrounding the Predicon base. From where the Maximal stood, quite a distance away, Primal could only make out the slightest of colored specks around the base.
"Looks like Manterror and possibly Snapper or Iguanus are standing at the door hatch, and Terrorsaur is flying circles around the base. I would say we are expected." Optimus told the others as he de-zoomed his optics and turned back towards his troops.
Dinobot swung his head towards the large black robot, "So, what are your orders... Primal?"
"Well..." Primal stopped and turned back toward the sound of retreating hoof beats toward the Predicon base, "Looks like Razorbeast just blew any form of surprise we might have had."
"Oh great!" muttered Cheetor, "The strong and the stupid strike again."
"Rattrap, get as close as you can and report who is near the base. The rest of you, make your way to that hatch, but carefully! This should be considerably harder than Arachnid was, and we still haven't seen those other ten Preds. PRIMEJETS ON!!" The leader cried as he rocketed off towards the base.
Razorbeast had seen no reason to stay and chat with the others. There was the base, that was what they were here for, and so, he decided, the only thing to do was attack. The rust colored warthog charged toward the base, gauging the time 'till firing distance was achieved.
He could clearly make out the forms of Terrorsaur, Manterror and Iguanus around the base... -Yep, they see me. Just a little farther and...-
"RAZORBEAST MAXIMIZE!!"
Already, the auto cannons were firing toward the armor plated Maximal, but he was unperturbed as he charged forward, firing at Iguanus and Manterror. Some of the auto cannons swung skyward as a barrage of missiles from Optimus Primal struck the shield.
He could hear the sounds of the other Maximals gaining on him and could see their shots flying over his shoulders.-Now this is the way a battle should be fo...-
Again, Razorbeast was knocked back as a blast, this time from Iguanus' blaster cannon, hit him in the shoulder. -Slag, slag, slag, slaaaag!!!!-
Rattrap was at the forefront of the spread out invaders. He could see Dinobot, almost parallel to him, off on the left. Rattrap was the only one who hadn't transformed yet, preferring to blend in with the grey ash that surrounded the Predicon base.
-Just a few mo' spans... and I'll be right under the belly of that thing,- he thought as he scurried across another open expanse.
SNAP!!
A gush of blood splattered off as Rattrap squealed in pain. A large form shook itself free of the sand directly in front of him. It had him trapped in a vise-like grip, one that was lined with razors!
"RAZORCLAW, TERRORIZE!!"
The Predicon transformed, still holding on to the squirming form of Rattrap.
"Rattrap, Maximize!" the smaller, grey robot gasped as he changed forms, causing another gush of animal blood, this time mixed with oil, to splatter over the ashen ground. He reached back to pull his gun when, BAM!
The Predicon had casually lifted his other claw, extending his blaster from within it, and shot Rattrap squarely in the face.
Rattrap's circuitry worked to reroute his optics as he began to get back on his feet. Part of his face was missing, and wares dangled down from the char that was left. He heard another explosion, just as his optics came back on line. Razorclaw had been knocked back and was smoking from a blaster mark on his chest. Rattrap could here Razorbeast roaring with delight far behind him.
Terrorsaur had transformed and made a line towards the oncoming form of Optimus Primal. With a screech he fired his missile launchers towards the huge Maximal. The missiles missed, but the explosions caught Primal's attention and he turned away from the base and cam at Terrorsaur.
"Catch me if you can, Optimus Primate!" taunted the red Predicon.
He dove upward and did an outward loop, firing with his handgun at the spinning Maximal.
From beneath the Predicon base, Manterror saw the two fliers engage. He transformed into his lime-green mantis form and took off toward the air battle.
"That incompetent Terrorsaur won't hold Primal for long." He droned as he rose off the ground.
"HEY! You were supposed to stay here with me! What about when they get through the shield!!" Iguanus cried toward the back of the giant mantis, "Blasted, slaggin', insects." He turned back toward the oncoming Maximals and blasted away with his cannon.
Dinobot was having little trouble now that he was closer to the outer magma rings around the base. The auto cannons had all but stopped firing at him. -Suspicious. They usually only stop attacking if there is another Predico...- His thought was interrupted as a noise behind warned him to jump to the side, just as Drillbit smashed his drill into a large boulder behind Dinobot.
Dinobot smashed upward with an arm, knocking the Predicon infantry bot backwards and on the ground. Dinobot began to move forward with a sword drawn and eyes readied.
Drillbit looked up and raised his drill. It launched at Dinobot, catching him in the shoulder. Dinobot cried in pain as the drill continued to drill farther into his armor. He reached up and ripped it free as he blasted the insect in front of him with his eye beams. The Predicon gargled in pain as he went down smoking.
Dinobot dropped the still spinning drill and ducked back behind a rock as Iguanus took a shot at him.
The blasts from Polar Claw, Bonecrusher, Tigatron, Cheetor, Wolfang, and Razorbeast were quickly draining the shields. The auto cannons would seek out targets and vaporize their hiding places, only to have them dodge away and reposition themselves.
From inside the base, the Predicon leader smirked at the different pictures of his warriors that flashed across the computer globe's surface. "Yesss, the battle goes as planned. The Maximals will wind their way into my trap."
He gave a low rumbling laugh as he flipped a switch, causing a set of doors to slide shut over a chamber that was set into the wall, next to a computer workstation. It all blended in to look like all the other workstations, and just another solid wall.
Terrorsaur went smoking to the ground as Manterror transformed to attack Optimus Primal. He lobbed a spinning saw disk towards prime with deadly accuracy.
Optimus spotted the attack in barely enough time to pull one of his sabers and block it. Manterror clashed with Primal sending a shower of sparks from his spinning blades as Optimus raised the swords to defend himself.
"You think just cuz youz got a radar deflectin' shell, dat you can up'n jump dis rat?" Rattrap grumbled as he pulled a small box out from his back, "You gotta 'nother thing commin to you, clawsome." He compressed the box and tossed it toward the rock that Razorclaw had just jumped behind.
The rock exploded as the detonator went off, throwing the already injured Razorclaw out and slamming him into the ground.
Razorclaw didn't move.
"Dat's more like it." Rattrap snickered as he walked by and gave a final shot into Razorclaw's backside.
Dinobot and Razorbeast had almost reached the edge of the magma circles that surrounded the Predicon base. The shields were almost blasted away by the constant barrage of firepower that the Maximals were putting out. Iguanus was the only one that still hid behind the shield and took potshots at them. He came closer that the auto cannons, but still had only managed to singe the Maximals that were attacking.
Dinobot looked and saw Iguanus taking a shot at where Razorbeast had just ducked behind another rock. He powered up his eye beams and blasted directly at where Iguanus stood, but the shield caught and dispersed his shot.
Iguanus turned his attention toward Dinobot.
With Iguanus off of his back, Razorbeast saw his chance. -Alright ignorant, bite on this!!- He lurched out and blasted off a couple of shots directly at Iguanus, who was paying him no attention.
The shots reached the shield... and passed through unaffected! Iguanus took one shot dead on and was thrown back, behind the entrance ramp to the Predicon base.
Primal watched as the sliced halves of the Predicon mantis fell toward the earth. He looked down at the nasty gash in his side. "That mantis is just a little too good..." he complained as he flew down toward the base in a diving run.
He launched a series of missiles at the top of the base and was surprised to see the smoking trails that snaked away from the explosive holes he left in the base.
He touched his communicator, "Maximals, finish off those auto guns and merge in on the entrance ramp!"
He turned toward the base and flew down at full speed.
The other Maximals joined Primal at the ramp. The remaining gun ports had been destroyed, and the battlefield was now quiet. Smoke billowed out and around the group as they looked at each other expectantly.
Optimus Primal gave the signal. Rattrap, Dinobot, and Cheetor were the first up the ramp, followed closely by Razorbeast, Polar Claw, and Bonecrusher. Tigatron and Optimus Primal brought up the rear and gave cover in case of a surprise attack.
Megatron spun his chair toward the Maximals who were quickly filing into his command center. He stood up, swinging his missile launching tail toward the group.
"HOW DARE YO..." he was cut short as a blast from Polar Claw's cannon hit his arm. The tail launcher went spinning behind him, and before he could react, Bonecrusher was pushing him back down into his chair, and holding a rather nasty looking cannon to his head.
Optimus Primal entered with his own arm cannons readied, "Well, Megatron, where are the rest of your warriors?"
Megatron glared at him, They will be back any minute, and when they return..."
"Stow it. " Primal grimaced, "Rattrap, Cheetor, Razorbeast, scout the rest of the ship. Report back if you find any other Predicons."
The group moved out a side door leading to the rest of the ship. Optimus looked back at Megatron and pondered how to learn what he wanted to know.
"Optimus, over here!" Tigatron called urgently. "This computer panel does not belong here." He was standing next to an ordinary looking workstation.
"Are you sure Tigatron?"
Megatron interjected, "WE just eh, hem, built that workstation to help us study the effects of energon decrystalization, yesss."
-A little too quickly said- That nagging thought pulled at the back of Primal's circuitry. "What do you make of it, Tigatron?"
"I'm not sure..." Tigatron began tapping on the keyboard. Screens sprang to life and control keys began to light up as he worked.
Then, a panel on the wall next to it slid back and revealed a chamber with a large circular base, and some kind of energy directing apparatuses hanging above it.
"I TOLD you... Yes, ehem, it is a new chamber to liquify energon crystals into another, more easily stored fashion." Megatron began to lean forward, but was pushed back by Polar Claw who now was standing beside him as well.
Tigatron looked up, "It's a portal ripper! A stationary transwarp field can be set up on that platform." Tigatron looked anxiously at Primal.
The scouts returned, "Not a sign of the big nasties ape boss." Cheetor reported, "I don't... hey lookit that!" he stopped and looked at the chamber that was now lit up.
"Well Megatron?" The large leader of the Maximals walked over to Tigatron's side, "Anything left to say?" Megatron just turned his head sulking in defeat.
"Tigatron, can you find where the others went to?" Optimus couldn't help but smirk. Rare was the occasion that the 'great leader' Megatron had nothing to say.
"It looks like Onyx Primal took a group of six others through the portal about six mega cycles ago."
-That counted for the time since the energy pulse was recorded.- Thought Primal as he listened to Tigatron's report.
"Is it still tracking their position?" He leaned closer to the workstation.
"Affirmative. It appears to be tracking them quite clearly." Tigatron pointed to a set of cryptic coordinates and time relevancies in the monitor's corner.
"Can you make it work?"
Tigatron turned back to the station and began to type furiously for a few seconds. "Yes, I believe I can." He finally answered as he turned back towards Primal.
Primal scratched his hen thoughtfully. -We can't let those Predicons bring back help... or worse...- The decision was made. He turned toward where Polar Claw was standing next to Megatron.
"Polar Claw, take Rattrap Cheetor, Razorbeast, Wolfang, and Dinobot with you. You are going to retrieve those Predicons. At all costs!"
Polar Claws reaction was unknown, hidden behind his faceplate, but there was a long pause before he reacted. Then, the gnarled war veteran launched into action. "Cheetor, Rattrap, Razorbeast, Wolfang Dinobot, beast mode... and lets get moving boys."
With a loud roar he transformed and joined the assembled animals on the platform. "Ready, Optimus. "He rumbled as he turned toward the control room.
"Okay, Tigatron, begin the Transwarp." Optimus looked down expectantly, and perhaps a bit nervously, at the worried Tigatron.
"Activating stasis shielding." Tigatron pulled a lever down as a shimmering red shield appeared in front of the chamber.
"We'll stay here and hold the base until you return. You have five days, then we pull you back regardless." Optimus warned.
Megatron suddenly spoke, "Megatron command Alpha 72 D."
Suddenly, five sets of cannons popped out of the ceiling. One blast het Primal dead in the chest, knocking him prone. Another hit Tigatron, knocking him away from the control panel.
Megatron lurched forward and pun around, bringing his Tyrannosaurus jaws to bear on Bonecrusher. A peel of purple energy lanced out and tore a smoking hole in the chest of the surprised Maximal.
From behind the shield Rattrap was the first to react, transforming and pulling his gun, he blasted at the red shield. A backwash of energy blasts forced him to change back to beast mode in a squeal of pain.
Megatron turned toward the Maximal party and began to step down from his command chair and make his way toward the control panel. As he did so, noises could be heard coming from the ramp outside, and presently, all the Predicons that had been fought on the way to the base began to enter the control room. Manterror and Tarantulus were the only two not present. The others were all in various stated of damage, but still functional, and the six of them could easily cover the wounded Maximals.
"I had hoped to catch you all in my little trap, but... oh well. We must accept that which we cannot change. We will just have to send you on your own, then scrap your leader and these other two Maximals, and prepare ourselves for the return of our scouting party. Then we shall turn our attentions toward destroying the final few of your group, and winning the Beast Wars forever. Oh, you will be sent through the portal ripper, but there was some... information... that must have been.... missing from the workstation that your tiger has accessed. You see, we did create a stationary transwarp portal, but found that, to send an object through was a bit like rolling an infinite sided pair of die. It transported it's cargo to a destination that was completely random in both time and space." Megatron paused in his oratory to pick up a cyber bee out of a panel he had opened on the workstation. He turned toward the Maximals and continued, "This caused the need for a communication device to send out a continuous signal that the base could keep track of. Such a device was planted on a cyber bee, much like this one." He paused again, this time to toss the cyber bee at the platform. It smashed into the shield and was incinerated by the energies that it touched.
"Oh, how careless of me... It seems that cyber bee was on the wrong side of the containment field. Regardless, I have spoken long enough, and it is now time for you to begin your journey through both time and space. I hope we will never meet again, Maximals. Good bye."
Megatron slammed down the control lever and the chamber was filled with an
intense light.
End Part I...