"Scanning known Predacon sites. Diplaying"
"So, Megatron's plan proceeds without the golden disc," muttered Dinobot.
It ate at Dinobot. Quietly his fighting spirit had been eating at him. He aimlessly looked over the files of the two leaders, what he knew ate at him. 8:5. Those two numbers ran back and forth through his mind. 8:5. He knew this ratio all to well. It really got on his nerves. From a military point of view, the best time to end the Beast Wars was now. 8:5, offensive tactics, a glorious battle, and yet it was always for naught. Dinobot knew that the Maximals would never risk their comrades so. Victory was there for the taking, but others would insist that the risk was too great. So now here they were. 8:5. Technically yes, but Dinobot knew it was really 6:5. Or even 6:6. Tigertron and Airazor were out somewhere, with some purpose. And Rattrap and Silverbolt had come back recently after an engagement with Tarantulas, and two others. It had ended when a bizarre charge had exploded in the hillside. Dinobot wasn't stupid, he knew that the spider was separating himself from Megatron. So it was 8:5. He shook his head. But it would be if things were even, and that meant stalemate, defense, waiting. Now was the time to strike. But Optimus would never see that. 8:5.
Dinobot recovered himself and said clearly and distinctly, "We should take the intiative, now! Megatron has held it for far too long. Can you see what he is doing, do you? His jammers are devices of a war of attrition, to defeat us piecemeal. If we throw all of our forces now on the field, we will have the advantage. Megatron is looking for something, and we have to defeat him before he finds it. These jammers are just irritants, but they're effective. We cannot now communicate with a fourth of our forces. A fourth! If we strike with our total force, there is little chance of victory for Megatron."
Optimus looked at Rhinox, who merely nodded. Optimus turned back to Dinobot and said, "I know that material advantage is a gift to a warrior, Dinobot, but life is too precious. We have a duty to bring everyone away from this alive. And aren't you forgetting about the automated defense grid? Megatron is not one you can defeat on bulk alone. I'm sorry, Dinobot, but it can't be done."
Dinobot knew this would happen, but he wasn't done yet. "Optimus, if I can generate a plan to capture the predacon base and its occupants without heavy loss, would you consider?"
Rhinox nodded, "If he can do it, Optimus, let him try. We've let Megatron dictate strategy to us for too long. Let's stop thinking about our next move and make them think about theirs. Sentinel gives the ability to operate outside of this base. Let's use it. I'm tired of ending up in the slaggin R chamber. If we can beat them now, let's do it. That temporal wave front is moving into the future at an accelerated rate. Cybertron is going to know where we are."
Optimus sighed, "In that case we should strengthen the base's defenses. Megatron might try something."
Dinobot's jaw dropped. "If he had planned to do something he would have done so by now. He's waiting to see how things play out and we don't know why. He expects us to be waiting for rescue, not attacking him beforehand."
Rhinox added, "Everything points to an assault. Recall the others, and let's hash this thing out."
Optimus shook his head, "There's still one problem with this whole strategy. Megatron has jammed our comm. links. There's no way to contact Airazor and Tigertron. That station would have to be shut down. Besides we still might not be able to locate them."
Rhinox brought his hand up to his chin. "Suppose we set a long range signal array where the jamming tower is currently located. Do you think we can reach them that way?"
Optimus nodded, "You're right Rhinox. We could contact them that way. After all, if Megatron's not active those other stasis pods will be fine. After Cybertron arrives we can pick them up."
Dinobot interrupted, "I ask to lead a mission to destroy the tower. I will need four if I am to set up the signal array."
Optimus looked at the samari, "Four? It would leave the base undermanned. You yourself brought up this topic of numerical force."
Dinobot held his temper down, "Megatron is expecting us at the tower. He might leave an ambush unit of two or three. That leaves two or three at his base, not enough for an attack here. But if you're concerned the tower is bait while he sends a full force attack at us, then make my force half airborne. Then two could quickly return to the base. That's four on five WITH the base defenses. If we find Airazor quickly then you might even have a balance here. Meanwhile myself, my companion, and Tigertron could move on the Predacon base or Megatron's rear." Come on Primal, Lee gave Jackson a longer leash. And there's Longstreet just sitting there agreeing completely with me.
Optimus saw the determination written on Dinobot's face, "Okay Dinobot, you can have the services of Rattrap and Silverbolt initially. Cheetor will come in from patrol and then I'll send him to you with the array equipment. As soon as you engage Preds at the tower I want all information. Then you send back as many as you can spare. Rhinox, you and I will watch the base."
Rhinox turned to his computer
screen, closely analyzing the ground and the base. Optimus went to call in
Cheetor. Dinobot walked into the weapons room, he readied himself mentally for
the task he was undertaking.