The battle raged around him, Cheetor looked to his left and to his right. There were Dinobot and Rhinox. Both were concerned. Cheetor had no idea why, but he knew something wasn't right. Optimus's team had just gone in. They were the reserve. No signal had been given yet. Rhinox looked impatiently at his comm. link. Where was the signal. Cheetor saw Rhinox and Dinobot nod to each other and move in. He came with them. "Where's Optimus?" he asked, but neither Rhinox nor Dinobot answered him. They moved deeper into the Predacon base. They had reached Scorponok's former lab and were met by a gray figure. It was seriously scrapped. Silverbolt! Was he, was he, no he couldn't be, could he? Rhinox bent down and shook his head. They moved further into the storage bay. Tigatron's gun lay without Tigatron. He looked around, green teal parts with white tiger skin were strewn everywhere. Cheetor didn't know how much more of this he could take. Then a body was thrown on top of them. It was, no not this, Big-bot! Laughter was coming from the doorway. "Hee hee hooh a aha," TARANTULAS! Only he wasn't alone, there was Megatron, Inferno, and Quickstrike too, they raised their weapons and fired. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! NOOOOOOOOOOOO! Rhinox! Dinobot! Big-bot! NOOOO!"
Cheetor jumped up. It was just a dream. Whew, but it felt so real. "Man, I need some air. I can't be dreaming like this all the time." He transformed to beast mode. He walked through the base. Everyone was asleep. Cheetor moved outside. Someone would be on patrol. Or someone should be. Sure enough about twenty clicks from the base was a raptor. Dinobot was on patrol. He was well attuned to this duty, but every now and then he looked up to the sky with all of its stars. Cheetor knew that old Dinobot wouldn't have much to say, but Cheetor hoped that Dinobot might give him some kind of confidence about the next day. Besides, he had to get this dream out of his mind.
"Hey, Dinobot, wait up!" said Cheetor.
"What is it, feline?" asked Dinobot.
"I just had this weird dream where the Predacons slagged our buddies while we were held in reserve, weird, huh?" mentioned Cheetor.
"Reserve, you say, hmmm," Dinobot put his claw in his mouth for a minute.
"Yeah, Optimus and everyone but you, me, and Rhinox were done in while we waited for some signal," continued Cheetor.
"Optimus will make a careful battle plan, there will be no mistakes," said Dinobot. Someone should give George Thomas credit even if he didn't get it then. It also explained the willingness of Optimus to keep back from too detached a force. He thought Megatron would bring the attack here where he could crush him. But Hood wasn't the opponent, Megatron was. Still, Dinobot noted the cat's dream. Reserve. Where he belonged was the front lines, but so be it. Cheetor went back to rest some more. Dinobot continued his lonely vigil.
The next morning surprised almost everyone. Tigatron had appeared more ready than usual, a side of him that had seldom been seen since he lost his friend Snowstalker. He growled around the base. Airazor and Cheetor weren't quite sure what to think of him. Rhinox, too, was in a good mood. His chain guns were ready for the day's events. Optimus was a little sheepish, having worked on his plan all night and into the morning. But if he was tired, he wasn't showing much of it. With everyone gathered in the main room, Optimus delivered his plan.
"Okay team, this is it. We work hard and we work fast. Tigatron, Airazor, Rattrap, Silverbolt, ya'll are with me. We will destroy the enemy auto-guns and breach into the Predacon base. We must stay together. When we've penetrated the Predacon base, the second wave, Dinobot, Cheetor, and Rhinox will demonstrate outside to draw some Predacons out of the base, if possible, then they will join us on the inside for the final round-up. Got it? Good. Any questions? Cheetor?" said Optimus.
"Big-bot can I go with the first wave? You…" asked Cheetor.
"No, I need you in reserve. We don't know what we'll run up against and we'll need support," said Optimus.
"Then what about putting Silverbolt in my spot, or Tigatron?" asked Cheetor.
"While I thank your concern for my person in the front line, I believe I am up to the task," said Silverbolt.
"That settles it, Cheetor, stay back for once, please," urged Optimus.
"Hey, he could go in my…,"said Rattrap
"Forget it, Rattrap, I need your demolition skills," said Primal.
"Slag," mumbled Rattrap.
"Okay, first wave, transform and let's hit it. We'll see ya'll in a few cycles.," said Optimus Primal.
Rattrap went to beast mode and reved his engine. Airazor and Silverbolt transformed into their beast modes and began flying away. Tigatron hopped on behind Optimus on the board. They were all gone. Rhinox turned to the other two.
"All right let's get a move on. We have a difficult task ahead of us, and I'm not going to let Optimus down," said Rhinox. The three left in beast mode for the Predacon base.