"Big Cat, Big Cat, this Cheetor, come in. Big Cat, Big Cat," Cheetor rambled as he struggled to find Tigatron and Airazor using the array. Nearby, Dinobot watched and waited for the response that would give his plan a chance.
"Well, Feline, how's it going," asked an impatient Dinobot.
"I wish I knew, I can't seem to locate them anywhere," said a disappointed Cheetor. Dinobot thought about admonishing the cat, but a thought came to him, a thought that he had never really considered before. Give the kid a chance, he's doing the best that he can. He had been around Rhinox too long. Dinobot thought on things for a moment. Megatron will know something is up as soon as Inferno and the others get back to his base. If he gets too suspicious, one of two things will happen. He will either bring his force to bear on my position either through task force or otherwise or attack the base. Even without Silverbolt there are too many Maximals out and about to attempt a full assault, it would loose the Beast Wars for him. So a party will come here.
"Hey there, Little Cat. Something you need to talk about?" said Tigatron.
"Dinobot! I got Tigatron on comm., he's in sector Alpine. Big Cat, stay on the line, Optimus wants you to report to base," said Cheetor.
"But the stasis pods? What of our kinsmen?" asked Tigatron.
"They'll be fine for now, after we defeat Megatron we'll retrieve them," said Cheetor.
"Well, okay…"
"Hey, Dinobutt, we've got some company down here!" came Rattrap's voice through the communicator line.
"Rattrap report enemy numbers. Cheetor get Tigatron to send us some reinforcements, pronto," ordered Dinobot.
"Tigatron, do you think you could send Airazor to vector 8-9-3, we've got some Pred problems here," said Cheetor.
"It's done, Good hunting, Little Cat," Tigatron's voice was cut short, as his link went dead.
"Yo, Chopperface, we got Megs and the spiderwoman down here. Looks like Inferno and Quickstrike have been repaired they're coming up through the canyon fast. You and flyboy better get down here pretty quick before things get ugly," said Rattrap.
Dinobot and Cheetor rushed down to support Rattrap. When they got there, Rattrap was under heavy fire that was slowly advancing on him.
"Bout time you two showed up, I've seen enough Preds today to last a lifetime," said Rattrap.
"Sorry, we had get some help. With any luck we'll have some friends overin just a few cycles," said Cheetor.
"We'll fall back to Vector 8-9-9. It offers good possibilities, move!" said Dinobot. 4:3 Not bad odds, they could certainly be worse. If Megatron got wise to his advantages, it would get worse. His flyers (Megatron and Inferno) could outflank them aerially while his two ground troops held them in one place. But he (Dinobot) had possibilities too, a charge on the ground troops while Megatron made his air mov, or finding a good position and holding until reinforced. Cheetor had sent an emergency message to the base.
Megatron indeed did see his possibilities, but not as his opponent saw them. Megatron would send himself and Inferno over one at a time to keep the Maximals pinned during the transfer. He raised his arm. Inferno nodded and moved above the fire of both sides speeding for a position in the rear.
"Should I get the drop on him?" asked Cheetor.
"I think…" started Dinobot. BOOM BOOM! "No."
Airazor had appeared in time to shoot down Inferno. She now landed on their position. "Hey sister, am I glad to see you!" said Rattrap.
"Cheetor transform to beast mode, and prepare for takeoff. You and I are going to teach Megatron a lesson in tactics," said Dinobot. The Predacon fire was still pounding around them. Cheetor transformed, but looked incredulously at Dinobot.
"Aren't you kind of a big passenger?" asked Cheetor.
"Take Rattrap, then, just fly over the Predacons and attack them from the rear. Rattrap, if Megatron tries to interfere, use your toys," exclaimed Dinobot. The pair nodded and were off. They attracted fire. Megatron looked like he was going to intercept them. No, you're not. Eye laser fire cut down one of Megatron's engines. He was unable to stop Cheetor and Rattrap. They found some cover and started pounding the Predacon line. Megatron was visibly upset. The tables had turned quickly and quietly. Airazor wondered what Dinobot's next move would be. She had never fought beside him before.
"For the royalty!" Inferno raised his gun from his position on the ground, the missile was aimed right at Airazor. He pulled the trigger. Airazor wouldn't even have time to duck. She covered her head, then she looked up. She was in one piece and a rotary blade of sorts was rotating in front of her. Dinobot! The raptor quickly turned away, for he saw another figure coming in fast. Megatron saw him too.
"It's Optimus (in flight mode), Predacons retreat," ordered Megatron. A huge web stopped Maximal pursuit, as the tyrannosaurus form of Megatron grabbed Inferno and quickly rolled away. Quickstrike and Black Arachnia followed.
"Silverbolt got your message, but it looks like things turned out okay., but now that I look at you all, you all need some C/R time, except for you Airazor, you seemed to come out of this without a scratch," said Optimus.
"Optimus, I'm so glad to see you, but what happened to your body?" asked Airazor.
"Oh I got transmetalized when I entered this new body. Kinda of like Rattrap and Cheetor did. You can blame Rhinox if you don't like it. He's the one that brought me back from the void," said Optimus Primal.
Cheetor, Rattrap, and Dinobot looked at each other. Optimus had been right. They weren't in best of shape. Cheetor and some creasings, Rattrap had the cybervenom damage from earlier added to a nasty burn from not being used to riding Cheetor. Dinobot too had taken damage. His left arm was badly beat up for some reason. Dinobot looked at the battlefield where he had nearly bagged Megatron, shame it was in a good location from which to attack the Predacon base. But they needed time to rest and repair. Tomorrow would be the great battle hopefully.
"Well, let's get ya'll home, we have much to discuss, Dinobot, you're with me," said Optimus. Dinobot hopped on the back of the air sled. All the others transformed and headed to the base. They sped off, but Optimus kept a slower pace, in order to talk to Dinobot in private.
"Well done, Maximal. More action than you bargained for, though, I take it," said Optimus.
"Perhaps, but the army is all up and concentrated. It was too close today, we nearly lost it twice. If Cheetor and later Airazor hadn't shown up, I'd have failed the mission. Who knows what might have happened," said Dinobot.
"I saw what you did for Airazor back there. It wasn't like you," mentioned Optimus.
"It meant nothing. If Cheetor or Rhinox or someone else had been in that situation, I would have done the same thing," said Dinobot.
"I know you avoid her normally, or at least never speak to her," said Optimus.
"If a female's not holding a gun to your head, you have no idea what she's about. It's always been this way," said Dinobot.
"I won't touch the subject further, but we all vote on your plan when we get back," said Optimus.
Later at the base, Rhinox held the ballot counter. It had been a rough debate. Tigatron thought the pods took priority. Rattrap thought they were all going to die. Cheetor thought they should attack, but he wasn't sure if an all out assault on the Pred base was the way to go. Airazor said nothing, she seemed to be quietly thinking to herself. Earlier when she had thanked Dinobot, the raptor had wiggled away without really talking to her. Dinobot continued to press for his attack. Silverbolt agreed more with Cheetor but on the other side of the coin. Dinobot measured the way the votes would go in his head. Optimus and Rhinox had been supportive before, but they could renig their support under the excuse of a secret ballot. Here's how Dinobot figured it:
Dinobot
Cheetor
Optimus?
Rhinox
Tigatron
Airazor
Rattrap
Silverbolt
Optimus?
Primal was the key. If Dinobot could get a tie, then Optimus might order the attack. If not, then his plan was dead. Dinobot eagerly watched Rhinox as he counted the votes.
Rhinox read the results, "One vote against, one vote for, two votes for, three votes for, four votes for, five votes for, six votes for, seven votes for."
Dinobot was stunned, but he showed no sign. The attack would proceed.
"Well, I guess that's it, we attack tomorrow, but Dinobot it will be my plan that we use, everyone get some sleep," said Optimus.
"I will respect the wishes of my comrades, consider my vote changed," said Tigatron.