Continuing on from the last chapter, where the Autobots have breached the ship. Trying to keep up with these weekly updates.

"The Autobots have bridged onto the ship!"

Starscream cursed. "Slowing the ship was a mistake," he hissed angrily. "Now they've anchored a groundbridge onto the Nemesis."

Miko made a taunting face at Raf, who just scowled in response.

"Now is not the time to mock each other," Starscream snapped. "We've got to take care of the Autobots before they cause too much damage."

"That's going to be a problem," Soundwave said over his shoulder. "They've bridged very close to the engine room."

"Just our luck." The snarl on Starscream's lips twisted downward, and he leaned over the commlink on his desk. "All Vehicons attending to the engine room, defend the starboard side; the Autobots are on the ship."

Starscream shut off the commlink, his piercing optics scanning the bridge as he tried to form a plan in his head. The Decepticon SIC was incredibly focused under pressure, and as his optics snapped around the bridge, his frown deepened in an expression of deep thought.

"Soundwave," he said firmly, finally turning to the Intel Officer. "Bring the ship back to full speed. We don't want the Autobots anchoring another bridge."

"A bit too late for that, boss," Soundwave said, his digits tapping the keyboard frantically. "They've got a bridge on the port side as well."

"Then what are you waiting for?"

Soundwave jumped, and he quickly turned back to his console, muttering a garbled response. He waved his servos across the screen in broad strokes, hastily moving things across the holographic screen. The ship rumbled again as it thrust itself forward, and as he began to slow down his panicked movements, Soundwave grinned beneath his visor.

"Vehicon squads 4, 6, and 7; dispatch from the life-support ward to the port side."

His tall strides carried him with purpose as he walked over to the heavyset seeker idling off to the side. As his spindly legs clicked against the floor, Skyquake's navy blue optics turned to meet his, hardened to the blaring alarms and panic around him.

"Skyquake!" Starscream said. "I need you to take all the Vehicons on the bridge down to the engine room on the port side."

"Can do," Skyquake grunted in reply. A swift signal with his servo sent the Vehicons marching out of the bridge doors, blue visors glancing wilding around in anticipation, leaving the bridge in complete disarray with desks and other assorted items toppled over as leftovers from the previous assault. Amidst the thundering of the marching pedes, Starscream caught a flash of white and blue and pulled Soundwave out of the crowd before he could go any further.

"Just what do you think you're doing?"

Soundwave stopped. He turned to face Starscream and said, "Helping?" before adding a deep voice, "My people need me! I must go to them!"

"No, they don't," Starscream replied, stopping him from leaving. "You're much more useful up here, keeping track of the battle from above."

Reluctantly, Soundwave raised a servo, on the verge of protesting. He turned his helm to the side, quickly contemplating his options before he thought better of it. With a tired vent, he trudged back to his desk as his visor flickered with the gentle creaking of the ship.

"What about us?" Starscream glanced over at Raf, standing with a determined look on his face. Miko sat behind him, busily typing something on her computer.

"You?"

Raf gave Starscream a cocky grin. "We want to help too, right Miko?" He turned to the girl, only to be met with a dismissive wave. "Alright," he said. "I want to help."

"No."

"What?" Raf said, frowning.

"The battlefield is no place for children," Starscream scolded. "How many times must I repeat myself?"

"We've done it before!" Raf said as he took a step forward, challenging the Decepticon SIC.

"I'd rather not push our luck," Starscream replied before he turned back to Soundwave, cutting off Raf before he could make any further comment. "Give me a readout of all the Autobots onboard."

"The life signals on the port side match those of Autobots Bulkhead and Wheeljack," Soundwave said, keeping his attention focused on the screen in front of him.

A small grimace took to Starscream's face. "How their infighting ends up damaging their surroundings more than themselves, I'll never know. Let's hope Knock Out and Skyquake can subdue them before they reach the ward."

"As for the starboard side..." Soundwave slowly lifted his servo away from the desk and held his silence for a moment. "Autobots Bumblebee, Arcee, and Cliffjumper appear to be tearing up the starboard side. Sir."

This triggered a response from Miko, who suddenly looked up from her computer. She jumped to her feet and tugged on Raf's shoulder. The larger boy turned to her with a confused look, and she tried to sign him a message.

Her hands were messy and panicked. He stared at her for a minute, trying to decipher her words. Slowly, realization dawned on him, and he turned to Starscream.

"Isn't Jack on the starboard side?" he asked, a tinge of fear in his eyes.

Starscream frowned, and his earlier order quickly resurfaced in his mind. He turned to ask Soundwave something, but found his station empty. The sound of sliding doors was all he needed to know where he had gone.