Three years since his little bargain with Deadlock, and already things were better for the Decepticons than ever before. With the cyber matter harvested from Alpha Century, they were able to rebuild the space bridge pillars. Dispenser then ordered that the rest of the cyber matter be used to construct new Decepticons. This new generation looked a little different from the ones on already on new Cybertron, but they were loyal and strong. Over two hundred new lives were born from the destruction of less than a fiftieth on a continent, as far as Dispenser was concerned, that was a good trade. Some of the birthing vines were taken from the mane hatchery and placed around the new pillars, establishing the first colonies outside of port Nemesis. But even prosperity brought with it issues, as Dispenser was discovering for himself.
"We have a ship that can drink suns, and if needed, spit them back out at an enemy! We have a means to instantly transport the entirety of our army to and from entire galaxies! We have an army big enough to conquer twelve star systems! Why have we not taken the Earth!?" Razorclaw was his usual hysterical self, but that did not mean that no one in the command staff disagreed with him. Dispenser had to figure out how to disarm the situation quickly.
"Because I have not commanded you to. That should be enough! If you need to feed your bloodlust, then go to Alpha Cerntary. I gifted the Predacons that world as a personal hunting ground. Use it!"
"We were meant to rule the universe as its unchallenged masters! How can we claim to be masters of anything if we are too scared to take the world next door!"
"Careful, Rasorclaw! You are getting close to the limits of my patients!"
"I will tell you all why our Lord does not want us to go to Earth, because he fears Optimus Prime!" Razorclaw pointed at Dispenser, and the worst part was, he was right. Dispenser wanted to wait until after Deadlock took Prime off to be executed by the creators before moving on Earth. The little guy had seen Optimus defeat entire armies, and he dared not send even one soldier to Earth for fear of the Autobot leader destroying new Cybertron and everyone on it. But he could not show weakness. All Decepticons, and especially the Predacons, had the inherent need to expand, to prove their dominance over other lifeforms. An appetite that was instilled into them by Megatron, but was lessening in every new generation born on new Cybertron. The problem was that his entire command staff was made up of the old guard. Those who followed Megatron from the ruins of Cybertron, the passion for conquest was still hot and burning in their sparks.
"Enough of your questioning!" Dispenser then transformed into his defense turret alt mode. Firing high yield explosive rounds at Razorclaw until the brute was limp and bleeding out.
"Another tirade like that from one of your subordinates, Deathsaurus, and I will have the Predacons banished to that hunting ground of yours! Am, I, Clear!?"
"As glass, my Lord." Deathsaurus then moved to grab up his wounded follower. Dispenser knew that his little brother understood why he had to do that. He just hoped that it was enough to keep the rest of his command staff in line.
"Do the rest of you have anything else to add?!" Dispenser looked over his commanders. If they wanted to, any one of them could tear him limb from limb. And Dispenser knew it, and that was almost as scary as Optimus Prime.
...
Dispenser was alone for the first time in years. The Predacons, who usually protected him at all hours, were out looking over their wounded comrade. He needed the alone time, but it did not last long.
"Was what you did to Rasorclaw really necessary!? It will be months before he can even stand on his own, let alone fight!" Deathsaurus yelled at his friend in beast mode, glaring down the bot he could kill in an instant if he wanted to.
"What would you have me do, little brother? Let him rally my lieutenants against me and start a secant civil war!? Yes, his punishment was necessary, and that is what your really made about!" Deathsaurus snarled at Dispenser before transforming into bot mode.
"Just so you know, I don't entirely disagree with him. We have a force beyond anything the Decepticons have had since before the fall of Cybertron. And we are cowering on this red dirt-ball in the shadow of Earth! Do you have any idea how that makes you look?"
"We will not make a single move on that planet until I know Prime is on his way out of the system. No excuses."
"By the All-Spark Dis, the guy is not invincible!"
"Isn't he!? Because I know an entire army of good cons lying dead on one that forsaken rock who disagree!" Deathasurus moved his hand to rub his four eyes, clearly frustrated with what's happening. But nothing would prepare the larger con for what his friend would say next.
"I think we need to make a few changes to my personal guard."
"What? WHAT!? If your trying to stop a que, this is the opposite of what you need to do to fix it!"
"I understand why you would say that. The Predacons are your guys, and they took beast modes to honor you. But I can't have personal guards that question me and inspire rebellion."
"Who, could you possibly pick to replace us!?"
"Not you, them." Deathasurus then transformed and roared at Dispenser.
"NO! I am their leader! They look up to me! Expect me to lead them! I WILL NOT ABANDON THEM TO MAKE YOUR LIFE LESS DIFFICULT!" The massive beast then took to the air in a huff. Dispenser didn't even try to stop him from leaving. He thought that all his little brother needed was some time to cool off. Then everything would be back to normal.
...
Deathsaurus was so mad that he almost didn't care when he nearly crashed several people on his flight to the medical facility. How could Dispenser think that we would just cast aside his most loyal followers like that, he thought to himself. He then made it to the window of Razorclaw's room. Being a bit too big to enter it properly, he could see all of his troops inside.
"What did the boss say when you talked to him?"
"Nothing good, Tantrum. He is replacing us as his personal guards."
"What?! That little squicky bug! I'll mash that little freak into scra-"
"ENOUGH, RAMPAGE!" Everyone went silent, not wanting to anger their captain any further.
"So what does this mean for us? Are we getting our hunting grounds taken away? Are we getting banished?" Divebomb asked, being the first to break the silence.
"Not on my watch, guys. Rampage, you still in good with the antarctic base?"
"Um, sure, am boss. But Why?"
"Be- *cough* -cause you rust brains... *cough* *cough* The boss is taking over... Am I *cough* right?" Rasorclaw chuckled from his hospital bed as he tried to stand up straight, but was shoved back down by Deathasurus's hand.
"You just get some rest, buddy, and know that I will take care of everything. You scrap piles just have to be ready when shit does go down." All of the beastformers smiled as they all got on the same page.