Starscream, the second-in-command to Megatron, was dismissed by Megatron after the news broke about Optimus Prime becoming the new leader of the Autobot Forces. It made the energon in him boil just thinking about it. Still, it meant that the war wasn't going to end any time soon and the pure thrill of battle was not something that lied within Megatron alone, for Starscream too enjoyed the rush he got while flying through the sky, launching missiles and blaster rounds at Autobots in command of his Seeker Armada.

He walked behind Soundwave as they were both going toward the elevator that would take them down to the lower floors of Darkmount. Starscream quietly entered the elevator with Soundwave. An awkward silence took place as they both waited for the elevator to take them downward. Soundwave wasn't the most chatty of Decepticons and preferred to not engage in conversation with anyone other than Megatron. But Starscream couldn't resist the opportunity to run his mouth.

"It's really quite good news, you know. The war is going to keep going on, and that will give some of us more opportunities to shine on the battlefield. Me with my Seeker Armada and you with your... eh, pets."

Soundwave, if his optics hadn't been covered by the visor on his face, would have been seen rolling his optics at the moment Starscream started to talk. But he decided to humor his superior officer with a slight nod to establish agreement.

"Yes, I've heard stories about this Optimus even before his recent rise to the Title of Prime. His reputation is quite intimidating. But do not worry, dear Soundwave. In good time we will crush him just as we crushed Zeta Prime, and will soon crush Sentinel Prime as well. Primes are a dime a dozen and more fragile than they appear."

The elevator door couldn't have opened soon enough for Soundwave as he quickly bolted out the door to escape Starscream's preening.

"Hrmph!" Starscream scoffed. "That overgrown Toaster has never been much of a conversationalist..." He exited the elevator and walked out to see many of his piers prepping their weapons and/or training for the next battle, which would take place in a few days or so. His eyes darted around the room until he spotted some of his more close colleagues. "Ah, a couple of friendly faces." Starscream made his way over to his fellow seekers, Thundercracker and Skywarp, both of whom had helped him capture and bring Zeta Prime to Megatron.

"I see my compatriots are hard at work. We've got to be at our best if we are going to continue our successful careers as air support." Starscream greeted them.

"Indeed" agreed Thundercracker. "However, it's hard for some of us to collect accolades when one of us, not naming any names, continues to get all of the credit." TC had been working on his training in sharp shooting targets when Starscream arrived. "You might want to cover your audio receptors for this one." He said as he switched from his blaster hand cannon to his large machine gun attachment on the bottom part of his left arm and began to let it rip, causing Starscream and Skywarp to plug their receptors with their hands.

"A little more warning next time" growled Starscream. "Oh Thundercracker, it's just an unfortunate part of being a team player. The leader often gets the most recognition on the team. But that doesn't make your rather...erm loud and boisterous contributions matter any less!"

"Yeah TC, stop your whining!" Skywarp jabbed while calibrating his teleportation device that helped him warp around his enemies in the sky. "We can't all be as special as Starscream." He said it in kind of a mocking mode towards Starscream, but his commander just hearing the words coming out of his mouth, made him swell up with pride.

Thundercracker, having had enough of Skywarp's antics pressed the teleportation button on Skywarp's device and it teleported him out of the room. "Oops" the blue Seeker said sarcastically in response to the cackling purple and black jokester disappearing.

"Both if you, quit fooling around!" Starscream snapped; Skywarp, now annoyed, was able to teleport back into the room with his device.

"Stop touching my stuff!" Skywarp protested.

"I need you two to help me prepare the troops!" Starscream commanded, as he pointed to the large number of vehicon troopers specified for air fighting. "We only have a few days to get them battle ready and I need everyone focused on task!"

They both nodded in compliance. Both were built nearly identical to Starscream's body design, save for Starscream's red and white coloration, Thundercracker's blue coloration and Skywarp's red and black coloration. The only difference being was that they were both smaller than Starscream by a mere two feet. They both knew better than to defy Starscream. While not Megatron's favorite officer, Scream was among the highest ranking and he commanded with sharp claws on his hands and an even more piercing temper.

Around the training grounds were also Barricade, one of the few Cybertronian law enforcement officers to side with Megatron at the start of the war, who was training some of the car based vehicons.

Another was Shockwave, though a Scientist primarily, he was also a heavyweight soldier in combat, and he was in his Cybertronian Tank mode practicing his target practice. But not on regular targets, he had captured some mini cons and was using the ones he couldn't use for his experiments for target practice. All of whom were screaming until they each met their end by Shockwave's barrel. Dark, I know. But with a base called Darkmount, you shouldn't have expect anything less.

Meanwhile, another car based Decepticon known as Knockout, who had a dark red color scheme and was more streamlined in body and vehicle mode, was busy buffing his own finish again. This was also while he was working on buffing the finish on Steeljaw, Megatron's prized pet. A large Cybertronian Bull Dog that had a bite that crushed any Autobot that had the misfortune of falling victim to his jaws of death.

"Better make sure you sharpen his teeth, Knockout!" Starscream ordered, making sure Knockout didn't forget his task.

"Of course, Commander Starscream!" Knockout said, stepping up once again on his job. His own vanity often caused him to lose focus. Knockout also consistently found himself distracted by the mounting fear of becoming Steeljaw's next chew toy. "Good... boy", Knockout said nervously.

Starscream continued to oversee the training and preparation for the Decepticons. He knew that a lot was riding on this, so he made sure the Cons pushed themselves as hard as they could for battle. He became rather pleased as he watched the progress of every Decepticon mentioned plus more.

"We will be ready for you, Optimus Prime!" Starscream stated to himself.

Their numbers were large and threatening. Which was not good for the Autobot enforcers still functioning as a unit elsewhere.


Optimus Prime's journey down the tunnel had yielded a quiet, lonely trek down below the surface of Cybertron. But Prime knew his objective needed to be completed. The planet depended on it. The end of the war depended on it. The defeat of Megatron depended on it.

Prime faced little opposition during the first leg of his journey, aside from a few tight spaces as the tunnel he had followed led to a more cave like structure with metallic walls and different paths. Finding the right path was going to be an issue as the cave split off in different directions. This was something that Optimus had to ponder on for a moment while the idea came to him.

While he treaded cautiously through the caverns below the surface of Cybertron, his thoughts began to go back to the past. His memories of his past life as the Autobot Clerk, Orion Pax, and his days under training from Alpha Trion. His life had changed dramatically in just a short amount of time. Three years prior to this, his frame was small and weak compared to his new body, name and position. His lifestyle now changed as well.

His thoughts drifted to Elita-1; Ariel as he knew her before... before Megatron stormed Kaon, seizing it for himself and with it, Vector Sigma which lied beneath it. Orion was mortally wounded that day, along with Ariel. The Autobot elite guard members that saved them moved in just in the Knick of time and saved them both, along with Alpha Trion. Orion couldn't remember much after Megatron himself blasted him in the chest. All he knew was that he woke up several days later as Optimus.

Now Optimus Prime, his responsibility and mission had changed, grew, and had added weight to it. In order to be a Prime, he would need to venture down into the deep reaches of Cybertron to retrieve The Matrix of Leadership. Otherwise, he was no different than Zeta Prime or Sentinel Prime before him. A Prime in name only.

His thought process was interrupted by a sound. A sound that Optimus had never heard before. A roaring sound. Optimus looked around for a place to lay low. Down the winding metallic cave, there was some rubble where something had been digging. Optimus hid behind a large piece of debris and waited.

He deployed his weapon from his hand, changing it out for a long blaster. Prime had been given plenty of chances to exercise his new artillery and skills in combat. Would all of that be enough to prepare him for what belonged to that roar?

A few clicks in front of him, out of the walls burst out a large Cybertronian slug. One with two big horn like crests above its eyes. A hard metal armored exterior protected it's slimy green underside.

"By the AllSpark!" exclaimed Optimus. He shielded his face with his retractable face shield and prepared for anything. He was unsure if this newcomer would charge hostilely or simply move on its way. Either way, Prime knew he must pass to continue on his journey.

It didn't take long before the cyber slug's eyes locked in on Optimus Prime. Enraged at the sight of a surface dweller encroaching on its territory, Optimus' fears had become realized as he was now facing a surprisingly swift moving cyber slug that could easily tear him apart.

Optimus readied his blaster cannons and rapid fired at the beast. To no avail, the beast had a strong defense shield that deflected each blast.

Optimus traded out his blasters for the swords he had within his arsenal inside his arms. He lunged at the beast, hoping to strike a blow. Fortunately for him, he was able to damage one of the horned crests off of the beast's face. But to his detriment, only angered the beast more.

"It was unwise to come down without backup" he lamented to himself.

Suddenly the roar he had heard before returned and getting even closer. Optimus, while trying to keep his eyes locked on the slug, also tried to sneak a glance of his surroundings to see where the approaching roar was coming from and who or what it had belonged to.

"This cannot be happening..." Optimus shouted angrily. "I must get to The Matrix!"

Good fortune appeared out of the corner. A large clawed footstep emerged from the shadows. As the newcomer revealed himself, Optimus recognized what he was right away. "A Dinobot?!?" Optimus exclaimed, surprised at the appearance of an Autobot Heavyweight. But why was he down here?

The Tyrannosaurus stylized Dinobot stepped closer and closer to where Optimus Prime stood. He took one look at Prime and then to the slug. "Me Grimlock think Cyber Slug need time out!" The Dinobot snarled with a large growl.

The slug didn't seem phased, however. It focused it's next attack on Grimlock and charged. Huge mistake.

Grimlock caught the beast by the one horn that was still completely in tact and with his impressive strength, brought the cyber slug down to where it was laying on its side.

Optimus, catching what the Dinobot had planned, aimed his blaster cannon at the now exposed underside of the slug, catching it ablaze.

The beast let out a loud cry of agony as it burned down to nothing in mere minutes. Only it's metallic shell remained.

Optimus, trying to regain his composure, reached out in gratitude to the Dinobot. "Thank you, soldier. I would have been in deep trouble had you not arrived at such an opportune time. I owe you my life."

"Me Grimlock no save puny Autobot. Me Grimlock wish to fight puny Autobot himself! Me Grimlock King!"


In a secluded location outside of the limits of Kaon, two Decepticon air soldiers had been waiting on a third party to arrive.

One of them a dark blue Decepticon, larger and more robust than his superior officer, Starscream, but build similarly for a Cybertronian Jet vehicular mode. This was the weapon savvy, powerful Decepticon known as Dreadwing. A Con with a large Autobot kill count.

His partner, a light purple colored triple changer. His bot form boasted of both jet wings and a barrel of a tank. This notorious Decepticon was Blitzwing.

Blitzwing and Dreadwing had both grown disenchanted with the current state of the Decepticon ranks, with a pompous coward like Starscream ranking above them. So they distanced themselves from the focus of the war unless they were needed. But in constant searching for an opportunity to escape from the tyranny of Megatron's rule.

After a while of waiting, Blitzwing began to grow impatient.

"Hurry up and show up already! If we got caught out here, Megatron's going to have us for desertion!"

"Pipe down, or we really will get caught. Just wait a little longer. I'm confident he will show." Dreadwing said, trying to keep his partner in crime calm.

Their wait was over as the third figure, wearing a cloak over his head to hide his identity, appeared from behind the wreckage of a ship nearby.

"Took you long enough!" Blitzwing snapped.

"I would advise you to keep your emotions in check, Decepticon lackey" said the figure, removing his disguise. It was Sentinel Prime. The large maroon and gold Autobot, former leader of the Autobots had arrived, seemingly in cahoots with the two Decepticons. "I trust you two have gained access to a ship."

"Indeed. The Decepticon War Ship, "The Harbinger". She's scheduled to be retired in place by the Decepticons' new ship, "The Nemesis"." Dreadwing confirmed.

"I don't care about the petty details of the ship." Sentinel snapped. "I only care about making a quick escape! I just want to make sure everything is in place for when we flee this place. The cargo I will soon have in my possession cannot fall into the hands of Megatron, or Optimus Prime."

"When do we leave?" Dreadwing asked.

"When I am able to claim my prize, and no later than when the great distraction will happen. The battle that is about to ensue between the Autobots and the Decepticons!"

Sentinel replaced the hood back over his head and began to walk back to where he came from. "And now, to claim what is rightfully mine, the AllSpark!"


Wooo wee! Sure took me a long while to finish this Chapter. But I got it done. Excited to work on Chapter 3 because it includes one of my favorite Transformers characters ever!

More voice references:

Grimlock: Greg Berhger's iconic representation of his voice will work.

Blitzwing: Jon DiMaggio

Dreadwing: Tony Todd (TFP voice)

Knockout: Darren Norris (TFP)

Barricade: Jess Harnell (Bayverse)