Tidings 4
Soundwave floated through space. Silently observing everything that had occurred, something he'd reported directly to Starscream who was flying over the Antarctic.
Starscream in turn cursed their misfortune. They were growing weaker while the Autobots got reinforcements. There was no justice on this world. And the decepticon flier wondered why they stayed on this mud ball now. The sun eater was destroyed. The Allspark was all but lost. What else was there that Megatron might be after? Petty revenge maybe? He'd been beaten worse than ever before on this planet, could it be that he wanted to erase his mistakes. That had to be it, Starscream mused.
It wasn't right at all, he dared to risk all Decepticon forces, their very cause for his own revenge. Somehow he had to be made to see the error of his own ways, if not he'd have to be removed.
Starscream cursed again before transforming and landing. The cold almost got to his circuits, but he was able to compensate by heating himself up.
"Soundwave, I have found a suitable location, send down the Constructicons." Megatron would have his base, Starscream just hoped it wouldn't be another foolish venture. They had lost to much down here already.
---
--
Megatron stood in the bridge of the Fallens space vessel. Screaming into the communications-console
"Well Razorclaw.. where IS he then?"
A holographic image displayed in front of him almost looked amused at the decepticon commanders anger.
"Who knows, I don't question my superiors. All I know is that he left shortly after we received Starscreams notification of your death." Razorclaw paused.
"Glad to see you got better Lord Megatron."
Megatron snorted. "Spare me your slag-talk. Do we have any soldiers in any nearby systems?"
Razorclaw seemingly turned to another console
"Looking into it."
Megatron gripped the edge of the console so hard that he crushed it.
"We have a few outposts in surrounding systems, however there seems to be.. most interesting."
Megatron was losing his patience.
"For the last few weeks we have lost contact with several groups in your sector."
Megatron grew impatient.
"What is so interesting about that."
"Well, I could draw a line for you."
A star map was drawn on top of the hologram of Razorclaw. A line was forming from the edge of the solar system
"As you can see, it's obviously heading towards earth, but taking serious detours to take out our patrols."
Megatron traced it with his optics. Something was odd. Autobots did not work like this, they hid, fled from sight and conflict.
Most of them did anyway. Megatron smashed the side of the console. "Razorclaw, we need any troops you can spare."
Razorclaw was about to object but Megatron anticipated it.
"Think Razorclaw. Which Autobot would take detours like that instead of going straight to Prime."
Razorclaw's optics flared up for a second.
"I need to make arrangements, the situation here on Cybertron is chaotic, but we will be along shortly." The transmission was cut off. Megatron didn't even have to ask who "we" was.
Prime was not the only one with a team of unruly gladiators at his side.
Megatron thought that maybe he'd caught a lucky break after all. Razorclaw wouldn't have moved from Cybertron without serious incentive. Like a personal vendetta. Also, had that one-eyed logic-freak been at the receiving end of his messages, Megatron would have lost a lot of respect among his warriors since he'd be forced to admit defeat in front of his largest competitor for decepticon rulership..
But he couldn't help but wonder where Shockwave was.
--
Grimlock overlooked the island as he walked across it.
So small, insignificant. He wondered how Prime could put up with the treatment they received by the human leaders. Had he been in charge, the humans would have begged him to take control of their combined armies. Sure they might not have the technological edge of the Transformers, but they had numbers. And enough pebbles in a machinery could bring it to a halt.
Swoop walked up beside Grimlock. "Well.. things are going as we expected, the other three have pretty much jumped back into the flock of Prime."
Grimlock nodded. He knew what effect Prime could have on mechs. He looked at his friend. "How you feel about it then?"
Swoop looked down. "I.. must say that it feels good, this gathering. I dont think I've been around this many Autobots since .. well, since we left Cybertron."
Grimlock nodded once again. He too could feel it. Even if their methods differed these Autobots wanted the same thing in the end. That made his decisions a bit harder to make, but he knew it was the proper course. Prime was too kind, The Decepticons were hurt, their leaders beaten. Why wouldn't he be more decisive, instead of trying to prove himself to these humans he should be focusing on putting an end to Megatron, with him gone, Decepticon leadership would be up for grabs, and they'd fight amongst themselves, making it easier for the Autobots, or even the humans to just pick them off, one by one.
But if Prime did not step up to the task, Grimlock would.
"You have leads?" Grimlock asked. "Bigtime.. " Swoop seemed eager "Just by looking at the recordings of the battle near that Sun harvester.. I doubt anyone else knows unless they knew what they where looking for."
"And Slag?"
"Well, he's being Slag.. not much help there.."
"All have own part to play." Grimlock stared off into the sun.
---
"Well Prime, I can't say that this turned out bad at all." He and Prime had just debriefed the president, who seemed pleased with the progress. "Grimlock seemed a bit reserved, and we'll have to evaluate his request of an off-island base but with the recent additions to the team it is not a bad idea actually."
Prime looked at Lennox, he still seemed distraught. "I agree, this is going almost to well, but I can only hope that the time Grimlock spent as a leader for his team has taught him restraint.. it certainly seems like it."
Grimlock had chewed him out a bit, especially about the loss of the Allspark, as well as the reluctance Prime had to hunt down Megatron at this moment. But in the end he'd calmed down and listened to what Prime said.
He knew Grimlock didn't agree with him. But he hoped he at least understood why Prime didn't want to fight an all out war here on Earth.
But this was not the time for brooding after all.
"If you excuse me Major, I have a reunion party to attend to."
Prime found his soldiers engaged in what seemed to be a holographic human brawl.
"Ah, Prime you should join us!" Wheeljack rose to his feet, offering a cable to the modiefied human machine that the holo seemed to emanate from.
"These humans have the most interesting ideas, A bit simple in execution but I modified it to suit us better, They call it "Tekken" I added a multiplayer function for eight and an interface so.." Prime looked at the hologram, one of the players took a hit and a spark traveled along the cable, zapping Ironhide so he almost fell backwards. "That's just cheap Sunstreaker!" He roared as Sunstreaker gave Sideswipe a high five.
"I'll pass for now Wheeljack."Prime said as his friend rushed forward to adjust the energy backlash Ironhide had suffered .
Had he not known Wheeljack for so long he would have been surprised at how quick the scientist adapted to technologies then making his own modifications to them. Even if it sometimes had some side-effects. A common one was Wheeljacks faceplate taking the brunt of a minor explosion or similar.
Prowl walked up to Prime. "Sure feels different sir, it's just as if the war was over."
"But it 's never over, is it Prowl?"
Prime looked at the Autobot who'd just returned from scanning in his alt-mode choice . A black and white Police-painted Nissan GT-R Skyline. Prime had not been surprised. The security officer had taken offense at the fact that Barricade had disguised himself as a police-vehicle and had decided that he'd balance that out somehow.
Sunstreaker was still undecided, he hadn't found anything with enough flash yet, and Wheeljack was always sidetracked by technicalities but had assured them that he would "look into it." As for Grimlocks team, they had all chosen military vehicles. Not the most subtle choices, but that was to be expected of them. .
"Far from it, but I figure.. we have a better chance than ever now. And if we can't end it, we might at least be able to halt it. Show the Decepticons that we are to much trouble than we are worth."
"That would ease the pain to so many worlds at risk." Prime nodded. However he knew Grimlock would not see it that way.
-
Chief Master Seargant Epps was walking on the sidewalk in downtown Chicago. Heading home after catching a movie with his wife, Theresa. He was on a Shore-leave and had asked to be allowed to remain offbase during the media-hype that would follow the Autobot welcoming ceremony.
""Mutated Ninja Turtles.. who'd believe that." he chuckled. But as they walked down the roads his face got more and more serious, but he kept his tone happy. Theresa noticed it, but played aloong, she knew better than to give up his cover.
They had barely gotten inside their house before he threw himself on the phone. Before telling her to pack up. He didn't even bother calling through the official line and instead dialed directly to Lennox cell.
"Pick up the damn phone.." He slammed the wall as he waited.
"This better be good Epps." Lennox answered the phone, he'd most likely been sleeping given the tired voice.
"This ain't good at all, not one bit chief. I just walked home. They are everywhere around my neighborhood."
Lennox suddenly seemed more alert "They?" "Deceps, I lost count. At least 20 small cars that I could see, all over man!, there could be even more!" Now Epps heard a crash outside. "We need recon here fast, and the "big ones" asap! I'll get Tess to safety then i'll find out what I can."
He didn't give Lennox time to answer before closing the phone and rushing to his wifes side.