Author's Note: Thanks to Riptide2 and I am Blueberry for reviewing the last chapter! Enjoy and I own nothing but Claret, Shimmer, and Echo. By the way there is now a link to The Betrayal of Seneca Prime on my profile


Rule of the Trines

Chapter III

"Stupidity killed the cat. Curiosity was framed."

At first, despite Megatron's ill conceived plan, everything went smoothly. Then it came time for the Seekers to set their part of the plan into action. They took off smoothly in a layered formation that allowed for shifting and movement in case someone was shot at or injured. That wasn't what worried Echo. The fact that their right and left sides were open for attack was cause for worry. She wasn't the only one who had pointed it out; albeit quietly. They had pointed it out because the risk was considerable. They had complained quietly because arguing with Megatron was suicide.

At first all went well. They were a good three or four minutes away from the battle to keep them well out of sight and firing range until they needed to appear. That part was well planned. The rest was not but it would have to do. Megatron would not be persuaded otherwise. Of course someone had found out the glaring flaws in this part of the plan and passed them on somehow to the Autobots. Then again perhaps not because of how obvious these flaws were. The first sign that something had gone wrong was Shimmer's cry of pain. A scattering of spare bullets flew past Echo as she dropped down to grab her trine mate. Claret rushed to help her as the formation scattered.

The two femmes deposited Shimmer on the ground as softly as they could, landing skillfully next to her. The trine was effectively grounded until they could get Shimmer off the ground with her damaged wing. They weren't the only ones. The Coneheads had also plummeted, Dirge an unconscious heap as they tumbled to the ground. This was a disaster. Another hail of bullets came the grounded Seekers' way and the uninjured ones scrambled to shield the two injured. They exchanged glances, trying to figure out how to get out of this alive.

Echo tried to remember who had gotten away unscathed. The Command Trine definitely, Misfire. Echo sighed and shook her head at that thought. Misfire couldn't hit the inside of a cave if he was standing in it yet he had some of the best luck in the Decepticon forces. She wasn't sure who else had made it out. Her processor was whirling, trying to come up with a plan, when her comm buzzed, getting her attention. She opened a link and snapped ::What?::

::Where are you?:: a voice shrieked back at her.

::Grounded:: Echo snarled over her comm link at Starscream. ::Figure it out of great and might Air Commander:: Every word was laden with sarcasm as she snapped the link shut and turned to check on her whimpering trine mate. Both sets of Seekers were crouched low over their injured trine mates, ducked bullets a little but more concerned with injured wings. Shimmer's left wing had a gaping hold in it and she wimpered softly, looking from one of her trine mates to the other. Neither one was looking at her, rather they were measuring each other and their abilities.

Echo exchanged a slightly startled glance with Ramjet as the hail of bullets around them stopped. "Ya could just surrender and save us some ammo," a voice drawled as a small silver mech made his way casually down the hill. Ramjet and Echo exchanged glances that plainly said "Is he serious?"

"Or we could continue to take shots at ya and work on improvin' our aim," the silver mech continued. Echo hissed and exasperation and stood, holding her frame at full height as she stepped a pace foreword to leave Claret kneeling next to Shimmer who had silenced at a noiseless command.

"Or you could surrender to us," she suggested elegantly, not a bit of her temper showing through her calm facade. Ramjet, seeing what she was trying to do, stood slowly as well. The silver mech continued on his way down, unaware of the danger he was putting himself in. He paused consideringly at Echo's preposition.

"And why exactly would we do that?" he asked, something almost knowing in his optics. Echo shrugged slightly,a smooth almost birdlike motion. She was silently worried now but she worked to keep emotions off her faceplates.

"It was worth a try," she said with a slim smirk, taking in everything around her.

"So would attacking me," the silver mech replied and Echo felt her frame still as her gaze focused on the silver figure before her. A soft buzz hummed in her processor and Echo forced herself not to flinch as she activated her comm link.

::What now?:: Ramjet asked and she didn't have to turn to the side to see he wasn't looking at her just the same as she wasn't looking at him.

::I'm not sure. If we fire now we lose and if we don't we lose::

::Starscream:: Ramjet suggested tentatively. Echo considered that for a second, unable to discard the thought. It was the only option.

::Unfortunately yes:: she replied. ::Go ahead and call him::

::Too late:: Ramjet said. And then Starscream fell out of the sky. Literally.