Chapter 1

Captains Log: Today is day one of the Navigator's Voyage. Hopefully the F-class star cruiser is up to the task ahead of it. As the leader on this scientific expedition, I, Perceptor, have already checked the logs and inspected the cargo holds.

Launch is in two cycles (two hours) and I should be aboard, but first I must speak to Optimus, I need the crew list from him and I need to find Ratchet, I haven't seen him since our recent battle outside Iacon.

After I find Optimus, I'll need to go talk with Hotspot and Red Alert. They were supposed to be by so they could check the ship one last time, and make sure it meets the new safety standards. That's Red Alert, changing security and safety standards every astrocycle (a day). I also need the new code to get through the defenses on Cybertron's second moon. I believe Prowl is the one with the code. However, I am certain that Optimus will have them

Ah well, I have things to do, so I better be going.

LOG TERMINATED

"Perceptor!"

"Hmm?" Perceptor turned off his recorder and turned to see Wheeljack, running toward him. "What's wrong Wheeljack is there a problem with the Navigator?"

"No Perceptor, nothings wrong. Sideswipe just wanted me to remind you that we leave in two cycles."

"I'll be on board by then, don't worry about it. I have to see Optimus. While you're here Wheeljack, have you seen Ratchet? He's supposed to be our medical officer while we were on our mission, but he hasn't reported in yet."

"Sorry Perceptor, haven't seen Ratchet anywhere. You might want to check the medical bay or the command center." Wheeljack replied. Perceptor nodded in agreement; "Alright, I must be going. Wheeljack if you could tell Sideswipe to notify me if Ratchet arrives-"

"You got it Perceptor!" Wheeljack said as he transformed into his cybertronian sports car and zoomed back to the shuttle.

Perceptor turned around and sighed. He faced to the command center from the launch site. It wasn't a long walk, only 2 kliks (2.9 kilometers) from the launch site to be exact, but seeing how Perceptor's alternate microscope/ telescope mode wasn't fit for travel, he hailed a transport and got on. He would reach the command center faster if he took the transport.

As he rode to the command center, he kept checking through various lists in his head. "I have already checked the ships ammo cache; I made sure that the long range radio transmitter was functioning. Blast, I forgot to check the retro thrusters."

Perceptor turned on his communicator as he continued to ride to the command center. "Perceptor to the Navigator, come in, Sideswipe," "This is Sideswipe here, reading you loud and clear,"

"Sideswipe, can you run the checkups on the retro thrusters? I forgot to check them," Perceptor asked

"I'll have Jetfire check those as soon as he can," Sideswipe replied. "Wheeljack told you we leave in 2 cycle right?" "Yes, Wheeljack told me. Well thank you for checking the thrusters Sideswipe," Perceptor replied.

"Hey it's Jetfire you should be thanking," Sideswipe sarcastically replied.

"Right, well I must be going," Perceptor said.

"See you in two," Sideswipe replied

Perceptor switched his communicator off as the transport was stopping in front of the command center. He turned to the driver right before he got off.

"Could you wait here? I'll be about a cycle," Perceptor asked the driver. "Understood, I'll wait as long as you need. Even if it's a megacycle (5 cycles)," said the driver.

"I hope it's not," Perceptor thought as he walked into the command center. He walked through the security gate and continued through the halls of orange metal. He walked with haste as he needed to get to Optimus quickly.

He arrived in the main hub and turned to his left where an elevator was. The elevator would take him to the control room's floor, where Optimus should be. Perceptor got on and waited patiently. Streetwise was on the elevator with him.

"Hey Perceptor, you're going to go on an expedition right?" Streetwise asked Perceptor.

"Indeed, we leave in two cycles as a matter of fact," Perceptor responded.

"Ah, that's neat. Glad to see we still find time for science during a war," Streetwise replied.

"Well if there is any possibility of energy in this new system, then we must go. The more energy the better," Perceptor said.

Ding! The elevator's doors opened and Perceptor walked out leaving Streetwise in the elevator behind him.

In front of him were 3 hallways. The one on his right would lead him to the data halls, in front was the med-bay, where the injured Autobots went, and to his left was the hall leading to the control room. This was where the war against the Decepticons was managed, and where Optimus would probably be.

Perceptor took a left and made his way into the control room. As he walked in, he was met with the sounds of various consoles and sensors working. As he walked to the central area of the control room to meet Optimus, he heard various conversations going around about the recent battle.

He made his way to the central area and promptly requested for Optimus's attention. "It's Perceptor. I'm looking for Optimus," he started only to be cut off.

"Sorry Perceptor, you just missed him, he was here a minute ago, but he and Prowl went to check on the eastern defense grid," came the smooth voice of Jazz.

"Do we know when he'll be back? I need the crew list from him and the security pass code for when the Navigator reaches the outer defenses of Cybertron," Perceptor said. "I also gave the crew list to him because he told me Prowl needed to log the files, and of course, Red Alert changed the pass codes, again."

"Yeah, that's Red Alert alright, always paranoid and thinking the 'cons will crack the security codes. Anyway, I have the code, and Bluestreak can to get those logs. He should be reviewing some of the data logs in Teletraan 1, so maybe he could pull up what you need," Jazz said before yelling, which was a common and effective means of communication in the control room "YO BLUESTREAK!"

"YEAH?" Bluestreak's reply came from the left side of the room.

"I'll take it from here," Perceptor said hastily before Jazz could yell again. "I'll get that code on my way out."

"You got it Perceptor, I'll be right here," Jazz said.

Perceptor walked over to a small computer terminal where Bluestreak sat typing characters into a computer. Bluestreak heard Perceptor walking toward him. He turned around from his console.

Perceptor stopped and asked, "Bluestreak, could you get me the crew logs for The Navigator? I gave the list to Optimus, but I can't find him, or Prowl, anywhere, and Prowl needed to input the crew logs into Teletraan. Anyway Jazz said Prowl should have logged them, and that you could get them for me."

"I can get that for you, you need it put on data log?" Bluestreak asked.

"That would be great Bluestreak, the sooner I get it, the sooner we can launch The Navigator." Perceptor replied. Bluestreak quickly tapped some digits and then pushed a button on the computer terminal.

"Alright, here you go Perceptor," Bluestreak said as he took a glowing translucent blue data log from a computer tower near him. He handed it to Perceptor.

"Thank you Bluestreak," Perceptor said as he started to walk back up to the main level. "Anytime Perceptor, see you back soon, and good luck on your trip" Bluestreak said.

Perceptor reached the top quickly. He made his way back to Jazz.

"I got the logs Jazz; may I have that code now?" Perceptor asked.

"Yeah, here you go," Jazz said as he transcribed the code onto another data log; similar to the one Bluestreak had just given Perceptor.

"Thanks Jazz," Perceptor said as he started to walk away.

"No problem Perceptor, See you later, and good luck," Jazz said as he watched Perceptor leave the Command Center. "You'll need it, we all will if the 'cons start to get nosey." "Are you kidding?" asked Outback, "The Decepti-creeps would never attack again. Not after the last battle which. I mean it was so recent and it would be stupid to try another attack this early."

Jazz sighed as Outback yammered on. Jazz returned to his work with the other Autobots, not aware of a secret observer watching them from a skylight in the roof. . He was transmitting a live video feed to the Decepticon command center. The observer watched Perceptor leave the command center.

"Oh believe me Autobot, we would," Megatron, leader of the Decepticons, said as he watched the video from a computer screen. He let out an evil cackle before calling for his trusty communications officer, Soundwave.

Soundwave, recall Lazerbeak," Megatron said. "As you command, Lord Megatron," Soundwave said in his monotone voice. "Lazerbeak, return to base," Soundwave radioed to the observer.

Lazerbeak squawked in acknowledgement, and took off. His jet thrusters burst to life and he streaked away through the dark sky of Cybertron.

"Hmm, he's not supposed to be there," said Blaster as he watched the Decepticon spy fly through the air. He got up from his seat in the radio tower. "Don't know what he heard, or saw, but he's not up to anything good." Blaster transformed into his long range radio transmitter. "This is Blaster to Ironhide, we got a problem, and it might not be good."

Meanwhile, Perceptor checked the crew log, making sure it had every one he would need for the voyage on it. "…Huffer, Hound, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Ratchet-"

"He's in there," said Grapple as he carried a stack of metal panels into the med-bay, which was on Perceptor's left.

"Just as Wheeljack predicted," Perceptor thought aloud as he entered the room.

The room was large, massive even by cybertronian standard. There were tools along every wall. Hyper-spanners, laser welders, energon scalpels, every tool that the Autobots would need to fix, or build, anything.

There were parts scattered everywhere. Most of them were from the Autobot guardian Omega Supreme. After the last battle, Omega suffered massive damage and was already getting repaired.

"Ratchet!" Perceptor called amid the sounds of hyper-spanners, energon-transfusers, and laser welders going off.

"Over here!" the Autobot's medical chief called out. Perceptor followed the voice until he found Ratchet.

"Ratchet, why are you in here. The Navigator launches in half a cycle, you should be on board." Perceptor asked.

"Sorry Perceptor, Optimus wants me to focus on repairing Omega with Hoist and Grapple. I sent First Aid in my place." Ratchet responded. Ratchet knew he would be needed to help repair the massive Autobot. Iacon was a sitting retro-duck without the massive Autobot.

"I would really like to go Perceptor, exploring an uncharted star system sounds like fun, but Omega is more important, sorry. Make sure First Aid takes good notes, I want to hear all about it." Ratchet said.

"Hound will be taking holograms, but I'll make sure that First Aid takes good notes. I'll also collect some samples of new organisms and/ or any elements we find," Perceptor said as he left the med-bay. He had just walked out of the room when suddenly there was an explosion behind him.

BOOM! Smoke trailed out of the room.

"SORRY ABOUT THAT!" yelled the Autobot engineer Hoist.

Perceptor heard Ratchet yell at Hoist, "IT'S THE BLUE WIRES, NOT THE GREEN ONES!"

"I knew that, well at least I know it now," Hoist replied with a hint of shame in his voice.

Perceptor sighed, "Omega I'm sorry for what you have to deal with."

Perceptor reached the launch site with time to spare. First Aid was there waiting for him. "Perceptor, you're here finally here. Hotspot and Red Alert just came by," the young doctor said as Perceptor neared and past him. Perceptor barely seemed to acknowledge he was there, and kept walking toward the shuttle.

"What did they say?" Perceptor asked the young doctor.

"They said all the safety regulations were checked, and cleared, and the crew is in good health. I think they're still aboard the ship though." Fist Aid said as he started to walk behind Perceptor. He could barely keep up with the scientist.

Perceptor marched up the ramp into the ship with First Aid following closely behind him. He made his way over to Hound.

"Hound, is Hotspot and Red Alert still on board?" Perceptor asked Hound, the Navigator's laser gunner, and one of the bodyguards to help chaperone the mission.

"Yeah, they needed to check the ships ammo silos, and our personal weapons. You know how Red Alert is, always paranoid of something going wrong," Hound replied as he was cleaning his holo-scanner.

The holo-scanner is a shoulder mounted device that allowed Hound to take photos that had height, length, and even depth. He could also project holograms from it, as well as fire various projectiles from it.

"Very well, we should be taking off soon. As soon as Red Alert and Hotspot get out, and the Aerialbots get here, we should be leaving." Perceptor said trying to make small conversation to pass the time.

"Why do we need to wait for the Aerialbots?" Hound asked.

"They are supposed to help protect us. Hopefully we won't need their protection, but even I'll admit, that was a good call by Red Alert. You never know what will happen before the moon base defenses. Not that I think the Decepticons are going to attack after the last battle. However, it's not possible for the Decepticons to-"

"INCOMING!" First Aid yelled, cutting off Perceptor.

"First Aid, what is your malfunction? For Primus sake, you better have a good-" Perceptor was cut off again, but not by First Aid this time. This time, it was the deafening roar of explosions.