CHAPTER SEVEN
The Autobot ship deployed its landing gear and touched down. It was a medium sized ship with a crew compliment of forty, the majority of those being basic-entry soldiers serving a two-year tour of exploration. The color was reminiscent of the original Autobot super ship, The Ark. Equipped with the latest warp-drive capabilities and an impressive ten laser-cannons for defense purposes, the Primus Flame II was quite respected throughout the quadrant.
The soldiers made their way out of the ship in haste to secure their surroundings. The command crew of the Primus Flame II stepped out onto Dag's soil and looked around. Great damage had been caused, and without seeing a single fallen body, they knew lives had been lost. The exact number would be detailed at a later date. Now, they were to investigate what and who remained in Outer Drek.
Thunderclash, the commander in chief and former leader of a sect of Autobots known as TurboMasters, identified what appeared to have been the primary base of operations and led his senior crew in that direction. To many, he was the latest in a long line of true heroes, often drawing comparisons to Ultra Magnus and even Optimus Prime himself. He was extremely intelligent, powerful, and seemingly fearless. The comparisons did have some merit, as aside from the character traits he also shared a familiar alt-mode as the two legends mentioned, only more futuristic in its layout.
To his left could be found Roulette, a graduate of the Academy for Cybertronian Law Enforcement and very respected sharpshooter. She served as chief engineer aboard the Primus Flame II and lived for each opportunity to display her true skills on away-missions. Her mistrust of the Decepticons, and all beings that still cling to their beliefs, was burned into her many years prior when her village was raided and destroyed by Decepticon nomads. Her blue, black, and orange coloring helped hide the fact that she was in fact, a she.
Her inability to accept the end of the final Great War led to some tense situations with a particular crewmate. The gunner and weapons expert of the team, Nightracer, was once a member of the Decepticon Army. She serves aboard the Primus Flame II not out of choice or admiration for their crew, but because Soundwave ordered her as part of a "reuniting" of their factions in an attempt to repair and maintain a working relationship. The old ways are still reflected in her opinions and more often than not, end up causing heated arguments.
Thunderclash stepped through what remained of the primary entrance. No signs of life, no hints of a trap. It was almost too silent for his liking. "Shine a light down there," he ordered. Chromia did as requested, engulfing the corridor with a bright burst of visual aid. Chromia served as communications officer on the bridge, and had been a member of Thunderclash's crew longer than anyone else. She's tough, determined, and more than capable to hold her own in battle. "All right," Thunderclash continued, seeing that there weren't any spots capable of hiding an ambush, "Let's move on down."
"If you don't mind," Clamp Down said, brushing aside his commanding officer while holding his automatic weapon tightly, "I'll lead us in." Once a police officer, always a police officer. Clamp Down, who bore a striking resemblance to Autobots Sideswipe and Red Alert, had been one of Cybertron's most awarded law enforcers. Through an interplanetary talent exchange program, he served on Earth for four years before returning back to his home planet. Seeing Cybertron as a shell of its former glory was hard for the kindhearted cop to accept.
Clamp Down led them through the corridor only a few meters before stopping suddenly, turning his optics towards the holding cells. "Oh my," the black and white Autobot whispered. He turned and found Thunderclash eagerly awaiting a report. "I've found the prisoners."
Leaving Dag behind, the Primus Flame II began its journey to planet Antilla. Once there, Wheeljack and Trailbreaker would receive the medical attention they desperately needed. The journey back to Cybertron was deemed to be too long for them in their current condition, so the decision was made to instead seek out the nearest acceptable alternate destination.
Under direct orders from Ultra Magnus, Thunderclash ordered a party of twenty soldiers to stay behind and help rebuild Outer Drek and provide a sense of protection for the remaining inhabitants. In time, the Autobots would establish a permanent base of operations on nearby planet Holostak, far enough from Dag as to not be a hindrance to their natural progression and way of life, but close enough to act quickly if aggressors ever attempted another takeover.
The bodies of those who had fallen were also aboard the Primus Flame II. Once the necessary repairs had been made to the survivors, the off-line warriors would be given a proper ceremony on their return to Cybertron. The bastardized remains of Bluestreak, Bumblebee, and Windcharger were placed in an unused storage compartment so their warped appearances wouldn't traumatize the crew. Whirl, for the most part still intact, was placed in a resting chamber inside the medical bay.
Clamp Down entered the Priority Care Holding Chamber and cast a concerned look upon the bodies of Wheeljack and Trailbreaker. Since being rescued and placed aboard the ship, Trailbreaker hadn't stopped laughing. The decorated war veteran was losing his battle against a dying mind. It was a low, soft laugh that some would consider a chuckle. A constant noise to be ignored.
"I'm sorry we weren't able to arrive sooner," Clamp Down remarked to Wheeljack. The engineer turned his head in the direction of the security officer's voice. His optics had fully burned out, leaving him totally blind. "Sorry about... the others."
"Don't be," Wheeljack replied. His tone was weak and tired. "It's the way of the beast." That was one phrase he never thought he'd hear himself say. "You got there when you got there. Don't beat yourself up over it."
Clamp Down was momentarily distracted by Trailbreaker's laughing, but quickly returned his attention to Wheeljack. "We should arrive at Antilla shortly. They have the best medical services in this section of space. You should make a full recovery."
"And what about my friend?" he asked, leaving his head towards Trailbreaker. "What can they do for him?"
"I don't know," Clamp Down answered hesitantly. "They'll do what they can." A quiet beeping sound was heard coming from his right arm. "Excuse me," he said. He turned and walked a few steps away before answering his communicator. "Clamp Down here... yes, I'm there now... laughing, he hasn't stopped... I'm talking to him right now... I see... yes, I'll ask... Clamp Down out." The Autobot law enforcer returned to face Wheeljack. "That was Chromia," he informed his passenger. "She detected another Autobot signature back at the holding cells... was there another prisoner?"
"Yes."
Clamp Down was caught off guard by the brief answer. He waited for more information to be revealed, but none came. So he decided to ask for it directly. "We kind of need to know who it was... for our report back to Ultra Magnus."
Wheeljack thought about remaining silent, ignoring the request and simply welcoming the darkness. But he was bound by an old-school bond to respect those who wore the red-faced symbol, as he himself had worn for millions of years. With a tired and weak voice, the engineer answered. "Roadbuster."
