Well we're almost near the end of the first season of Beast Wars. This chapter is one I'm honestly a bit iffy on, as part of it feels important to the plot but the rest I'm not sure how to roll with it. So we'll just roll and see if you all like it or not.
Not much else to say, except welcome to the New Year people. And hope you all have a good one.
Disclaimer: I do not own Beast Wars: Transformers. It is the property of Hasbro Entertainment and Mainframe Interactive. This is a nonprofit fan made work of fiction. Please support the official release.
Chapter 21
An Untruthful Truce
Tigertron slowly stalked through the wild, eyes wide and ears open in order to detect any possible threats or enemies. And it wasn't just the Predacons or natural Predators. After the recent mishap with the strange aberration protoform, which had been unofficially labeled a 'Fuzor', Optimus was worried about a potential response from the aliens with the destruction of yet another of their facilities. All Maximals had been warned to keep an eye out for potential alien arrivals, as their technology in the past had proven to be highly advanced, and in some case, exceptionally deadly.
The tiger Maximal paused for a moment, the whiskers on his snout twitching slightly. This whole night, something had felt off to his beast instincts, telling him that something strange, something unnatural was going on. It had been like a constant little voice whispering to him, something just on the edge of his senses. He turned slightly, and frowned as he saw a brief flash of light. Slowly, he began to stalk forward, to try and find what it was.
Unbeknownst to him, someone else was also on the lookout for strange alien signs, though instead of bestial instincts, they were using Cybertronian scanners. Megatron frowned quietly as he studied the readout in front of him, keeping a constant vigil. In the aftermath of the incident in the north, he had been informed that the scanners logged a burst of energy being sent into space, an energy signature that matched those of the aliens. Knowing that the destruction of the alien facility most likely triggered another message to the aliens that seemed to have some interest in this planet, Megatron had ordered the scanners to constantly record any other unusual energy signatures, no matter how weak and small it was. Even then, he constantly monitored the scanners himself, not trusting his minions or the computers. These aliens were a potential tipping point for this war, and he was intent on exploiting them for his own aims, no matter what.
He suddenly leaned forward as the scanner suddenly lit up, detecting an energy signature. Excitedly, he began to type out commands into the console, his scanners zooming in on the energy signature. A dark grin spread across his face as he saw the coordinates, before moving and activating the comm. "Inferno, report to the bridge. I have a mission for you," he ordered.
Back in the forest, Tigertron frowned as he slowly pushed through the foliage, heading to where he saw the flash. He had seen several more flashes of a strange blue light, fading in and out with regularity of something artificial. Now, as he reached the edge of the forest, his eyes widened as he beheld the cause of the flashes. A large mountain rose up in the distance, the top capped by snow. But the entire edifice was somehow glowing, the light fading away and then reappearing again.
Tigertron frowned, taking in the entire scene, before noting the coordinates and turning away. Optimus would need to know about this, and quickly. It was most likely another alien site and they would need to be ready for any threat it posed to them. He quickly began to move through the jungle, breaking into a sprint as soon as he had enough room to do so.
It was only a couple decacycles later, as the morning light began to touch the peaks of the mountains that Inferno arrived at the coordinates his 'queen' had ordered him to head to. Inferno had stopped momentarily to study the glowing mountain in some awe, before focusing on his task. Seeing no way into the mountain to search for the source of the glow and the energy signatures, Inferno instead began tunneling under the mountain instead.
It was slow going, as even with his enhanced strength and mandibles, he was forced to circumvent large solid boulders or veins of hardened rock in his path. On one or two occasions, he had even been forced to transform and blast his way through some of the rock. But soon enough, his navigational sensors indicated he had arrived roughly below the center of the mountain. Turning upwards he began to eagerly dig, intent on finishing his mission.
The going was more difficult due to him doing his best to prevent a cave in as he continued to dig upwards, due to the consistency of the earth and rock becoming softer, less dense. It was easier for it to collapse down and bury him.
And then suddenly, it became solid rock again. Mentally frowning, he did his best to work his way through, but there was no weakness in the rock for him to exploit, to pull it apart. Growling, he dug himself a small room to stand in, then transformed and pulled out his blaster.
Outside the mountain, a bird landed on the top of the mountain, chirping as it fluttered its wings and fluffing its feathers. However, the sound of an explosion caused the bird to launch into the air, trilling and screeching in shock as the rock it had been perched on broke off and dropped into the mountain, revealing the upper peak was hollow. Sunlight streamed into the hollow cavern, illuminating the interior and revealing the moss and plant life within. A small pond filled the center of the cavern, with a small rock mound slowly rotating around in the lake. Standing on this rock mound was a stone monument, into which a golden disc marked with strange symbols was mounted.
Another explosion caused a portion of the earth surrounding the pond to push up, settling slightly before one final explosion caused the dirt and rock to shoot up, as Inferno climbed out of the hole. Wiping some dirt and debris from his shoulder joints, he glanced around the hollow, before his optics locked on the golden disc. "Aah, the royalty will want this. Surely it is connected to those aliens," he murmured, as his abdomen opened, revealing his flight thrusters as he took off and moved to the rotating island.
Landing, he moved to the disc and tried to pry it from the pillar of rock. But the disc resisted his efforts, forcing him to stop and clench his stressed servos. "I will not fail the Royalty! Transfer power to motor joints and servos!" he shouted, as his systems began increasing the power of his arms and servos. Driving his hands into the rock on either side of the disc, he let out a mighty yell as he pulled, and eventually pulled the disc from the pillar. Cackling in success, he took off, heading back towards the Predacon base. As such, he missed the pillar of energy that shot up from the mountain behind him, piercing the skies and heading up towards the larger moon and becoming absorbed into the obelisk there.
While Inferno might have not noticed the pillar of energy, another saw it, though from a distance. Optimus Primal was out on patrol, searching for the source of the energy disturbance that Tigertron had reported. The others were closer to the base, keeping the base protected and helping refit the defenses.
Optimus stopped, hovering in the air and staring at the beam of energy, optics narrowing before he shot forward, pushing his jets to maximum. It would take him several cycles to get there, and whatever caused that beam would likely be gone, but he still wanted to take a look at what caused it. Checking his Energon shielding and seeing it slowly depleting, he could only hope he arrived before the shielding depleted too far.
Darksyde
Megatron frowned quietly as he studied the alien disc hovering before him in the stasis field, looking over the markings on it, before turning to Inferno. "And this was all you found there?" He asked.
"Yes my queen! This disc, located in a rotating pillar, was all that was present in the mountain you told me to investigate," he said, bowing.
Megatron let out a frustrated groan, before speaking. "Go and get yourself repaired. I have things to think about," he said imperiously.
"As you order, my queen!" Inferno said, smartly turning and marching off. Megatron just let out a groan, before turning back to the disc and looked it over again, studying it quietly.
The alien disc inside the glowing mountain was definitely a sign. Especially the beam of energy that he had registered around the time that Inferno retrieved the disc. These aliens were becoming more and more involved in this war, and Megatron knew that if they did come, it would likely be in force. This world held value to them, and Megatron knew that if something he held valuable was threatened, he would crush the offenders.
Turning from the disc, Megatron began to calculate his options. The past three energy signatures from the floating island, the obelisk in the forest, and now this mountain, had all been directed towards the larger of the two moons. The one that his scans had indicated was hollow and possibly artificial. If it was an alien construct like the others, it would most likely be a weapons platform of immeasurable power. If the aliens responded to their presence with an aggressive response, he knew that most likely, that would be what they responded with.
Accessing his computer, he studied the recent information connected to unauthorized access to his data tracks, searching the information that was accessed and taken, noting that all of it was connected to the information he had on the planet and the aliens as well. Smiling to himself, he knew that the information likely was in the hands of the most treacherous and intelligent of his minions, the one who, so far, had barely allowed his own actions to be broadcasted. He had to admire Tarantulas and his actions, as he had barely suspected the arachnid scientist's treachery, until around the time of the floating island. Tarantulas evidently knew what was coming, and his actions in trying to secure a stasis pod indicated he was intent on trying to leave this planet on his own, to escape the coming destruction Megatron theorized was approaching.
With this new danger coming, Megatron knew he needed to set the board in his favor. He needed time to plot and plan, and see where the pieces fell. And the current situation with the Maximals prevented that. So, he would need to solve that problem as well. Typing a few keys into his personal computer, he brought up the ships scanners. "Search for any sign of the Maximal unit Optimus Primal," he ordered the computer, before switching to the ships communications. "Scorponok, report to my chambers immediately."
Elsewhere, Optimus frowned as he finished studying the interior of the mountain. Rearing on the short rear legs of his beast form, he moved away from the tunnel that had been blasted through the floor of the cavern at the top of the mountain. His optical scanners had picked up traces of artificial components and chemicals that were part of Cybertronian weapons and explosives surrounding the tunnel, indicating that a Maximal or Predacon, most likely the latter, had tunneled their way into the cavern. And judging from the indentation in the monument in the center of the underground pond, they had taken something from here as well.
Finding nothing else though, alien or otherwise, Optimus transformed and activated his flight jets, starting to fly up out of the hole. As he exited the mountain cavern, he prepared to turn towards the Maximal base, only to be stopped as his scanners began beeping. "Alert. Incoming Predacon energy signature. Readings register as cyberbee drone,"
Optimus whirled, cannons springing up on his forearms as he prepared to for combat. His optics soon locked on the cyberbee approaching in the distance, and he raised his arms to fire, only to pause as he realized the drone was moving too slowly to be attacking him. In fact, the drone halted and hovered when he aimed his cannons at it, not approaching any closer. Optimus slowly lowered his arms, and the drone began to approach again, this time stopping on its own when it came within a few meters of him.
Optimus carefully began to look around, searching for any Predacon ambush, when a voice interrupted his search. "This is not a trap, Primal. No," Megatron's voice echoed from the drone, making Optimus turn towards the drone.
"Megatron. Why do I not feel reassured by that?" He asked, cannons still out and ready to fire if he should come under attack. "What is it you want?"
On the Darksyde, Megatron merely smiled to himself as he spoke through the drone to his enemy counterpart. "I can understand your trepidation, Optimus, but rest assured this is one of those rare moments when I'm being totally truthful with you. As for what I want, I wish to speak to you. But not like this. No, this is too impersonal. Meet me at the following coordinates. I wish to discuss terms for a ceasefire, perhaps even a truce."
Optimus internally was shocked, though he hid that as he responded. "Usually Predacons only speak about truces when they need to reload. Or when they want something," he said.
"Astute observation, Maximal. And you are correct. But what I want is peace, even a temporary one. Yes. It serves my purposes if we have peace. As I said, let us meet and talk and you can see the truth in my statements. Yes," Megatron responded.
Optimus frowned and remained silent for a few moments, thinking, before responding. "Fine. But don't expect me to easily buy this slag you're selling Megatron."
"Very well. I'm transmitting the following coordinates for our meeting ground, in neutral territory. I will be there in beast form, waiting for you. Until then, Primal." With that, Megatron's voice cut off, though the bee remained, acting as a relay for the transmission of the coordinates to Optimus.
Twenty cycles later, Optimus landed on another mountaintop, where the massive form of Megatron in his beast form waited. Optimus, having circled the area and found no other Predacons, landed opposite of Megatron, transforming into his own beast form.
Megatron turned to Optimus as Optimus rose up, staring him in the eyes. The Maximal leader remained in a slightly defensive stance as he questioned the Predacon leader. "Alright Megatron, I'm here. So what's this about a truce?" He asked.
Megatron smiled as he began to speak. "This is a perfectly legitimate offer Optimus, I promise you. I'm sure you or your scouts noticed the recent beams of energy from alien sites?"
"Yes. Like the last one that came from the mountain. That one of your people caused," Optimus said, as Megatron tilted his head in acknowledgement.
"I won't deny that happened. It ties into what I wanted to discuss with you. These aliens, we've both seen that they have immense power, weaponry, and technology beyond our own capabilities. And we have drawn their ire on more than one occasion. I believe that, until we have dealt with the alien problem, we should call a truce, for both our group's survival," Megatron stated.
Optimus frowned as he heard that, not speaking while he contemplated Megatron's words. There was merit to what he said. If neither side bothered attacking each other, they would have time to further research into the aliens, find ways of either protecting against them, or perhaps negotiating with them. At the same time though, he knew that Megatron wouldn't be proposing such an option unless he was getting something out of it. "How do I know you're not using this truce in order to further your own goals? While we're stuck honoring this peace, you could use it to build up outposts and other structures, to give you an advantage for when you decide to break the truce," Optimus stated.
Megatron chuckled. "I would be insulted that you think I'd do such things, if it weren't for the fact that you're most likely right. But no Primal. My ambitions do me little good if these aliens destroy us all. No. My focus will be entirely on how to stop these aliens from destroying us. As should your focus be as well. I will not extend my grip on this world unless it involves a way of defending against the aliens."
"And what about the artifact you removed from the mountain?" Optimus asked him, arms crossed. "Will you share what you've learned from that with us?"
Megatron gave him the best innocent look he could, considering his face was that of a murderous carnivorous giant reptile. "I have no idea what you're talking about Primal. I will admit I had one of my Predacons scout the mountain, but all they found was the cavern. There was nothing there but that monolith inside. Inferno told me there was an indentation where something might have resided, but he found nothing else."
Optimus could only frown, knowing Megatron was most likely lying, but not having any proof he could use against him. And while he didn't trust Megatron to honor the peace for very long, he knew that even a short lived peace was still peace. He let out a vent of frustration, before looking to Megatron. "Very well then Megatron. Let us finish ironing out the details of this truce," he said quietly.
Megatron just smirked, before offering the terms he had decided to offer. Everything was going according to plan.
Axalon
"You did what?!" Sauria all but shrieked, as Optimus had just finished filling the group in on what transpired on the mountaintop.
"I've made a truce with Megatron," Optimus said, holding his faceplate in hand as he dealt with the incredulity of his crew members at what he'd done.
"Oh fer bootin' up cold! I can't believe yeh actually believe dat giant slag eatin' blowhard," Rattrap groaned. "He's playin' ya Optimus!"
Optimus just let out a vent of annoyance. "You don't think the thought cross my mind? But he made a valid point. These aliens are coming, and it likely isn't going to be a pleasant visit. This truce gives both sides a chance to prepare for their arrival."
"But big bot, you know Megajerk can't be trusted!" Cheetor protested, while Lycanok just tilted his helm down thoughtfully. Rhinox also seemed pensive, as they both thought about what Optimus had told them. Airazor glanced over at them both, noticing their thoughtful looks.
"You two don't seem to be disagreeing with Optimus," she said, drawing everyone's attention to them.
Lycanok glanced up, before standing erect. "To be honest, I think the truce is genuine, to an extent," he said. "I don't think Megatron would try to con us with an obvious ploy like this. It's too simple, too transparent. I think he's being truthful, up to the point of the truce serving what he wants it to serve."
"I was thinking the same thing," Rhinox added. "Megatron probably has discovered something connected to those aliens, and it has him worried more about dealing with them then wanting to deal with us. I think the truce is genuine, until either the aliens are defeated, or he gets what he wants."
Sauria let out a soft growl of frustration, her earlier disbelief tempered now by these words. "What they say makes sense," she stated. "Megatron feels that we are now the lesser threat to him."
"My thoughts exactly," Optimus said. "I don't believe for one moment that whoever he sent to that mountain came away empty-servoed. They found something there, and whatever it is has Megatron spooked enough that he doesn't want to think about dealing with us."
"So we need to find out what it is he knows!" Vixtrion said. "Otherwise we'll get caught flat-peded when those aliens arrive."
Rattrap, already sensing where this discussion was going, quickly waved his servos back and forth. "Whoa whoa whoa! If we're talkin' 'bout me sneakin' inta dat Pred base again, count me out!" He said. "Dey know I'd be da one comin' fer dat info!"
"Not to mention it would likely be a truce violation," Rhinox rumbled quietly. "Megatron would be expecting us to do something like this."
Optimus slowly smirked, a plan forming in his mind. "Maybe…or maybe he won't see us coming at all," he said, as all the Maximals looked towards him in confusion.
Darksyde
Tarantulas quietly glanced around as he ensured no one was present and checked that the virus he placed in the security systems was active, before turning to the large storage pod in the cargo holds of the ship. Entering a bypass code into the security lock, he cackled quietly as the door popped open, revealing the inside to be largely empty, save for a smaller sealed storage unit on the other side of the storage pod. Activating a special microphone attachment to his helm, he focused on the sealed unit. As he spoke, the microphone altered his voice unit to match Megatron's.
"Voice Command. Security recognize Megatron Alpha One. Unlock transwarp cell storage unit two," he commanded in Megatron's voice.
"Voice command recognized." The computer said, as the storage unit opened and cooled air escaped in a soft mist. Slowly, a rack rose up, revealing four transwarp power cells, one of which Tarantulas slowly reached out and removed, examining it.
"Hmmmm. This should be enough power," he said, running calculations through his CPU, only to stiffen as he heard a voice behind him.
"Bbzzzttt, what iz zpider-bot doing?" Waspinator demanded, rocket pistol in servo and aimed at Tarantulas. Tarantulas turned to him, sealing the transwarp cell storage unit behind him. Waspinator threateningly waved his weapon at him. "Tarantulaz will answer now!"
Tarantulas let out a resigned sounding vent, glancing up at the ceiling. "Oh very well," he said, seeming to surrender as he raised his servos. And then suddenly he plucked one of the dots on his forehead plate, revealing it was a small round ball that he then smashed onto the ground between him and Waspinator. The flier let out a yelp of surprise as a cloud of smoke rose up, obscuring all his visual sensory systems. He wildly looked around, until he felt something jab into his back plate, causing him to scream in pain as cybervenom shot through his systems. He fell to the ground, spasming and paralyzed, as Tarantulas smirked over him.
"If you must know…I'm leaving. Enjoy oblivion," he said, turning and leaving the storage pod, sealing it behind him as he left.
However, despite his best precautions, he had failed to account for all the security measures in place. Despite having deactivated the cameras in the area, he had missed one that had been installed on a separate system, one that his virus had missed. And that camera currently was watching him leave, having recorded everything that happened.
Megatron in his private quarters, chuckled softly as he finished watching the feed from the camera. "My my, I underestimated his resourcefulness. Had I know he was capable of this I might have gone to him first for plans to deal with the situation. Yes. Still, he can serve my purposes. Though not alone, I think. No. He could use some assistance," he said, as he switched on the intercom. "Blackarachnia? Do you copy?" He demanded.
There were a few nanocycles of silence, and then he heard her reply. "Yes Lord Megatron?"
"There's been a disturbance in cargo hold seven, in transwarp storage pod two. Would you investigate please?" He asked her.
Blackarachnia gave a grunt of acknowledgement as Megatron cut off the communications, and smirked. "And now Optimus, let us see if you are as curious as I believe you to be," he murmured, satisfied that things were going well for him at the moment. The pawns were moving as he expected so far, and if Tarantulas' plans matched the one forming in his head, then victory would be his.
Near the Predacon Defensive Line
Rattrap let out a squeal of protest as he hurtled through the air, hanging beneath Airazor as she winged her way towards Predacon territory, carrying him underneath her in her talons. "Man, why am I da only one who has ta go rushin' inta danger? Dis is Sauria's ding, not mine!"
"You know, this isn't exactly fun for me either," Airazor, glancing down at him. "I'm not exactly used to carrying someone who weighs more than a small shuttle," she quipped.
"Oohhh, a fat joke. Like I ain't heard one of dem befer," Rattrap said, just as a plasma round exploded right on top of them, causing them both to yell as the force of the blast sent them reeling. Airazor barely managed to stabilize herself while still carrying Rattrap. And that's when the two saw the lines of automated weapons rising from a series of small bunkers, all aiming up at them.
"Oh scrap," Airazor murmured at that, before they all started opening up on the pair.
Airazor began to frantically dodge and jink, in order to avoid being hit, as Rattrap screamed in fear. "WE'RE GUNNA DIE!"
"We're not going to die you giant baby!" Airazor shot back, quickly diving to throw off the aim of the weapons. Sighting a small circle of rocks, she flew over, releasing rattrap so he neatly landed in the middle of those rocks, shielding him from the sensors, while she wheeled away. "Open comm channel to the Predacon base!" She ordered her comms.
After a few moments, Megatron could be responding. "Aah, Airazor. What can I do for you today?" He asked, his voice polite.
"Megatron, do you need a reminder of the definition of a truce?" She asked him, as she dodged weapons fire still.
A chuckle echoed over the comm. "Forgive me, as I'm sure you were simply on a scouting mission. I will deactivate the defenses immediately."
Almost immediately, all the weapons ceased fire, and retracted back into their bunkers. Airazor let out a sigh of relief, only for her communications to come to life again. "Of course, you must realize you are dangerously close to violating the truce as well. You are almost invading our territory. I must ask you to leave," Megatron requested.
"Of course. I simply was making sure you were keeping honest about the truce, as I'm sure you are as well," Airazor said, wheeling away to head back to base.
"And of course, please make sure your friend goes with you," Megatron said, his voice smug.
On the ground, Rattrap whirled around, optics scanning wildly, only to land on a small, unobtrusive camera. He let out a groan as he realized that their ploy hadn't worked, before climbing out of the rock circle and scampered away from Predacon territory. However, the camera couldn't see the smirk on both Rattrap and Airazor's faces.
Elsewhere, Tigertron slowly slipped through the now deactivated Predacon defense grid, waiting until he was sure he had bypassed the potential camera locations before moving from stealth and running in the direction of the Predacon base.
Several klicks from the Predacon defensive line, Rattrap and Airazor rejoined the other Maximals, grinning as they arrived. "All according to plan," Airazor said, glancing at the gathered Maximals in their beast forms.
Optimus nodded at that, glancing up at the sky. "We'll wait for nightfall, and then headed out into position. Everyone hunker down, just in case the Predacons scout the area," he said.
As the Maximals began settling in, Sauria gave an approving rumble. "Primal has surprised me. This is quite a cunning plan," she murmured quietly.
"Heh, guess da big ape has some hidden talents," Rattrap added, grinning a bit. "Old Megs won't know what hit him."
Optimus meanwhile quietly stared in the direction of the Darksyde as he contemplated the situation. Ever since Megatron had offered this truce, he couldn't help but feel something was coming. He felt down in his Spark that some event, some test was coming. And what it would lead to, what happened, he couldn't say. All he knew was that it would likely mean the fate of his crew, and maybe even the planet. He shook his head quietly, settling on a nearby rock as they waited for the night to come.
Meanwhile, Tarantulas was murmuring as he typed in several commands to his computer, glancing at the transwarp cell that was connected to the computer. He was working to reprogram the command codes in the cell's electronics, repurposing the power source so it would work for his own designs. He had to be careful though, that he didn't accidentally damage the containment programs of the cell and cause a chain reaction.
He was just finishing his current modifications, when he heard clanking behind him. Whirling around, his optics landed on the sight of Waspinator's helm landing near him. Seeing movements in the shadows, he nudged a container of fluids to block it from view, as Blackarachnia emerged from the shadows.
"Well well well, you seemed to have dropped something back there," she said, kicking the helm of Waspinator towards Tarantulas. The arachnid scientist had barely caught it and tossed it aside as Blackarachnia sauntered over to him. "So, up to your old tricks? Planning your insane escape from this world?" She asked with a smirk.
Tarantulas growled and turned away, only for Blackarachnia to lean against his console preventing him from working. "Well?" She asked with that smirk in place.
While this was happening, Megatron smirked as he watched the entire thing happening through his own personal security camera network, seeing the two scheming arachnids conversing. "Aah yes, what an interesting little drama," he murmured to himself. "So exciting and diverting. Yes. And of course, what a wonderful distraction to let me add my own little addition to Tarantulas's plan," he murmured, typing into a nearby console and using it to hack into Tarnatulas's computer, allowing him access to the transwarp cell. A few command entries later, and his addition to the transwarp cell was complete. Smirking, he turned off the camera, enjoying how his plan was coming together. Bringing up a new window on the computer, he watched as his prototype alien translation program was working on the symbols on the alien disc.
As the day wore on and night began to fall, Tigertron stalked quietly towards the Predacon base, keeping low and stealthy the whole time, to prevent triggering the Predacon defenses. After Rattrap, he was the stealthiest of the Maximals, his skills honed from his megacycles out in the wilds. This made him the obvious choice for this mission, while they used Rattrap as the diversion.
It was growing dark when he finally arrived, making his way near the ship and studying it. Rattrap had provided them with several entrance points from his previous times sneaking onto the ship. Tigertron went to one of them, a hole in the landing struts that would allow him to slip into the lower maintenance hallways of the ship. With a powerful leap, he soon was in the ship.
Slowly glancing around at the dark hallways, he growled softly as he glanced down at his paws, seeing the white fur standing out compared to the dark metal of the ship. Knowing he'd need to be careful and fast, he slowly padded along the hallway with his eyes, ears, and nose all on alert.
Following the schematic Rattrap had provided, he soon came to a junction point where the data transfer conduits for all the onboard computers passed through. He paused, hearing the tapping of claws on metal, causing him to lower himself down close to the floor, trying to hide in the shadows as best he could.
Down the hallway, at a T-junction, he saw the form of Terrorsaur hopping along in his beast form, his talons clicking on the wall as he moved along the hallway and away from Tigertron. Letting out a quiet vent of relief, the tiger Maximal transformed quietly, before moving to the wall and removing the maintenance panel covering where the conduits were located. Pulling out a splicing tool, he attached it to the data transfer conduit, and then plugged a data cord from it to his helm. Within nanocycles he was inside the Predacon's computer mainframe, and started to browse through the data he could find.
Several decks above, Megatron was standing in his quarters, observing the two golden discs before him, both of them hovering in a magnetic field to keep them suspended. He turned to the computer, which was displaying the results of the prototype translation program. Studying the words, he frowned as he did so. The words didn't form any sentences, seemingly being single command words such as 'arrival', 'destruction', 'rebirth', and a few others. Each symbol also seemed to hold some type of energy in it, except for the symbol for arrival. That one, the energy seemed drained, less than the amount in the other symbols. Perhaps it was an indication that symbol had activated already, calling the aliens here.
Megatron knew he was walking a tightrope here. His entire plan hinged on everything going perfectly. If even one complication arose, it could result in the destruction of himself and everything he was working for. Yet if everything worked according to plan, he would have the upper hand. The information both from the alien disc and the golden disc would give him unimaginable power. The alien disc could be used perhaps to access alien technology across the planet. And the golden disc already gave him the key to his great victory.
He smiled as he reached out, caressing the golden disc, only for his moment to be ruined by the sound of an alarm going off throughout the base. He snarled as he turned away, leaving his quarters. "Computer, report!"
"Intruder alert! Maximal detected in computer database!"
Tigertron was just pulling himself out of the Predacon databanks, a shaken look on his faceplate when he felt something tapping against his helm, and a dark chuckle from the one causing the tapping. "Well well, you cats never learn, do you?" Terrorsaur asked him, smirking as he held Tigertron had gunpoint.
Tigertron snarled softly, slowly standing while his servos were held up. "I doubt very much you want to fire and ruin the truce your leader created," he said.
"Oh, I'm sure he'll make an exception if I claim it was all in self defense," Terrorsaur stated, grinning as he slid one of his digits on the trigger, preparing to fire.
"Then let me legitimize that claim," Tigertron said, whirling and smashing Terrorsaur in the face, sending him spiraling into the wall. Tigertron quickly grabbed the back of his helm and smashed him into the wall, burying his helm into his wall entirely. After that, he quickly transformed, turning and bolting away and leaving a stunned Terrorsaur behind.
A few cycles later, Megatron stormed into the area with Scorponok and Nightwing behind him. They found Terrorsaur struggling to pull himself out of the wall, until Megatron grabbed him with the T-Rex head and pulled him out of the wall. "What happened?!" He roared out.
"It was that stupid tiger," Terrorsaur said woozily, holding his helm.
"Well don't just stand here! After him! All units after him! But no guns! We don't want to ruin the truce, and a live Maximal is an excellent bargaining chip!" Megatron shouted, pointing down the hallway.
Nightwing nodded and quickly headed the way, followed by a recovering Terrorsaur. Neither of them noticed Megatron and Scorponok sharing a wink.
Outside, Rattrap was on a hill overlooking the Darksyde, his optics zoomed in as he searched for any sign of Tigertron. He grinned as he saw a flare shoot up, bursting into smaller flares that descended towards the ground. His optics returned to normal as he activated his comm. "Yo Maximal Resistance! Da white cat spy is on da run! Get ready!" He shouted, sliding down the hill to get into a ready position.
Above, Optimus and Airazor were watching the scene, keeping an eye out for any Predacons in pursuit of Tigertron. They soon were able to pick out the white furred Maximal sprinting in beast form away from the mangled form of the Predacon base. Optimus smiled, only for that smile to fade as he saw several other forms appearing behind Tigertron, moving to intercept. "Optimus to all Maximals, we have bogeys in pursuit. Get ready to intercept! But no weapons or lethal force unless the Predacons do so first!"
Sauria snarled as she heard that, watching her comrade's attempt to escape. "This idea is stupid," she muttered, even as she prepared to enact her part of the plan along with several of the other Maximals.
Tigertron panted heavily as he bolted away from the Predacon base. Behind him, he could hear the yelling and shouting of the Predacons chasing him. Hearing the roar of engines, he glanced over his shoulder, and saw both Inferno and Nightwing closing in quickly from the sky. Looking forward he saw the ridge he needed to reach, but he could tell the two fliers would overtake him before then.
Just as they were about to reach him however, several of the Maximals rose up, tossing spheres into the air behind Tigertron. Each one exploded in a massive flash of light and with loud explosions, which caused all the Predacons to scream as their optics were temporarily scrambled and their auditory sensors were overwhelmed. All of them dropped to the ground, writhing and yelling, as Tigertron stumbled, his own auditory sensors affected as well. He was quickly supported by Lycanok and Sauria. The Maximals quickly retreated, leaving behind the stunned Predacons.
Megatron and Scorponok, watching the entire ting on one of the security cameras, smiled as they saw the retreating Maximals. "Awwww, we were so close," Scorponok said, though his voice did not match his words, nor did the smirk on his face.
"Indeed. I must say…they took the bait perfectly," Megatron said, smirking as his plan was going perfectly. The Maximals now had gathered the information he was willing to let them see, and they would start to prepare for the aliens, in the direction Megatron wanted. All he needed now was for the pawns to keep moving in the right direction, and the Beast Wars soon would be over.
As his minions were slowly picking themselves up off the ground, he switched off the camera, missing a shadow slipping through the ranks of the Predacons who were still disoriented and rebooting from the flash bangs.
Axalon
As a storm began to rage outside the ship, Optimus glanced around at each of the Maximals as they gathered on the bridge of the Axalon. "Good work everyone," he said, looking to Tigertron. "Were you successful?"
Tigertron nodded as he tapped his helm. "I was able to get into the databanks and find the information we needed. Megatron found a second golden disc, this one covered in strange alien symbols. I believe it was what was in that mountain that I saw, and you investigated. There was also a database entry concerning translations of the disc, but I was unable to fully access the data before I was discovered."
"I see…and what did you discover, Vixtrion?" Optimus asked, turning as the elevator to the bridge finished rising up, and Vixtrion in her beast form stepped onto the bridge.
The femme Maximal shook out her fur, which was soaking wet, before transforming to her bot form. "Well I discovered that I really don't like having wet fur," she quipped, before turning more serious. "I was able to slip onto the ship a little after Tigertron, and put the data mine in place. Even now, it should be accessing the rest of Megatron's data tracks and sending the data to us in a couple of decacycles, maybe longer," she said, grinning. "Great distraction by the way. Not a single Pred even knew I was there."
"I'm glad I could be of service," Tigertron said, nodding his helm.
Optimus nodded at that as he glanced around at them. "Alright. Megatron is playing us, but even so, these aliens are a dangerous threat. If they choose to be aggressive, we'll need to be ready to handle them. I want everyone to get back to work shoring up the defenses. Rhinox, please keep working on methods for dealing with the alien technology, whether to defend against it or destroy it."
The Maximals nodded and they began to disperse, leaving Optimus on the bridge to contemplate what had happened. He turned, glancing out the windows on the bridge, seeing the storm raging outside. As he stared at the storm, he couldn't help but feel it was a premonition of the conflict to come. He could only hope they could weather the storm to come.
And chapter. Not one of my best, but again, this episode, while important, was not one I felt I could work that well with. I hope you all enjoyed it at least.
Not much else to say here, other than hope you like the chapter. Thanks again to my beta Kyuubi123, for his help in making my chapters more readable and enjoyable.
Also, sorry for the delay in updating. It was a mixture of my own slowness and the FF site being weird and not letting me upload the file to my document manager.
Till next chapter!