DISCLAIMER: I do not own Code Geass or Transformers. They are (respectively) the property of Sunrise/CLAMP and IDW/Takara/Hasbro. Rated: T for violence and language. Decepticon forces conduct raids against the other nations of the world as they prepare themselves for their future operations.
Chapter 10: Hostile Intent
Chinese Federation Airspace
Pacific Ocean
Massive tides raged over the waters that separated the boundary between Area 11 and mainland China. The captain of the cargo vessel Penghu grew wary of the dangers ahead. Heavy rains and thunderstorms made it difficult to navigate through the storm that threatened to engulf the ship in water. His troubles were compounded by the fact that two Decepticon fighter craft dispatched from an ancillary base in mainland China were about to ransack their precious cargo.
Skywarp and Thundercracker flew at 15,000 feet over the unsuspecting vessel. The signal dampeners installed into their frames shielded them from the humans' detection nets.
Soundwave was back in Tokyo providing assistance through intelligence by hacking the human satellite networks, an assurance that they would have no hassle in the completion of their present task. By the time the Chinese took notice of their presence, it would be too late for them to mount any response.
Impatience wore on the purple Seeker's processor, his eagerness to terrorize the crew of the ship tampered by the fact that they were given strict orders by the aerospace commander to steal sakuradite caches from civilian cargo ships such as the one they were about to land upon. By Skywarp's interpretation, he was never told how to steal them, which allowed him a certain degree of latitude in how to handle the affair. He grew tired of the errands that they ran, but nonetheless he did as he was told.
While Thundercracker and Skywarp were partners since the beginning of the Decepticon uprising on Cybertron, they differed from a professional standpoint. Despite the fact that the blue Seeker bore the mouthless purple decal on his wings, there were times in which he held doubts about their faction's cause. Only the fear of incurring Megatron's wrath kept him in line over the years he has served the warlord.
The temptation of attacking the vessel and stealing its valuables for the war effort as well as for themselves was exhilarating enough to drown his apprehension. They were itching for action, and while raiding the vessel would provide no challenge, it did not provide the same level of excitement as actual combat.
[Command: this is Skywarp. Target sighted. Moving in for a boarding action,] the purple Seeker radioed through his voice comm line. Soundwave was quick to send back a reply, their communications monitored closely to keep watch for any intrusion and prevent from being discovered.
[Affirmative, proceed as planned.]
Taking their cue, the two Seekers descended from the gray skies above, shifting into their robot forms. The crewmen that were working on keeping the sakuradite safe cowered before the arrival of the Decepticon flyers.
"Evening, humans. Today is your lucky day where you get to die," Skywarp sneered at the Chinese crewmen. Not wasting another second, the purple Seeker angled one of his arm rifles and fired away. Thundercracker followed up with a few blasts of his own, taking care not to blow up the sakuradite lest they fail their objective and face the wrath of Starscream. The cargo's caretakers were quickly felled by their laser barrage as the two Seekers breached their way through the ship's main cargo hold. Inside were several containers containing the renowned mineral that propelled the Britannians into their current state. It would be the same resource of which the Decepticons would utilize in plotting the undoing of the rulers of this Earth and bring themselves back on top of the galactic food chain.
"Perfect," Skywarp grinned, admiring the pink glow of the canisters.
"Careful with the valuables. They're just as volatile as regular energon," Thundercracker reminded his partner.
Skywarp turned back to his partner, his lips a thin line. "Thanks for the warning."
[Skywarp, Thundercracker, secure the cache and return to the base at once,] Soundwave droned to the Seekers.
[Will do,] the purple flyer replied. "We better scrap this vessel to keep any survivors from warning their people ashore."
"Right," Thundercracker replied. Both flew into the sky carrying the sakuradite in their arms and fired a small salvo of missiles as a parting gift to the dead Chinese on board. The sound of thunderbolts that boomed from the clouds up high kept the explosion from being audible. Skywarp reveled in the carnage while his companion watched in silence from above. The former opened up a teleportation aperture which led back into their hideout in Hong Kong. The black-purple mech's body went halfway through before he noticed that his partner wasn't moving.
"What are you waiting for? We got the stuff, let's get out of here!" Skywarp said before he flared up his leg thrusters and entered the swirling portal with cargo in hand. Thundercracker glared at the wreckage of the cargo vessel before he followed his partner back. When the pair disappeared, the Penghu blew into a fiery explosion. The ocean consumed the burning wreckage into its depths, leaving no trace that the Decepticons were ever there.
_ _ _
Lukas International Research Branch
Hong Kong, Chinese Federation
In the farthest depths of the auxiliary lab quarter several human facsimiles worked furiously on the development of newer breeds of the Insecticon Swarmer drone. The lighting was dim, the space throughout the floor pitch black. The vats that contained the new drones provided the only source of illumination in the work area and gave off a sickly green color, the liquid baths outlining their menacing forms. The clone scientists were oblivious to the fact that they would be the livestock upon which the Swarmers would consume as part of their natural evolution.
Each drone's back had an organic carapace similar to Earth-based insects. They were the result of a combination of research into bio-mechanical technology and the twisted imagination of the Insecticons of which they are originally based upon. Shrapnel and Kickback stood with their data pads before one of the creatures began moving its misshapen form. The drone crashed out its container, revealing a pair of sharp sickle-like blades that protruded from its legs and forearms. Its optics were dark pits, as though one saw through an empty void. If the Earth's inhabitants were to see what the Insecticons had created, the Swarmers would be akin to demons that were born from the darkest depths of the underworld. Its mandibles opened and revealed metallic tendrils with sharp teeth from its jawless head, snarling as it crawled about the breeding grounds. Kickback grew irate at the constant updates that they had to provide to Starscream back in Tokyo.
"What do you want?" Kickback hissed.
"How goes the status of our new pets?" the aerospace commander inquired of the two Insecticons.
"As expected," Shrapnel answered curtly, looking back upon their creation. "Their natural defenses is melding nicely with their technological form. The nanites contained within their bodies give them a significant advantage in regenerative functions compared to our own. We were just about some more trials."
"Are they ready to be shipped over to our location?" Starscream asked.
"They should be ready to be sent over to you within the next solar cycle," Kickback told with a straight face.
"Have them loaded aboard one of our cargo ships for transit to Japan right away."
The order astounded the pair. Shrapnel was the next mech to speak up: "Isn't that a bit sudden? The drones haven't fully matured yet."
"That is irrelevant now that the Autobots are here," the aerospace commander informed.
Kickback cupped his chin under his palm. "The Autobots, eh? Well, perhaps we can send you the ones that will be complete. Say, a contingent of at least thirty?"
"Fair enough," Starscream conceded. His optics turned into narrow slits upon the sound of screams and crunched bone emanating from behind the Insecticons. "What in the Inferno is that blasted noise over there?!"
"That? Oh, that's just your pets being hungry," Shrapnel said with a sinister grin.
_ _ _
Government Bureau
Tokyo Settlement, Area 11
Cornelia fumed over the embarrassment of the past two skirmishes by her forces against the unknown parties operating in her territory. The amount of damages incurred to her forces made a dent in the army's operational capability, forcing her to requisition additional assets outside of Tokyo. Several contingents of Sutherlands were sent from auxiliary bases in Hokkaido and Nagasaki to compensate for the losses sustained by her army, delaying any further military action for a few days until the reinforcements arrive in Toyko. Despite this temporary setback, she remained thankful to Zero that Euphemia survived that endeavor at the convention center hotel. Had he done anything else otherwise, she would've killed him on the spot.
She busied herself sifting through reports on the previous engagements by the Britannians in Shinjuku and Lake Kawaguchi. In the first skirmish the majority of the detachment that was sent to investigate Shinjuku were wiped out, with only the Purists and a couple of stragglers that survived. In the second engagement two of the unknowns managed to outmaneuver her royal guard and the Lancelot. She tasked the ASEEC's leading contractor to investigate the matter and develop the means with which to counter them.
Reluctant as she was in once more enlisting the aid of the Purists, she had little alternative since she was going to need every asset available in order to defeat the remaining forces of the Japanese Liberation Front. Thus, she ordered them to accompany her departing troops before the final showdown with General Katase's army began. Her eyes pored over every aspect of the general's career. Distinguished graduate of the Japanese military academy, with numerous decorations that served as a testament to man's capabilities as a field commander.
Then there was the issue of Lieutenant Colonel Tohdoh Kyoshiro, a subordinate officer under Katase and the only man out of the entire Japanese army to gain a single victory against the Britannian military. Dubbed by his countrymen as 'Tohdoh of Miracles' he remained at large somewhere around the colony. When the empire would commence the final assault upon Katase's group, the likelihood fo the lieutenant colonel springing to action in aid of the general remained high. Cornelia's desk phone rang, prompting her to briskly pick it up.
"Yes?"
"Princess, this is General Darlton."
"Go ahead."
"We're going over the preparations for the assault on Narita in the conference room."
"I'll be there shortly."
In the main conference room General Darlton and Guilford were going over preliminaries for the final battle against the remainder of the Japanese Liberation Front, who was reported to have pooled whatever troops and vehicles they had left at disposal. It proved an opportune moment to crush the faction who had been a thorn to the Britannian occupation for the past seven years. The second princess walked through and studied the maps alongside her two aides.
"The Japanese Liberation Front has troops concentrated around the base of the Narita. Our forces are already in the outlying city next to the mountain," said one of the staff officers.
"Are there any estimates on their strength?" the second princess asked.
Darlton spoke up: "They have several tank divisions. Leftovers from the last war seven years ago, and some Knightmares. What do they call them again?"
"Burais, sir," one of the advisors said.
"Or Glasgow knockoffs," the general huffed. "We have several scout divisions that are maintaining watch around the clock to keep track of their movements."
"Lucky for them, they get to live a little longer," Cornelia muttered under her breath. She wanted to get back at the source of her pain, the people responsible for the death of her two half-siblings. It was a pity for her that it was so far from the truth.
_ _ _
Student Council Clubhouse
Ashford Academy, Tokyo Settlement
Lelouch had to thank Meier for the amount of information he yielded before his untimely demise at the ex-prince's hand. The string of successes incurred by the Black Knights have increased exponentially over the past several days. Word of their exploits have prompted more Japanese to join their ranks. Information continued to flow freely through the net, the general consensus from the disenfranchised Elevens being that while they openly disapprove of terrorism, deep down they were grateful for what was being done against the guilty and the corrupt.
C.C. seated herself on Lelouch's bed while doing flutter kicks barefooted. Her visage bore the same detached look that she is renowned for. The aroma of pizza filled her nostrils as she engorged a slice, savoring the texture of the cheese as it melted in her mouth. Her gold eyes wandered upon the former Britannian heir's laptop screen as he constantly moved from webpage to webpage.
"What are you doing now?" she inquired to him.
"Researching."
"For school? That's quite unlike you," C.C. said in a muffled voice as she consumed another slice of pizza.
Lelouch shook his head, his eyes glued to the screen. "It's not what you think. Last night we encountered another Knightmare."
"What makes it so different than the other Knightmares we've seen?"
The memory of the bigger mech as it gazed down upon him through its red visor came to mind. "This one had an unusual configuration. It's slightly taller and bulkier than a Glasgow. There have been rumors circulating of unusual Knightmare sightings in Shinjuku and Lake Kawaguchi. Keeping in mind the fact that Britannia I would surmise that they were built by private corporations. Unfortunately I don't have enough evidence to make that a definitive conclusion."
"Perhaps there were others that saw the same strange machines of which you speak of."
"There is another thing that bothers me. A group of men dressed in dark combat uniforms were after Meier as well."
"Sounds like you're fighting a group of ghosts."
"A group of highly trained ghosts," Lelouch corrected.
"Perhaps you can find out clues on the whereabouts of this mysterious group? With support from the outside?"
"Indeed. Speaking of support, there is an organization that is secretly helping us from the shadows of the population," Lelouch smiled. "They've sent us a few additional Burais along with an experimental Knightmare as a gesture of good faith towards our cause."
"Then they trust you."
"No, they are gauging us to see if we are worthy of their support," Lelouch corrected. "Though I suppose it wouldn't hurt to prove ourselves some more."
"You always had a taste for the theatrical," C.C. said with curved lips.
"Master Lelouch! Dinner is ready!" the Japanese maid Sayoko yelled, her voice muffled through his room's door.
"Thank you Sayoko, I'll be there shortly!" Lelouch called back, brushing his black mane with his hand as he got out of his chair. Before he left the door, he turned back to C.C. His violet eyes glared back at the witch.
"Don't do anything brash," he warned of her as he left the chamber to join with Nunnally and their servant an evening meal to put his mind at ease.
_ _ _
Lukas International Primary Laboratory
Tokyo Settlement, Area 11
The Decepticons in the capital occupied themselves preparing for the next stage of their mining operation. It amused Starscream that Arkeville would go so far as to sell out his people in order to advance their cause, and assist in propelling themselves to greatness once more. Though he knew that the human had an ulterior motive, he would continue the illusion that they were working together towards a common goal of ascension to power. Such a thought had the aerospace commander reminisce on the earlier years when the uprising first began.
Long gone were the days in which the Decepticons could bask in the glory of their conquest over the weaker civilizations. The flyer felt Megatron was to be blamed for the failures that the Deceptcions endured because of his pride and his desire for galactic conquest. What was originally a goal to pursue change and create a better Cybertron grew into a pursuit of power and domination.
The loyalists, such as Soundwave, remained convinced that Megatron would lead them to greatness once again. Starscream knew Megatron to be many things, but the reins of leadership would not be his. While the Seeker officer would maintain the façade of being a loyalist on the surface, he plotted a way to be rid of the tyrant. His train of thought was interrupted at the beep of a comm signal emanating from the government bureau where Cornelia was located.
"What is it?" the Decepticon second-in-command demanded.
"It is me, Lord Starscream," answered the voice of the inside agent.
"Is there anyone that is tracking your signal?" Starscream asked.
"No, milord. I have news to send you."
"Then speak. What news do you bring?"
"Viceroy Cornelia has dispatched part of her forces to the Narita Mountains in preparation for a
full-scale assault."
Starscream arched an optic. "What of our assets over in the laboratory?"
"I have already informed our agent over there to prepare to move if necessary. For the moment we are still safe."
"Well done. Keep me informed."
"Yes, milord."
_ _ _
Starscream strode through the hallways which led to the secondary complex of the research and development sector within the underground facility. Inside the sub-level Arkeville sifted over data sheets on his clipboard before he noticed the Seeker was right in front of him. The human already suspected that something was amiss.
"Our double agent has informed us that the viceroy has sent troops over to Narita. While he has informed us that our assets over there are safe, I'm not taking any chances. It is time to bring them online."
"Are you certain it is wise?" Arkeville ventured.
"Who are you to question me, human?!" Starscream hissed at the former American traitor.
"As you wish," sighed the former CIA officer.
Both individuals moved to the western block of the sub-level, were several cryogenic regeneration chambers in that sector of the main laboratory housed several Decepticon warriors in stasis. Five of those containers held the Predacons: considered to be some of the most notorious and dangerous soldiers of the entire Decepticon army. Their hunting prowess had no equal, and claimed many victories in Megatron's name. Their resurgence in this land would add to the overwhelming advantage that they had over the Autobots in terms of resources, and would be a morale booster to the Decepticons that hid amongst the shadows.
The Seeker had a mischievous grin on his face as the commander of the Predacons awoke, his visor lighting up as he immediately seized the Seeker by his throat.
"Starscream. What an unpleasant surprise to see you again," Razorclaw said.
"The feeling is mutual," the aerospace commander gagged. "It's good to see you online for a change. I trust you enjoyed your period of C.R. time?"
"Why have you awakened me?"
"Do you remember where you are?"
Razorclaw studied the space around him, noticing the humans that occupied the various workstations and monitors around his position. "We're on an Earth that is not of our universe."
"At least your memory banks haven't been entirely corrupted," Starscream said mockingly.
"You still haven't answered my question," the Predacon leader snarled, giving a firm reminder that the flyer was still in his grip.
"I have need of your services," the flyer admitted, still choking.
"Really now? Last I checked you were willing to sell your own spark in order to gain lordship over the Decepticons. Don't think that I have forgotten of your treachery, Seeker. It would be best to tell me why I shouldn't take you off-line right now."
Starscream immediately thought up a reason which would prove convincing enough to sway the stronger Decepticon warrior: "Because I -- have an offer which you would be interested in."
"What kind of 'offer' do you speak of?" the Predacon commander scoffed.
"You were never one to ignore the thrill of the hunt. The humans here are not like the ones on 'our' Earth."
Razorclaw gave a quizzical look towards the Decepticon second-in-command. "Explain."
"We are in a different dimension. The humans in this universe have traveled a different path of progression in terms of technology. Far more advanced than the ones we know."
After a moment of consideration, the Predacon leader released Starscream from his grasp. The Seeker scratched his vocal processor, relieved of the fact that Razorclaw didn't dig his serrated servos any further into one of his energon lines. The red blue Cybertronian lifted himself back onto his feet.
"I knew you'd come to your senses."
"What of the Autobots?"
"They have pursued us to this world. Fortunately we have more than one advantage over them. We have infiltrated the human nations, with tensions growing each day. They are just itching to kill each other. Quite entertaining, I'll admit," the Seeker told his comrade. "We also have one other resource of which the humans in this reality prize greatly."
"What is it?"
"Follow me," Starscream gestured to the Predacon leader. Arkeville quickly paced himself behind the two as the three walked into the catacombs where a steeped ramp led to a bridge. Further down the path was a sealed chamber with double doors twelve meters high. A beam of lime green light scanned Starscream's form and allowed him entrance into the space ahead. Both Cybertronians proceeded onward towards an aperture that opened into a concealed space, where a rock formation in front of them gave off a dark blue glow.
"Energon?" Razorclaw asked.
"It is called 'sakuradite'. In reality it is something much, much more. Please step on the platform and have a sample."
The Predacon grew wary of Starscream's intention, unsure of what to make of this particular development. Reluctantly, the warrior hunter stepped onto the center of the platform and the cables snaked their way into his cerebral processor. The Decepticon flyer turned to his human cohort and extended a palm signaling the transfer process.
"Mister Arkeville, if you would please."
Arkeville flipped the switch on the console, the cables whining as the sakuradite flowed through the cables directly into Razorclaw. The Predacon leader's body spasmed at the power of the mineral as it coursed through his circuits. His visor widened in response to the reactions that were taking place within his superstructure.
"Remarkable, isn't it?" the Seeker asked of the warrior hunter.
"This power, I can feel it," Razorclaw replied.
Starscream directed another question at his ally. "Then I trust you are satisfied with the results?"
The Predacon commander nodded his consent. "You shall have my assistance. Understand this: I do not serve you. I serve only the will of Megatron. And should I find that you are deceiving me, I will scrap you where you stand. Clear?"
"Perfectly," Starscream grinned.
And with the help of the Predacons, we now have the perfect opportunity to wipe out our enemies while their attention is focused on each other rather than us. By then our dominance of this land be assured.
End of Chapter 10
Author's note:
The Decepticons haven't made many appearances of late, so I decided to write this one to make up for it. This is to be one of the staging points before the eventual battle at Narita. As for the Insecticon Swarmers, their design is inspired by the xenomorphs in Aliens and the Necromorphs in Dead Space. They're close-range melee attackers that are deadly alone and even deadlier in numbers, much like the creatures which led to their development. I am still need ideas for the chapter after the next one involving Ashford Academy and the Pretenders!
Questions? Comments? Gripes? Please do not hesitate to tell me! Just remember: no flaming!
As usual, I would like to thank all of you who has read this fic so far and gave honest feedback. Keep in mind: the story is in and of itself an evolving continuum which is subject to changes in which I deem fit and necessary (along with a few helping hands), so don't say I didn't warn you. :)