A/N: Back at it again! Lot's going on this chapter. Things are gonna move quickly in a bit. Please drop a review if you like what you are reading.

Chapter 17: The Best Laid Plans

Stinger laid on an examination table in a slightly inverted but prone position. Arms and legs were strapped tightly to his sides. He felt as if he had just finished the wash cycle on a washing machine, but forgot to remove himself from his clothing.

Multiple contusions colored his body from head to toe. The ugliest and darkest of which clouded his rib cage. He knew several ribs had been fractured. One eye was swollen shut. Dried blood crusted his long, shaggy hair and pulled painfully against his eyebrows whenever he blinked.

He knew he was pretty beat-up, but it had all been worth it.

Just hearing the strangled cry of rage echoing through the hallway just before he almost agreed to Castlehoff's terms…it had been pure music to his ears. Something significant had happened, something that the Secretary himself cleared up minutes later when he returned to the interrogation room, hair disheveled, tie askew.

Maria.

She had been all packaged-up and enroute for delivery. Castlehoff had been beside himself with glee, ecstatic even, that he finally possessed the one bargaining chip he needed to push Stinger over the edge and play into his foul plan. And truth be told, the weary pilot had been prepared to make the hardest decision of his life.

That is until the decision had been removed for him, by none other than that damnable flying monkey wrench he called a friend. Truly, he had never met an individual with such a natural knack for creating total mayhem and destruction.

Castlehoff's screams of outrage could be heard across the compound. Minutes later he exploded back into the interrogation room seething and frothing from anger. Apparently, the Decepticons had intercepted his agents. Local police had reported seeing two of the titans battling near a locally-run truck stop. A survivor had given a description of Maria and had witnessed her being carried off by one of the metal giants, shortly after witnessing the violent death of the older woman that had accompanied the teenager.

Another report detailed the quick but violent fight that ensued between the two behemoths. Eye-witness descriptions described one that appeared black and chromed while the other was black and purple with broad upswept wings and massive cannons on the upper arms. There was no mistaking that description-Skywarp had somehow intervened. The teenager as well as both robots had disappeared before federal government reinforcements could even mobilize.

How or why, Stinger could care less. Warp had come through and in a spectacular fashion. His daughter was safe (from Castlehoff anyway) and he could hold fast to his previous position and not betray his friend.

The vicious beating that ensued afterwards left him nearly unconscious, but no amount of beatings or physical torture would move his position now. Maria was with Skywarp. And with her removed from the equation, Castlehoff would have to adjust his agenda despite not knowing the location of the Decepticon base. He released a shaky sigh and closed his one good eye. The corner of his split lip twitched upwards. The fight wasn't over yet.

Skywarp had informed Maria of what to expect when they were to touch down on the platform of the underwater Decepticon base. But like all conversations that preclude the venture into the unknown, saying is one thing and seeing is another.

He had told her to expect harsh, cruel treatment. Her resiliency and her tenacity to resist pain would be tested and re-tested. Decepticons despised weakness above all else; given the fragile biological make-up of humanity in comparison, Maria didn't have to ask Skywarp to spell it out that she was already at significant disadvantage. And to make matters worse, he informed her that once they arrived all pretenses of friendship would be nixed, while publicly visible anyway. It was for the best, he had said. If the other Decepticons caught him making nice with a human, they would most assuredly torture her to get at him, and that scenario would be disastrous for everyone involved. No, it was better to feign hostility and keep onlookers uncertain rather than confirm preconceived notions generated from rumors. No sense adding fuel to the fire. Maria saw the reasoning behind it, but it still left her feeling more than a little miffed.

Even with all the warnings, the stark change in behavior was unsettling, not to mention terrifying. Seeing him as his true metal-bodied self had been, at first, a living nightmare. Knowing him as a protector, a friend even, but having him treat you like a stranger, like a lesser life form was a waking night terror. Never had she felt more exposed nor more alone. But she ground her teeth, settled her terror, and was determined to not show just how badly his charade affected her.

When his pedes touched down on the platform it was like a light switch. His carefree, devil-may-care attitude was replaced by a cold detachment that continued to chill her blood and pointedly reminded her of her human frailty. It still shocked. It still jarred. She was told to expect it. He was a Decepticon after all. Deception came with the name. She knew it was a facade, but that tiny mental comfort did little to address just how very authentic Skywarp's actions and mannerisms felt.

Case in point, when they exited the elevator shaft he yanked her roughly from his cockpit and tossed her onto the floor of the corridor. She slid painfully across the polished surface and bit back the yelp of alarm that threatened to slip past her lips.

"Let's go." He motioned curtly for her to proceed him and she obliged without an utterance. Already she could feel a large, purple bruise blossoming on her upper left thigh. She hoped, while simultaneously doubting, that would be the worst of her injuries while here, but Octane's rough-handling from earlier still danced at the back of her mind and she knew it was a false hope at best.

Skywarp's steps made the ground tremble beneath her own. His presence once a comfort, now an anxiety. Her gray eyes darted along the dark, purple corridor and the deeper they proceeded the more she sincerely doubted she would be able to walk out.

Presently they arrived at a set of large, double doors, Cybertronian in height and massive in scale. She blanched, took a deep breath and waited for the doors to part.

Maria would never forget the moment she stood before the Decepticon Warlord and the entirety of his forces that were currently occupying her planet. The room she entered was Cathedral-like with a high vaulted ceiling and absolutely packed with mobbing Decepticons. Jeers, cries, and other manners of malignant vocalizations heated the atmosphere to a fever-pitch. If ever there was a moment of feeling like a very small fish surrounded by a school of sharks, now was it. The ground rattled and shook from the movement of so many huge beings in a paradoxically-confined space. A narrow path opened through the throng of Decepticon soldiers and Maria saw an enormous figure seated at the far end of the room. Even from this distance her eyes caught the light reflecting off the being's massive cannon situated on his right arm.

Megatron.

The seated figure made a motion with his hand and Maria felt someone step behind her. She had barely cast a glance over her shoulder before she was brutally shoved forward, a mech the closest to her size she had yet to see, brandished an alien rifle. Even though he was small compared to others of his race, Rumble still towered over her by a solid two and half feet.

"Get moving fleshy!" he barked loudly, threatening to jab her with the barrel once more.

Maria quickly obeyed, not looking to add another bruise to her already impressive display. The ground shook violently behind her, enough to cause her and Rumble both to stumble. She whirled on reflex only to see Skywarp brought down to his knees, arms pinned roughly behind his back. A strange, glowing blue cuff held his wrists together.

She almost ran to him, but caught herself abruptly when the glare he leveled at her could damn near melt iron ore. Reluctantly, she turned and with Rumble's rifle muzzle in her back, she approached the Decepticon leader. Her grey eyes flitted to and fro, never lingering long, but one thing she did notice: Skywarp's wingmates were not present. The cold sensation in her stomach deepened.

The jeers and cat-calls rang louder than ever. Voices shouting "human-lover!" and "Traitor" echoed in the grand hall. As the calls increased in voracity, Maria felt consumed by guilt. Skywarp was in this predicament because of her. She had caused this. She had made him become an object of disgust and repulsion among his people. Never before had she felt so conflicted and so, so lost as to what to do or how to act. Perhaps his vehemence wasn't an act after all. She settled for staring straight ahead and tried to quiet her raucous thoughts.

They stopped before the great throne at Megatron's feet. Maria was shoved to her knees and by the feel of the tremors on the floor, she could tell that Skywarp was on his knees as well. The Decepticon leader stood up and instinct dictated that Maria keep her eyes averted and down. Her heart rate soared and cold, damp sweat beaded her brow. Wisps of honey hair clung damply to her neck and cheek, but she didn't even dare a flinch. This. This moment in time would dictate just how badly the remainder of her visit would go.

"Skywarp," Megatron began, his voice instantly quieting the assembly. "Of all my loyal subjects, you were the one I least expected to wound me with such a betrayal." Megatron's words were cold and wounded.

"I expect such traitorous behavior from Starcream and rest assured, your trinemate has been dealt with extensively for his transgressions, but you…" The Decepticon leader stooped before the black Seeker and held his chin tightly. Skywarp returned his leader's glare with one of unreadable intensity. The Seeker showed no remorse, no fear, no anger. For once, Skywarp's emotions were not readily seen or displayed as they had been so commonly observed in the past.

"But you…" Megatron repeated, "...I don't know what to do with you as yet," Megatron continued. He shoved Skywarp's helm away. "Explain yourself."

"A debt was owed and a debt I paid," Skywarp snarled softly, optics never leaving Megatron's face.

The warlord's face darkened like the skies before a Terran hurricane. "You are weak!" The kick came suddenly and violently. Maria felt the rush of wind as Megatron's leg sailed above her head and connected with Skywarp's side. She flattened herself to the floor and felt another great shudder when Skywarp toppled over from the force of the blow.

"You were shot down! By humans! And to make matters worse you collaborated with them! And continue to do so!"

Skywarp stared dumbfounded. He knew. Megatron knew.

Megatron turned from his soldier and looked towards Soundwave. The visored mech remained motionless, although the large metal bird perched on his shoulder shrieked loudly.

"Although given Starscream's assessment of current world circumstances, I suppose if not for your traitorous inclinations all those years ago, I would not have been made aware of the location of the Allspark on this planet or the individual that currently possesses it."

Skywarp's optics widened at the revelation. "He told you?"

Megatron grinned ferally. "No. Not willingly anyway." Megatron continued.

"Laserbeak informed me about the Allspark and this human who calls himself Doom. Soundwave's interrogation methods confirmed everything else, including your trinemates' unauthorized rescue mission for your pathetic aft seven stellar cycles ago." The feral smile grew broader, focused on Skywarp with an intensity that made his spark clench. He knew that grin. Saw it directed at Starscream many a time shortly before a vicious beating took place. To have it now directed at him...he wondered if his Trine were even still functional. He knew they were alive; but his bond to them was quiet, still. No thoughts, no emotions, nothing. They must be in a deep stasis for them to feel so distant.

And Maria? What was to be her fate now? Megatron's voice yanked his thoughts back into the present.

"No amount of collaborating evidence will ever compare to first-hand accounts. Soundwave! Please, show Skywarp the same courtesies that you showed Starscream and Thundercracker! And let this be a warning to all here, that fraternizing with the enemy, whether Autobot or Human, will not be tolerated. EVER."

Skywarp knew then he was about to get fragged. Soundwave's methods of interrogation were incredibly thorough and often at the cost of his subject's sanity. If Starscream and Thundercracker had been forced to endure the Communications Officer's touch, it was no wonder he had not seen, heard, or felt his trinemates upon arrival. He briefly wondered which was worse-insanity or termination?

His helm was yanked backwards violently as Soundwave approached. An evil grin split Megatron's face. In that visage Skywarp came to a second realization. No matter how perfectly he may have served his Master over the last several millennia, all it took was for one misjudgement to erase a lifetime of devoted loyalty. All that he had done, without question and without waver, had been for nought. His eons of loyalty had not been rewarded. It was being punished. Megatron would have rather he terminated or faced capture and experimentation than return to the Decepticon fold assisted by the enemy. And that revelation filled him with a deep and painful bitterness.

By this time Soundwave had stepped forward and was reaching for his helm. Skywarp didn't fight it. He knew it was pointless. A pang of guilt assaulted his spark when he realized that Maria was as good as dead now. Some guardian he turned out to be. Megatron considered him a failure and a traitor and he had brought his friend's only offspring to a tyrant that would now surely kill her as soon as look at her. Now forced to kneel and endure Soundwave's probing for Megatron's enjoyment, Skywarp had never felt more like a failure than he did in that moment. Perhaps it was cowardly to think such a thought, but he was immensely grateful he would be terminated before Stinger found out about just how horribly he had failed...at everything. He offlined his optics and waited for the darkness.

Maria watched in stunned, silent horror as Skywarp toppled forward onto his chest, optics dull and colorless. The blue mech, Soundwave, retracted the wiring that had invaded the Seeker's helm and he stepped back, visor emotionless and blank.

"Events: Corroborated."

"Good," Megatron growled lowly. "Take him to the brig, but put him in a separate cell from his trinemates. I will finish with them after we retrieve the Allspark."

Two soldiers picked up the limp, unconscious Seeker and began to carry him from the hall.

Maria felt a dark shadow fall around her. She heard the Decepticon leader begin to address her. She had almost hoped he had forgotten she was there. But she wasn't to be so minuscule as to be overlooked. "Now then, fleshling. What am I to do with you?" She heard him rumble somewhere above her. "Perhaps target practice is order? Or perhaps," he grinned evilly, "a scavenger hunt for the crew? Your uselessness as a species isn't completely without merit." The war lord gave a low chuckle.

Several mechs laughed eagerly at that suggestion. Some cheered wildly. Maria felt her heart freeze and her breathing hitch. This was it. This was how she died. The object of a sick, twisted, alien cat-and-mouse game. She swore internally, determined not to break before her captors. Skywarp had been adamant that she not show fear, not show weakness. She remained silent and met Megatron's expectant glare with one of her own: silent defiance.

At this point she heard Soundwave speak once more. "Human subject useful. Interrogation: recommended."

Maria went translucent. That seemed even worse than Megatron's suggestions! She saw what that mech did to Skywarp. There was no way she'd survive the same treatment!

"What could this blood sack possibly know that would be of interest to us?" she heard the fearsome Decepticon leader ask.

Soundwave turned to his master, a slow deliberate movement that gave her goosebumps. She couldn't help but to watch now. Her fate however horrible it would be rested on this robot's reply.

"Human subject related to prominent government official. Information required." The blue mech did not elaborate further. Megatron regarded his third-in-command carefully. It wasn't often Soundwave made requests, but when he did there was always a very thorough reason. If his Communications Officer perceived some level of value, no matter how minute in the human pest, then he would grudgingly acquiesce. Lesser things than this had often changed the outcome of battle for them.

Megatron inclined his helm in silent acknowledgement. Rumble yanked Maria to her feet. He was laughing eagerly. Soundwave knelt before her and regarded the tiny human for what felt like an eternity. Silent tears slipped from the corner of her eyes, but no other signs of distress were apparent. This one was strong. Judging by what he had gleaned from Skywarp's memory core, the progeny of Skywarp's association had inherited her father-creator's strength of will. She would need it.

He reached out and grasped the juvenile female firmly and then stood to his pedes. Acknowledging his leader with a small nod, Soundwave left the gathered throng.

Megatron silenced the murmurs with a flick of his hand.

"Ramjet."

"My Lord?"

"Congratulations. You have now been promoted to Supreme Aerial Commander. I would suggest doing a better job than your predecessors."

Soundwave was nothing if not methodical. No detail went unnoticed, no memory untouched. When Lazorbeak had returned to him with surveillance of Starscream's theories concerning the human named Victor Von Doom, the Communications Officer had immediately launched his own, private investigation into the elusive human.

He discovered that Starscream had been right, for once. The human was immensely powerful, much more so than any one else of his species. He was not ordinary. The acquisition of the AllSpark and Doom's abilities to wield it were a source of deep trepidation for the third-in-command. Humans were not advanced enough to know how such an ancient artifact was supposed to work, but Victor Von Doom had figured it out and he had done so, in a rapid amount of time and with none of the rest of the world being any wiser. It was a deeply disturbing revelation.

Then there was the issue with the Command Trine's human allies.

When that strange emergency signal broadcasted not one Terran day ago, Soundwave had cracked the code almost immediately. He knew that Megatron would want to know its origin, meaning, and intended recipient as well. Still even more curious, was when Starscream ordered Skywarp to respond to the message. Of all the Decepticons in the army, why would the Seekers care? Why would Starscream?

True to form when Soundwave told Megatron not only who the message had been from, but that Starscream had authorized a response, the Decepticon leader went into a fit of rage. This. This was the ultimate betrayal and the final betrayal.

The confrontation that resulted was a spectacular display. Starscream was not about to reveal anything to Megatron willingly and Thundercracker...for once remained staunch, rigid and immovable in defense of his Air Commander. The solidarity being displayed against him, enraged their leader and stoked a battle lust that hadn't been seen since the Pits of Kaon. It was a miracle of Primus that the two Seekers were left functioning. Granted, they had fought ferociously, defending each other's sparks with a sense of urgency no one had seen in vorns. The savagery of the fight became a stark reminder as to why Megatron was the Decepticon supreme leader and also, why Starscream and Thundercracker had help such lofted positions for so long. It was only by Soundwave's servo that they were left functional enough for a thorough internal mind probe. Starscream rarely fought so hard for any ideal that would put his spark in danger of extermination. He would always use duplicity, misdirection, and calculated movements to generate the most amount of disruption with the least amount of damage to his chassis. But an all out stand? What in the name of Primus would cause the Air Commander to act so differently than normal? Soundwave was deeply curious. There had to be an ulterior motive and the only way to see those motives was through a mind probe.

Ultimately, Megatron agreed to leave the Seekers functional for an investigation.

All was revealed during his mental probe into their memory cores. Usually, Soundwave retrieved the information with little regard for his subject's mental state. However, as he delved deep into Starscream's convoluted and terribly complex psyche, Soundwave learned many interesting and disconcerting truths. First, Starscream had faced Victor Von Doom personally and had bore witness to the true destructive power the human possessed. Second, Starscream had barely been able to defeat the human. The Air Commander was an accomplished tactician and skilled combatant. Attaining and holding his position was a testament to his battle prowess and keen intelligence. It seemed unfeasible that a human could get the best of the Decepticon Second-in-Command, but Soundwave saw the battle, saw everything leading up to it and most importantly, he saw Doom's intent to mutilate Skywarp and replicate his unique biological gift. Had that plan been successful, Soundwave sincerely doubted even Megatron could lead them to a victory over such a militant foe.

And thus was launched Soundwave's private investigation into Victor Von Doom and an effort to measure just how much of a threat he could pose.

Because Starscream and Thundercracker's actions had inadvertently saved them all from potential destruction at Doom's hand at that time, Soundwave made the clear and conscious choice to not shred their psyches during his interrogations. No. That would be counter-productive, especially since Doom still functioned, had returned, and now had harnessed the power of the AllSpark. Soundwave recognized that they would need the Seekers should a fight with Doom manifest...and it would manifest. Megatron's knowledge of Doom's possession of the Allspark guaranteed it now.

Thundercracker's probe had corroborated everything Starscream saw and by this point, Soundwave knew Skywarp's would too. From all the events Soundwave gleaned, past and present, one startling fact remained clear: had the Trine not accepted the assistance of the human pilot that permeated their memory cores, the current state of world affairs would be very, very different today.

Soundwave reported everything. He even emphasized just how strategic the human had been in diverting Doom's plans and saving their one and only teleport-capable soldier. But rather than see the human collaboration as a means to an end, Megatron had focused on his Aerial Elite's duplicity and willingness to work with the human. So repulsed by what he saw, the warlord either could not or would not see the greater issue at hand: Doom was still at large and was currently the single greatest threat to the Decepticon army. In fact, with Doom's ability to harness the Allspark, all of Earth was in great peril.

Starscream predicted that the energy shortage was a farce, a play to pull them out and instigate a conflict that by all logic appeared to be a distraction. But to what end? Neither he nor later, Soundwave had reached a logical conclusion.

Starscream feared for himself. He feared for Thundercracker and he feared for Skywarp. And oddly enough, Starscream feared for the Decepticon Army itself. Soundwave had touched the deepest depths of the Air Commander's psyche and saw it all. But most importantly, Starscream feared that Megatron would not be able to defeat Doom, and certainly not alone.

And that was where the human connection played such a vital role in this entire thing.

Soundwave saw Starscream's machinations and reasonings for maintaining, or more accurately allowing, a civil relationship to continue with the human despite knowing Megatron's stand on humanity. The human pilot was, whether he knew it or not, the perfect emissary to mediate relations between humans, Decepticons, and even Autobots in the event that Doom would inevitably make a power-play.

The fact that Doom's body had never been found had left deep-rooted doubts and suspicions in the Seeker's processor that Doom was truly dead. As a contingency plan, Starscream had allowed his trinemate to maintain the friendship with the human. The humans actions during Latveria and the subsequent retrieval of his trinemate had grudgingly earned Starscream's respect. His position and prominence in the human military gave the pilot certain clearances for accessing and the ability to brief key US government leaders. And finally, due to the human's commitment and unusually sound honor code, Starscream knew that Skywarp's pilot friend would and could attest to the Command Trine's intentions for negotiations should things deteriorate to that state.

In effect, Starscream had laid the foundation for a necessary, intrepid, and unprecedented alliance to combat Victor Von Doom should the dictator return and try to make good on his plans for world domination.

The hitch? Their human ally and his family had completely disappeared.

That is until that strange emergency broadcast occurred and now, here in his servo, was the offspring of said pilot emissary. Skywarp's probing had filled in many knowledge gaps for him and confirmed several assumptions. However, some questions remained. And Skywarp's most recent memories hinted that the girl may have inadvertently discovered who had taken her father. That pilot was still a key piece and his disappearance only reaffirmed Soundwave's suspicions that Doom was making his move now by removing any possibility of an alliance to act against him.

The girl was terrified. He could sense it, smell it even. But despite the chemical betrayals of her fleshy body, the juvenile was making a valiant effort to not let her fear physically show on her face. Hopefully, she had the answers that he sought. It would be a delicate thing to search for and extract those answers without damaging her, but then again, he always savored a challenge against his skills.

Soundwave raised a hand and the wires slithered forth.

"Soundwave. I presume you found the information that you sought?"

Several hours later, the Communications Officer was back at his master's side. He nodded his helm once in acknowledgement.

"And the human? She has been disposed of properly?" Megatron asked, optics gleaming malevolently.

Again the helm nodded once.

"Excellent. Then let us prepare to show the humans just what unhindered and unfettered Decepticon might is capable of!"

Soundwave dared ask one question, but one he needed to know the answer to. "Query: What of Victor Von Doom and alleged possession of the Allspark?"

Megatron's face sobered as he mulled the question over. "He's human, Soundwave. And no human could ever hope to manipulate the powers of the Allspark in its entirety. We will first deal with the US government and their pitiful defenses. Perhaps once Doom sees the true extent of our might as we decimate the single greatest military on this planet, he will bow before me and beg for forgiveness for even touching such a sacred object of Cybertronian origin."

"Threat Analysis: Victor Von Doom significant. Starscream's actions, while ill-conceived revealed much."

Megatron's mouth tightened as he was reminded of his...former SIC. "Yes, well. Starscream's failure at terminating the human will remain the capstone of all his previous failures and a testament as to why he'll never be leader of the Decepticons. Believe me, Soundwave, no human, however powerful he may think himself to be, could hope to stand before the might of the Decepticon Army. Like everything else I've had to endure when it comes to that treacherous Seeker, if I want something done, I'm better off doing it myself."

At that point, Soundwave knew. Once again the Air Commander had known Megatron better than he knew himself. Starscream had feared Megatron would not listen. Had feared he would fall victim to his own overwhelming successes. For once the Air Commander had been right, had attempted in his own devious, yet methodical way, to avert disaster for the Decepticon cause and give Megatron warning of an opponent that might finally rival his own power. But oh, the bitter irony that Megatron would not heed his Second's for once sound council, even more bitter the fact that the battle to come was clearly a trap.

But that didn't mean Soundwave had to follow with complete blind loyalty. He would follow Megatron's orders, for better or for worse, but that didn't mean he couldn't lay a few contingency plans of his own. For instance, once Megatron had given his less-than-desirable answer a predetermined sub-routine activated in the brig of the Nemesis, timed to release the four prisoners approximately 2 cycles after the departure of the main army.

No guards were to be left behind. Megatron had thoroughly beaten two of his three former Command Seekers into such a state that he didn't think they would wake prior to the army's return. Enter contingency number two: Soundwave had activated two service drones to enter the cells and begin repairs once the power grid deactivated. Full repairs and restoration would take some time, but it was necessary for what was to come.

His third and most prolific contingency action was accessing Starscream's private server and downloading to it the sum of his research on Victor Von Doom, the approximate coordinates of the battle about to take place, and finally the location of one Lieutenant Colonel Don "Stinger" Kessinger.

The female juvenile had proven useful after all, just not in the way that Megatron had expected. She had resisted his invasion of her mind quite furiously, but she was easy enough to overwhelm and force into a state of unconsciousness, a dream sleep if you will. Within her memories he saw how she first met her father and Skywarp, the end result of her father's disappearance, and later, Skywarp's timely intervention by way of the tracking beacon signet, her rescue and subsequent stay with the Autobots. He saw her tentative friendships, felt the overwhelming doubt and self-loathing, he tasted the human's bitter loneliness at losing first her mother-creator and then her father. Humans were such emotionally driven creatures. Soundwave was actually surprised that she had held her ground as well as she did when thrown before the Decepticon horde not one cycle earlier. As emotional as they were prone to be, he was realizing that, individually, each could be rather surprising as well.

When he saw the memories of the truck stop and re-lived her memory of the overheard phone conversation, Soundwave knew he had a lead on who had taken the Air Force pilot. He ran searches on the Bates human and quickly discovered her to be an aide to the Secretary of Defense of the United States government. When Maria voiced the name of 'Castlehoff' to Skywarp after he intervened, Soundwave ran a confirmation search while simultaneously finishing his combing of her memories.

It took him even less time to pinpoint the Secretary of Defense and discover that Victor Von Doom was using the influential human. It appeared that, indeed, Doom had foresaw the pilot's usefulness just as Starscream had. Only the Latverian dictator had carefully and quietly removed him from the picture and turned his own human allies against him, while at the same time neatly securing the cooperation of one of the most key influential military leaders in the world.

But neither Castlehoff nor Doom could have anticipated that the foremost expert in covert surveillance and technological security would uncover their scheme and detect the location of their hostage. All because a Decepticon Seeker had unintentionally befriended a human pilot seven years ago.

His taskings done, Soundwave turned to join his leader at the surface. He knew not what the outcome of the battle would be, but he had calculated that Megatron had less than a 10% chance of defeating this Victor Von Doom in a straight confrontation with what information he knew, and with the AllSpark in Doom's possession those chances slipped even further. No, if the Decepticons were to survive, if any species wished to continue their existence-Decepticons, Autobots and humans needed to fight together. Megatron had chosen to ignore a grave and vile threat based on the erroneous assumption that all humans were a weak, pathetic excuse for an intelligence species, and while the ability to convince his leader otherwise had long since passed, the ability to secure the future of the Decepticons was still a very real probability. He had served Megatron loyally for millenia, had served the Cause for even longer. And should Megatron's judgement prove fatal, the Cause still needed to continue. There was a certain wisdom in recognizing that the enemy of your enemy could be your friend; Soundwave was still amazed that the one Decepticon to have figured that out had been the same one to have hated humanity the most.