Gnash's body started to glow suddenly as she began transforming. With how rough her body was the act of transforming managed to snap through much of the webbing tangling her. "No, impossible! My web should be debilitating you! Stop!" He started firing his shoulder weaponry, but Gnash was far too tough for his simple small arms weaponry.

Walking through the gunfire, Gnash viciously tore one of his limbs off as if it was made from aluminum. She swiftly started beating him with his own arm now, as he tried sending more drones to stop her. Even as dozens of these drones tried to hold her down, Gnash destroyed them with every strike she sent their way. Some tried tying her up again in webbing, but her body was so hot she was burning the webbing away.

Gnash's mouth was dripping with green ooze that melted anything it dripped on. Terrified, the spider quickly turned to run but it was already too late. Gnash's maw distended before bellowing out a powerful roar that turned into a concentrated green beam that sliced the feeing bot in two. The intensity from the beam even burned away the webbing trapping the others.

Gnash was practically dragging herself toward the downed bot with claws ready to tear what remained to shavings. That was until Thrashclaw stopped her by grabbing her shoulder, "Stay." Gnash started wheezing heavily before she suddenly collapsed. "Shred, tend to her." Thrashclaw then moved to what remained, "Tarantulas, you slagging spawn of Unicron filth…" she swiftly gave him a hard kick to the face. Afterward she crushed his shoulder weapons so she could grab him by the neck, "Talk, I know you're still functioning. Gnash missed most of the vital components, so you've got a few more cycles left before your spark fizzles out."

Vibes whispered to Shred as she tended to the stasis locked Gnash by feeding her energon, "Do you know him?"

"Mostly hearsay, but none of it is good. Tarantulas is a twisted scientist who boarders on the psychopathic who commits all of his experiments to live test subjects only. If I had to give a comparison, he'd be Shockwave, if Shockwave cared more about causing pain over results." Shred looked back, "You should hurry up with that transmission while we take care of things. Gnash's Emerald Roar, that's what I coined it as, takes a lot out of her and she needs a lot of energon to recover. Maybe the curator can help if you need any."

Vibes nodded, "Let me know if she needs an extra hand." Vibes moved to the white tiger bot, "Sorry for getting you entangled in our affairs."

His red optics quickly scanned her while recovering from the energon draining webs. Thrash's quick recovery maybe from an energon reserve she had hidden within herself or simply a burst of rage over what happened. Vibes wasn't even bothering trying to hide her badge now, not that he seemed bothered by him. "Not at all. In truth, we should have done more to prevent the Decepticons from swaying our people."

"Maybe, at the very least it'll expose any lies the Deceptions may have tried propagating." Vibes feared that the neglect to the equipment could hinder them but it would seem that Tarantulas had converted much of the equipment to utilize as his private lab. "Have there been any system or hardware changes since your people's exodus from Cybertron?"

"There shouldn't be too much that you shouldn't pick up quickly on, however Tarantulas may have added some 'personal' touches that may need some deciphering."

A message from Shepard reached Lady Linette requesting Zoidian forces maintain their distance and minimize the chaos unfolding from additional Zoid Transformers entering the fray. There was a greater force pulling at strings that few were seeing. "Rease, have your tiny Sworder drones been able to identify what is going on?"

Rease bowed, "Unfortunately it seems that the chaos from everyone's confusion and panic is interfering with our telepathy. But as far as our observations show, everything is as reported by Shepard. A new force of Transformers with Zoid altforms have appeared and are attacking the Autobots. The flying Decepticons are attacking this new force in an attempt to attack an Autobot who drove into their ranks. Our Shield Ligers are supporting their retreat while our artillery is holding fire. Our aerial divisions are meeting heavy resistance from the Decepticon warship and flyers, though thanks to Autobot efforts opening have been created to ease that burden."

"Beyond aerial operations, which they did tell us was their weakest front, these Autobots have burdened themselves with being the vanguard. However, they must have more planned than this retreat. Continue observing and adapt until we can strike true. What have our spies over the Cybertronian city uncovered?"

Another of Elisi's aid bowed, "The unknown scorpion Zoid is being stalled but we still haven't been able to identify where it came from. It appears to have some attributes of the Zoids stolen by Hiltz. We suspect some of the Zoids attacking the fleeing Cybertronians may originate from the traitors, but we cannot confirm unless we get closer. Given the current known variables, it may be possible that some of these are also Transformer Zoids. Though why they are attack their own is eluding our understanding of their strategy under those assumptions."

With the Cybertronians fleeing their own city, the drones have been able to infiltrate the area without any interference, but the situation overall only seemed more dire. "How are our sea forces?"

"We've lost all contact with them when they reached observational range of the Cybertronian city."

Elisi turned to Rease, "Double the drones monitoring the sea. Something is bound to happen."

"Of course, my lady."

Lio Convoy dragged another Zoid down across the ground before crushing the Zoid's head under foot. "Why haven't any of the transports launched?"

"We're sorry but with so many on the defensive, what flight crews that can work are going as fast as possible. The first civilian transport is ready; however, it seems we are having a problem with the ship for the Council and Senate."

"Then launch what transports are ready! We don't have the forces to maintain these defenses forever!" As Lio rushed at another combatant, the first of the carriers started to lift off. Everything appeared to proceed as intended, until a powerful beam cut through the carrier, destroyed in an instant.

From what a few managed to witness, the beam was fired from the ocean itself, a new powerful enemy hiding beneath. "By the spark of Megatron!"

"Terrorgator, Snapper! Take two squads down and find out what we're dealing with!"

Snapper duck away from the claws of a Zoid, using his weapon to block the second strike, "Do we really have the sparce botpower for that?"

"No, but we have to learn what is happening out there before we can continue the evacuation! Now go!" Lio slashed another Zoid, ripping out its core as he tossed the body to help save a fellow Maximal from being overrun.

Lio didn't perform the usual patrols often, so his leadership and strength repeatedly came into question by newer bots. However, this was one of the few times where he could go unfettered to truly demonstrated why he was the Maximal leader.

Thundercracker had to keep his distance with their thinned numbers. But the scorpion Zoid was focusing its full attention on him now, completely ignoring the remaining Vehicons. Thundercracker couldn't see any further attacks or means of halting its advance. "Sunspot I…"

"Hold it steady…"

Thundercacker didn't recognize the voice, nor where this new voice came from. "Who are you?"

"Doesn't matter. The crack on its left is currently exposed. Now hold it steady."

Thundercracker swiftly scanned the Zoid, finally noticing the crack this stranger was talking about. It was relatively small, even if the stranger was using a sniper or some other high caliber weapon, it was hard to see how they could damage this monstrosity from that minor point.

"Don't keep us waiting too long…" Thundercracker readjusted his next attempted dive, quickly pulling away when the Zoid started firing at him. As far as he could tell the Zoid was in the same position, lifting its claws to continue its attack.

It took a step forward when a powerful beam fired from the forest line that hit the crack hard. The Zoid let out a pained cry as the force of the impact actually started pushing the massive Zoid. But the scorpion slammed some of its legs down to readjust itself and recorrect itself. The Zoid was shifting its attention now toward the forest where it was shot.

Thundercracker could see into its spark chamber now, but the metal was quickly starting to reconstruct itself. "No, you don't!" He immediately dove back down and swung under the tail the create another sonic boom. "Sunspot, the left side!"

"We see it!" The Vehicons unleashed a massive volley of missiles at the gargantuan Zoid focusing on its left and the open injury. The metal was being blasted open further now, but nothing fatal yet.

Rushing from the forest came 9 black feathered bipeds as they charged at the Zoid. Their small and nimble frames easily allowed them to avoid any of the shots the Zoid fired. The first one was finally hit, only to reveal itself to be a hardlight hologram drone.

The Zoid left itself open as the Vehicons attacked it again, widening the damage but its spark chamber remained unscathed. For whatever reason it seemed that the Zoid considered these raptors to be a greater threat than the Vehicons, blasting away and trying to crush the real raptor.

Thundercracker dover down transforming and grabbed the tail as he pulled it down to blast itself. That angered it but even that wasn't enough to turn its attention away from the raptors. It finally managed to grab one in its claws, crushing it into particles. The Zoid continued to cut down their numbers, until it grabbed the last of the raptors only to find it was also a fake.

A surprise shot came from the forest again, targeting the Zoid core. This shot didn't appear as powerful as the last but strong enough to destroy the core. The Zoid wailed as it blasted everything it had in a desperate attempt to finish its attacker even as its spark faded.

The forest was devastated even further, unable to see if the hidden assailant had taken any damage. What was certain however was that the Zoid had finally fallen in battle as the color of the monstrosity faded like any Cybertronian.

Thundercracker wanted to search for their missing sniper, but right now sparks were on the line. "Sunspot we need to help the evacuation. Let's move!"

The Vehicons and Thundercracker swiftly flew off to help the others, leaving the mess behind. Slice was barely a machanometer from the where that Zoid was blasting, even after she moved her position between shots. She looked down to her busted rifle, the barrel and power cell were blasted apart beyond field repair. Slice couldn't help herself sighing, "Crossing the desert without transforming is going to be a pain." Regardless, her gaze turned to the massive Zoid body, as she calmly and eagerly burned the images of its moment of death into her memory core. "Truly a worthy kill to etch into my spark."

She easily strapped her weapon to her back, rushing forth to finally rendezvous with the others. Not knowing how the others were doing was eating at her, Slice knew Thrash would find a way to make this hairbrained Autobot plan work.

Shockwave was disappointed in the loss of their latest Zoid experiment. The Death Stinger was a formidable form, but the lack of improvements to the core design created by organics left a bad sense, even if he left the project in the hands of others. Judging from the data burst just before its spark was extinguished Shockwave estimated the issue was the number of organoids that had been bonded or infused to the spark.

"It would seem they were overenthusiastic in their attempts to evolve the design of the Death Stinger. Unfortunate, but still viable to adapt for future endeavors. The Organoid CNA will be processed for the next cloning batch." The monitors shifted to the fight between combiners, "However our greatest success was the forceful recreation of combiner technology. Our modifications to their component intelligence also appear to be altering the gestalt Volcanicus's cohesion. The next combiner will need more testing to preserve the mental state. Or a more stable solution could be to subvert all cohesion to the head unit to eliminate the need for mental unity from the other components."

Static started coming from a number of open comm channels before the signal started to clear up.

"So Tarantulus has failed. Unfortunate but that simply means I'll need to hurry up my timetable. Activate all base omega observation datapoints. Immediately initiate all data transfers to base omega. Scrubbing all hard drives as we processed. Let us see your efforts Autobots."

It was a planet wide broadcast, first showing off their version of Cybertron where Decepticon forces were hunting down an eliminating all in their wake including those attempting to flee the conflict. Even doing a comparison of the edited version propagated by the Decepticons. Soon the next recording shifted to various scenes throughout the Decepticon ship Defiant as Decepticons flaunt their dislike toward their new comrades.

"Can't believe we have to keep up pretending to want these fakers on our ship."

"From what I've heard Slipstream just wants to use them for numerical superiority to throw against the Autobots. Wear 'em down and we finish them off."

"I feel like I need an oil bath if I have to deal with these things again. Bad enough Sixshot is trying to train them, worse still is how eager those fools look."

"We can't call these guys warriors! They skirmish against organics using tamed beast machines."

"This planet would have been cleansed long ago of the organic infestation!"

"These weaklings are supposed to be our descendants? Megatron would probably wipe them out just because of how unsightly that is."

Now there was audio from Shockwave, "Did you assume that we would just plant a flag and start anew without old ideas bogging down progress? This was simply the first step in a much larger advancement. I will admit that the progress could be far more efficient, however, such variables are far too valuable to waste to ensure the future reformation." There was a shift as he started speaking again, "The energon's influence on the organic/synthetic coevolution on this world was unintended. Regardless, it was still useful data to force further evolution data upon these lesser Cybertronians for our true progress."

It suddenly shifted to a conversation between Sixshot and Slipstream. "It's unfortunate, but it appears that a weak enemy and fewer opportunities for battle has dulled their combat abilities. I had hoped I could have trained them up to Decepticon standards and bring out their innate warrior instincts, but…"

"It'd be a waste of time, right? I know Megatron sent you to make sure I didn't step too far out of line like Starscream, but there's only so much indignity either of us can stand with these failures. I've wanted to claw out my own optics after learning how pathetic they all are."

Sixshot reluctantly nodded, "Even so, some of their technological advances may prove useful to Lord Megatron…even if they are incapable of battle…"

"Too bad we couldn't appeal to anyone but those battle starved bots. Not like we really tried."

Slipstream was already in the middle of tearing through a Zoid when those transmissions started. She let out a scream of anger, tearing off the head of the Zoid before sending a volley of missiles into the group so she could get her hands on that Autobot.

The Decepticon recruits were slowly starting to have doubts about this battle, Sixshot immediately took aim at them. "If any of you even think about retreating now, I will dispose of you myself. Until we receive the order to retreat, we charge." Some of the Decepticons in the back were also ready to blast the Predacons if they tried to flee.

There only path would have been through the Autobots ahead of them. That was until a new path was blasted open by the Vehicons and Predacons left behind and those who patched them up. Those who lost their conviction took this chance to retreat, while some remained.

Sixshot turned away, "Ignore them. Continue onward!" Unfortunately, the Decepticon charge was soon halted as Bruticus was tossed down before them.

The Dinobot combiner roared its victory, its attention now on the Decepticons as it started to spew fire from the maw it had for a hand. Bruticus shifted his weight as the helicopter blades from Vortex blew the fire away, "We're not finished yet!"

Bruticus pushed the Autobot combiner back, continuing their scuffle toward the Predacons and Vehicons deserters. Their advance was stopped when a new wave of heavy ordnance fire started blasting in front of them. The blasts came from their right flank, but nothing should have been there. Or at least not something visible currently.

A private transmission soon reached Sixshot from Nightbird. "Sixshot, we need to fall back."

Sixshot could survive the artillery, though not many others could. "What is the situation in the sky?"

"That's not the reason why. Nor these transmissions. There is a force assaulting the Predacon capital and even we don't have the firepower to finish it. It's currently hiding in the ocean, but it will reach the shore soon enough. What happens after that I can only speculate. But from those transmission, this could be one of Shockwave's plan to clean the slate."

Knowing Shockwave, Sixshot could believe that. "Unfortunately, our 'leader' is currently embedded herself chasing her target. And she is even demanding the Seekers to aid her."

"And if we interfere, she'll be angered. Though I believe we can supersede her." Sixshot figured she must have planned something with her other sisters. "It's faint, but there was a pulse that the ship's spacebridge systems detected. The signal was distorted, but some think that Lord Megatron's signature was mixed in it. Even if it's not our Megatron, to ignore it would be like ignoring Megatron's summons."

Now he understood why Megatron brough the Nightbird sisters into the fold and allowed them on this mission. "Try to contact her. If she chooses to ignore this, then I will take command and we will follow that signal to Lord Megatron."