Ducking away into the dark, Vibes, Gnash and Shred all altered their holograms to their specific disguises. Shred started messing with her voice box now, sounding much more menacing. "Alright, we all know what we're doing. I'm the big boss here and I take no scrap from no one."

Vibes leaned forward, "Are you trying to tell us, or psych yourself?"

"Eh…mostly the later. Gnash, I know it's going to be a little hard for you but try not to slaughter the first bot we meet."

"Gnash try be good."

"Alright. We're here. Let's not make too much of a scene." Shred hesitantly raised her arm, looking back for a second before knocking on the door.

A series of blaster cannons activated as a monitor light turned on, "What? What do you want?"

Shred tugged a leash, dragging the disguised Vibes forward. "We've got a bounty for you freaks."

"What bounty? No one mentioned anything about a bounty coming in today! First they leave me behind now this?"

"Too bad for you. Now are you going to let us in, or do you want to tell your boss that you rejected a bounty from him directly."

Just as she started to pulled Vibes away from the door, the blasters withdrew, "Wait! Wait! Hold on." It took a cycle or two but eventually someone did open the door. The bot in question was rather tall and thin, multiple arms with sever different sized lenses to allow for more detailed analysis. As soon as he saw them, many of those lenses zoomed over his optics to examine them. Three hands extended out to Shred and Gnash, "Bounty identification please."

Shred took out the fake ids, leaving things to this strange bot. He slowly took each one, bring each one to his lenses to examine closely. He looked at Shred again, and as he was about to say something, the door's monitor light flash purple for a second.

Handing back the ids the mysterious bot turned back, he waited to be handed the leash, "Well, are you giving me the bounty or not?"

Shred pulled the leash away from him, "Sorry pal, but this was a hand delivery request. I ain't giving her up to anyone but your boss. Unless you think the Maximals might be able to give me a better offer."

He sneered at her, moving aside as his many arms waved them inside, "Fine, get in. Hurry. I'm sure we can sort this out without having to involve the Maximals."

Thrashclaw bashed her Tail-Whip against this strange grey bot, sandwiching her against the wall. Thrashclaw swiftly spun around to bring her destronium-tipped stiletto up from her hidden knee slot to pierce through the bot's chest. This was a slippery bot, jumping back only for Thrashclaw to pull out one of her mini-gattling-blasters as she tried to gun her down.

Not only was she able to slip out of the pin from her Tail-Whip, she also managed to avoid the unrelenting flurry of plasma by backflipping and doing one of those fancy jump spins. Soundblaster wasn't interfering, something that seemed both strange and rather helpful so Thrashclaw didn't see a need to hold herself back.

Seeing her flipping away Thrashclaw assessed that she was a practitioner to a form of metallikato, though she couldn't identify what school she studied under. The Veloci-Missile would be more of a hindrance within the enclosed ally despite gaining the use of her raptor form's teeth and her raptor form itself more so should the spy got past her teeth and claws.

Thrashclaw hadn't felt this excited in a long time, a worthwhile opponent that was keeping her on edge and pushing her talents in a straight up combat. Thrash had not forgotten about what was at stake though that actually seemed to make the fight worth battling even more.

Darklight retired her sais to her arms as her nunchaku launched into her hand from a hidden compartment from her leg. This bot must have some training in metallikato though her programming from the humans allowed her to hold some surprises thanks to the variety of human martial arts. Her real concern was what the black Soundwave copy was doing, an intimidation factor to keep her on edge or simply a guard to prevent her from escaping.

Darklight showed off her dexterity with the weapon that appeared to be something that her opponent had never seen before. "Don't see the point of slapping yourself with that weird twin baton, but I'm sure one of my girls can find some use for it after I rip that from your hands."

Darklight grabbed both handles, stretching the chain taut as the two fighters gauged the other. Darklight felt the weight of that tail already and she'd rather not get hit by that rapid-fire blaster. But her whip arm would be her weakest side if she could get in without being pinned for a full blast of plasma. Then again that was why she pulled out the nunchaku.

Darklight made the first move, rushed at her opponent as she started spinning the nunchaku between her hands. Her opponent first tried gunning her down, but her speed was helping a bit. She was waiting for the tail whip to strike. Using her nunchaku Darklight captured the whip and used it to block her enemy's blaster sight.

Darklight was going to grab one of her two beam sabers attacked to her backpack until her opponent dropped the whip and surprised her with a second blaster. Darklight quickly backflipped away to avoid the oncoming blaster fire.

Her estrange opponent was smiling, despite missing. "You're a lot better than I gave you credit for, little one." She twirled the second blaster around, "Making me pull out both of my toys isn't something many can claim they forced me to do and live to tell about. Let's see which side you get to stay on." Darklight grabbed the longer handle, readying the weapon as she activated the blade as the glow from the blade seemed to intensify her glare.

Inside the lab, Gnash was starting to get more and more upset as she remembered more about everything that had happened to her. Vibes couldn't do anything, especially with her hands bound behind her back and pretending to be a prisoner. Shred wanted to say or do something, but their escort was rather impatient with the group this entire time.

The estrange bot turned, seeing Gnash looking into one of the chambers. "I see you're fascinated by one of our testing chambers. I'm sure this is the furthers you bounty hunters ever get to see. I hear the screams of some subjects while the experiments are performed. It does sooth the spark knowing such valuable data is being gathered. Wouldn't you agree, subject 45351?" Gnash was about to jump him, but with the snap of his fingers a series of mechanical arms rush out from the walls and grapple her, stretching her limbs out. He turned to Vibes and Shred, "Do not think I wasn't aware of your attempt of deception. I just wanted to ensure our true test subject couldn't escape again." Many of his arms started turning into blasters or buzzsaws, "Now, I hope I can keep you two relatively intact. Having pieces does make experimentation all the more difficult in some aspects."

Shred immediately dropped Vibes' leash and rushed at the lengthy bot with a twin-edged blade. She was actually keeping up her disguise to try and misdirect at least a few strikes which does work before her disguise dropped. "You won't take her!"

"Too late, little one." Two buzzsaws was grinding against her blades, as a third moved to her backside, "Now it looks like I get to pluck this little birdy."

Slowly the blades got closer to Shred's feathers until a loud bang echoed in the hall as energon and oil splattered all over her. The saws stopped moving as the bot collapsed. She turned to see Vibes having freed herself with her sniper rifle in hand. "As one of my friends would say, 'You forgot one, asshole'."

Shred kicked the dead bot away, trying to clean herself off, "What's an 'asshole'?"

Vibes shrugged, "I don't know. But as I understand it, it's part of organic anatomy. From what interactions I've had, it might be an equivalent to a tailpipe or skidplate. But enough organic anatomy, let's get Gnash freed." Vibes took aim again, blasting each arm and dismantling them, freeing Gnash to rip the claws off herself.

They took a bit more of her synth-flesh off her damaged sections, but nothing too noticeable. Shred soon jumped Gnash, squeezing her, "I'm sorry you had to go through all of that. I'll make sure Thrash hears about how well behaved you were and I'll try to sneak in a few extra energon snacks later."

To Vibes' surprise, Gnash was gently rubbing Shred's head, "Gnash glad Shred not hurt." As soon as Shred let go, Gnash transformed back to her raptor self, jumping onto the bot's cold body and started to tear into him. Once she was satisfied with desecrating the body, she looked up, covered in oil and energon. "Gnash forgot why we want be here."

Vibes pulled out a scanner, "Don't worry. We're close. Get ready for a fight, just the same." Shred kept her blade in hand, pulling out a simple Energo-Pistol and followed Vibes.

Vibes quickly noticed how uniform this lab was looking, a tad worried about their path back out. "Do we need to start marking our path back?"

Shred lightly tapped the blunt end of her blade against her head, "Don't worry. I've been mapping this place out since we entered. We won't get lost."

Gnash was still a bit on edge after that attack, but she and the others continued onward. It didn't take long for something to get noticed on the scanner. In fact, it almost seemed like the lab's systems themselves were trying to guide them somewhere.

Soon they came upon a room separate from the rest of the lab, filled with several monitors and a number of computers that were connected together. "I am glad that you arrived just in time." The trio quickly turned back to the hall, turning to search for anything. "Please, you do not need to worry. We are alone, you ensured that. Now please enter."

Vibes entered first, her weapon still at the ready as she slowly looked over the monitor. "Where are you monitoring us from?"

"I am here in this very room." The monitors slowly moved together, forming the image of Shockwave's head. Shred was just as shocked as Vibes as they looked on to see the faceless optic of Shockwave staring them down. "Come now Autobots, you must have realized how precise and logical everything that has happened on these worlds has been?"

Vibes shock her head, "No, Shockwave gave himself to the Reapers! Shepard watched you get deleted when the Crucible activated!"

"Shockwave Alpha. As stated, the true Shockwave was terminated when the Reapers were eliminated. However, did you believe Shockwave would entrust so many projects to be supervised by such fickle and ruthless Decpeticons? Particularly when it came to Autobot activity? As you yourselves had just experienced with Flatline when I ordered him to bring you to me unharmed."

Shred was taken back, "Y-You knew? You knew we survived the war? And that we settled here with you?"

"Shockwave Alpha intended it. Autobots, Decepticons; they are simply titles of identification. They hide the hidden potential our people possess. What stopped our people from truly advancing were roadblocks such as Zeta Prime and the Council as a collective. Megatron was a useful vessel of change, but his ideals eventually were overshadowed by the costs of war that he himself performed that left Cybertron uninhabitable. And just like all those before him, had to be removed for the greater good."

Vibes was started to understand, but even as a copy this was still Shockwave they were effectively speaking with. The cold calculative thought process, efficiency and data ruling all actions. At the same time, it felt that he was holding something back. "So, all of this has been some kind of societal reset? Then why allow the Zoidians to evolve on your new Cybertron?"

"A very bland view on our work. Autobots and Decepticons both have unique flaws and strengths. The Autobots institutionalizing a new form of policing via the Maximals while Decepticon militarization advanced technology to adapt to these new conditions. It has been a balancing act, one that has been painstaking to achieve around the schemers and dreamers. The Reaper threat was a useful tool to prevent intergalactic expansion before we were capable of controlling it. As for the organics, they have been useful data-points that needed to be explored when the time came for our expansion into the greater galactic stage once again."

Vibes was still keeping her weapon aimed at the computers, "So why bring us here? What's the point in letting us get this far into your base? Explaining your plans to your enemy?"

The monitors all started shifting, showing different scenes of the city from a distance and the dual breaking down into a real battle. "Only to show your plans have already failed. You are about to witness the culmination of research and experimentation used to reset civilization once again."

Deluge, Flamewar and many of their assistance were looking out at the surface of their city with several monitoring equipment at the ready. "Deluge, we're getting the signal."

"Excellent. Our honored guests have arrived. Unleashed the beast."

On cue several bots started recording data as one of them deactivated the containment unit. "Spark capture units are on standby."

"All systems nominal. Charged particle weapon restricted."

"Organoid fusion integrated to the spark chamber. Alterations have already modified the armor and weaponry."

"Signal jammers are on standby."

Flamewar nodded. "Now to begin the chaos. Rise and save everyone's spark! Then we move to eliminate our other problem."

Rather than attack the city from underground, where the majority of the city had been expanded, a giant blue and red scorpion rose from the sands as the Maximals started to scramble to their defenses. Almost instinctually it tried to charge its particle cannon first, but the restriction kept it in line.

Just from the design alone, the Maximals quickly attempted to utilize their anti-Zoid weaponry. However due to the sheer size and armor thickness it was ultimately useless. As if they were nothing but toy soldiers, the massive Zoid walked over to their station and started crushing the structure with its claws while using the blades mounted on said claws to slice each Maximal apart.

And with each Maximal dismantled, small suckers went forth and started gathered each spark before they were extinguished. Obviously, this unusual change of tactics was not something they were really prepared for and it seemed that none of their weaponry could stop this monster. As it started using its cannons to fire on the towers, the Maximals started to retreat.

"There has been no degradation to the armor despite everything the Maximals unleashed against it."

"Weapon systems are performing optimally, save for the particle cannon until it has been unlocked."

Deluge could only smile, "Yes, our experiments have met expectations."

Flamewar pulled up the data, "It would seem that having Scorponok's spark serve as the primary personality core to control the body was the appropriate choice. I only fear the longer we allow it such free range the more likely he'll break loose."

"Fear not, there are contingencies for such events. Currently the simple desire to destroy has him well subdued. As the operation continues, we will proceed with the restraints to keep him in line. Until everything has been eliminated utterly such restraints will be unnecessary."

Flamewar quickly pointed at Deluge, "Just remember, if we lose control it'll be all our sparks that Shockwave uses for his next set of experiments."

"Fret not. Shockwave has already anticipated and countered any altercations that could logically occur. It is simply our duty to account for the illogical divergences that my sprout and to tear them out."

Demolisher was glad he didn't put himself down there, but that also meant he had to try to take charge of the ship which was far from his standard tactical scope. "Seeker deployment successful but it appears that the Autobots will have us outgunned once their Zoid reinforcements arrive."

"Shields are holding but they're losing strength fast. Orders sir?"

"Err… Keep blasting, don't let the Autobots anywhere near us!"

"Belay that order." Nightbird and her four sisters arrived as each sister moved to a console and Nightbird herself leisurely pushed past Demolisher, "Prepare to pull back."

Demolisher tried stopping her, but his hesitation just let her walk right past him, "Hey! We can't just abandon Sixshot and the others!"

Nightbird didn't look back to the Con clearly out of his normal combat role given his tank altmode, "We are not abandoning our comrades, Demolisher. We need to prepare for the oncoming Zoid threat. Air superiority will quickly shift if we do not prepare to be overwhelmed now. Divert power from the weapons to the shielding. Once the initial Zoid bombardment finishes, resume anti-air patters. Order the Seekers to eliminate the Zoids first. If accurate, then the Autobots will attempt to save as many of them as possible giving us opportunities to eliminate them. Then we can assist our ground forces by deploying the rest."

Nightshade took up comms, "Astrotrain, are you ready to retrieve our forces?"

"I'm in the hanger with a team loaded up and raring to go."

"Good. The skies are far from clear and launching now would only get you caught in unnecessary crossfire. Standby for launch."

Conduit soon found himself on the bridge, looking to a nearby monitor displaying the aerial battle. "Hmm…quite interesting."

"Do you have something to report?"

Conduit crossed his arms, "If I'm not mistaken, I believe I've mended some of the bots now fighting against us. I can't confirm anything for everyone I see, but I can provide a list of those I can confirm."

If Nightbird's mouth was visible she'd be grinning. "Relay this information to the Justice Division's List. That should help stoke them up for battle as well as give the others time to regroup and reorganize."

Both warships had deployed cover for their respective sides, though that did little to slow down the Dinobots who were biting, skewering, burning or crushing bots with their immense size and power. Slipstream went airborne as soon as the shields dropped and focused her assault on Vibes. While Sixshot tried to help deter the Dinobots, though that seemed to only redirect a few of their ire. "Decepticons, prepare to withdraw! We'll counterattack once we're able!"

As Sixshot attempted to organize the retreat, a beeping sound caught the attention of Kaon. With Vos in his hand in his sniper rifle form, Kaon almost jumped with glee. "Helex," holding up the List, "we have plenty of targets here…"

Despite his size, Helex gently used one of his sub arms to take the datapad as he scrolled through it and saw all of the highlighted names that weren't there before. He punched his larger fists together, "Forget runnin', we're killing everyone who has popped up on the List. No matter what."

Kaon had a sadistic grin, hefting Vos as he started scanning the air for his first target, not to kill but to bring down for the execution. This was hardly the worse situation the DJD have executed a target, but with the number of targets they were going after meant they couldn't do the personal touches they would like to do for each victim but mass processing was something they had prepared for.