Cheetor flew in the roof hatch and maximized. "Hey Bigbot, what's shaking?" Primal turned to the intergetic cat, whose youth had been both an advantage and a detriment. Cheetor was coming off another air patrol. It had been uneventful, and the need for action was written on Cheetor's face. That grin could mean little else. Optimus considered, perhaps Dinobot's proposal had come at the right time.
"Cheetor, Dinobot's leading a mission into Predacon ground, I need you to back him up," ordered Primal.
"Gear, finally it's time to shred some Preds," answered the excited cat.
"You are also responsible for bring a long range array to that location, be careful with it Cheetor, it is essential to our plan," said Optimus.
"I'm your bot. BEAST MODE!" Cheetor transformed. He curled his tail tightly around the array, and started off toward Dinobot's position. Looking at Rhinox, Optimus said, "Now all we do is wait."
*Rattrap carried Dinobot toward the tower. Silverbolt flew ahead. Rattrap spoke up, "Nothing like traveling transmetal first class. Hehehe. Care for a cushion, maybe a little hot oil?" The trail was rather bumpy and Dinobot was not in the mood for the rodent's mouth today.
Dinobot answered, "This a stealth mission, vermin, for once in your miserable life keep your mouth shut."
Rattrap added candidly as always, "Hunh, you really get off on this commander gig, don't you?"
Dinobot was straightforward with his answer, "Predacons live to command."
Rattrap chimed in, "You're a maximal now, remember, and this is a recon job, not Great War III."
Dinobot did not argue with the rodent, "We're on Predacon ground, there's always battle here." The comm. link opened and Silverbolt's voice could be heard.
"Silverbolt to commander."
Dinobot answered, "Report to commander."
Silverbolt responded, "There's a jamming station here all right, but I'm not detecting any Predacons in the area."
Wary of an ambush Dinobot replied, "Move into backup position, hold, Rattrap and I will go in first."
Silverbolt decided Dinobot must have some sort of plan, "Understood."
Dinobot and Rattrap got closer and closer to the tower, but Rattrap was ill at ease. Standing rocks could easily hide Predacons from them, "Oh man, great place for an ambush."
Dinobot was tired of the rodent's complaining, "All the more reason to cease your babbling and concentrate on the terrain!"
Rattrap replied, "Give me a …"
Inferno in beast form appeared from under the rocks and surprised the two warriors, tossing Rattrap backward and spilling Dinobot.
Inferno sized up the situation, "A traitor, and a rat." He moved quickly flipping Rattrap further. It now seemed that he would duel Dinobot one on one. He leaped at Dinobot, but Dinobot leaped away and found some cover in the rocks.
TERRORIZE!
Inferno now turned into robot form, and prepared to shoot it out. He fired some rounds, but Dinobot dodged behind his rock. Meanwhile Rattrap had spun to the side of a cliff, saying, "Uhuhuhuh, ants, now this I don't need. Rattrap MAXIMIZE!" He was ready to back up Dinobot. But some hissing came from the background.
"Holster it, ratface, I wouldn't want to vex you now, not a pistol like you," ordered Quickstrike from behind Rattrap. Quickstrike relaxed, only to have Rattrap get itchy with his trigger finger and blast him one. Quickstrike's return shot missed and he dangled with his cobra-head into the rock. Rattrap watched him struggle for a minute and then shot the cobra-head. "Ahhh," said Quickstrike as he fell.
Inferno continued to pound Dinobot's position. Dinobot kept up a counterfire. He was forced back by a near miss from Inferno. "Stand your ground, traitor!" cried the ant menacingly.
"Hrrrrh, You're on my ground, insect!" answered Dinobot. Silverbolt flew overhead and noticed what he identified as a perilous situation for Dinobot.
"Inferno! Dinobot will need my help," the bird-dog said. He dove to help his comrade, but failed to see Waspinator come up behind him.
"Waspinator give doggie-bot surprise," muttered Waspinator. He fired his gun at Silverbolt.
"Maximize…" Silverbolt's attempt to transform was cut short by Waspinator's shot, he descended quickly. Inferno ran out of ammunition and Dinobot emerged from his rock, yelling as he charged the ant with sword flashing and shield rotating. But Silverbolt's falling form hit him right in the back, and he collapsed.
"Beast mode," the words escaped out of Dinobot's mouth. He lay motionless as did Silverbolt beside him. Inferno moved toward Waspinator as he approached.
Surveying the work of Waspinator's single blast, Inferno said, "You have served the Royalty well, Waspinator."
Waspinator thrust his arms into the air, "Waspinator not serve, Waspinator rules!! Hahaha."
Inferno ignored Waspinator's banter. "I will bring the traitor to the Royalty; you bring the fuzor."*
"Where is that lowdown…" was all Quickstrike got out before the two blasts drilled into the rock.
"You aren't taking either of them," yelled a familiar voice. The Predacon trio immediately formed back to back looking for their assailant. They looked into the sky and there was Cheetor. The cat fired again, dispersing the Predacons below him.
"I'll get his hairy little keyster," Quickstrike raised his cobra-hand staright at the flying Maximal. Then he felt a thud in his chest and he was again going backward. He shook himself and looked at what had thrown him back. It was a small metal object with a blinking red-light. Oh, no, Quickstrike realized what it was. A bomb. BOOM! Pieces of fuzor spilled out everywhere. Inferno gathered himself and looked to Waspinator.
"Waspinator, take the cat, I'll handle the rat," Inferno charged toward the place where Rattrap had thrown the bomb from. Waspinator jetted into the sky, only to have Cheetor land where Rattrap was. The two transmetals directed a fire into Inferno, forcing the ant back. He landed in a heap and struggled to get up.
"Waspinator not like situation, not want to get scrapped," pondered Waspinator.
"Attack, Waspinator, we can still prevail!" panted a still struggling Inferno. The bug did not get much choice in the matter. Cheetor and Rattrap kept the insect busy by firing into the sky. Waspinator judged their shooting nicely and dodged it effectively. Inferno decided to make a move to salvage Quickstrike while the wasp kept the Maximals busy. Still this constant dodging got on Waspinator's nerves. He did not like running, besides the sooner he scrapped Catbot and the road rodent, he could relax. He would get a reward for this added to his recent KO's. He looked for Inferno briefly, but he couldn't see the ant or the remains of Quickstrike.
"Waspinator assume command. Waspinator's command attack!" he cried. Waspinator pulled out an M16 look alike (with insect markings of course). He then exclaimed, "One thing Waspinator learn from old lizardbot, carry BIG gun." Firing madly he charged the Maximal position. Rattrap and Cheetor looked at each other. They raised their weapons skyward, aiming at the khamikaze.
"There are times when I feel sorry for that Pred. But that bug has ball bearings!" commented Cheetor.
"Hey, you won't see me pulling a stunt like that, pussy-cat, suicide ain't a wise career move," answered Rattrap. The blasts fired. Waspinator only had time for a brief 'Oh no' before getting blown clear away from the battle.
"I love that guy," chuckled Rattrap.
"But where's Inferno? And the freak-bot?" asked Cheetor.
"For the glory of the Colony!" yelled Inferno.
"You pilgrims just had your last round-up!" said Quickstrike. The two Predacons were in little condition for a fight, but their reappearance on Rattrap's flank gave them the element of surprise. Rattrap got a taste of weak cyber venom and weak fire. Cheetor couldn't fire through Rattrap. It looked bad.
"Burn enemies of the Colony!" Inferno cried as he turned his flamethrower on Rattrap. Rattrap backed away, but Cheetor had little room to move. Rattrap was slowly backing into him. Internal repairs completed. Have a nice day.
"Dinobot…MAXIMIZE!" Dinobot charged with his sword flying. It landed in Inferno's back. He leaped high in the air, his kick knocking Quickstrike's arm right off. He picked it up, and before Quickstrike could respond, he had used it as a baseball bat and knocked Quickstrike off the mountain. Inferno raised his flamethrower only to have green laser hit his stomach and force him off the mountain as well.
"Now I suppose we can set up the array," advised Dinobot.
"Hey, Chopperface, how bout you wait a little longer next time. I was just growing gray hairs like crazy," sniped Rattrap.
"Perhaps you'd like to cease growing hairs at all!" roared Dinobot. Silverbolt moaned. Cheetor used the opportunity to separate Dinobot and Rattrap.
"Guys, our bud-bot over there needs some help," mentioned Cheetor. The next few minutes were spent helping Silverbolt to his feet.
The fuzor was inconsolable, " I don't know how I let that happen, I just thank Primus that nothing terrible occurred from it."
"Aw, don't worry about it, bird-dog, we handled the Preds," consoled Rattrap.
Dinobot could tell his subordinate was really hurting. Still he was better off sending him back to base than keeping him around. Silverbolt may not try to prove something, but he was damaged after all. Dinobot prepared his next order, "Silverbolt, you will return the base. Cheetor bring the array equipment, I take it Rhinox gave you instructions on how to install it. (Cheetor nodded) Good. Rattrap, watch the pass. Alert us of any Predacon activity. I will go destroy the tower, and then help Cheetor."
Silverbolt left while Rattrap moved down the pass a little ways mumbling about how the rat was always stuck with the dirty work. Cheetor went to retrieve the equipment from where he had left it before joining the battle. Dinobot climbed to the peak, and pulled out his multi-purpose shield. It slashed through the tower, knocking it down. Waiting for Cheetor, Dinobot thought about what had happened thus far. His force had secured the ridge. There was only a small matter of setting up the array. Then when Tigertron and Airazor were reached, the real campaign would begin. That was what he had done all this for. Jackson's Valley Campaign had given Lee the Seven Days Battles. Here, on the mountaintop, victory seemed so close, but it was still far away. 8:5. Soon he would test his theory. 8:5. Soon.
Yes, this part in asterisks is exactly from Maximal No More. It is used to show the divergence of my story from the Beast Wars storyline.