Previously on Tales of the Transformers-
Optimus Prime and a squad of Autobots have made contact with Shockwave and the Autobot splinter faction called the Dinobots who have fallen under his control. Now, the rogue Decepticon scientist has obtained the location of the Ark to use as a bargaining chip to give to Megatron in exchange for leadership of the Decepticons, but the Predacons are in pursuit of Shockwave after detecting a mysterious energy reading...
Optimus struggled and strained to try and loosen the chains holding him and the Autobots together. "It no good. Chains too strong." Grimlock grunted, seeing Optimus trying to escape, but he kept trying. A thought then came in Grimlock's now degraded brain module. He turned to Optimus and knelt down, whispering, "How Lightning Strike Coalition? Grotesque, Doublecross, Repugnus, they okay?" Grimlock asked. Optimus was perplexed at first, but then he realized what Grimlock was talking about. Optimus was about to reply to Grimlock's question when Shockwave saw him talking to the prisoners.
"Grimlock, cease your conversation with the prisoner!" He barked, then belted him across the face. Grimlock reeled from the blow and heeded Shockwave's command. Inside the cave was an Energon converter, the source of the signal detected by the Autobots and Decepticons, fashioned by Grimlock and the Dinobots shortly after their arrival on Earth before their higher functions degraded. Once Shockwave went rogue, he found the island and subjugated the Dinobots, only giving them the Energon created by the underground lava within the mountain on the island if they did his bidding. Grimlock had been deposed as the king of Dinobot Island, but had yet to be alerted to this revelation.
Back at the Ark, Wheeljack was working frantically to get the ground bridge back online to rescue Optimus and his team before Shockwave's time limit expired. "Oh man, oh man, oh man!" John Richard exclaimed. "Can't you work any faster, Wheeljack!?"
"I'm working as fast as I...wait...almost got it!" Wheeljack said. The Ground Bridge suddenly sparked to life, but only seconds later it lost power and fizzled out. "Ahhh! We were so close that time!" He muttered in frustration. A transmission then appeared on Teletraan 1's hologram projector from Shockwave.
"Autobots, I am sending you this transmission to inform you that thirty earth minutes have elapsed since my last transmission, meaning half of your time allotted to make a decision has passed. I must remind you that if you do not reach a consensus within the next twenty nine minutes and fifty two seconds, I will destroy your comrades." He informed the Autobots, plainly.
"You won't get away with this, Shockwave!" John Richard replied, defiantly.
"Yeah, they'll stop your tricks!" Harris added.
"We shall see, fleshling. We shall see." Then Shockwave's projection faded from view.
"I think I've pinned down what's wrong! One of the transwarp induction conduits is stalling. I need just a little extra boost of power to get it back up to normal capacity." Wheeljack said. This gave John Richard an idea. Without saying anything he jumped onto the Ranger and sped out of the Ark back to the farm. He pulled into the yard and then hopped off of the Ranger, where he grabbed some electrical parts out of the shop, then eyed one of the smaller tractors, an International 1066. He jumped into the driver's seat, started the tractor, and then drove behind the barn where he hitched up to a PTO driven welder, then he headed out back to the Ark, though his father stopped him.
"What are you doing?" Richard asked.
"The Autobots need a hand! I can use this welder's generator to give Wheeljack's Ground Bridge a boost to get to Optimus!" John Richard replied. "And quickly!" He added as he then shifted the tractor back into gear and took off toward the Ark. In high gear he made it back to the Ark in just under five minutes.
"A tractor?" Wheeljack wondered. John Richard then plugged an extension cord into the generator, then connected some jumper cables to the induction conduit and then with some electrical tape he taped together the cables.
"Hit it, Wheeljack!" John Richard shouted. Everyone watched as John Richard and Wheeljack worked to get the ground bridge back online, the he hopped back on the tractor and threw the power take off into gear, switching the generator on.
"That's it! That's it!" Wheeljack said. John Richard slowly but steadily revved the engine, sending more power from the generator to the ground bridge until the machine was nearly at its limit. The engine was roaring at maximum output, but it was still barely enough power to activate the ground bridge.
Shockwave looked out of the mouth of the cave where he held the Autobots hostage and he then raised his cannon hand to emit radio waves. Their feedback indicated to Shockwave that five objects were closing at high speed-the Predacons. "Grimlock, there are five targets approaching from the south which will arrive in one minute. If you and your comrades want your rations of energon you will engage and destroy them." Shockwave said.
"Dinobots, commander say we go!" Grimlock shouted to the rest of the Dinobots. Shockwave's slaves then changed to their beast modes and stomped out of the cave to combat the incoming Predacons. The five Predacons had detected Shockwave's energy signature and were now homing in on its origin.
"Razorclaw, the distance to target is 1 cycle and closing!" reported Divebomb.
"Excellent! Predacons, prepare for battle!" Razorclaw shouted as Dinobot Island came into view. The Dinobots were on the beach and saw the Predacons closing in fast.
"Dinobots, attack!" Grimlock shouted, and the Dinobots then blasted flames from their mouths. The Predacons dodged their opening salvo, then landed on the beach to engage in close combat. The Predacons' advantage was one in speed, agility, and coordination, but in spite of this getting through the Dinobots' punishing onslaught was a challenge like they had never encountered.
"Ha! You Dynobots have gotten slow in both body and mind!" Taunted Razorclaw as he transformed to his beast mode, a lion, and bounded along the beach towards Grimlock and leaped into the air.
"Me Grimlock still munch metal!" Grimlock retorted as he then swung around and struck the Predacon leader with his massive tail. Close by, Snarl and Tantrum fought.
"GRAARGH! I'll kill you, Autobot filth!" Tantrum shouted.
"Not if me Snarl kill you first! RAARGH!" Snarl replied as they locked their swords together. With all of their anger and fury, the two fighters swung and slashed at one another, each swing of their blades having all the force they could muster thrown into their attacks. The Dinobots had been winning at first, but Razorclaw and the Predacons' experience as hunters was too much for the Dinobots, and after a concise victory for them they set their sights on Shockwave, but instead of them going to him, a satellite cannon swooped in and changed to Shockwave's robot mode.
"Razorclaw. I assume I am your next prey?" Shockwave said, calmly. Razorclaw and the Predacons halted. "Your reputation as the Decepticons' best hunters proceeds you. However, before you kill me and bring my head to Lord Megatron, I have a message for him. Put me through to him." Shockwave requested. Razorclaw was confused, but obliged him nonetheless.
Back at the Ark, John Richard was putting everything his tractor had into charging one of the crucial induction conduits to power up the space bridge to allow the rest of the Autobots to bridge across to mount a rescue operation for Optimus and the rest of his team. "More power! Come on!" John Richard grunted to himself, though he could barely even hear himself think as the noise from the engine echoed through the Ark. The engine was revving at full throttle, but even with all 112 PTO horsepower going into driving the generator, it wasn't enough. Bumblebee looked at the control panel and saw that the conduit was 85 percent charged, but the tractor was at its limit. He then had an idea as he activated his stinger and at a low power setting he fired an arc of energy which was drawn to the cables.
"This should do it!" Bumblebee shouted over the tractor's engine. The power level indicated began to rise until finally all of the transwarp induction conduits on the Ground bridge generator flashed green, indicating 100 percent, enough to open a portal for thirty seconds. Shockwave traced the location of the Ark from his transmission, but Wheeljack was able to regain the location of Optimus by tracing the origin of Shockwave's transmission from Dinobot island. It was an accomplishment he was all to proud of.
"Autobots, transform and roll out!" Jetfire shouted, and he, Jazz, Cliffjumper, Ratchet, Bluestreak, Brawn, Smokescreen, Trailbreaker, Blaster, and his scouting force quickly changed to their vehicle modes and sped into the portal, and just then there was a loud bang and the tractor's engine then died out.
"Ah, crap! Grandpa bought this tractor!" John Richard moaned, but his plan worked as he had intended. It took everything the 1066 had and more to reactivate the ground bridge, but the Autobots stranded on Dinobot Island now stood a chance. On the island, Razorclaw and the Predacons faced down Shockwave in the cave with Optimus Prime and his team watching.
At the Nemesis, Soundwave reported to Megatron. "Lord Megatron, I am receiving a transmission from Razorclaw's position!"
"Put it through!" Megatron said. From Soundwave's visor appeared Razorclaw.
"Lord Megatron, we've found Shockwave, but he says he wants a word with you." Razorclaw explained. Megatron scowled as Razorclaw put Shockwave through. The projection of Shockwave made Megatron's energon boil.
"Lord Megatron. It's a pleasure to see you again." Shockwave said, politely. "I have come to you to bargain."
"Shockwave! I should have killed you when I had the chance!" Megatron growled.
"Of course you would have. Every course of action you take is based upon emotion and not reason and logic. That is why you are unfit to lead the Decepticons. I have procured the location of Optimus Prime's starship, the Ark. If I give it to you, you will relinquish leadership of the Decepticons to me or be destroyed." Shockwave explained.
"Never! I made the mistake of trusting you once before, and that is one I will not make again!" Megatron roared as he bolted up from his throne.
"Very well then." Shockwave replied as the transmission then ended.
"Starscream, our priorities have changed. This is not the last time Shockwave will rear his head. Ensure that the test of the Predacons' new ability is satisfactory." Megatron ordered him.
"Yes, Lord Megatron!" Starscream replied, and he gathered Thundercracker, Skywarp, Thrust, Dirge, Ramjet, Slipstream, Dreadwing, Astrotrain, Blitzwing, and Lugnut (a handful of Decepticon fanatics, Lugnut included, decided to stay after the attack on Kansas City) to back up the Predacons. On Dinobot island, Razorclaw had fulfilled Shockwave's request and now the Predacons prepared to kill him.
"Prepare to die, Shockwave! Predacons, tear'm apart-" Razorclaw began, but then a ground bridge portal opened and disgorged Jetfire and his company of Autobots.
"Autobots, attack! Brawn, free Optimus!" Jetfire barked as the battle began. Brawn and Bluestreak rushed to aid Optimus. With his immense strength, Brawn broke the chains binding Optimus, Prowl, Ironhide, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, and Hound and a battle began between the Autobots and the Predacons. In the confusion, Shockwave was once again able to slip out and make his escape.
"He's getting away!" Rampage exclaimed.
"Optimus, are you alright?" Jetfire asked.
"I'm alright, Jetfire. We need to get down to the beach and help Grimlock." Optimus replied. Jetfire was confused as to whom Optimus was talking about, but then he realized it.
"Grimlock, the rogue?!" Regardless, the Autobots charged out of the cave to beach, but the Predacons blocked their path.
"Going somewhere, Autobots?" Razorclaw purred. "Predacons, it's time we break out our secret weapon! MERRRRGE!" He shouted, and at his command the five Predacons drew together and transformed into arms, legs and a torso which connected together to form one massive warrior.
"Predaking-combination complete." Predaking looked up into the sky and with his scanners he saw Shockwave trying to get away. "Target acquired. You won't get away this time!" Predaking said as he then raised his arm cannon and with precise aim he fired a concussive energy blast which knocked Shockwave out of the air and he fell to the ground. "I'll deal with you later. Now I'll crush the Autobots!" Predaking declared. The Autobots were awestruck at the sight of the colossal Decepticon standing before them.
"They've got the same shtick as Devastator!" exclaimed Hound.
"Then we now have adequate experience to deal with Predaking. Autobots, attack!" Optimus replied, firmly as they charged into the fray to face Predaking.
"Hahahaha! You're joking, right?" Predaking roared, but in spite of his taunts Optimus and the Autobots ran headlong into the fight. "I'm gonna enjoy this!" Predaking chuckled as he then began to pound the ground and fire indiscriminate blasts from his arm cannon, toying with the Autobots. In response, Brawn dodged one of Predaking's fists as it slammed into the ground, then he transformed to his robot mode and with all of his strength he landed a powerful blow against Predaking's hand. He thought he had done huge amounts of damage to the giant, but when the dust settled he saw that Predaking's had wasn't even dented and his right hand was torn apart from the impact. Predaking then raised his fist to then crush Brawn under it, but Optimus was just in time as he tackled him out of the way.
"Are you alright, Brawn?" Optimus asked, looking at his grievous wound.
"I'll live." Brawn grunted. The Autobots fought with everything they had against Predaking. Ironhide fired his shotguns and rotary cannons, Smokescreen launched canisters of smoke to blind Predaking, and Jetfire ducked and weaved around, strafing and launching projectiles at Predaking in hopes of finding a weak spot. Down below on the beach, Grimlock looked up and saw the battle raging inland and knew in his broken, savage mind that Optimus Prime and the Autobots were losing.
"Dinobots, get up! Optimus Prime in danger!" He groaned.
"Optimus Prime our enemy! Optimus Prime no like leader Grimlock!" Sludge protested.
"Maybe. Me Grimlock realize mistakes. Me Grimlock arrogant. Me Grimlock stupid." Grimlock reflected. The decisions which lead him to this point were all made in anger at Optimus and the others. He realized that the only one to blame for his failures was himself and the Dinobots only made it worse in being his 'yes-men.' Now, Grimlock and the rest of the Dinobots were faced with the opportunity to redeem themselves in Optimus' eyes. '
"Me Sludge not know much else, but one thing fact. Dinobots stick together." Sludge said. Grimlock hoisted himself to his feet on his sword. The Dinobots, seeing his will to push on no matter what, followed his lead and with an unbreakable resolve followed him into battle against Predaking.
"HA! You guys are pathetic! I was expecting a challenge!" Predaking roared. He was clearly enjoying himself against Optimus and the Autobots as they poured all of their firepower into stopping him.
"Then your expectations are met, Predaking!" Optimus replied defiantly.
"An interesting selection for your last words, but okay!" Predaking replied as he raised his huge sword and prepared to levy a finishing blow against Optimus and several Autobots, but as he sent his sword hurling downward his hand was bombarded by a blistering torrent of firepower from seemingly nowhere and the sword was blown out of his hand. "Huh!?" Predaking said as he turned around. Shockwave transformed to his robot mode and saw the battle unfolding, knowing that he could take advantage of it to escape. He transformed to his satellite cannon mode and jetted to the cave, where he then used an energy field to contain a sufficient enough stockpile of energon cubes and once it was done he the changed back to vehicle mode and flew off. Back down below, Grimlock and the Dinobots engaged Predaking, giving Optimus and the others time to retreat, regroup, and tend to their wounded. Ratchet was able to control the bleeding in Brawn's hand, but Trailbreaker had sustained a more serious injury from a puncture wound inflicted by Trantrum's horn. Just then, a formation of jets flew in and transformed into Starscream and his seeker squadron. The air commander wore a contented smirk on his face.
"It seemed the field test was a success. This won't be the last we see of Shockwave. I can count on it." Starscream murmured. "Predaking, disengage!" Predaking heard Starscream and replied.
"But Shockwave! He got away! Arrgh!" In that moment, Predaking was distracted long enough for Grimlock and the Dinobots, together with Optimus and the Autobots, to launch an all out attack strong enough to make the combination of the Predacons dismantle and the Predacons retreated along with Starscream and the rest of the seekers. The battle of Dinobot Island was finally over and as the dust settled, Optimus and Grimlock stood before one another for the first time as equals.
"Optimus, you earned me Grimlock's respect. Me sorry for being arrogant, stupid, rash-" Grimlock apologized as he knelt before Optimus. Humbled by his gesture, Optimus knelt in reply and placed his hand on Grimlock's shoulder.
"I accept your apology, Grimlock. For you and your men's acts of courage today, I pardon you of the charges of desertion brought against you and accept you back into the Autobots' ranks." Optimus replied. "And, as for your question earlier, when last I was informed, the Monsterbots are on Cybertron under Ultra Magnus' command." Grimlock's question was finally answered.
"Thank you, Optimus, but me Grimlock want to stay here. This island our home." Grimlock replied. Optimus was content with Grimlock's response. Sludge, who couldn't contain himself, then came up and enveloped Optimus in his arms, giving him a big hug and lifting him off his feet.
"Excuse him Sludge. He not have big brain, but he have bright spark." Swoop chuckled. The Autobots and Dinobots all let out a hearty chuckle.
"Wheeljack, bridge us back to the Ark." Optimus radioed the Ark. At the Ark, Wheeljack was able to complete the repairs to the ground bridge in order for it to function optimally on its own.
"Roger that, Optimus!" Wheeljack said, and he then opened the ground bridge. The Dinobots waved goodbye to Optimus and the Autobots as they walked back through the portal and emerged on the other side. A lot had happened, but a well deserved rest was in order for everyone.
John Richard and Bumblebee, with Ironhide behind them, arrived at the farm yard with the 1066 on a trailer. "Hey dad." He said to his father. Richard was welding on a hay ring when he saw them come up. "Sorry about the 1066. I think the crankshaft snapped when I was using it to try and help Wheeljack get the ground bridge running. " Richard was crestfallen for a moment, but then there was a twinkle in his eye.
"Don't worry about it. I've had my eye on a 4255 for sale outside of Joplin that's in much better condition. Truth be told, that one was in much worse condition than I thought when your grandpa bought it." Richard replied.
"So junk it?" John Richard asked.
"Junk." His father confirmed.
A snowstorm swirled around the Nemesis in Marie Byrd Land and Megatron was in his personal quarters reading some files while talking with Governor Straxus on Cybertron. "With Shockwave gone I was able to access these files for you, Lord Megatron." Straxus explained.
"Excellent. My tests with Devastator and Predaking have proven thus far successful." Detailed in the files was the program labelled 'Enigma', one of Shockwave's oldest projects. It was a program which unlocked a gene in the Cybertronian genome allowing multiple individuals to combine into one larger form.
"Now I will build an army of combiners. Optimus Prime and Shockwave will both feel my wrath. I will build an army of combiners!" Little did he know, Straxus still acted as Shockwave's accomplice in his own power grab against Megatron, and he was playing right into the rogue scientist's hands...