Hapan Battle Dragon: Decimator
"That looks like the same thing that attacked the Freedom Federation Fleet," said the female sensor officer.
"I'll have to tell them how impressed I was by their work," Queen Mother Athena said. The officer activated the comm upon receiving a hailing signal. "This is Hapan Queen Mother Athena. To whom am I speaking?"
"This is Megatron, leader of the Decepticons. And commander of the Cybertronian warship, the Nemesis. I am sure you saw footage of the destruction she brought upon the Hapan Freedom Federation fleet."
"Of course. I would like to thank you for that. It was a tremendous help."
"I figured you would appreciate it. I would like to propose an alliance which would benefit us both. Perhaps I could come aboard your vessel to discuss our terms."
Athena didn't exactly trust this Megatron, but it would have been foolish to not let him aboard and hear his proposition. The man could have easily had the Decimator destroyed if he'd wanted. And he had just, more or less, single handedly helped her win a war. "You may make your way over to the Decimator as soon as you are ready, Megatron."
Queen Mother Athena was surprised to see a Sith Fury Interceptor passing through the magcon field of the hangar bay. That type of ship had been used a few thousand years ago, by the long since defeated Sith Empire. Megatron must have had one restored.
Athena found herself slightly puzzled as the Interceptor turned upside down. The smaller, rear wing sections opened, allowing the elongated forward sections to move backwards and connect to the upper rear of the ship. Those wing sections seemed to be turning into legs. At the same time the 'belly' of the vessel split down the middle, becoming a pair of arms. Hands began to emerge from the ends of those segments.
The upper section of the ship, with the legs and rear side segments connected, folded down. The cockpit was now where the shoulders had been. Gaps began appearing as innumerable tendrils retracted. A dome shaped cage was revealed. There was a hollow circle connected to the eight spokes, with a larger circle around the smaller one. The two circles retracted, followed by the eight spokes, leaving in its wake a nightmarish head with two hatefully glowing, red eyes. Some paneling shifted, and the transformation was complete.
"Well, that is quite a trick," Athena commented, with a mildly flirtatious edge to her voice.
"It is no trick, Queen Mother Athena," Megatron explained, slightly amused. Athena had high cheekbones, and a subtle sharpness to her features. A quick scan confirmed what he'd suspected. The Decepticon leader turned to the guards which had escorted the Queen Mother into the hangar bay. "I respectfully ask that you leave the hangar so that your leader and I may have a private conversation."
"You may go," Athena told them calmly.
"And please do not monitor us," Megatron added as the four women left. "I will know if you do," he warned.
"You must know what I am," Athena stated.
"I knew from the moment I saw your face," Megatron replied. "So there is no need for you to hide from me."
"I agree." Athena brought a pointer finger to each eye, and removed a dark brown contact lens. She looked back up at Megatron, revealing glowing lavender eyes with flecks of a fluorescent yellow green. A long, slender tail, with an arrow-shaped stinger, wriggled its way free of her clothing to sway gently behind her. "It's such a shame what we have to do to our ears."
"Indeed," Megatron agreed. "Do feel free to reach into your pocket. I scanned you. It's only fair you be able to do the same."
Athena did as her visitor suggested, and wrapped her hand around the crystal resting in the right pocket of her trousers. She felt the Force flowing into her. Athena directed her mind toward Megatron. He felt like a machine, but also like a living being. Just as alive, or even more alive than an organic. "You may know what I am, but I do not know what you are."
"My species comes from a mechanical world called Cybertron."
"And once the Jedi and their friends are flushed out of the Maw the Nemesis will destroy their ships, and we will retrieve the Allspark," Megatron said.
"The Allspark will 'survive', then," Athena concluded.
Megatron nodded. "Very easily."
"And when you win this war..."
"what will become of you?" Megatron finished.
"I'm sure your kind consider themselves superior to organics."
"We do. And we are," Megatron said, with gentle bluntness.
"I do not doubt that," Athena said. "And in regards to my question?"
"Decepticons reward those who help them. Just as we helped you, and you agreed to consider an alliance. Do your people still intend to conquer the galaxy?"
"We do not have any solidified plans at the moment. My people came to this galaxy to take revenge on the Celestials. When the Sith and the Abominor attacked Nibiru, most of the Celestials were killed. They essentially did the work for us. Right now, we are simply putting things in place so that we may take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. Such as this one."
Megatron nodded. "My Decepticons and I have been doing the same. I believe that together we can take this galaxy." It was clear that Athena also wanted this alliance. Her face suddenly took on a somewhat blank look, and Megatron could detect an increase in the Force energy surrounding and infusing her.
Athena's attention soon returned to Megatron. "Have you heard of Darth Krayt?"
"Yes, there is some information on him on the holonet. It's rather handy to have around. May I assume that Lord Krayt is nearby?"
"Yes, and he would like to meet with both of us."
Darth Krayt walked down the Eviscerator's boarding ramp, onto the flight deck of the Decimator. His gaze immediately went to the enormous living machine.
"Megatron, leader of the Decepticons, and commander of the Cybertronian warship, the Nemesis," he said. "And you must be Darth Krayt. It is a pleasure."
"Likewise." Darth Krayt agreed, before turning toward a beautiful woman with eyes that seemed to glow. Her hair appeared black at first, but was actually a very dark shade of purple. And her pale skin had an almost undetectable lavender hue. "Queen Mother Athena. I must say, you are not quite what I expected." The Sith Lord glanced at her tail, which seemed to be moving of its own accord. "I wonder what other secrets you're hiding." Krayt glanced back at Megatron. "Perhaps you could fill me in on whatever plans you have."
"We had decided against myself forming a battle meditation," Athena told Krayt. "As it would likely expose my true nature to the Jedi."
Darth Krayt. "And perhaps make them wary of an even greater Terran threat."
Athena smiled. "Perhaps," she repeated. "But since you're here..."
"The Jedi already know I can form a battle meditation," the Sith Lord said. "So I will do it. It's a bit of a shame I couldn't have been informed of this earlier. I could have brought my Sith Meditation Sphere along. It would have bolstered my abilities. My associate, Darth Wyyrlok currently has it. She has been working with the Empire in my absence."
Kavan
"You are no longer required here," Megatron's voice. "You will return to Kuat immediately. If anyone survives our attack on the Maw, I expect them to head to Kuat. You must monitor their activities."
"Yes, my lord," Soundwave said, already converting to his B-wing form. He headed out of Kavan's gravity well, making no attempt to be covert about it, since Kavan no longer belonged to the Freedom Federation. His hyperdrive engaged, and he fell into the gray void.
A/N: Kavan is one of the worlds in the Hapes Consortium. The Hapan Freedom Federation fleet had been stationed there. The Darth Wyyrlok mentioned here is the second one. I expect the next chapter to be longer.
